This photo just came through my work email. It's a shot of very young golfers at a local golf course & resort promoting family golf. This photo cracks me up. These little guys are probably 3-5 years old. I can't imagine what patience and fortitude the pro must have when he takes this group out on the course.
My parents had me learning golf when I was 7. I took lessons, on and off, for years. I loved the pro at our club because he was devoted to teaching the kids even though, in those days, there wasn't any national junior golf nor even an LPGA! The "juniors" had to be off the course by 9am on Men's Day and not back on most days til after 3pm. It was often extremely hot in the afternoon and I would get fussy. Southern Cal is dry but it can be wicked hot. This course was gorgeous, lots of old tall oak trees and eucalyptus. But I longed for the turn on the 9th hole when we stopped and had lemonade. We usually played 9 holes. During lessons, we played 3-4 holes. I played in junior tournaments and those were a full 18. Although I did win a few trophies, my heart was never in it. By the time I was 15, I was "all done". I didn't pick up a golf club again til in my late twenties and then, only to play with my mother or father when visiting.
My parents' club was nice. It dated back to the 1930s or 40s. It was constructed of a very smooth stucco painted pale pink. Sounds awful but it was popular in those days. We had an Olympic sized swimming pool where I was taught to swim at the age of 3. My mother, brother and I spent many happy hours sitting around and going in and out of that big pool. Lots of mothers took their chicks to swim. It was a rockin' place! Our biggest treat was to get a hot dog and Coke from the refreshment window. Snow cones were a big treat as were popsicles.
Summer days at the pool! How I loved them. Summer days on the golf course...not so much.
