tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7347482.post-1089822431085201482004-07-27T01:22:00.000-07:002008-07-17T16:10:50.988-07:002008-07-17T16:10:50.988-07:00My local golf course runs a summer golf clinic for children ages 6 - 13. I happened to be at the range while some of the kids were hitting balls.<br /><br /><strong>While most of them sucked, there were several really phenomenal swings</strong>. One little girl must have been only 8 years-old tops and she had a swing to die for. While she hit her driver only 150 yds., she pured each and every one. She had a great setup, Els-like tempo, and gymnast flexibility. "A young <a href="http://grouchygolf.blogspot.com/2005/10/dont-hate-player-hate-game.html" rel="tag">Michelle Wie</a>," you say? Well, that's exactly what I thought.<br /><br />Unfortunately, watching this future LPGA Hall of Famer only depressed me about my own swing. In fact, after a couple of bad shots I was too embarrassed to continue. I thought, <span style="font-style:italic;">I've been playing this friggin' game for longer than this kid has been alive, and yet she makes me look like I swing the club like Charles Barkeley</span>. Should I quit and just write about golf in a golf blog? I decided to play a round, hoping to find my swing somewhere on the course.<br /><br />I joined 3 other hackers for a round. Luckily, none of these guys were better than me, so my confidence was bouyed. None of us played well and we were all at least 8 over after 6 holes. The 7th hole is a par 3 and it was backed up as usual. I struck up a conversation among my playing partners about the state of our games. I learned that we were all in the same boat, all of us fruitlessly trying to improve failing golf swings. I felt better knowing that I wasn't the only one to suffer from a "slump."<br /><br />As we were commiserating with each other, an 8-year kid from the threesome behind us walked up to our teebox and proclaimed ecstatically, "I'm only 2 over after 6 holes!" He had a look on his face that said, "Isn't that great! This game is so easy. Soon I'll be better than Tiger!"<br /><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/186/1269/50/Junior%20Golfer01a.1.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #000000; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/186/1269/320/Junior%20Golfer01a.1.jpg' align="left"></a><strong>Well, nothing eats at your craw more than someone boasting about their golf game when your's is headed to the sewer</strong>. Now you can imagine how much of my craw was left when a kid, who still has 5 years until he can see "<a href="http://grouchygolf.blogspot.com/2005/06/annikas-grand-slam-quest-can-wie-stop.html" rel="tag">Whale Rider</a>," is doing the boasting.<br /><br />My playing partners were nice enough to praise the kid for his score, but there was no way I was kissing his little arse. I grumbled, "WTF, how the hell could this kid be only 2 over. Is this game really that easy? <span style="font-style:italic;">No way</span>. His parents must be fudging the score to make him feel good." I looked at the kid's parents in disbelief and they only smiled proudly. I rolled my eyes as I set my 8-iron behind my Pro V1.<br /><br />I struck the ball well, and hit the green. "Nice shot!" exclaimed the little golf devil. I flashed a stupid <a href="http://www.grouchygolf.com/2005/03/wipe-that-stupid-grin-off-your-face.html" rel="tag">Mickelson smirk</a>, but it still didn't make up for this latest cruel stunt pulled by the Golf Gods...Golf Grouchnoreply@blogger.com8