Golf, Morning Coffee, Deer, and the Myth of the Mulligan (Technology in Golf)

(Illustrative Only)

Morning is probably the best time to get out on the golf courses around Escanaba. Depending on the day, afternoons and evenings can more busy with leagues, tournaments, and various golf events (We do a lot with golf around here.). The mornings, however, are usually wide open. If you get there when the course opens, you can often play nine holes in about an hour.

That's perfect for golfers like me. I usually play about once a week and hit the driving range once a week. Every now and then I'll sneak in an extra round, but I'm still trying to maintain the illusion that I have self-control.

I was out there this morning with a mug of coffee in hand. The temperature was in the high 60s or low 70s, the sun was just starting to come up, and a few deer were wandering around the course. The deer looked relaxed and confident, which is more than I can say for most golfers standing over a three-foot putt.

By the time I finished my nine holes, my coffee was gone and I had enjoyed a peaceful hour outdoors. One of the best things about morning golf is the quiet. There aren't many people around, so you can move quickly from hole to hole. It's almost like golf polo—minus the horses, the speed, and the athletic ability.

One thing I've noticed is that my swing continues to improve. I've never been a long-ball hitter. Nobody has ever mistaken me for a professional golfer, and if they did, they would quickly realize their mistake. What I am getting better at is accuracy. It turns out that hitting the ball down the fairway is a useful strategy. Revolutionary, I know.

The biggest lesson I've learned is that golf isn't really about swinging harder. For years, my baseball background convinced me that the secret was to attack the ball with maximum force. The ball responded by launching itself in directions that appeared to violate several laws of physics. Once I learned to use my hips, stay smooth, and let the club do the work, things improved dramatically. It's amazing how much farther the ball goes when you stop trying to kill it.

I even managed to stay close to one of my golfing buddies. Officially, he beat me by four strokes. Unofficially, he beat me by two, because at least two of those strokes involved mulligans. He claims mulligans are a legitimate part of golf. I maintain that mulligans belong in the same category as leprechauns, pixies, and Bigfoot—fun to talk about, but not recognized by serious scorekeepers.

To be fair, he has been playing that same course three times a week for decades. Given that experience advantage, only losing by a couple of "real" strokes feels like a victory to me.

If you're checking out golf around the Escanaba area, take a look at the courses listed below and the article on golf technology. Some of the technology is impressive, although I'm not sure I need a computer, a satellite, and artificial intelligence to tell me that my last shot landed in the woods.

One final thought: technology can make golf easier, but easier isn't always better. Walking a course can burn hundreds of calories and provides a surprisingly good workout. I admit that I occasionally ride in a cart because I'm conducting important research on golf-cart comfort and beverage stability. Still, walking has its advantages.

Sometimes the best technology is a comfortable pair of shoes, a good cup of coffee, and enough golf balls to survive the front nine.

A link to Escanaba Golf Courses

You might want to read this article on the AI Technology Golf

Thinking about this electric golf caddy I'm wonder if we would walk more, get more exercise, if we didn't have to carry the clubs? It is a touch pricey but then again if you want to get into shape and walk it might do the trick. Electric Golf Cady