Playing cow pasture pool in old-time Phoenix


As someone who has always had a reverence for the game of games, and who takes off his hat when he gazes towards St. Andrews, in Scotland, it's hard for me to imagine people who don't like to play golf. And since I just learned the term "cow pasture pool", which is its description from the point of view of people who think golf is just a silly waste of time, I thought that I'd try to look at things from a different perspective, going along with someone who is trying to convince me to play golf. Here I go.

It's 1915, and there are a LOT of cow pastures around Phoenix. And I wasn't born yesterday, I know that you really shouldn't walk around a cow pasture - not because I'm afraid of cows, but I'm afraid of what I might step in. But over there is a group of people who appear to be walking through a cow pasture. There are no cows, luckily, and they seem to be swinging some sticks, hitting a tiny ball. Through the fence, between the curling flower spaces, I could see them hitting. They were coming toward where the flag was and I went along the fence.

What's that you say? Do I want to try it? Well, since you're my friend and I trust you, I'm game. What do we do?

I see that you're carrying a bag of sticks, which you are calling clubs. Thank you, I guess I'll use this one. It doesn't look like a club to me, not the kind of clubs that cavemen used. Oh, thank you, a tiny white ball. What's next?

You want me to stand here and hit the tiny white ball out into that cow pasture-looking thing? You're calling it the fairway? What am I aiming for? The flag way out there? And there's a tiny hole? How far away is that? I don't think I can sink the ball from here, but I'll give it a try! I'm pretty good at pool, I've just never played it on a cow pasture before.

Whoops! Where did it go? I can't see the ball from here, did you see where it went? Somewhere out in the cow past --- oops, I mean the fairway. What do you mean by the rough? What do I do now? Just hit it again? How long is this game going to take? Hours?

Well, that was strange. I can't imagine why you like doing this, but I'm enjoying sitting here with you in the clubhouse. Another beer? Only if you're having another one. Thank you! Now this I like!

Thank you for the encouragement! If you want to see daily pics of my adventures on my recumbent trike in suburban Phoenix (just for fun, of course!) you can follow me on buymeacoffee.com/bradhall, and you can buy me a coffee if you'd like to!

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