Thursday, June 5, 2008

Howie the golf pro

While upstate this last week, I had a unique experience. Jeffrey, our neighbors grandson came to me with a question. Rather sheepishly he said his grandfather told him to ask me if I would teach him how to play golf. He said his senior class was going on a golf outing to Apple creek Country Club. He wanted to have some experience. He' s 17 years old. Six foot plus. The nicest boy you could ever know. He looks slightly athletic. He said he played softball. I said he couldn't learn golf in three days, it would take at least a week.(private joke) Anyhow we commenced. I gave him a nine iron, some plastic balls, lesson one was under way. The stance, the grip, all of the basics. The rudiments of the swing, a short demo by me, go ahead hit the ball. Which he did. He's a natural. Set up a target, real golf balls. He does well. Off to the driving range. Tee up. Nine iron, seven, five, then the five wood. He does amazingly well. The golf pro walks by. I told him I'm helping the lad. He watches. Nice weight shift. Good swing, he'll do fine. Jeffrey is smiling. We went through the large bucket. At home I gave him the nine iron to keep. Plenty of balls, said to practice daily. Felt pretty good myself. Never dreamed he would take to it so fast. I saw him the day we left for home. He said he had been back to the range, and practiced every day. I really felt good about the whole episode. The up shoot, my own swing improved. Moral, if you want to learn something teach to another. I might be a better teacher than a golfer. Great experience.

2 comments:

howie said...

Just checking

Gingeralex said...

I am a much better teacher than an actual dancer. And I believe that most days I learn more than my students do!