Golfing and Working Moms

Golfing, or what I fondly refer to as "Whack-A-Ball", is something that I cannot avoid in my profession or marriage to a golf aficionado. This morning, a client was sponsoring a golf tournament, and so we rounded up a team from the office to participate.

My gal-pal colleague and I were quietly chatting about the fact that few working moms are golfers, let alone good golfers. But, the reverse is not true with working dads. One of the "gray-haired" partners with grown children at my firm can't understand why I don't take lessons so I can play better. I have 3 good reasons: Mark, Andrew and Emily. Between working, soccer games, swim team and ordinary errands, my schedule does not have room for me to learn how to play golf (and that is assuming that I would want to spend my spare time chasing a little ball with a stick....although, it is the one "sport" that allows participants to drink beer while participating in the game....that is at least one reason to play golf).

The question still remains, why are more working dads better at golf? My gal-pal & I think it is because women generally bear more of the family responsibilities than men. I don't know of a single mom who takes 4 hours to play a round of golf on a Saturday while the dad watches the kids. That scenario is so unrealistic as to border on a scene is in some fantasy show. However, the reverse is reality: many moms will watch the kids on a Saturday so the husband can go golfing.

So, at least for the near future, I will continue to endure the twice a year marketing golf outings, and proudly record my obscene handicap as a sign that I am devoted mother, who given 4 hours away from the kids would rather spend the time and money at a spa than chasing a stupid ball while being eaten by mosquitoes.