Golf is All About the Memories!

/ The Grateful Golfer

DSCF3983About 20 years ago, my Mom decided I needed a special gift to commemorate the milestone of ten years service within the Royal Canadian Air Force. As I continue to serve to this day, golf has provided many exciting experiences through the years. I have talked about those times before and continue to think fondly of those memories. Of all the golfing ‘stuff’ I have collected or received, this putter, which she had specially made, is one of my favorite and cherished mementos.

I am pretty sure most avid golfers have a collection of golf paraphernalia that makes them proud! It might be a signed hat; their hole in one ball displayed on their mantle or a picture or selfie with a golfing celebrity. Regardless of what the unique object is, it is special to the owner because of the memory it invokes. There are many fanatics who collect lots of golfing ‘stuff’ and love each and every piece, however, as much as I love the game, I have only a few cherished treasures.

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Old RCAF Collar Dog inlaid in the face of the putter.

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Wooded headed putter hand made.

For me, it is not really about the physical items, but more so, the memories. I can remember my first hole in one, golfing with an astronaut, and teaching my daughter to swing a golf club, like it was yesterday! I can remember winning golf tournaments with my Mom and how excited she would get when we played together (win or lose). All of my memories bring a smile to my face, and help me remember why golf is an important part of my life.

Looking at my collection of special golfing mementos from time to time, I always fade to the memories associated with them. For me, it is not about the stuff, but the joyous memories they hold.

For those collectors of all things golf, what memories are associated with your ‘stuff’?

What is your favorite memory – we would all like to know.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links.

8 thoughts on “Golf is All About the Memories!”

  1. Jim,

    Very cool, thanks for sharing!!

    I’ve certainly got a few things collecting dust in the basement like old clubs and putters from when I was a kid. It’ll be interesting to go through it all one day! Other than that just a few saved balls from particular achievements…first eagle, first round under par, etc

    Cheers!
    Josh

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  3. I don’t have much myself – I’ve yet to even play a tournament but I get where you’re coming from and hope to have some one day. One thing i do have is a PING key chain given to me by a stranger in a public park about 2 years ago. I was practicing my pitch shots between a tennis court and a baseball field trying to drop some balls into a practice chipping net despite people looking at me like ‘why is he playing golf in a public park?’ . It was a big park and no one was around much so I figured what the heck. I don’t do that anymore after some of the stares I received but still – this stranger came up to me and gave me a Ping key chain and said to me ‘Keep it Up! It’s great to see a rebel spirit – even tho’ your grip is all wrong.’ Apparently he used to golf on tour (didn’t say at what level) and used to get a lot of free stuff from vendors and he had a bunch of those key chains. anyway – it inspired me to look up golf grip techniques and sorta helped me start my journey towards educating myself more seriously for this sport. i’ve kept it to this day.

    Congrats – what a cool and touching memory and i hope to have one like that one day.

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  4. Jim, that hand made putter is nice! you will treasure it forever.

    I don’t have a lot of physical stuff in the form of equipment mementos; mostly the memories. My three favorites: The first time I broke 60 for nine holes when I was a kid – thought I had ARRIVED – LOL! First time I broke 80, and meeting Arnold Palmer on the 18th at BayHill with my son while we were on vacation, just by chance.

    Great post as usual; thanks!

    Brian

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