the divot

Back On CourseI played my first round of golf for this season on Sunday, Sept. 13.That’s right. In one of the most glorious summers ever in Chicago, I didn’t play until its final days.The cause: a visit from an old frenemy, sciatica.Those who have had lower back issues can feel my pain. Those who haven’t can thank the golf gods for looking after them.My time away from the game gave me the opportunity to think about what I missed, what was important about the game.And what is important has changed through the years. There was a day when, if my score didn’t start with the numeral 7, I wasn’t very happy.Now, what matters more than anything is the camaraderie.There was a day when, if my score didn’t start with the numeral 7, I wasn’t very happy. Now, what matters more than anything is the camaraderie.
Alternatively said, the banter. The constant back-and-forth needling that starts on the first tee among people who have played together for more than 30 years.There is the 30,000-foot stuff: The Dow. COVID-19. Vaccines. Brexit. Trump. Russia. China. West Coast fires. These are typical front-nine topics, before the limbs are fully loosened.Then the golf course: The greens are too fast or too slow. The rough is too high or too low. What happened to that tree in front of the 11th green? Why did they change the soup recipe at the halfway house?Then comes the important stuff as you make the turn: The Cubs. Da Bears. Never the White Sox.The golf stuff: What’s the matter with Jordan Spieth? How cool was Harding Park? Bandon Dunes looked fabulous on television ... let’s go.The cultural stuff: Springsteen’s new album. How do you stream Hamilton? Who is Jennifer Lopez? What’s Venmo?And the local stuff: When did he die? She’s dating who?And finally, the grandchildren. Oh, the grandchildren. Superheroes all, at ages 2 to 5. World-beaters and future statesmen and women.It’s good to be back, even if the score I post starts with an 8.E-MAIL JIMJim NugentWhatsInsideCoverWhat's InsideWith Victory, ValidationCallaway Mack Daddy CB Wedges 092120the divotGolf Pass 092120Pinehurst CVB 092120Plus ExcerptPicture ThisCallaway Stars and Stripes 092120TPC Vacations 092120A Quick 9Callaway Bertha B21 092120Golf Pride 092120Honma Courts Discerning Golfers With New Distance Iron LineCallaway Watch This 092120Arccos Caddie AppGear GiveawayEdison Wedges 092120Range RatKBS 092120adidas Golf 092120U.S. OpenRésumés Mean Little At Winged FootWolff’s Promising Start Turns SourPicture This: Matthew WolffPicture This: Rough StuffPGA of America 092120PGA Journeys 092120Open De PortugalPGA Jr League 092120Cambia Portland ClassicLPGA 092120Jacobsen Podcast 092120StatisticsPostScriptMasthead