The Aspect

The Aspect

It was a near perfect day in Palo Alto as 4 Old Bears (J, Kev, Dan and T) embarked on what seemed like a normal round of golf. After #1 hole, we knew the world was in balance when Kev made par and I ended up with something higher than a 5. No one could have predicted that Dan Barker was about to share one of golf’s deepest secrets with the rest of us.

To put it mildly, Dan has a thirst for a physical challenge. If it is trying to surf some of the world’s biggest waves or trying to keep a beat up VW van upright while driving to Eugene, OR by way of the Pacific Coast Highway, he loves to tread were others cower in fear. This unwavering desire to push himself to the edge has to be the only reason he uses golf clubs that were forged in the same year Arnold Palmer was born. Needless to say, Tiger could not break par with these heavy metal lightening rods.

Half way through hole #2, I think even Dan must have been questioning not only his clubs of choice but also why he had paid to play golf on this day. Little did I know that Dan had a much deeper understanding of the game than any of his playing partners.

True to his nature, Dan had given himself another difficult challenge on hole #2. His ball was ~35 yards from the green and he needed to make a perfect chip to even get on the putting service. With intangible confidence, Dan struck the ball perfectly and landed it within 10 feet of the cup. As J, Kev and I stood in amazement, we received a piece of wisdom usually uttered by only the most enlightened of individuals (the Dali Lama and Ghandi are the first that come to mind).

“I usually have only one aspect of golf working for me in a given round.”

For the duration of the round, Dan peppered the dance floor with 35 yard chip shots that always landed within 10 feet of the cup. It didn’t matter if he was in the rough, the fairway, a bunker or toxic poop (Harrell knows what I am talking about), he executed these shots with Chesley Shellenberger like precision.

We were all witnesses to the power of The Aspect and what it can do for not only your final score but also your golf outlook. Dan proclaimed after his trying round of 105 – “I just want to keep playing.” The only explanation for this unwarranted optimism is the power of The Aspect.

There really are only three reasons to play golf – physical activity, hanging out with friends and binge drinking. However, it is safe to say we need to add the power of The Aspect to this list

From all the Old Bears, I say thank you Dan Barker for providing us with another reason to face our fears head on and know that the power of The Aspect is in all of us!

RT

(See you at the meeting on Wednesday February 18)
Scores:

Kev – 74
J – 79
T – 85
Dan “The Aspect” Barker – 105