gorty

I started playing golf four years ago at age 50. I had just sold the Four Columns Inn in Newfane Vermont, and after 9 years of on 24/7, I had some time on my hands. Never a good one with idle hands, I decided to look into golf after my accountant had sent me a special offer to join The Brattleboro Country Club. (It was such a good deal too! All the old members resented the new one’s because it was so good.)

I quickly learned that the game is not as easy as it looked, and, not knowing ANYTHING about the game, I thought it looked easy. I learned fast that golf is anything but. A ball that is stationary? Such a thing cannot be hard to hit. After several attempts to make this easy thing happen (advancing the ball), it became clear to me that this was a mind game as much as a physical act.

Thus, I come to the title of this piece. Buddha Balls. I received two sleeves of Buddha Balls the Christmas after starting my golf career. Actually they are balls with sayings on them. They refer to the zen of golf and each sleeve has a label with a picture pf the the Buddha and the inscription BREATH. PRAY. SWING. SMILE. Irregular Cranial Activity puts a custom zen saying on each ball:

Here are my favorites in the order of favoriteness: *(6-1. 1 being most favorite)

6. If a ball falls in the woods, count it.
5. The path is narrow. The tree is wide.
4. The aim is true. The ball is fickle.
3. Be mindless and hit. Others are waiting.
2. The self says: I am. The ball says: You are nothing.
1. He who knows himself should not be here.