So, I decided to head out to Ojai for some golf the other day. You hear about Ojai, right? Supposed to be all peaceful and whatnot. Figured I’d give it a shot, see if the vibes could fix my slice. Spoiler: they didn’t, but it was a day out, anyway.
Getting Myself Over There
First off, actually making the plan. This wasn’t some grand expedition. I just woke up, felt like whacking some balls, and Ojai came to mind. I think I called up Soule Park. Heard it was more laid-back, less of that stuffy country club feel. That’s more my speed. Didn’t even check the weather too hard, just threw my clubs in the car. If it rained, it rained. What are you gonna do?
The drive itself was pretty standard. Fought a bit of traffic getting out of my own area, then it opened up. Ojai has this slow reveal, you know? Suddenly, you’re surrounded by hills and orange groves. It’s a change of pace, for sure.
At The Course: Expectations vs. Reality
Got to the course. Parking was easy, which is always a good start. The pro shop was just a pro shop. No frills, which I appreciated. The guy behind the counter seemed like he’d seen it all. Got my cart, paid my dues. I always tell myself I’m going to have a proper warm-up. Hit the range for about five minutes. Sprayed a few, topped a couple. Yep, ready to go.
The Actual Golfing Part
Stepped up to the first tee. That’s always the moment of truth, isn’t it? My first drive? Banana ball right. Classic. Spent the first few holes just trying to find some kind of rhythm. The course wasn’t super punishing, which was good for my ego. Some holes had some nice views, especially with the mountains in the background. You try to appreciate that stuff even when you’re three-putting.
- Found a surprising number of my own balls.
- Lost a few that felt like they should have been findable. Golf, huh?
- The greens were…greens. They rolled. Sometimes the ball went where I wanted. Mostly, it had other ideas.
Mid-round, I sort of settled in. Made a par here and there. Enough to keep me from throwing my putter into a lake. There weren’t many lakes, thankfully. It’s just a different feel playing somewhere like Ojai. Quieter. Less pressure, or maybe I just put less pressure on myself because, hey, I’m in Ojai.
Winding Down and Heading Home
By the back nine, I was definitely feeling it. Golf is more tiring than people think, especially when you’re zigzagging across every fairway. Managed to not completely implode on the 18th. Shook hands with the imaginary crowd in my head. Didn’t even bother adding up the score properly. What’s the point? I knew it wasn’t pretty.
After the round, I just sat for a bit. Had a bottle of water. Contemplated the mysteries of the golf swing. Why does it work one minute and completely abandon you the next? These are the big questions. Then, packed up the car and headed back. The drive home is always a good time for reflection, or just zoning out to music after getting beat up by a golf course.
So yeah, that was my Ojai golf adventure. It was golf. In Ojai. It didn’t change my life, but it was a decent way to spend a day. If you’re looking for an unpretentious round in a nice setting, you could do worse. Just don’t expect miracles with your game. The place is chill, but it ain’t magic.
