As a writer and a golfer, I found joy in creating a main character with a passion for golf. Here’s an excerpt of a chat between Par Parker and her mother from my debut novel, A Tight Grip…
In an uncharacteristic moment of blissful connection, [Par’s mother asked], “What do you love about golf?” Excited about her mother’s attention, Par thought for a moment. “I love the finesse of it, the strategy of playing each hole smart, the shot making, adapting to weather, analyzing my competitors’ strengths and weaknesses. I love the fact that I can outdrive a man twice my size. There are always surprises in every round, surprises like sinking a long birdie putt, skipping the ball over water, getting a favorable bounce away from a hazard, holing out a chip shot, and the ultimate—making a hole in one.”
“A hole in one. What are the odds?”
“Probably a million to one.”
“And you’ve had two.”
Par nodded. She had her mother’s full attention and didn’t want to stop. “I love the thrill of winning. I love the press and the attention from people, even strangers, for what I do myself and not for being the daughter of Mr. Chevrolet.”
And yes, these feelings Par has expressed about golf are my feelings (author privilege). The fiction comes in with the ‘two’ holes in one, I’ve had only one, but there’s still a lot of golf left in me!
Cheers for National Golf Day! Wishing you many pars and birdies!!
