Reflecting on a Wonderful Golfing Year
Reflecting on a Wonderful Golfing Year
A few reasons to be grateful as the calendar changes again.
Hey there friends,
I hope your holiday season has been a bright one. Perhaps you’ve even been able to enjoy some golf during this time of reflection. While I haven’t been able to play(or write) as much as I’d like this December, I’m excited for the new year and the rounds with friends that lie ahead.
I’ve always found that the turn of the calendar brings great anticipation for where golf might take me next. There are already a few trips being scheduled and I can’t wait to see what will transpire as the game pulls me in new directions.
Before I dash on into 2022, I do want to take a few moments to reflect on the year we will soon leave behind. In 2021, I was able to play a lot of golf. Way more than I deserved to. All those rounds, both here at home and far away, brought me great peace and joy. For that I am incredibly grateful.
I’m grateful for the travel I was able to enjoy. Two outings to Pinehurst and an unexpected weekend at Streamsong made for some special memories. There was a mixture of business and pleasure during each trip and plenty of adventure along the way. Just thinking of all those swings and laughs with close friends makes me smile.
I’m grateful to have fallen deeper in love with my home course — Capital City Country Club in Tallahassee. Between the dozens of Friday better ball matches, winning a member-guest flight with my brother, and spending lots of days laughing with my family it was always a joy to spend time at my club. To top it off, I was also able to share the Capital City story with thousands of golfers via a fun appearance on No Laying Up’s entertaining show Strapped.
I’m also grateful for all the support you all have shown for my new book Swing, Walk, Repeat. So many folks have bought the book and sent me lovely messages about how they’ve found themselves in my words. What a cool feeling. It was such a treat to work with the talented folks at Back Nine Press to bring this crazy idea to life and I’m just thrilled to know that readers like you have enjoyed the book.
Finally, I’m grateful for my growing family and how that will certainly shrink my golf schedule in 2022. Last August, we welcomed my son into the world and everyday since has been one filled with more love than I ever thought possible. It’s so fun to take my daughter to the course with me now and I can’t wait to have him there with us in the coming years. However, while he’s still an infant and my wife and I are juggling all our duties, the clubs may get a bit dustier this coming year. That’s just fine too.
The funny thing about golf is that it is always there when you need it. In 2021 I needed it badly. 2020 was a tumultuous year for our family and some career changes made me revaluate much of what I was doing with my life. When the uncertainty of 2021 arrived, golf was there to help me find the answers.
During those golf trips, the rounds with friends on Fridays, and even while making a few winning putts with my brother at the member-guest I remembered many of the qualities that make me who I am. I found some time to love myself and those around me. I was able to blaze a few new trails and soak up all the little wins along the way. It was such a good year.
Golf has always been my favorite tool for reflecting on my position in life and in many ways 2021 felt like one long evening walk. Each shot I took was proof of what can be found if I just keep swinging.
2022 may not have as much golf in store for me, but I have no doubt that the rounds I do play will bring me great joy. I’ve got some new ventures to pursue and a growing family to fill my heart. Sprinkle some golf on that and it will be another banner year.
I hope golf finds you wherever you need it in 2022. Thanks as always for reading.
Cheers,
-Jay
P.S.
Be sure to check out the latest episode of my podcast, Mid-Am Crisis, featuring Akbar Chisti - Founder of Seamus Golf. We had a great chat about how he built his company, golf in Oregon, and how the internet has made brands like his possible.
If you enjoy the show, be sure to leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts!
See you in 2022.