When golf courses started reopening post Covid-19, celebrations were seen all over social media and messaging apps. Correction – The opening line should have included reopening “during” corona virus, because as things stand, there is no “post” in plain sight. That, of course, is a trivial matter to golfers. What matters to them is the announcement of the reopening – during or post corona virus does not concern them.
Masochism, the Defining Trait
It seemed as though all members of golf clubs that announced their reopening had a hole in one. Covid -19 may well be the worst pandemic in the last 100 years, but for golfers the bigger pandemic always was being deprived of play. So, nothing could please them more than being able to get on the course and get their fix. Seeing where the golf ball ends up rather than being smashed into a screen is a different matter altogether. The pleasure derived from seeing a splash on the course as opposed to sensing a hack into a mattress is much greater to the golfer. Masochism, after all, continues to be the defining trait for golfers.
More Good News
And there’s more good news in store for such pleasure seeking golfers. They will now be able to pay more for such inflictions. Golf is set to become more expensive as golf courses need to comply with various restrictions, brought about by the rampant coronavirus. Pushing hard for golf to re-open on account of the “better social-distancing” is bound to result in increased operations costs at golf courses. But, then again, most golfers are more concerned about smashing the golf ball into pulp with all their might. Well, to be fair, at the very moment preceding the explosion, they are only thinking of the hole. Where it ends up is a consequence to be experienced only later. Needless to add, this experience is a joyous one, given the aforementioned trait of golfers that endears them to the game.
Ah ! The Joys of Caddying Discovered…
Increased costs is not the only joy golfers can look forward to during the time of the coronavirus. In Asia, where golfers are terribly used to caddies will now be able to dispense with them. They will now be able to carry their own golf bags, clean their golf clubs, replace and refill divots and repair pitch marks. Many, who depended on their caddy to tee the ball up, will now have the pleasure of their own descent. During this act, they can even line up the ball in the direction they want to hack it. And if it rains or even when it is sunny – they can unfold, hold and fold their umbrella and even run after it when it flies away. Ah, such joy!.
More to Come
They will eagerly await the moment when they can start raking bunkers, removing and replacing pins. They would want all that and more right now. The fact that the golf round will become longer will just be the icing on the cake. Imagine getting to pay more, work harder and feel miserable for a lot longer and have no caddy to blame. That’s the stuff of dreams for masochists.
The Downside
The only downside could be that they may not get too much opportunity to whine about it. With lockers and food & beverage outlets restricted at golf clubs, they will have to be out quickly after their round.
