Casa Velas - Press Room

I haven't held a golf club in my hands in decades.  And to be truthful, I never played a game or even got to the first hole.

But older now and sensing that I may one day, in the near future, need a hobby, I thought golf may fill the bill.

The exceptional concierge at Casa Velas, booked an hour lesson with Antonio, a true pro of a certain age, and the golf club just a 5 minute shuttle ride from Casa Velas.

Antonio, in his mid 50s, immediately  intimidated me with his 25 year old body, ingratiating smile, patience, and confident that anyone could hit a ball. Perhaps not as had continued to do when he started to show me the steps.  He made hitting 150 yards easy.

Four of us in the group lesson, were given either an iron  or a wood on which there was a number  (my iron was #7) which, Antonio assumed we knew that each had a reason. But with some embarrassed looking students, he explained as much as we could absorb.   We walked to the green area where there were about 25 ball prepared for each of us.

It was a pathetic start.  First Antonio showed us how to hold the club -over and over again.  "Make a ‘V' with your fingers on your left hand, now place the other hand and fingers in a ‘V" over them.  Hold the club tightly with your left and swing with slightly bent elbow." Okay, that was done.

It surely sounded easy as I followed, impeccably, his orders.  At first I was given an iron club and a tee where I placed the white dimpled balls. 

Ah, that was easy.  But then I seemed to have started a small cemetery plot in the turf. One after another, I tried to hit that white round ball but never made great contact.  Then suddenly, with the suggestions of Antonio, I actually hit the ball but I could have been bowling, since contact after contact, they just rolled on to what was left of the grass around my footing.

After about 10 tries I had a triumph, I think due to my being ashamed at my inadequacy.  I actually hit 4 balls, one after another, in the air, above the ground, but none exactly flying high into the air.

Now feeling more confident, I was given a large headed wood club, I can't recall the number in all my excitement.  Suddenly it seemed as though I might have a chance of actually learning and really wanting to play this obviously difficult game. My hand eye coordination was my lame excuse for not being better. And when I watched one of my colleagues, she too, a newbie, was hitting them high into the air, perhaps 25 feet from where we were.  Becca was a natural from the start.

By the end of this hour lesson, I knew the only thing I had in common with Tiger Woods was that my maiden name was Woods.

At that moment, I knew I would have to decide on another old age hobby and activity.  This was definitely going to be my last ever lesson and my farewell to the greens, the roughs, the links and all the areas of the golf course that I would never step foot on again.

But I give kudos to Antonio. He never smirked and his patience was outstanding.  Next stop, I'll try my hand at bridge.  Maybe not such a great idea since I detest card games!