one pure shot

I've been an off and on golfer for roughly 30 years. I'm not good. I'll never be anything other than a mediocre amateur at best There are times at which the game is excruciating, beyond mere frustration. At times there is very little that keeps you going. There are times in most rounds where I think to myself, or worse yet, announce to all that can hear "I'm never playing this stupid game again!" Expletives flying left and right. club heads slammed on the turf. Sulking in the cart, scanning the horizon for the drink girl thinking to myself that I'll pick up the ball and just enjoy the scenery while slugging a beer. But then I pull myself together, try to block out all of my negativity, and address the ball. Then it happens. One pure shot. One moment of zen. Pure bliss as I stripe a drive down the middle of the fairway. Outdriving the whole group. All of my doubt and self loathing fades, and I'm back in it. The love of the game comes flooding back to me, and for that moment I'm an ace. I have the God given natural talent that will one day afford me a spot on the senior tour. I could get a coach and work my ass off hitting thousands of shots on the range, a million putts a week. I'd be the picture of athleticism, focusing my gym routine around gaining yardage to every shot I take. I smugly saunter to my ball for my second shot that will no doubt be dead solid perfect. I'll cozy it right up to the pin for a tap in birdie. I address the ball, take a deep breath, swing... and skull it right in the water. Fuck this game.