FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Fall 2019Range Tokens
Home›Issues›Fall 2019›Coe’s Corner: Drinks On Me

Coe’s Corner: Drinks On Me

By Jonathan Coe
October 23, 2019
4305
0
Share:

MAKE AN ACE, HIDE YOUR FACE?

OK, so I just drained my hypothetical first-ever hole-in-one and am comfortably floating on cloud nine. But now I’m expected to buy every Tom, Dick and Sally in the bar a drink? I don’t even like these guys!

An elusive ace represents the perfect shot, one that a golfer may spend the rest of their lifetime trying to repeat. So why is it that some people hope they never have one? Isn’t it obvious?

Whether it’s skill or mostly luck, a 12,500-to-1 feat should be rewarded and celebrated, but instead we punish the poor golfer who gets one with the obligation to buy a bunch of freeloaders a beer. In what other walk of life does someone complete the most amazing of feats only to suffer financially because of it? Call me a cheapskate or an entitled millennial (I’ve heard both — going to need to be more original than that!) but I continue to be completely flabbergasted and, to be honest, scared of this “tradition.”

The supposedly joyous occasion of a hole-in-one is often immediately met with fear following the comedown from an epic high of fist bumps, hugs and, of course, a totally candid photo shoot. “Wait, is it a league night?” “Gosh, I hope there isn’t a tournament coming in” or the classic “I’m just going to run to my car” are all natural reactions once the ace euphoria wears off. And guess what, I’m right there with you.

The pinnacle of a golfer’s career may be when he or she finally breaks 90, 80 or even par, but the most valuable piece of golf memorabilia on the mantle will always be the iconic No. 1 plastic trophy with the lucky ball lodged inside. You may forget a shot or two during your career round, but you’ll never forget the club selection, ball flight or the feeling of writing a “1” on the scorecard. We shouldn’t associate any negative feelings with this blissful moment of achievement. Golf is hard enough, let’s not take a chunk of change from someone’s kid’s college fund.

Could these musings all be a bit preemptive? I estimate that I’ve played 1,600 par-3s in my golfing lifetime without a hole-in-one, but I’ll stand by these words when (or if) it ever happens to me or someone in my group.

Maybe once I feel that ace energy surge, I’ll be ready to buy the entire zip code a drink! But for now, I have a solution and it falls in line with every other celebratory societal norm: Birthday? Engagement? Healthy baby? Get fired? Drill a hole-in-one? Drinks on me, partner. It’s that simple

Previous Article

Legends of the Fall

Next Article

The Great One: SCGA Member Wayne Gretzky ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Jonathan Coe

Related articles More from author

  • Range TokensSpring 2015

    Drink or Drive: Booze equals lose for this writer

    April 1, 2015
    By Mark Willard
  • Fall 2019Travel

    Cool Greens Red Rocks

    October 15, 2019
    By Judd Spicer
  • Fall 2019State of the Game

    State of the Game: Making History

    October 17, 2019
    By Gary Van Sickle
  • Fall 2019

    KEEP SMILING

    October 17, 2019
    By Judd Spicer
  • Classic CourseFall 2019

    Outstanding in Ojai: Soule Park GC is Finally Living Up to Its Potential

    October 21, 2019
    By David Weiss
  • Fall 2019Profiles

    A Winner In Every Way: Sahith Theegala

    October 15, 2019
    By Mike James

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • FeaturedProfilesSpring 2023

    Full Circle: Mike Kelly Takes The Reins

  • FeaturedFoundationSpring 2023

    Creating A Legacy: With A Bold Vision, LACC, The SCGA And The USGA Have Come Together To Invest In The Future Of The Game In Southern California

  • FeaturedSCGA JuniorSpring 2023

    Playday: 36 SCGA Juniors Found Willing Mentors at Storied LACC

  • FeaturedSpring 2023The Podium

    Full Swing: Half Empty? A Contrarian View

  • FeaturedFirst CutSpring 2023

    Word Play: “Playing Golf” VS “Golfing”

FeaturedSpring 2023State of the Game

Big Is Beautiful: How Much More Distance Can We Expect in a Driver?

Four hundred: That’s how far I should be hitting my drives. Take my baseline 230-yarder from 15 or so years ago, add the gain promised annually with every best, better, ...
  • Word Play: “Playing Golf” VS “Golfing”

    By Tina Mickelson
    April 23, 2023
  • Club Spotlight: Los Compas GC

    By SCGA Staff
    April 23, 2023
  • Simple Twist of Fate: A Chance Encounter With An NFL Great Changed Michael Herrera’s Life

    By Tod Leonard
    April 23, 2023
  • Full Swing: Half Empty? A Contrarian View

    By David Weiss
    April 23, 2023
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise