Between a rock and the fairway

I'm convinced the last golf ball in any bucket bought at the driving range is jinxed. It's always the one I can hit the furthest and the straightest. Always. I guess, depending on how you look at it, that last ball could actually be blessed rather than jinxed.

That last ball gets me every time.

I could be having the worst practice session ever; the kind where I begin to overthink every swing until I end up just standing at the tee staring down at the ball. I begin to overthink everything: my grip, my stance, my aim. I'll hit dismal shot after dismal shot and then I'll get to that last ball. That's when I think to myself, 'Just swing. Who cares where it goes, at least I got to the bottom of the bucket without hurting anyone.'

I'll tune out all the lessons, tips and advice running around in my head and swing. Lo and behold, that last ball just sails. I'm only talking about 100 yards, but hey, it's a start.

That last shot always tempts me to buy another bucket. Only once did I actually do it, though. The next day's aches and pains were enough to teach me to never-ever-ever do it again. Once practice bucket is enough.

I'm relatively new to the game of golf, picking up a club for the first time about four years ago.

Luckily my uncle teaches golf lessons, and I was able to embarass myself in front of him rather than a complete stranger, Better to keep stupid moments between family, right? And laugh he did at my awkward swing.

"You're afraid to hit the ball." he said with a grin.

"Pfft. Whatever. I'm not aftaid."

"So, hit it then."

I swung and missed. By a mile.

"You're also pulling up when you swing," he said.

"No, I'm not."

He held his club horizontally over my head.

"Swing again," he said. "Just ignore me."

I did. And I hit my head on his club.

"I didn't move, you did," he said.

"Point taken."

I definitely had a lot to learn.

It's now a few years later and I'm no longer afraid to hit the ball. I've even entered a few best ball tournaments around Muskoka. Our team oft wins the 'Most Honest Foursome' award, but hey, we can't all be perfect. And I'm a big believer in life being all about learning, so golf and I appear to be a good fit.

Speaking of learning curves, we're always growing and adapting here at Beyond. Reader feedback says you, just like us, love gardening. Moreover, you love niche plants and extraordinary blooms that can thrive in your garden or on your windowsill. Hence we have introduced anew section you'll see from time to time called Beyond gardening. Turn to page 39 to read all about a rock that's not really a rock, and it blooms too.

It's amazing what perseverance brings. Hopefully this year it'll bring a better score for me on the back nine.