Joe,
I am not a golfer but my husband reads this newsletter, and now he makes me read it too. Up to now it seemed stupid to me, the complicated rule book makes no sense, all you are doing is hitting a ball into a hole. Is it OK to ignore the rule book and just have fun and go play? Otherwise give me some reasons why I should bother to try it?
Jane

Hello Jane,
If you are a beginner, don’t worry about the rule book so much until you decide to take the game more seriously. Golf can be simple but purists make it overly complicated. If you want reasons to try it, here are some facets of golf to consider. Ages and genders do not matter, all can play together. Children can learn to play it well, while adults can never master it. Every round brings unexpected thrills while seemingly good shots can end up in disaster. It can be treated like a science, or a puzzle. Answers to problems are only temporary, good swing corrections only last for awhile, and then they no longer work for no apparent reason, so one must learn how to make adjustments. It requires concentration, but is played better when feeling relaxed. It allows you get into the great outdoors and enjoy the beauty of nature. It satisfies the thirst for adventure, but frustrates the mind. It can be rewarding and it can be maddening. You can experience the thrill of a good shot and the agony of a shot gone awry. For every attempt you never know for sure which one you will get, until the ball stops rolling. It gives you a great opportunity to meet new friends and to recap the round afterward, recounting good shots and bemoaning bad breaks and injustices, encouraging each other and ourselves. Just as in life, you can use each experience as a chance to grow, improve, and reach your full potential. Because of these things, golf is the greatest game ever invented. That is why you should bother to try it.
Joe