EXPLORE

LOCAL GOLF SCENE

For the Love of the Game

BY PADEN HUGHES

Always looking for a new way to experience outdoor fun, my husband and I made a commitment earlier this year to pencil in daytime dates. Our most recent interest—golf.

The first time we played, we tried a version of “best ball,” which to my understanding means no matter how poorly you hit your golf ball, you can pick up your ball and shoot from your teammate’s better shot. This is probably the best way to learn golf because you consistently advance, you have an opportunity to practice using different clubs at different angles, and you keep up with the more skilled golfers.

Truly feeling up to par with skilled golfers takes time, for sure. And, if you’re like me and hate to stink at anything, you understand how sheer stubbornness can set in early on in an attempt to perfect your game. At first, I cared about just two things: keeping my head down and making contact with the ball. I can’t explain the joy I felt when I actually nailed it: I hit that golf ball airborne and straight!

I can happily say after time I noticed improvement in my game—and I’m known to stick with things if I see even the slightest amount of improvement. A friend of mine who manages golf courses says, “No matter how frustrating a game can get, there is always that one perfect shot that keeps you coming back.”

So, I kept coming back to golf. But even with improvements, after having played soccer and other fast-paced sports, I wasn’t convinced that golf was engaging enough to warrant owning my own clubs. Surprisingly, I now regularly find myself on a golf course with my own set of bright pink Wilson Hope golf clubs (which benefit Breast Cancer Research

Foundation), a pink polo, and a white skirt.

And now, my husband and I have a favorite short course in the area: the

Challenge Course at the Monarch Dunes

Golf Course in Nipomo. This 12-hole, par-three course is the perfect distance for new players, yet it also adds the challenges of small lakes, dunes, and sand traps. The $16 per person player fee is accessible for beginners who might feel reluctant to pay over $50 for a round. Additionally, the Challenge Course is not as busy as the 18-hole “Old Course,” which means newbies have time to practice their swings and not feel like the group behind them is waiting impatiently or trying to pass them. Truth be told, I used to believe that golf was either for male executives looking to network, or much older couples looking to get some exercise. I’ve come to realize that golf is a sport for everyone. While it takes time, practice, and focus to improve, golf is also one of the more relaxing, centering, and enjoyable activities I’ve experienced. SLO LIFE

Challenge Course Green Fees Public Rate $16 Public Replay $10 Members Rate $12 Members Replay $10

DIRECTIONS

FROM NORTH Take the 101 South Freeway Exit Willow Turn right on Willow Turn left on Via Concha Turn right on Trilogy Parkway Take an immediate right into Monarch Dunes parking lot

FROM SOUTH Take the 101 North Freeway Exit Willow Turn left on Willow Turn left on Via Concha Turn right on Trilogy Parkway Take an immediate right into Monarch Dunes parking lot

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San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce

Community Development Committee San Luis Obispo County Habitat for Humanity

Public Relations Committee Chairperson, SLO Association of Realtors

Local Government Relations & Grievance Committees, SLO Association of Realtors

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