For many of us, golf is a treasured pastime. If time spent fishing doesn't take away from one's allotted lifecycle, then surely golf must fall into a similar category.

Look at me trying to wax poetic about a game of which I am truly a lousy practitioner.

Many see golf as a seasonal affair which has its own niche that must be forcibly introduced into the rest of life.

If this is the case, golf for me is better described as a cruel mistress. Even though I am, without fail, intolerably mistreated, I remain unable or unwilling to move on and find someone new. I see my golf game much in the same light tabloid programs place upon supposedly outlandish couples. "She left me for the delivery guy and I still don't get my pizza on time" could be replaced with "Why in the @#%$ do they need so many trees?" as the topic of discussion without much imagination required. In fact, both subjects would likely end with the same "I still love her" pseudo-sappy ending.

I don't think I'm alone in this, either.

Many people will comment that it's better to quit than get wound-up about a poor round of golf. I disagree. I think those of us who lag behind the better golfers in our group continue to torment ourselves because we purely enjoy competing and keep hoping for that one day which totally justifies all the heartache. The time when we hit that one-in-a-million shot which catches the eye of someone much better at the game and prompts the gratifying "attaboy."

I also think the stress we place upon ourselves during a poor round is also good for the body. Think about it for a moment. The heart rate is increased without too much physical strain. The stress of golf is not an overly negative experience. It's nowhere near the level of stress everyday life can visit upon us because, in a game, there are no truly dire consequences. If you can't take being ribbed by your friends, go to Tibet and be a monk. They'll find someone else to round out the numbers and finish the day with wings and fries.

If you've never golfed, I encourage you to give it a try as soon as possible. Already, there are youngsters who've grown up on the course who are way ahead of the curve. Don't fall farther behind. Trust me.

*sigh* I still love her.