A Great Day of Golf (despite USA's loss!)

WVP · October 1, 2012

I am somewhat of a father figure to my 12 year old nephew. I try to spend as much time with him as possible and I've introduced him to hockey and soccer as well as other dude things. It's been a lot tougher as I now have two little boys of my own but lately I've been trying to get him interested in golf (of course).

So I picked up a beginner set of clubs for him about 2 months ago and I have been practicing with him in the backyard. I took him to the course yesterday for 9 holes - his first "real" golf experience. The first hole was brutal - he took a few divots with his driver (!) and finally knocked it about 25 yards from the fairway. At that point I figured we might get 4-5 holes in before we'd have to call it a day. But he actually found the green a few shots later from about 40 yards out and was able to two-putt from 40 feet. Not too shabby!

From that point he didn't do too bad. He has pretty good technique actually, but a very slow and calculated swing (think Ai Miyazato on Ambien) that results in 75 yard shots, max. So we stick to his PW and he's able to make 6's and 7's for the most part. We had a very quiet and scenic round, lots of animals but no other humans on the course. So he liked that aspect as well. On a short par 3 we had a deer run into the fairway and it walked right towards us before running into the woods. So I hit my shot first and bam - one bounce and it disappears. Hole in one and I've got the best witness possible! I used a 54 degree Vokey and the hole was playing a bit short of 120 yards. The only downside - I think he's now expecting that from me on every par 3, hahaha......little does he know....

So we get back to the house and he watches the rest of the Ryder Cup with me, probably the first time he's watched golf and actually been interested. So I think I have a convert. I didn't grow up with the game so my family kinda pokes fun at my obsession but days like that surely validates everything.

ElVerde · October 1, 2012

Wow, what a day. Congrats on the HIO...and you're right. He's probably going to be disappointed watching you from now on

butch33611 · October 1, 2012

I can see it now, every par 3 you hit, he gives you that " what happened there look" lol

I found later in my life it was the simpliest things I did with my kids they seem to remember the most after they were grown. My son is now 35 and sometimes he will say, hey pop, remember when we...

You get the idea. Keep it up. It means a lot more then you think.

deadsolid...shank · October 1, 2012

I think it's very telling of how you feel about your nephew that you laid out the relationship and how you've gradually started him in the game before you ever mentioned your hole in one. Kudos to you, I think your nephew is lucky to have you in his life.

However you're also right......"What happened uncle....., you missed that time!.