curse of the christmas ball

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course:  presidio

holes: 1 through 10, 18

balls lost: 0

balls found:  2

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regular callaway solaire ball

common misconception:  golf balls are white.

i thought this too, until last december, when i was taught the the art of "marking the golf ball."  according to my golf-pro teacher, the mark should be small and classy - a dot or line that hints at the owner's favorite color/s.

meanwhile, my pack of 36 colored sharpies had been in a drawer since the move to san francisco, collecting dust.  what better time than this to bring them out to add a little waterproof character to my otherwise boring balls?  {sidenote:  i was gifted two dozen womens callaway solaire golf balls for my birthday, and in complete fairness, they are not completely boring.  they are all covered with a translucent iridescent sheen.}

i took a pristine white ball straight from the package and began to "mark."  i began by making one little green dot.  but, before i knew it, the dot turned into a line, the line started to zigzag, and the zigzag became a full-fledged pine tree.  possessed by the christmas spirit, i just couldn't stop myself.  first it was the tree, then it was the star, then it was the "merry christmas" note... and then i dated it - 2010. 

6 or 7 sharpies later, i had created a custom christmas ball.

merry christmas 2010 callaway solaire ball



this ball has been used on 2 or 3 occasions; it has disappointed each time.  maybe i'm nervous to hit a work of art, or maybe the christmas star reflects the sun into my eyes, but anyway you cut it, i just can not make decent contact with this ball.  i took it out for another whirl this past saturday only to whiff it, top it - but, not lose it.  adding insult to injury, my new found, un-holiday-ed balls flew (obvious exaggeration) far better than than their christmas sister.  the golf gods must be punishing me for being too colorful with what is widely recognized as a boring, traditional, all white [golf ball] sport.

valentine's day ball coming soon. cupid may bring better luck.

ball, haha.