Golf...The Humbling Game
I was in 1st grade, in Mrs. Lupidi's class, when I met my friend Jake Miller. Jake and I became friends over the mutual liking of the sport of hockey. I would even call Jake whenever the Columbus Blue Jackets would get a power play so he could explain the penalty to me. As, much as Jake loved hockey, he had a passion for another sport.
Jake....you hate it every time I tell this story, but sorry, it's funny.
One day I went over to Jake's house to play hockey, but he told me he would rather play golf. I had never played the game before, but Jake wouldn't stop talking about how great of a game it was. So, Jake and I started walking from his garage to the white barn behind his house. While inside we grabbed a bag of clubs and a bucket of balls. We proceeded to walk behind the barn to start swinging away into the giant field that was behind it. I never made solid contact with the ball, so it maybe traveled at most 25 yards. This was also, the day I learned the #1 rule in the game of golf, DO NOT STAND IN FRONT OF SOMEONE HITTING! I hit my ball out maybe 20 yards, I stared to walk out to grab it while Jake was still hitting away. As I turn around to walk back, Jake is swinging and lets go of the driver. The next thing I know, there is a projected club coming for my face. All I remember was waking up on Jake's kitchen counter next, with his dad Tom putting a butterfly bandage on my eyebrow.
It's all good though, I got Jake a week later with a high stick to the eye.
I am someone who loves to see his friends succeed at what they want to achieve in life. Jake went on to play golf at Marshall University, Go Herd! After graduating, he became an assistant coach at the University of Findlay. Now he is officially the Head Coach at Tiffin University!! I can't wait to come home in August to see him get married!
Since I was about 9 years old my dad had the same old joke, "So when are you finally going to get a job?" Ironically enough, fast forward to when I am 15; he got me my first job. One of my parents' former gymnast, Liz, was a cart girl at a golf course not even 5 miles from my parents' house. With Liz's help I was able to get me a job at Cumberland Trails Golf Course. After meeting Mike Pickett, who was the Golf Pro, he told me I was going to be a cart boy. Because of this job for the first time in my life I had a golf club in my hands almost daily. With the help of my coworkers; Mike, Dennis, Alex, Royce, and Rich, my game improved as they were always providing me with help and tips while we played. I think this was mainly because they were tired of looking at my ugly swing.
2 years later I got moved to the Grounds Crew. I think this was because I spent too much time in the Pro Shop instead of the Cart Barn, sorry Mike. In hindsight this is the best thing Mike could have done for me. Being on the grounds crew at Cumberland is where I fell in LOVE with golf. Cutting greens, cutting cups, raking bunkers, or planting flowers; it made me appreciate watching things grow. I don't look at a golf course now as a large piece of land. A golf course to me, is a piece of art. They are pieces of art that came from the imaginations of people like; Pete Dye, Greg Norman, Hurdzan/Fry, and Tom Fazio. I worked at Cumberland Trails for 5 years, and I loved every day of it.
Fast forward to today. I still get to play golf almost daily up here in the mountains every summer! As I continue to expand my photography skills I want to use my drone and Nikon for shooting golf courses. There are so many beautiful golf courses around the world that deserve to have their beauty flaunted.
Jake and Mike, thanks for teaching me how great of a game this is!
Cheers, Austin
This is the Keystone Ranch Golf Course in Summit County, CO. I am lucky to live off the #2 tee box and to get to play this course every day. Its a Links course, Mountain style ;)