So, I was looking for something, you know? Just… something to do. I felt like I’d hit a bit of a wall, everything just felt stale. My buddy, Tom, he goes, ‘Why don’t you try golf?’ Golf! I almost laughed out loud. Me? Playing golf? That seemed like a whole other universe, mostly for folks with a lot more cash and patience than me.
But then, a few weeks later, I was just flicking through channels on TV, trying to find anything interesting. And I landed on this old golf tournament being replayed. And there was this player, Lorena Ochoa. Man, she was something else. The way she played, so focused, so graceful, yet powerful. That’s when ‘Lorena golf’ kinda stuck in my head. It wasn’t just about whacking a ball; it looked like an art, a real mental game.
So, I thought, what the heck, might as well give it a shot. I dug out some ancient clubs from my dad’s garage. They were covered in dust, probably older than I am. My first trip to the driving range? Let me tell you, it was a disaster. A total. Freaking. Disaster.
My First Swings and Utter Chaos
I swear, I missed the ball more times than I actually hit it. And when I did manage to make contact, the ball would just dribble a few feet in front of me, or slice so badly it nearly took out the poor guy practicing in the next bay. It was seriously embarrassing, man. I could feel people watching. Or maybe they weren’t, but it sure felt like they were, probably thinking, ‘Look at this clown trying to play golf.’ I just wanted the ground to open up and swallow me whole right there.
I almost gave up right then and there. I went home, tossed the clubs in the corner of the room. I told myself, ‘Never again. This game clearly isn’t for you.’ But then, every now and then, I’d catch a golf highlight on TV, or I’d remember watching Lorena play on that replay, her focus and all. And a little voice in my head would whisper, ‘Just try one more time. What have you got to lose?’
The Lorena Inspiration Kicks In
I started watching some videos of Lorena Ochoa playing, trying to see what she did. Not that I could ever dream of copying a world number one golfer, don’t get me wrong. But it was more about trying to understand her mindset. She made it look like a challenge she actually enjoyed, even the tough shots. So I thought, okay, new approach needed: stop trying so hard to be good, just try to… well, hit the damn ball. And maybe, just maybe, enjoy the process a tiny bit, if that was even possible.
So, back to the driving range I went. Still pretty terrible, not gonna lie. But this time, I found myself laughing a bit more at the truly awful shots. I tried to focus on one single thing at a time. My grip. My stance. Trying to swing slow. Man, it’s such a complicated game. Who knew that hitting a completely stationary ball could be so infuriatingly difficult?
- First, I just tried to make contact. Any contact at all.
- Then, I tried to get the ball airborne. Even if it went completely sideways.
- Slowly, very slowly, a few of my shots started to go… well, not great, but definitely less disastrous than before.
Still Grinding, Still Thinking ‘Lorena Golf’
I’m still at it, believe it or not. I wouldn’t call myself a ‘golfer’ yet. Not by a long shot. I still have those days where I want to snap every single club in my bag in half. But sometimes, just sometimes, I hit one pure. It makes that perfect ‘thwack’ sound, and the ball sails straight and true. And for that one second, I get it. I totally get why people chase this frustrating, beautiful game.
Whenever I’m out there on the range, struggling like usual, I sometimes think back to watching those Lorena Ochoa highlights. Her dedication. The incredible calm she had under pressure. It’s a good reminder for me. It’s not about being perfect from day one, or even day one hundred. It’s about the grind, the small improvements you make along the way. So yeah, that’s my ‘Lorena golf’ story. Still a work in progress. A very, very slow work in progress, mind you. But hey, at least I’m not just sitting on the couch anymore, right?
