I don’t post on the Refuge often (long time listener, first time caller), but I felt compelled to do so after this weekend. I was really fortunate to win this year’s event, but I was even more fortunate to meet all of you and spend some time with/get to meet some truly great people.
I hope this post doesn’t come off as me taking a victory lap or oversharing, but I’ve been reflecting on this past weekend a lot and just maybe felt the need to share some perspective/my experience. Definitely feel free to skip this post since it’s pretty dumb and introspective, but don’t say I didn’t warn you in advance.
I picked up golf about 2 years ago - I’ve played a lot of team sports my whole life, but tore my Achilles and then broke my other leg over the past 2 years, so can’t run and jump much, can’t really walk without it hurting most days, etc, etc.
Side note: I have approximately 10 screws, two plates, and two cadaver ligaments in my lower body, which is the part of me that most people seem to like the best (myself included)
Regardless, I picked up golf as a way to still try and get out of the house, practice walking, and try to challenge myself - from the very beginning this community has been incredible in terms of being understanding, inclusive, and just plain fucking awesome. I can’t think of a lot of things in life I look forward to more than NLU events now, which is crazy in retrospect because the Cornstalk last year was my first ever event, and my fifth/sixth ever round of real golf. I think I maybe broke 115 (shoutout to my playing partners for letting me hit six tee balls on 17 without hitting the green on last year’s second day). I am incredibly thankful and appreciative of everyone for their kindness and camaraderie from the first moment I ever showed up at an NLU event.
Overall, I guess I’m sharing this because I want to shout everyone out for how amazing youall are. I know we are all golf sickos from different parts of the country, backgrounds, and walks of life, but I wanted to take a beat and recognize everyone for how incredible and beautiful of an environment you all create. This group is truly special and I’m really fortunate to have found it, and I hope other people feel the same way.
Thanks to @kcurry11 for selling me his old Mizuno irons (new players should absolutely play blades, totally agree in retrospect) and getting me hooked on golf. Thanks to @bignanski for all the blood, sweat and tears that you put into organizing this amazing weekend, being a stand up dude, and for all you do online. Shoutout to @craftylefty for being an awesome cartner and showing me that you can be nice to yourself while playing golf, and @mofo313 for teaching me the ways of Lie Angle Balancing ™.
Additionally, thanks @bkentfield for being an awesome roost captain, @Privatecollection for the kind words of encouragement, and @redbeard_golf for teaching me to hit a flop shot.
Hopefully will see everyone before a year from now, but if not, I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again for Cornstalk 3, and having many beers on the Landmand patio! Cheers all!
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