So, I got it in my head to play some golf. Phalen Park Golf was the spot I picked. Weather looked alright, not perfect, but good enough for a round. You know how it is, sometimes you just gotta get out there.
Showing Up and Getting Sorted
Threw the clubs in the car. Standard procedure. Didn’t forget my shoes this time, which is always a plus. Drove over, found the place, no drama there. The clubhouse, yeah, it’s what you’d expect. Not trying to be anything fancy, just a place to pay your green fees and maybe grab a hot dog. Folks behind the counter were efficient. Got my cart sorted – I wasn’t about to walk 18, not that day anyway.
The Front Nine Grind
Alright, first tee. Always that moment, right? Took a swing. Then another. My first drive, well, let’s just say it explored the scenic route. Classic. The course, it’s a city course, you know? Trees. Lots of ’em. And they seem to jump out at you if you’re not careful. I spent a bit of time talking to my ball, trying to convince it to go straight. Sometimes it listened, sometimes it had its own ideas.
The fairways were… okay. They’ve seen some play, you can tell. But playable. Greens were a bit on the slow side for my liking, but consistent, so you could get the hang of ’em. Had a couple of decent approaches on the front. Even managed a par or two, which always helps the mood. Then there was that one hole, I think it was the 5th, where I was convinced I hit a great shot, only to find it nestled right behind a tree. Golf, man. It keeps you humble.
- Bunkers were a bit firm. Made for some interesting escapes.
- Water hazards? Yeah, they got a few. I might have contributed a ball or two to their collection.
- Pace was moving along. Saw some other groups, everyone mostly keeping to themselves.
Halfway Point and The Back Stretch
Didn’t stop for much at the turn. Maybe a quick water. Just wanted to keep the rhythm, if you could call what I was doing a rhythm. The back nine, I started to feel a little better. Maybe the warm-up swings on the front nine finally kicked in. Hit a couple of really pure iron shots, the kind that make you think, “Hey, maybe I can actually play this game!” Then, next hole, shank. Back to reality.
It’s funny watching other golfers too. You see the guys who look like pros, and then you see guys like me, just hacking it around and hoping for the best. Everyone’s got their own battles out there on the course. I remember this one fella on an adjacent fairway, he let out a yell that could curdle milk. Been there, brother, been there.
Calling it a Day
Finished up on 18. By that point, I was ready. Tired, a bit frustrated with some shots, but happy to have been out. That’s the usual mix, isn’t it? No record-breaking scores for me, that’s for sure. Just a day of golf. Phalen Park, it’s a solid, no-frills kind of place. It does what it says on the tin. You go there, you play golf. It’s not gonna be Augusta, but who’s expecting that?
Packed up my stuff, headed home. Already thinking about what I did wrong and what I might, just might, do right next time. That’s the hook, I guess. Always thinking about the next round. Yeah, I’d play Phalen again. It’s convenient, it’s there, and sometimes, that’s all you need for a few hours with the sticks.
