Kvelve's Comments: Love of the game

I gotta say, I was impressed.

That is a basic coaching philosophy I can get totally behind. 

What is that, you may ask? 

Golf’s underlying objective, especially at the junior high and high school level. 

I heard it from all of the coaches who responded to my preseason questionnaire about the outlook for this year’s teams. 

Under the category of coaching philosophy, it was a unanimous thought. 

“Teach these kids to love the game of golf so they can enjoy it the rest of their lives”. 

It echoed across the returned questionnaires, free of collusion, I could tell. 

These coaches, Doree Thilmony at T Falls, Lisa Brown at Plains, Dan Park at St. Regis, Seth Kuhl in Superior and Jake Sedahl at Alberton, all expressed the same goal. 

And what a goal, teaching someone to love a game and play it all their lives.  It’s right up there in thought with “give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish you feed him for a lifetime”. 

“Teaching kids how to play this lifetime sport”, said Kuhl.  “The very end goal is for these golfers to love the game and play it the rest of their lives”, said Thilmony. 

Love of the game was a common theme. 

Anyone who has been paying attention knows golf is an amazing game.  Even though an author or two has called it a “good walk spoiled”, there is love in that sentiment. 

I have tried golf and must say I understand the sarcastic remark; no doubt made with tongue squarely in cheek. 

When asked if I have ever played golf, I always reply that I’ve played a game that resembles golf.  To the furrowed brow of that answer, I always add a kicker, “I spend a lot of time looking for the ball I just hit.  My hook and slice is so bad I yell ‘fore’ before I hit the ball. 

I wish I had taken more time when I was young to get a grip on this game, which at least one befuddled instructor told me was hindered by things like my grip on the club. 

Grip on the club, I found out, meant the 19th Hole “club” at most golf courses where I could ponder why I even bother. 

But it always dawned on me that being outdoors, walking along a nicely tailored grass lawn, and laughing with my friends was the real joy.  I used to hit the ball a long way but would always lose sight of it shortly after launch. 

Tall-grass Chuck became my nickname. Golf ball manufacturers should have used me in a commercial for cheap replacement balls. 

But there is a sometimes-mysterious lure to this game. It is not an easy game to get good at, the only solution is practice, practice, practice. 

Never-the-less, I would still like to get a bag of sticks and see what I can work out on a driving range or two as my retirement approaches.  Fishing will be a primary activity, but golf may just find a way into my retirement agenda. 

I get the attraction, golf coaches.  And thanks for having that approach to the game.  It is a game that can be played and enjoyed by folks of all sizes, shapes and ages.  

As for this area’s young golfers, some will be taking part in the state B championship finals May 20-21 in Sidney, and the Class C tourney today and Wednesday (May 13-14) in Shelby. 

And if one of these days you see a large, lumbering dude walking the local fairways remember two things: love this game and play it all your life, and if I’m nearby, “duck”.