In praise of outings
It occurred to me yesterday why there are so many golf outings during a season: They work.
I played in one yesterday and have been reflecting ever since about what a good experience it was, and what a good idea the whole concept of outings is. And this comes from a golfer who can be skeptical about this genre--I used to think it was just an excuse for people to get out of work and drink beer during the day.
Wrong. The event I played in yesterday couldn't have been better. The details: It was the St. Jude's Golf Outing for the benefit of the Outreach program at the parish in Mastic Beach. It was at Rock Hill in Manorville.
The weather was perfect, the course was in great shape, the organization of the outing was impeccable. Everybody was in good spirits, although nobody picked up on the joke when the pastor, Father Greg Yacyshyn, opened his pre-round remarks to the golfers by saying, "Now, I've got a sermon..." I got a chance to play with two guys whom I never had met, but who proved to be great golf partners. Play moved along, too, mostly because it was a scramble format. That was fine, too, even for someone who admittedly is hopelessly hung up on a final score. (for the record,we played as a threesome among foursomes and shot 72--not good enough for a prize but honorable, we thought).
It struck me that a lot of good gets done at these outing. There is comraderie, competition, some decent golf and much work for causes that need the backing. St. Jude Outreach, for instance, helps people who can use material and/or emotional support. That is, there is a spirit that gets generated every time someone writes a check to play in an outing or to sponsor a tee sign.
Thank goodness there is such a thing as the golf outing. Thank goodness golf is such a great vehicle for the goodness. Know that I'll try the best I can to let readers know about all the outings that come across my desk in the weekly LI Golfbeat columns.