Just Golf: Golf for Beginners

I write occasionally on other golf blogs, and here is one I wrote for Bird Golf Academy with some suggestions for beginning golfers.

Golf and Law: Liability for Errant Shots

Hopefully no one's behind that tree....

Last fall I wrote an article that was published by Golfblogger.com, discussing who may be liable for errant golf shots. It was fun for me as an attorney to research, and any golfer has probably wondered about at least one of the questions answered. You can read the post here.

The Genesis

Me and the boys enjoying Riverside Golf Course.

Getting bitten by the "golf bug" is so commonplace it's cliche. And yet, I cannot argue with truth. I started playing golf in earnest after I finished law school (cue lawyer jokes), while studying for the bar exam. Initially intended as a means to clear my head before hitting the books for six to eight hours a day over a summer, I quickly realized why to some, golf is much more than a pastime.

Since then, I have tried to play the game right, working on my technique, mentality, and knowledge of golf and its history. In time, as my young children have developed some hand-eye coordination, and shown some interest in golf, I have set myself to the task of introducing them to the game.

When I say task, task is what I mean. Taking young children out to play golf is not easy! Although taking youngsters anywhere can be a challenge, the myriad rules of etiquette, the importance of taking care of the course, and the difficulty in mastering the technique of a golf swing, all amplify the amount of patience, time, energy, and innovation required to give children a taste of this great sport.

One particular time my wife and I took our boys to play golf sticks out in my mind as the real genesis of this blog. We were playing a kid-friendly par three course (check out Pierce Park Greens in Boise, Idaho). After probably thirty shots on the third hole by my four your old, who then tried to putt on the green with his seven iron, I was fighting my own battle. My shot off the fourth tee had gone left. I was frustrated, but tried to encourage my six year old son as he burned a few shots down the fairway towards the green. When we got to my ball off to the left of the green, I attempted a downhill flop shot that would have made Phil Mickelson proud (think this). But mid-swing one of the boys shrieked; I flinched and my bladed golf ball flew into the group on a neighboring green. Can you believe it? I had to yell "FORE!" at a par three course! I only just barely didn't lose it.

Since then, I have been thinking, "There must be other dads like me." Guys trying to be good fathers, trying to spend time with their kids doing something they love. Especially where a round of golf takes a lot of time to play, killing two birds with one stone on the golf course is essential to every golf-bitten dad and his family. So, there it is. That's the story. Can you help me out? I envision this blog becoming a place where we share ideas about how to successfully manage our responsibilities as fathers and our love of the game. Cool golf products that are helpful for dads and kids. Ideas about how to make the game fun for everyone. Inspiring acts of fatherhood. Life lessons learned on the course. You catch my drift. The more we can contribute, and the more we can reach, the more we can grow this great game, our families, and our skills as fathers.

As for content, I love to write and write often, so I'll bring in some content I've written for other golf-related blogs, in addition to the original posts here, but I also welcome guest submissions.