Okay, so I finally made it out to Chicago Golf Club. This place has been on my list forever, you know? It’s like, one of the oldest courses in the US, super exclusive, and all that. I’ve been trying to get on for ages.
First, I tried calling. No dice. The person who answered politely but firmly informed me it’s a members-only kinda deal. I totally get it, but it still stings a little. I tried to, you know, casually name-drop a few people I thought might have connections, but no luck.
So, plan B. I started digging around, seeing if I knew anyone, who knew anyone, who might be a member. I checked my LinkedIn, asked around my golf buddies, even reached out to a few distant relatives who live in the Chicago area. This took, like, weeks. Seriously, weeks of feeling like a total stalker.
The Breakthrough
Finally, a friend of a friend came through. It was a long shot, but his uncle’s business partner is apparently a member. After some serious back-and-forth (and I’m pretty sure some strings were pulled), I got a tee time. I almost fainted. I was so excited!
- I spent the next few days, obsessing over the weather forecast.
- I cleaned my clubs, like, three times.
- I even bought a new golf glove.
- I practiced putting in my living room.
The day finally arrived. I drove out there, heart pounding. The place is seriously impressive. It’s like stepping back in time. The clubhouse is old-school, and the course…man, the course is something else.
I played, Honestly, I didn’t play my best. I was too nervous, too aware of the history, I think. But just being there, walking those fairways, hitting those shots…it was amazing. I made some pars, a few bogeys, and the usual other, not great scores, but I won’t dwell on that. I even tried a new swing I saw on YouTube. It didn’t always work, but hey, I was at Chicago Golf Club!
After the round, I had a drink in the clubhouse. I felt super out of place, but in a good way. It was like being in a movie. I just soaked it all in. I took some photos from my camera, that I would never share because of the rules.
Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Even if I had to go through the whole stalking-my-network thing again. It was that special. It was a completely unique golfing experience.
