Many years ago, I had a serious health scare. It included months of treatment as part of a clinical trial and a single-digit chance of survival. After I came out on the other side, my life’s philosophy changed a bit. I skydived, bungee jumped, and whitewater rafted among other pursuits. From the outside it looked like I was either an adrenaline junkie or just didn’t care about life and death any longer. It was neither; I was just ready to face my fears. I was terrified of all those things but didn’t want to keep myself from trying them.

Now here we are a couple decades later. I’m older, wiser, not as nimble. I was ready to face another fear though: golf. Don’t laugh. There was some real trepidation. I’ve always loved golf. That is, I’ve always enjoyed watching golf: tuning in on television, being at tournaments, riding along in a cart and enjoying the atmosphere of the clubhouse at the “19th hole.” I’d swung a club a time or two, hacked around a bit, but I’d been too intimidated to really put myself in the mix. It was time for that to change. It was time to face my fears and really learn to play the game!

Last year after an amazing trip to Pinehurst that included me dropping the ball on a few holes to hack it up to the green, I really wanted to be a player. Not an observer or tag-along; an actual player. This meant fitting instruction and practice into my busy schedule and getting ready for some great trips where – even if scared – I’d be teeing it up for myself.

Want to come along? I’ll share my lessons, practice stats, equipment, fashion finds and travels! I’m going to face my fears and learn a game I already know I love.

“Of all the hazards, fear is the worst” – Sam Snead

7th Hole at Pebble Beach. Taken in 2010 when I was “along for the ride.”