The summer has been nonstop, and I finally managed to get out and play a round of golf. This golf season has been nonexistent for me. I went to Top Golf and a golf simulator a few months ago, but that has been the extent of my golfing this year.

My debut golf round this season was at Fox Hollow in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. I thought it was my first time playing the course, but a certain explicit sign and statue put up by the course’s unhappy neighbor next to Hole 11 seemed familiar.

This also happened to be the hole I parred. Every other hole I bogeyed, double bogeyed or gave up counting my strokes.

The course was packed with people getting out to enjoy the weather, and at each hole we had to wait for the group in front of us to move along. It took five and a half hours to play 18 holes. I was exhausted by the end and tired of swinging my club.

As usual, I was optimistic about tracking my score and not losing any balls, but I’ve been plagued by a wicked slice on my driver for years, and this round was no different. The ball leaves the tee and takes a sharp right to be lost in the rough, trees or water for the next golfer to find.

Almost every hole has a water hazard to lose my ball in, too. Luckily, when I go digging for my ball in the water, I end up pulling out others to replenish my lost stash.

My confidence to hit at least one ball straight was waning by the time we reached the back nine. Then we reached Hole 11, the red tees sitting above the hole about 100 yards out. Short distances mean I can use an iron, which I have better control over. So with the support of my trusty seven iron and some happy neighborhood messaging by my side, I hit the ball dead on to the hole. For a second, it almost looked like it was going in, but it rolled past and I two-putted to par.

I felt better about my game after that even if it only improved a miniscule amount. My drives still had a hook, but they mostly stayed close to the fairway, which I was able to clean up with my irons and woods.

Whatever the performance was, it was a good day of golf and hanging out with friends. A long day of golf was topped off with a visit to an unhappy palomino mare.

— Caroline Craig, administrative and advertising coordinator