Having played golf for the best part of forty years, I must have played in the company of thousands of fellow golfers, most of whom provided excellent company. During the past 12 years, most of my golf has been played with those taking part in the Golf Leisure Breaks competitions, many of whom have become friends, since they join us on a regular basis. A conclusion I have reached is that golf can often bring out the best or worst in people, the latter seeming to be the more common.

A couple of bad shots can reduce the most happy-go-lucky characters to manic depressives, for whom the world might as well come to an end. Yet a few days later, like any dedicated masochist, they come back for more. Strangely, most seasoned golfers retain a sense of humour, a must if they are to survive these darker moments. I must admit that what kept me going through a long period of suffering the dreaded shanks was the wit and humour of some fellow golfers, who refused to let my affliction spoil their game, producing remarks such as “Does your missus think you’re out enjoying yourself, Dave?” or “That was a five Dave, if you don’t include the three shanks”. But one quote (anonymous) which puts everything into perspective for the serious golfer, is “My worst day on the golf course is still better than my best day in the office.”

A good round of golf here on the coast comprises excercise, fresh air, good Company and a good score. All that’s missing in a bad round is the good score. So remember, if you’ve spent most of your life golfing, it’s the rest you’ve wasted! As my wife once commented, “When I die, I want to be buried on a golf course, then I know you’ll visit me”.