Tuesday, July 24, 2007 Ben’s Thoughts • Time to get the kinks out!

Publisher’s note: This Ben’s Thoughts column by sports editor Ben Wilgus originally appeared in the Tuesday, July 24 2007 edition of the Lassen County Times.

Last week I made my first trip this spring out to the Diamond Mountain Golf Club to hit range balls. Now normally I am an active golfer who plays quite a few times a month and did so until winter this past year. Being so busy with all of the spring sports and summer events, I have not had time to go out there and even hit balls or putt.

I found my clubs in the closet, still a bit dusty and cleaned them off and headed out with the hope my swing would still be the way it was when I last played in November.

Unfortunately ,golf is not a game where you can just pick up where you left off. To say my swing was rusty is an understatement. I felt like I was starting over, considering I had never gone this long without playing before.

After paying for the balls, I made my way past the putting and chipping greens out to the range where I was lucky enough to be the only one on the range.

Once out there I stepped onto the mat and took a long time deciding what club I should use to start.

I finally decided on the pitching-wedge because it is a club that one doesn’t have to put a lot of force into, one can just swing nice and easy. I took a few practice swings just to get the kinks out and realized it was going to be difficult to get my swing back up to my standards.

I went through the first 10-15 balls hitting them as if I had just taken up the game, but as soon as I took out my seven-iron, things started to come back. The seven-iron has long been my favorite club, I have no explanation for that, but I have always hit it well. As soon as I started to hit it, the ball seemed to elevate like a plane taking off from the runway. It was a great sight to see.

Once I had finished my bucket, I felt like I was ready for the course, but as we all know, practicing is not always the same as playing.

I did not make it out on the course as the sun was going down. I think I am ready to get out on the course one of these weekends or afternoons and just enjoy being on the course.

There is nothing better than spending an afternoon golfing, just enjoying my time outside, whether it is with family, friends or new acquaintances. Look for me out there getting ready to make my run at the PGA Tour!