People take up golf for a variety of reasons.

Hubby introduced me to the sport back in Canada. Good thing we only played at “hacker” courses where you didn’t need a membership, and the club—or others—didn’t care how well you played, as looking back at those rounds, I was embarrassingly horrible at it.

Constantly swinging and missing a golf ball can be extremely frustrating. Or when your ball lands into a mean bunker. But, when you do connect and that little white ball soars high and far across the course or drops in the hole, you’re hooked. That one magical moment will keep you coming back to play.

Five years after we moved to Germany, a friend asked if Ralph, Tuscan, and I would be interested in a Familien-Schnupperkurs (family trial lessons) at Golf-Club Jersbek—a beautiful parks course nestled in a village near where we live. Once a week for a few months we met up with other families for informal lessons with the course’s golf pro. It was a lot of fun and reminded Ralph and I how much we enjoyed the game.

The Platzreife requirement

To play golf in Germany, you need to have a license called a “Platzreife”—the only country in Europe requiring this. It involves a rigorous series of theory lessons and written test. You’re also taken on the course to test your ability to adequately hit the ball, chip, and putt. This license is required even for foreign visitors, unless you can show proof of a reasonable handicap and being a member of a golf club.

Ralph and I initially thought this requirement was absurd, but now appreciate having learned the rules and etiquette as it makes a round more enjoyable, especially when other players behind and in front of you play with similar courtesy. But there are still occasions when someone hits into us. Teeing up their ball where it landed is a gentle reminder not to do it again.

Shortly after Ralph and I were Platzreife worthy, we became members at Jersbek. With less than a 10-minute drive from our home, we play at least a few times a week and most weekends. Courses in Germany are open all year round—winter too. Most clubs like ours have different tee boxes and smaller greens starting in late fall and the winter months, which changes the game strategy but is still quite enjoyable to play.

After getting my golf membership, it took a few years and many more lessons with a patient golf pro before I felt more confident playing. And I’m still working on my game. This perseverance makes you empathize with newer golf enthusiasts struggling on the course because at one point that person was you.

A hobby for all ages

Golf use to have a reputation of being an elitist sport that only the rich and retired played. Today, golf is attracting people of all ages and is not a huge financial investment if you regularly play.

There are 10-year-olds and I’m sure younger that can drive farther than me. 80-year-olds as well. Ralph and I played with a man of 81 years a few weeks ago who generally out drove us both and walked 18 holes faster than us. He was more fit than most in their twenties and looked far less than his physical age. He’s an inspiration to us all.

It makes me smile seeing a range of ages on the golf course. At Jersbek, you rarely see someone using a cart which is a testament of good health.

Falling in love with the game

Golf is one of those sneaky sports that can make you think you’ve finally got the hang of it, and the next round you fall completely apart.

That’s one of the insane reasons why I love golf. It’s the yin watching the ball circle and miss the cup and the dreaded thud sound and pain in your arm as your club collides with the ground vs. the yang of the sound when a golf ball slowly bounces into the hole or the perfect ping from your club after a perfect swing.

It’s a constant test of my patience and challenges me to react calmly to a missed shot and try harder with the next one.

Golf forces you to be in the now. If you’re thinking about what’s for dinner or the beach vacation you had a few years ago, your distracted past/future thoughts will likely mess up your swing. When my mind wonders, I look up in the sky and simply admire the clouds.

I also love that it’s an individual sport. Once you’ve reached a reasonable skill level, you can play a round with others that have a much lower handicap without feeling threatened, as they’re playing their own game.

If you love the thrill of competition, you can play tournaments. After playing a few, I discovered tournaments are too much pressure for me. Or you can play golf alone and enjoy the solitude. It’s also a great way to meet new people who share a similar interest. This diversity in playing preferences is the beauty of the sport.

Golf and vacation make a beautiful combination, as it allows you to experience other clubs where you live or in other countries and provides a nice combination of sport and relaxation after.

What I love most about golf?

Being in nature.

Soaking up the sunshine surrounded by trees, flowers, butterflies, and water (when my ball isn’t there). Seeing rabbits and deer scamper across the course is incredibly soulful. It’s a walking meditation. I love watching the season changes, and how the fluctuation in weather has an influence on your swing. A body after 18 holes of golf is a happy one—anytime of the year.

I’m grateful to golf and having a hobby that Ralph and I can enjoy together. It’s an ideal way to wind down and celebrate Feierabend (end of the workday) or the weekend.

Even though the 18^th hole is your last chance for a birdie, there’s always another round to look forward to.