Why I keep playing

I didn’t find golf on my own—it found me through a neighbour, Michel, in Matane, Quebec where I grew up. We played minor league baseball together, and one day he introduced me to the game. Not long after, I found myself working at the local course, for a couple of summers. I did a bit of everything there - from collecting balls on the driving range to managing members’ equipment - but it was on that range where something really clicked.

The range had these tricky, fenced-off and ditched areas where the cart couldn’t go, so I’d grab a wedge and chip balls out by hand. Over time, that turned into tens of thousands of shots. Without realizing it, I was building the strongest part of my game - my short game - one wedge at a time.

What I love most about golf is how perfectly it balances skill and challenge. Whether you’re trying to break 100 or chasing par, there’s always something just out of reach pulling you forward. It never gets boring. You can spend four hours out there and wonder where the time went.

But for me, it’s never been just about the score.

Courses matter. Each one has its own personality - different layouts, winds, textures, and quirks. Even within a single round, every hole tells its own story. I find myself noticing the little things: how the wind shifts between tree lines, the way a green subtly slopes away from you, the sound of a well-struck shot echoing differently depending on the surroundings. The quiet moments. The smell of freshly cut grass. The way the trees frame a fairway and somehow slow everything down.

Golf is also one of the rare spaces where the outside world fades away. No email notifications, no deadlines - just you, the ball, and the landscape. There’s a calm to it that’s hard to find elsewhere.

And then there’s the social side. Golf has this built-in way of bringing people together. You might show up alone and end up spending four hours with complete strangers, but it never feels forced. There’s something about sharing the experience - shot by shot - that creates an easy kind of connection. It’s social without trying too hard.

That’s part of what keeps me coming back. That, and the fact that golf never lets you fully master it.

Going forward, I’ll be writing about more than just scores or stats. I want to explore the character of courses, the details people sometime overlook, the feel of a round, and the moments in between shots that make the game what it is.

Have a thought, suggestion, or story to share? I’d love to hear from you. Whether you have feedback on a blog post, ideas for future course features, or a golf experience worth telling, feel free to get in touch. This space is all about connecting golfers and sharing the game—your voice is always welcome.