The Real Truth About Golf

Earlier this week I travelled up the beautiful Northumberland coast for a game of golf, with three good pals, at Alnmouth Golf Club. The course, also known as Foxton, is located on cliffs above Alnmouth Village where there is another golf course by the same name.

It was a quite warm & gloriously sunny day which certainly helped to enhance the scenic countryside and the views out to sea.

Following an injury last year, this was my first game of 2020 and I was, understandably, feeling a little tired later in the round. So I decided to miss out the 14th & 15th, a couple of steeply uphill holes so that I would be able to join my pals again at the 16th green and play the last two holes with them.

Whilst waiting, it was a great opportunity to take some suitable shots with my Huawei P20 Pro mobile phone. Then I noticed some golfers playing a hole on the adjoining Alnmouth Village golf course. It's the only hole on that course which climbs up the cliffs from the sea shore where the rest of the course is laid out. Anyway, I decided that a silhouette shot of the players with the great cloud formation, that had conveniently formed above, would make a great capture.

And so it turned out. What I had in mind was not just the scene itself but also what it represented in terms of the sport of golf. Some people will often criticise people who take part in activities that they don't do themselves. That's grossly unfair as, whilst their entitled to their opinions of course, they shouldn't use those opinions to judge what other people choose to do with their time. I might not see the point in a particular activity but that doesn't mean that I have any less respect for those who take part & enjoy it.

Anyway, back to my photo which I believe, and I'm sure many others will too, sums up what the game of golf is all about, for the vast majority of players at least. Each game is an opportunity to have up to 5 miles or so of valuable exercise in the company of good friends whilst, at the same time, enjoying great scenery and fresh air - an experience not available to 98% or more of the population who don't play golf! Apart from those few courses, out of the two thousand or so in the UK, that have public rights of way.

Winning, in any form, is a bonus to most players as it fades into some insignificance when balanced against all the other advantages I wrote earlier. Of course, there is always the usual 'friendly' banter during the round - especially just before that 2 foot putt for the match. Anyway, winning a couple of quid for the match often ends up being penalised by having to lash out for a round of drinks at the'19th' afterwards anyway!

Whatever might have happened on the course earlier is soon forgotten as good friends together examine the what ifs, what might have beens and those lucky or unlucky bounces and that great 3 iron shot from the semi rough at the 12th which turned the match!

So, this photo embraces all the benefits mentioned above. I had little to change with it afterwards apart from a little bit of cropping, contrast & light adjustment. I've always thought that, no matter how good editing tools are, you can never turn a poor or average shot into a great one! I took a few shots that day but chose this one because of what it truly represented.

Golf is great. It's not about the winning, it's the taking part. And whoever said that wants their head testing! Anyway, enjoy whatever hobbies & interests you like. You won't hear any criticism from me, just respect.