Being able to play golf for the last 4 years has been one of the greatest experiences of my life.  

Learning to play golf, either just for fun or to make an actual career out of it, is a great experience; in addition, it’s something you can do for the long run. It offers young kids, adults, and even grandparents the ability to learn new skills that could last a long time. 

It also allows everyone to compete together in events like scrambles or tournaments, when there is a team score, compared to individual events like the Professional Golf Association (PGA), where the score is just based on individual skills.

Over these past four years, golf has taught me so many things, with staying concentrated on the game, having different strategies at each hole, and possessing the patience for a long period of time. If you don’t have the patience, it becomes harder to focus on the match that is currently being played.

The physical side of the sport can be challenging as well. When you are playing 18 holes during a tournament, you typically don’t ride golf carts; you walk instead. Due to the fact that you’re walking for so many hours throughout an 18-hole meet, it tends to take a toll on your entire body.

In the course of the past four years on the Menomonie golf team, I have played numerous 18-hole meets. Being able to play at different courses and experience the contrasting styles of golf is relaxing. There have been days when I have played multiple 18-hole meets in a row, and by the end of the week, I end up being incredibly sore, but it’s always worth it because I love playing the sport.

Golf is a passion of mine, and it always has been and always will be. That passion will keep me driven because of my love for the sport, and for that reason, I want to be able to pass it on to my own family as best I can. Whether it’s a hobby or a career, you can make something out of it just like I did. You just have to try it.