Golf

A Parable

Photo by the author of hole #1 at Silver Springs

Northeast Iowa is a duffer’s paradise, with five nine-hole courses within 25 miles of Mike and Paul’s town of Decorah.

On Monday, Mike drove the 14 miles to the Silver Springs course in Ossian. Next time, it will be Paul’s turn. Mike brings two energy drinks and a bag of miniature Snickers bars. Paul pilots the golf cart and keeps score.

When they enter the clubhouse, Jim is behind the counter. On weekends, he doubles as an Elvis impersonator.

As they approach hole number 1 for the second time, Paul thinks, "I wish life presented more do-overs like a nine-hole golf course, where you play each hole twice. Two hours ago, I didn’t know how the wind was blowing. Now I do.”

While Paul is pondering, Mike has teed off and launched his ball toward the exact spot his first tee-off descended two hours earlier.