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This weekend my inlaws were in town and needless to say, they are not motorcycle people.  They golf.  So I went with them for a round of eighteen.  I have played golf for about fifteen years now, but some clarification is needed.  I have never golfed more than five times in one year and about twice per year since moving to Arizona…when they visit.

I like to golf for a couple of reasons that are similar to why I like riding motorcycles:

• Its part of the great outdoors.
• Its really mind over matter.
• You’re forced to meet people with a like interest

As an outdoorsman, a round of golf on a scenic course is relaxing to me…especially out here in Arizona.  The weather was in the low 80’s (that would be F) and not a clould in the sky.  We saw coyote trot along side of us on one hole looing for something to eat.  And of course, the landscaping of the golf courses are usually second to none.  To me, it was like a scenic ride.

Golf is as much or more about what’s in your head as the equipment and technique you employ.  Does that sound familiar?  Ever get smoked in the twisties by a guy on a Nighthawk 650?

SIDEBAR:  Case in point - We showed up a couple minutes early and went out to the driving range.  I was hitting my 5-iron rather well to warm up…say 180 yards and straight.  My bro-in-law comes up and says “how are they hitting?”  Wanting to show him how I was crushing the ball, I swung a little harder for that extra distance.  Yeah - it went ten yards as I topped it.  He then started walking to the cart and I immediately started crushing the ball again.  Can you say humility…not wanting to show off is pretty important in motorcycling too.

Anyway, if I was relaxed, I hit a good shot.  If I wasn’t relaxed or was under the close eye of others, I didn’t.  It’s an interesting parallel.

Finally, I just seem to meet some great people on the golf course.  We had three people and were given a solo player to make our foursome.  Bob was his name (go figure), and we spent the morning together.  He was a 67 year old guy that was full of stories.  Truth is he talked a little too much, but it could have been much worse.  On the other hand, the guy had some great wisdom to spead and I took in what my filter let pass through.  Very few sports do you have the opportunity to share some time with complete strangers with similar interests.

I’m not a deep thinker, but I couldn’t help drawing the parallels between the two as we were driving home.  I’m not a golfer and may never be, but I can understand why people like it so much.  It’s a challenge of the mind more than the body in my opinion.  The same course (road) is different every time depending on how you play (ride) it.  On each tee box (shoulder of the road) you get to BS with those you chose to spend your afternoon with.  To date, I have yet to be paired up with someone who I didn’t like…but that’s just me. 

Am I going to sell the bike(s) for the lates set of Callaway’s?  Not a chance.  While I like the sport and understand it a little better, the pace and the price areb’t in line with my current needs.  Even though I had a great time, I would have chosen a two-wheeled adventure (on or off-road) given if a non-obligated six hour block of time were at my disposal.