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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

The Magical Golf Ball

AN EDITED VERSION OF THIS PIECE APPEARS IN THE SPORTS SECTION OF THE NY TIMES ON MAY 15, 2011

THERE IS A FRONT PAGE STORY IN THE NY TIMES TODAY ABOUT A GOLF BALL THAT WILL CURE WHAT AILS YOU ON THE COURSE

The familiar sounds and sights would disappear overnight. There would be no more cursing, no club throwing, no excuses that are so fundamentally part of the experience. The mulligan would fade into obscurity. It would be as if hell was no more. If there was no darkness, how would one understand and appreciate the light?

"A Golf Ball That Won't Slice Comes with a Catch: It's Illegal" creates a world where achievement loses its meaning. Most often after I finish a round of golf, I am disappointed, disillusioned and disgusted. Last weekend, the stars magically aligned, and so did my stance and my swing. Normally, it takes a fistful of gimme putts and the bending and twisting of the rules of golf to fit my circumstances, to finish with a score that I can announce to an apathetic general public. But, for one magical afternoon, none of that was needed, and when the scorecard showed but 74 strokes at day's end, it was authentic and immensely satisfying.

Keep your Polara ball. I don't want to tee it up with Tiger and the others until I deserve it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can you share your Poalra ball recipe with us?

Anonymous said...

i just ordered a truck load to give to everyone who screams out nooooooooooooo!!!!
during their round of golf including yours truly
tom

Anonymous said...

If I were the editor of the NY Times, I would print this
Fred

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the NY Times once again getting it right and publishing your thoughts – I do agree – as much as I would love to eliminate my leaky drives I would prefer to do it with an improved swing than with an engineered ball.

David Greene