The Morning Of
Woke up this morning, looked out the window, and yep, it was coming down. Not just a drizzle, mind you, but that proper, soaking kind of rain. Most sane folks would probably roll over and go back to sleep, or at least plan an indoor day. But me? I had a tee time. And you know, I’ve always been a bit stubborn.
I actually debated it for a good ten minutes, coffee in hand. My gear was already packed from last night, hoping for a clear day. That was wishful thinking, clearly. But then I thought, “Heck, I’ve played in worse.” Or maybe I just wanted to see if I still could. Plus, the course is usually empty when it’s like this. A silver lining, right?
Getting Ready for a Drenching
So, I decided to go for it. First things first, waterproofing. I dug out my old rain jacket and pants. They’re not exactly top-of-the-line anymore, but they mostly do the job. Or so I hoped. Then, the important stuff:
- Grabbed about three extra towels. You can never have enough towels in the rain.
- Packed a couple of extra gloves. Wet gloves are the worst.
- Threw in an old baseball cap to keep the rain off my face, under the hood.
- Made sure my umbrella was actually in the bag. You’d be surprised how many times I’ve forgotten that.
My shoes, well, they’re supposed to be waterproof. We were about to put that to the test. I wasn’t feeling super optimistic about dry feet by the end of it, but hey, that’s part of the adventure, or so I told myself.
Out on the Soggy Course
Just as I thought, the parking lot was pretty deserted. The pro shop guy gave me a look, like, “You serious?” I just grinned and paid my dues. Off to the first tee, the rain already seeping into my soul a bit. Or maybe that was just my collar.
The first few holes were… an experience. Everything was slippery. The grips, the ground, even the scorecard started to get that soggy, see-through look. My drives weren’t going as far, obviously. The ball would just plug into the fairway with a sad little thud. No roll whatsoever. And putting? Forget about reading the greens; it was more like guessing the underwater currents.
Around the 5th hole, the rain really picked up. I mean, it was hammering down. My “waterproofs” were starting to show their age. I felt that familiar dampness creeping in. But strangely, I was kind of getting into it. There’s something raw about being out there when nature’s throwing a tantrum. No one else around, just me and the elements. My playing partners had all bailed earlier in the week, smart fellas.
There were definitely some comical moments. One time, my backswing was more of a splash, and the ball squirted off about twenty yards to the right. Another time, I actually managed to hit a decent shot onto the green, and it landed with a huge splash, like a duck landing in a pond. Made me laugh, honestly. You can’t take it too seriously in conditions like that.
The Home Stretch and Some Thoughts
By the time I was on the back nine, I was thoroughly soaked. No doubt about it. My hands were pruney, and I could feel water squishing in my shoes with every step. But I was determined to finish. It became less about the score and more about just… doing it. Enduring it. Each swing was a little victory against the weather.
The last few holes were a blur of rain, wind, and surprisingly, a few decent shots. I think I just got used to it. Or maybe I was too numb to care. When I finally sank that last putt on the 18th (a triple bogey, if you must know, but who’s counting?), there was this weird sense of accomplishment. Like, I’d wrestled a small, wet bear and somehow came out… well, wetter.
Walking back to the car, looking like a drowned rat, I couldn’t help but smile. It was tough, no question. It was messy. It was probably a bit daft. But would I do it again? Yeah, probably. Maybe not tomorrow, but someday. Golfing in the rain, it’s not for everyone, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. But it sure makes you appreciate the sunny days a whole lot more. And that hot shower afterwards? Absolute bliss. Best shower of my life, I tell ya.
It also teaches you a bit about just getting on with things. The conditions aren’t always going to be perfect, in golf or in life, right? Sometimes you just gotta put your head down, pull up your hood, and take the swing.
