Second Excerpt from My Golf Diary

In this post, I did another cut and paste from my original golf diary. It shows the steep learning curve that was taking place, and it also includes a comment from 2002 when I was reading through my diary a second or third time.  I also begin to record my birdies (bold text), a theme that has continued all the way up to today.  I have recorded every single birdie and eagle I have ever made since I started playing.  I should count how many there are total.  I would always start a new birdie count each season, so I am not sure of the overall count.  This blog would be a good reason to figure it out.  I do know I have had seven eagles, and I have not had a single ace yet, but how many birdies?



10-26-99

I’m going to try and write about some more great golf memories this time.

Zen, the Radio, and Healing (a post just about Zen this time)

6-22-10

  

   Belinda and I just got back from the (last name’s).  Becca was celebrating her birthday with her friends.  Danielle will be spending the night there tonight. 

   I helped out with the Bisti Writing Project today, and I actually did get to help.  I helped with some technology problems, and I gave some writing advice as well. 

   As I was driving home, I had another strange radio “encounter.”

How Zen Died and How C.J. and I Took 2nd in the 2-Person Best Ball

*Please know that I am not heartless or cruel (quite the opposite) to include how my dog died and golf descriptions in the same post. Writing and staying busy help me keep my mind off of the inconceivable tragedy that took place. This tournament took place on the weekend before the Friday Zen died.

6-21-10

I am doing better with what happened with Zen.

Our Dog Zen Dies and I Play Some of My Best Tournament Golf

6-18-10
Zen is dead. He died today. I ran over him with our truck. It was an accident. We buried him near the path that leads to the hills behind our home. I am too upset to write about it right now. I want to write about golf to get my mind off of it.
We are driving to Lakewood. B is driving while the children rest in the back seats. Danielle is up now. She’s crying. We have all cried numerous times today. Enough. I am going to write about golf now to get my mind off of Zen.

On to golf…

C.J. and I played together for the first time in the Microbial Energy Two-Person Best Ball tournament last weekend.

First Entry from my Golf Diary/Journal Back in '99

Hard to believe that the piece that follows is over ten years old now. I have come so far. Today, I scored a birdie and another new eagle! The birdie came on hole #10, and the eagle came on hole #14 at my home course, Hidden Valley. That eagle is my seventh now since I earned five last summer, and the other, my first one, on hole #10 years ago.


Hello, this is my new golf diary!
My Golf Diary
Pat Swope
9-25-99




9-25-99
Tomorrow, I will play golf, not go golfing.

Top Ten Lessons From My Golf Journal

This is the perfect beginning for my blog. What follows is the first article I had published in Four Corners Golf Magazine. It's a great preview of what this blog will be all about, and it also gives more information about who I am.

My Top Ten Lessons From My Golf Journal


    On September 25th, 1999, I started what I called My Golf Diary. I was a beginning golfer without a handicap or a clue. The idea was to keep a record of my successes because golf can be such a difficult, spirit-crushing, confidence-bashing adventure, and I wanted to have a journal to boost my morale when I needed it. Since that time, I’ve written pages and pages about my experiences and lessons (not only lessons from an instructor, but lessons learned while writing about golf). In this article, I’ve condensed those lessons into a Top Ten List. Because I will be celebrating ten years of playing (and writing about) golf this September, this seemed like a fabulous opportunity to share what I have learned.