Having Fun on the 19th Hole
How many golfers do you know who get so uptight playing the game that they eventually wind up heaving their golf clubs right into the water hazard that ate about 1,000 premium golf balls?
It’s rare, but it does happen.
Most golfers understand that this is a sport where Saturday morning trash talk and 19th hole stories make the day’s mulligans and 5-putts all worth it. If you’re new to the game, then you need to know that while most golfers take their score seriously, the minute they step into the clubhouse, also called the 19th hole, they unwind with tall tales and a little good-natured ribbing.
The 19th hole is famous for being prone to bragging rights – “I couldn’t believe it when I landed on that par 5 in 2 and 1-putted!” Others exaggerate with such claims as, “That squirrel ran right up and grabbed my ball and took it up in the tree so I had to drop and take a shot.”
It’s all a bunch of fun, food, and relaxation – and it adds about an hour or more onto your game, so be sure to prepare your spouse for your 19th hole shenanigans so they don’t expect you to walk in the door right when a 4-hour game should be over.
The 19th hole can also provide some anxiety for those ending their game, since many are positioned on the course to overlook the 18th green. You might encounter a crowd of onlookers and get the feeling you’re a Tiger Woods in the making.
When you start your daily or weekly ritual of joining your foursome and other golfers in the clubhouse, try to keep it fun and light. Some golfers don’t like being ribbed about their shortcomings, so until you get to know their personality, make some self-deprecating jokes and be the fall guy for the fun.
The 19th hole is like a tea party for grown men and women. It’s been dubbed “the easiest hole to play” because basically, you’re just unwinding and having fun. You choose whether you’ll be bragging or griping about your last 18 holes.
By the way, you might also find that the 19th hole (on some courses) is a temporary par 3 or 4 that gets opened up when another hole is having construction or landscaping done to it, but in most cases, it’s the bar in the clubhouse!
