In today’s culture everything is about the latest and the greatest; the bigger and the better. Everybody is so caught up in their hectic lives that they don’t have the time to stop and appreciate the beauty of a massive green lawn with dandelions bursting through the packed dirt underneath; they don’t have time took look out over the this carpet of green and witness the sunset as a background for crashing waves on a beach. Even I don’t have much time in my life to take a timeout for such things but when I do I enjoy that time at the links in Bodega Bay. The golf course- a sanctuary for golfers and wildlife, waves and sunsets, laughter and frustration- is magnificent.
As I witnessed the golf course on that rare sunny day I noticed many things. One of those items was the attire that many of the golfers wore. Many of them had on brown slacks, a polo, and high quality Nike golf shoes. The golfers appeared to be very experienced with the game, but as I watched them tee of I found that they were rather horrific. I came to the conclusion that golf was merely their chance to display their “top of the line” golf clubs to their jealous friends. It was sad to see that Golf was turning into a sport of upper class “gentleman” rather than a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages in all social classes.
Bodega Bay suggests a very laid back lifestyle. One where you can lay back on the beach, read a book, or just soak up the sun. While golfing you get the same laid back feeling that you would at the beach. When you step out onto the golf course in Bodega all those worries from school and work are whisked away by the ping of the golf ball against your club. The course has a very open layout with bordered by vibrant colored flowers. If you look out past all the colors the immense Pacific Ocean stretches out into the horizon. However, all this beauty can be overshadowed by the massive, looming houses that surround each hole. Each house has a face made up of large windows and sharply sloped roofs that glare down upon you while playing. This residential area is given the profile of a high class neighborhood; a neighborhood that is trying to exclude all lower class to attend their golf course on a sunny afternoon. On top of the staggering housing market in the surrounding area the fee for a round of golf averages one hundred dollars per round. With the cost of everything being so high it makes it impossible for many people to live or play golf in Bodega. It is heart breaking to know that some people will miss out on the opportunity to witness and play on this luscious course. They will never get to understand the peacefulness of the place and listen to the waves crash and play on perfect grass and feel like they have escaped all their worries back at home.
The second thing I noticed about the course was the atmosphere. There were few people on the links the day of my visit so the course had a worry free feel to it. As I sat down in the golf cart I felt at ease; all that homework that I had waiting for me at home was out of my mind. I was in a state of complete relaxation. I believe that is why many people go golfing is to escape the world. The world is a machine, a cage, a trap. Our world is based on hard work and the philosophy of having to become bigger and better. But sometimes our lives require us to take a step back: our lives require the peace and harmony that is found at a golf course.
The world is one place and a golf course is another; one is paved with green grass and another is covered in tarry concrete. The golf course demands nothing of us just our time; the world demands everything of us plus our energy. Social class is an outward representation of ourselves, but Social class can not represent our inner selves; we should not be restricted by money, the use of money should be restricted by us. Golf should no longer be a game of gentlemen but a game for common men. Live, Love, Golf- the key to relaxation, the key to freedom.
- Sam F.
As I witnessed the golf course on that rare sunny day I noticed many things. One of those items was the attire that many of the golfers wore. Many of them had on brown slacks, a polo, and high quality Nike golf shoes. The golfers appeared to be very experienced with the game, but as I watched them tee of I found that they were rather horrific. I came to the conclusion that golf was merely their chance to display their “top of the line” golf clubs to their jealous friends. It was sad to see that Golf was turning into a sport of upper class “gentleman” rather than a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages in all social classes.
Bodega Bay suggests a very laid back lifestyle. One where you can lay back on the beach, read a book, or just soak up the sun. While golfing you get the same laid back feeling that you would at the beach. When you step out onto the golf course in Bodega all those worries from school and work are whisked away by the ping of the golf ball against your club. The course has a very open layout with bordered by vibrant colored flowers. If you look out past all the colors the immense Pacific Ocean stretches out into the horizon. However, all this beauty can be overshadowed by the massive, looming houses that surround each hole. Each house has a face made up of large windows and sharply sloped roofs that glare down upon you while playing. This residential area is given the profile of a high class neighborhood; a neighborhood that is trying to exclude all lower class to attend their golf course on a sunny afternoon. On top of the staggering housing market in the surrounding area the fee for a round of golf averages one hundred dollars per round. With the cost of everything being so high it makes it impossible for many people to live or play golf in Bodega. It is heart breaking to know that some people will miss out on the opportunity to witness and play on this luscious course. They will never get to understand the peacefulness of the place and listen to the waves crash and play on perfect grass and feel like they have escaped all their worries back at home.
The second thing I noticed about the course was the atmosphere. There were few people on the links the day of my visit so the course had a worry free feel to it. As I sat down in the golf cart I felt at ease; all that homework that I had waiting for me at home was out of my mind. I was in a state of complete relaxation. I believe that is why many people go golfing is to escape the world. The world is a machine, a cage, a trap. Our world is based on hard work and the philosophy of having to become bigger and better. But sometimes our lives require us to take a step back: our lives require the peace and harmony that is found at a golf course.
The world is one place and a golf course is another; one is paved with green grass and another is covered in tarry concrete. The golf course demands nothing of us just our time; the world demands everything of us plus our energy. Social class is an outward representation of ourselves, but Social class can not represent our inner selves; we should not be restricted by money, the use of money should be restricted by us. Golf should no longer be a game of gentlemen but a game for common men. Live, Love, Golf- the key to relaxation, the key to freedom.
- Sam F.
I still don't like golf, but I get why you like it now. You very clearly described the beauty of being able to plug out from the rest of the world on the golf course. And your comments on the classism in high-class golf courses were interesting. Solid work.
ReplyDeleteJack J