When I was in fifth grade, I was first introduced to what I thought was just a boring sport for men to go out with their buddies and make a business deal with their companies. What I did not realize is that golf is not what it is stereotyped to be. Golf is a safe place, a sanctuary for the people who crave beautiful views and a way to escape the busyness of the world. But is it just for the boys?
I always thought golf was more of a man’s sport, but women are breaking boundaries to make the sport their own. I learned to golf at a young age from my dad and grandpa. I would spend my weekends in the spring and summer either at the driving range practicing or playing a game at one of the few local courses surrounding my hometown of Wenatchee, Washington. At the time, I did not think much of golf and learning how to play. I thought of it as just a way to spend time with my dad and grandpa and learn about something they loved. I started to get good and enjoyed it just as much as they did. By the time I reached high school, I decided to try out to play on our golf team and I made it! By my second year on the team, I made it to varsity. I met many girls from different schools and really enjoyed the competition. I also enjoyed getting to travel and experience all the different courses.
After high school, I gave up golf for a while because life started to get a little busier. I am now 26 years old, and golf is a priority for me. It’s a part of self-care for me on the weekends. It helps me to take a break from college and technology and get outside and escape. I try going to a different course every weekend or just hit up the driving range and hit a bucket of balls. I think as you get older golf becomes more of a way to relax and it’s fun to bring your friends along. For me, it’s a bit of both. It’s about making fun and relaxation a top priority. So, whether it’s golf or some other activity that you haven’t done in a while, make it important again. Make it part of “your” time. We need the little things, just like golf to make us happy and remind us to take a short break from this crazy world.