Oh Boy, it’s good to be back!

The news broke on Friday, phone calls were made

The waiting was over for a game to be played

The message was simple from each spouse in the know

Go with God, and go quickly, but for God’s sakes please go!

My clubs had stood sentry like a military guard

And no lawn was left from games in the yard

For over three months it has been gloom and doom

There’s only so many reruns or lessons on Zoom.

But now weapons were polished, it was off to do battle

With a take away coffee from the local Seattle

To see the wide fairways and breathe the air free

Like the PGA players, we were “back on the tee.”

Have your temperature tested, pray that you’re not too hot

Hope you’re hot on the links, but know that you’re not

The club staff amazing, with a new range of tasks

Their shining eyes smiling with smiles covered by masks.

A bruising of elbows, knuckles knocked in the cold

Warm hearted greetings, welcome back to the fold

It has all been too long, this feeling of longing

Much grateful thanks for this sense of belonging.

From the very first shank, to one topped in the dam

I couldn’t help thinking how grateful I am

Whilst socially distant, I could lower my buff

And delight in taking long walks in the rough.

The fresh air was glorious…so I played it again

Without swearing or throwing my club in the drain

I took on new shots, why not give it a crack?

‘Coz it matters not, it’s just good to be back!

It was like I’d discovered a brand-new ball game

And with no caddies there, there was no one to blame

Whether lining up third putts or from the roots of a tree

And missing three footers held a feeling of glee.

The challenge of sand shots were there for the taking

From a size twelve footprint from an absence of raking

Ball ‘gainst the lip? Come on, give it a try!

Today there’s be nothing called an unlucky lie.

No threat of pink gins, for the bars are still shut

No verbal abuse, just ‘Oh dear’ and ‘Tut- tut’

Smash two out of bounds and your fifth in the water

Without ‘would’a or could’a or should’a or ought’a.

When a fierce competitor says “Hey, take a mully”

It’s all about friendship with neither spoil nor sully

Though for many it feels though our swings are in tatters

Perhaps today helped us to reflect on what matters?

To walk in mid-winter wearing shorts in the sun

And remember that golf is about having fun

To feel a sense of belonging to a like minded group

And fill the stomachs with hot ham and pea soup.

It’s a small step, but at least it’s in a forward direction

As the world’s wounds recover from this nasty infection

We may find many hazards which get in our way

Keep our heads and our humour and live day by day.

To make progress we have to get more right than wrong

Our leaders need to stand up and be strong

And if our economy can get back on track

We’ll say:

“Oh boy, it’s good to be back.”

Steve Hall

(written on the day of opening of SA golf courses 13th June 2020)