Meetings vs. Golf

Friday I was faced with a decision to make.  It was an answer that came quickly and easily.  There was a full day of "fun" in the halls of the Ivory Tower that is my corporate world, or there were 36 holes awaiting me with my buddies.  I pondered this for about as much time as Oprah does when asked if she'd like a second piece of chocolate cake.

To the links I would head!  9:15am tee time at Plum Creek to battle what the forecast called breezy, but what I equate to a dry hurricane.  Still, I was on the course.  The briskness and challenge of the morning was easily overcome as I could hear the faint meeting reminders chiming on my smartphone, reminding me that I could be in meeting number three at the office instead.  We forged ahead with grace, persistence and a little something in a silver flask to help fight the pains and frustrations of 3-putts, 700mph wind aided power fades that endangered passenger vehicles on neighborhood streets and the smack talking coming from the members making up the foursome.

The round ended with frozen smiles, chapped lips, windburn, one amputation due to frostbite and an inability to get warm.  A Philly cheese steak and a couple Fat Tires eased the thawing process as we passed around dollars and snide remarks while reviewing the "impressive" scorecard.  No, the scores weren't anything to add a puff to the chest, but still, we were golfing on a work day.

The next round was scheduled for the same course and to immediately follow lunch, however discussions about the weather conditions and WIND forced a change in plans.  We would relocate for our next round and head to another course that offered better wind block and hopefully forgiveness.  The drive took about 27 minutes and you would be amazed at just how stiff your back can get in that short commute.  Still, there was more golf to be had.

Anxious and stiff on the first tee, I hammered a drive that was most certainly not destined for the fairway and was an indication that this new round, well, it too would be a challenge.  We sputtered around the course as we found sand traps and trees.  Sometimes it was trees and then sand.  The 3-putts had followed us from the previous round and were chuckling at us as we cursed our putters and each other.

At the completion of the 9th, the crew realized that 27 holes would have to suffice.  We were tired, beaten and humbled.  An early exit to a couple of pitchers and more mockery was the plan of attack.  We sat on the patio and enjoyed some beverages as we made fun of the rounds we had played.  No, we weren't scaring off any course records on this day, but we were golfing.  We were golfing while others were working... and that my friends... that is a beautiful thing!