For The Love Of Golf

I’ve done my best to keep up with his balls and support them as best I could over the years, but it hasn’t always been easy! I’ve been a ball chaser, ball retriever, and ball buster...in the most loving way of course.

Artwork by Lorelei: "A Story Of Love"

 I’m not the least bit embarrassed to tell you that my husband loves his balls! Yes, it’s true. His balls come in all sizes and a variety of colors; he has different balls for different occasions and sometimes he carries a spare ball in his pocket. He has a complete collection of tennis balls, racquet balls, basketballs, and squash balls.

Perry's day of tennis with Rafael Nadal

 He even had the balls to run 12 complete marathons!

Perry crossing the finish line at the Dubai Marathon

 Over the last four years, he's added golf balls to his collection.  A lot of golf balls…..

Perry with a swing in his step.

 The way I see it, golf is a man’s dream sport. Just the terminology alone is enough to launch him into a fantasy world, one from which he may never return. It’s the only place he can get away with clubbing every night, enjoy a threesome while frolicking in the grass, and where “fore” play is all about him! What's not to love?

He was a couple of years into this relationship before I arrived here in the UAE. I definitely felt I needed to educate myself on the rules of this newly revised and updated obsession of his. As far as I could tell, this made most of his other previous ball obsessions obsolete. He had set a new course and had a swing in his step.

What’s a girl to do? It was clear to me that if I wanted to be a part of his world, I would have to grow some balls of my own, step out onto the golf course, and get to know my competition well. So I took a deep breath and eagerly stepped up to the opportunity for growth!

My prior golf experience involved “goofy golf” many moons ago, a very redneck game of washers in Texas at my brother’s house, Frisbee golf in the foothills of Colorado with my kids, and driving a golf cart around a senior living community, giving tours where I worked. I also felt encouraged by the fact that women were, more and more, enjoying a sport that was traditionally seen as a male-dominated game. Attitude is everything, so I adjusted mine and got excited about the possibilities of trying this so-called sport my husband was head-over-hills about. Still, I wondered if I would ever grow to genuinely love it. 

Artwork by Lorelei: "Wisdom in Wonder"

Perry was very encouraging and excited for me to join his clubbing scene. After all, if I loved the game, he would benefit by getting more kitchen passes and hopefully have my blessing. After checking out some of the local golf clubs, we quickly found our home at the Abu Dhabi City Golf Club. It was a little less formal than most clubs and offered night golfing which meant he could golf after work. Additionally, it was community and family oriented, and offered a few other amenities as well. I figured, worst-case scenario, if things didn’t work out between golf and me, we could reunite on the 19th hole for a date night.

Look who I found on the 19th hole

As every good aspiring golfer does, I immediately signed up for lessons, bought the proper "cute" attire, and a six pack of hot pink balls. I had high hopes of my junior golf clubs and I being a perfect match. Occasionally, being short comes in handy. I refused to put the money into a “real” set until I proved myself worthy. As I look back now, I realize that maybe that Angry Bird golf club cover was an omen of things to come.

Lesson day

Angry Bird

Learning to love the game of golf wasn’t immediate. If love is just a game, then this was it. It’s been a looong fairway! In fact, on more than one occasion, I’ve been convinced that the grass is surely greener on the other side and considered walking off into the sunset, setting my balls free. I definitely had commitment issues. It felt awkward and uncomfortable in the beginning. Like all relationships, it was give and take. I gave and it took! Most of the time, the only birdies I got to enjoy were the occasional birds that squawked across the pond when my pretty pink ball splashed into the water. I’ve spent so much time in the bunker with a sand wedge and a rake, I might've been better off just sitting down in the sand, building castles and reconnecting with my inner child. Come to think of it, it's quite common to see people connecting with their inner two-year-old out on the course.

Artwork by Lorelei: "Be Free"

Here I am two years later still playing the game. I’ve settled in to a comfortable “on occasion” tee time. I see it more clearly now. I get it. It’s an art. It’s creative. It’s inspiring. It’s a relationship.

Art by Lorelei "Tee Time"

I’m no longer threatened by the seductive call my husband hears from her beautiful peaks and valleys, or her well-manicured landscape. I've come to accept, admire, and respect the beautiful game of golf, even though she doesn't whisper my name. My muse lies elsewhere. Most of the time, I'd rather be doing the downward dog instead of dogleg, slinging paint instead of swinging clubs, and reading books instead of reading greens. For me, Ace is still a hardware store and a cup is just a bra size. However, I do look forward to spending time at the club with family and friends.

My favorite golf  partners! Team Broxson!

One of my favorite things about golf is just enjoying being outdoors, particularly this time of year when there’s a cool breeze and the sunsets are so beautiful.

Abu Dhabi Sunset

The golf professionals that manage the club are awesome, but I consider everyone that works at our club a golf pro. Of course I'm talking about the support staff. They're a team. They know us by name and make us feel like we’ve just won the PGA Desert Classic when we walk in the door. It's known as the "Peoples Golf Club," and it's true. The culture and the attitude make it a great community. A home away from home.

Part of the awesome wait staff at ADCGC Always has a smile.

Perry and Casey. Casey is part of the awesome waitstaff at ADCGC

Perry's buddy, Kumar at ADCGC. Best bartender ever!

I love that I’ve met new people and built lasting friendships. Life isn't always fair, neither is golf! It brings out the best and the worst in people, so it can definitely be an interesting couple of hours, depending on who you're golfing with.

Artwork by Lorelei: "Drama Queen"

I love the greens!

My favorite greens!

And....I love the drive. Nothing feels quite like a perfectly executed drive….in a golf cart!

I've discovered my own joys of golfing. They may be somewhat outside the box - the tee box, that is. I have my own approach to keeping golf fun and creative. I've found inspiration in the people I've met and brought a little bit of "me" to the mix as well.

Paint the Town night at Abu Dhabi City Golf Club

Inspiring creativity. Growing great artists and golfers!

The thing about golf is that you don’t have to be a professional golfer to love the game. And, in my case, you don’t even have to be a golfer to fall in love with it. Oh, and I did trade in my junior clubs for a “big girl” set!