The Ninth Hole On The Marquess

When I was coaching rugby I used to muse on the glorious imperfectability of the sport. Well on Saturday just gone I crafted one of those small but beautiful moments of perfection that make another game, golf, just about bearable.

easy peasy

The ninth measures 441 yards and curves gently to the left. What you do is this: you hit an acceptable drive to the top of the hill but you find the route to the green marginally blocked by a fine oak. You have a carry of 199 yards to the front of the green and the flag is cut perilously close to that front. You choose your 19 degree utiity club and swing calmly but marginally outside the line in the hope of a high left-handed fade. The ball arcs beautifully and by the merest fraction carries the chasm in front of the green. It travels the requisite 199 yards and comes to rest an inch off the putting surface but only eight feet from the pin. You retain your composure and gently coax the resulting putt into the hole. A birdie!

All else is dross but that small moment will keep you playing for at least a little while longer.