How I Discovered to Cease Worrying and Love the Double That means
They are saying golf is an effective stroll spoiled, however I’d argue it’s truly an excellent obsession refined. My title is Sarah, and I’ve what you would possibly name a “golf downside” – although I choose to consider it as a “golf answer” to the existential dread of contemporary life.
It began innocently sufficient. A company team-building occasion on the native municipal course was weekend rounds, which advanced into annual golf journeys, which someway culminated in me realizing the yardage from each sprinkler head at my dwelling course AND having the ability to diagnose why my Volkswagen Golf makes that bizarre clicking noise (spoiler: it was the CV joint).
The Automotive Plot Twist That Began It All
Right here’s the place my story takes an surprising flip that even M. Night time Shyamalan would name “a bit a lot.” After years of cramming my golf equipment into numerous rental vehicles, rideshares, and one memorable Uber the place the motive force made me tip the bag boy, I lastly determined to get my very own wheels.
Naturally, when I discovered myself on the Volkswagen dealership, one mannequin virtually known as out to me: the Golf.
Now, earlier than you roll your eyes on the cosmic coincidence, hear me out. The VW Golf and golf the game have extra in widespread than only a title that causes infinite confusion at dinner events and makes auto-correct my mortal enemy.
The DIY Mechanic’s Confession : How I Turned a Two-Golf Professional)
Right here’s the place I most likely lose some credibility: I preserve my VW Golf myself. Sure, you learn that proper. The identical one who can’t repair a slice someway thinks she will repair an engine. Plot twist: I’m truly higher at one than the opposite, and it’s not the one you’d count on.
It began innocently sufficient – a burnt-out headlight right here, an oil change there. However like golf, automotive upkeep turned an obsession. The distinction is that after I screw up automotive upkeep, AAA reveals up. After I screw up golf, I simply lose extra balls and query my life decisions whereas strolling via tall grass.
My secret weapon? A digital workshop guide from workshopmanuals.com. It’s like having a caddie for my automotive – besides as a substitute of studying greens, it’s studying diagnostic codes and telling me which wrench to make use of. The workshop guide breaks down every part from routine upkeep to advanced repairs with the form of element that may make even essentially the most obsessive golf teacher jealous.
One of the best half? Not like my golf sport, following the workshop guide truly produces constant, dependable outcomes. Who knew that following directions might work so effectively? (My golf professional remains to be engaged on this idea with me.)
Why the Volkswagen Golf is Really Good for Golfers
First, let’s discuss trunk area – or as Volkswagen calls it, “boot area,” as a result of apparently Germans and Brits conspired to make automotive purchasing extra complicated than studying a putt on a triple-tiered inexperienced. The Golf’s cargo space matches my full set of golf equipment with room to spare for my assortment of damaged tees, the emergency sleeve of balls I fake I don’t want, and that rain go well with I’ve by no means truly worn however carry in all places “simply in case.”
However right here’s the place it will get fascinating: the Volkswagen Golf has been round since 1974, making it older than Tiger Woods and extra dependable than my placing stroke. Over eight generations, Volkswagen has offered greater than 35 million Golfs worldwide. That’s roughly one Golf for each one who’s ever stated “I ought to take up golf” after which purchased costly golf equipment that now dwell of their storage subsequent to that train bike from 2019.
The present VW Golf produces between 147-315 horsepower relying on the variant – which is coincidentally about the identical vary as my emotional horsepower on the golf course, from “zen grasp approaching the primary tee” to “barely contained rage after the water hazard on 16.”
My Biggest Golf Love Affairs (The Course Type)
Pebble Seashore Golf Hyperlinks stays my holy grail. Positive, it prices greater than my month-to-month mortgage, however the place else are you able to four-putt whereas seals choose you from the rocks under? There’s one thing fantastically humbling about shanking a 7-iron into the Pacific whereas paying $550 for the privilege. The 18th gap is pure poetry – assuming your poetry includes numerous cursing and the occasional thrown membership. At the very least my VW Golf was there within the car parking zone afterward, able to consolation me with heated seats and German engineering.
Augusta Nationwide – okay, I’ve by no means truly performed there (surprising, I do know), however I did as soon as drive by it very slowly in my Volkswagen Golf whereas consuming a pimento cheese sandwich. That counts for one thing, proper? The azaleas have been pretty, and safety was surprisingly understanding about my “analysis functions” clarification. My Golf’s tinted home windows most likely helped with the entire “informal drive-by” aesthetic.
St. Andrews Outdated Course is the place I discovered that Scottish tough isn’t simply grass – it’s a life-style alternative. Taking part in there felt like getting into golf historical past, if golf historical past concerned me dropping six balls in pot bunkers and severely questioning my life decisions. The locals have been type sufficient to elucidate that “wee dunt” means “horrible shot” in a number of languages. Enjoyable reality: my workshop guide was surprisingly useful after I wanted to determine why my rental automotive stored stalling – apparently, even in Scotland, vehicles want oil modifications.
My native muni course, Pine Valley Public Hyperlinks (to not be confused with the well-known Pine Valley – this one has a scorching canine cart as a substitute of a Michelin-starred restaurant) holds a particular place in my coronary heart. It’s the place I discovered that golf is 90% psychological, and the opposite half is bodily. The greens are slower than my grandmother, however at $35 for 18 holes, I can afford to three-putt with dignity. Plus, the car parking zone is the place I first efficiently modified my VW Golf’s air filter utilizing solely my workshop guide and sheer willpower.
The Lovely Irony
There’s one thing poetic about driving my Golf to golf programs. It’s just like the universe’s little joke – besides this joke has wonderful German engineering and will get 32 MPG freeway.
My VW Golf has been to extra golf programs than some touring execs. From daybreak patrol on the muni to weekend warriors’ paradise, my trusty hatchback has hauled my golf equipment, my hopes, and my crushing disappointments throughout three states and counting.
The heated seats are excellent for these early morning tee instances when the frost remains to be on the fairways. The infotainment system helps me calculate precisely how a lot cash I’ve spent on golf balls versus how a lot I’ve saved by doing my very own oil modifications utilizing my trusty workshop guide (spoiler alert: it’s not even shut, however at the least I’m constant in my poor monetary choices).
Life Classes from Golf and Golfs
Each golf the sport and the Volkswagen Golf have taught me useful life classes:
- Consistency issues greater than perfection – whether or not you’re attempting to interrupt 80 or simply attempting to begin your engine on chilly mornings with out consulting the workshop guide 3 times.
- Upkeep is vital – neglect your swing or your timing belt at your individual peril. Each require common consideration and sometimes skilled intervention.
- Typically you want skilled assist – some issues require a golf professional, others require a licensed VW technician, and a few days you want each.
- Benefit from the journey – whether or not you’re strolling the fairways or cruising the highways in your VW Golf, it’s about extra than simply reaching your vacation spot.
- The best guide makes every part simpler – whether or not it’s a golf instruction guide or a workshop guide, having good steering is half the battle.
The Backside Line
Do I like golf as a result of I drive a Golf, or do I drive a Golf as a result of I like golf? Actually, at this level, I’m undecided it issues. What I do know is that each have enriched my life in methods I by no means anticipated.
My Volkswagen Golf will get me to the golf course reliably, holds all my tools, and offers me one thing to tinker with when the climate’s too unhealthy for precise golf. Plus, it’s given me essentially the most dad-joke-worthy dialog starter in automotive historical past. The workshop guide retains it operating easily, and my golf golf equipment maintain me humble.
So the subsequent time somebody asks about my hobbies, I can truthfully say I’m keen about Golf – and allow them to determine which one I imply. In any case, life’s too brief for disambiguation when you may have double the enjoyable with one completely ambiguous reply.
Now in the event you’ll excuse me, I must go observe my brief sport. The automotive’s operating nice due to my workshop guide, however my placing might nonetheless use some work.
Sarah is a weekend warrior who has by no means met a golf pun she didn’t like or a mechanical downside she couldn’t Google her manner via (with assist from her trusty workshop guide). She may be discovered most weekends both on the course or underneath the hood – typically each in the identical day.
