Monday, April 16, 2012

Handicaps

8 comments:

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

12 over par? I should be so lucky. Have you seen the heads of some of those big-head drivers? You could whack Rhode Island with those things...but you probably wouldn't get much loft.

Pete(Detroit) said...

AHD - was dating a woman some years ago whose dad golfed competitively. He asked my handicap, and I said "a Ginsu driver, and a bag full of water magnets."
He had to think about it, and finally realized that i played for fun, not score.

("Ginsu driver" - slices EVERYTHING)

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Angry Hoosier Dad- I was totally bluffing when I came up with that number; I know nothing about golf. And all I know about big-head drivers is that they ruin the view from the back seat of a limousine.

@Pete(Detroit)- I hear people say they golf for fun, but I rarely believe them. It seems that golfers are always suffering from some kind of exquisite agony when describing their love/hate relationship with the links.

Pete(Detroit) said...

Stilt, it's really simple - overall, it's a miserable way to ruin a nice walk in the park (/Twain, I believe) But every round, there are some few shots that you wish were on film - everything comes together, and -SMACK- it's awesome. Those are the ones that bring us back. I also have benefit of using it as an excuse to spend time w/ Dad - important, as no one knows how much time we have left...

Stilton Jarlsberg said...

@Pete(Detroit)- BF Skinner proposed that the most habit-forming schedule of reinforcement is the one in which the subject is only occasionally and somewhat unpredictably rewarded for a behavior. In other words, hitting that SMACK! shot you're describing. Hello, behavioral heroin!

Great that you're able to spend time with your Dad, though. I know all too well that time runs out before you want it too.

JustaJeepGuy said...

I have never had the slightest interest in the game of golf. I used to wonder what would happen if I ever got a job where the powers-that-be expected their underlings to play. Or should I say, I used to wonder what would happen if I ever had a job interview at a place like that. I'm sure that I would be immediately dropped from consideration.

Angry Hoosier Dad said...

@ Pete (Detroit):
You are absolutely on target, my friend. It's the occasional good shot that makes all the bad ones in between tolerable. When people ask me if I "golf" I tell them I do something similar, but more violent and potentially harmful to spectators.

Pete(Detroit) said...

AHD - NICE!