For years, I’ve tried to convince my son to play golf, but despite a very promising start, he never had the interest and stopped after his crush stopped going to the golf classes. I’ve tried to drag him back a few times, but he’s been vehemently opposed, and hence, I gave up.
Ten years later, he suddenly comes out of the blue and asks if I still have his old golf clubs.
Me: *Surprised* “Yes, I do, but you won’t fit them anymore. You haven’t played since you were eleven.”
Son: “Ugh. Got a spare set I can borrow, then?”
I’m just trying to figure out what is going on.
Me: “I’ve got several.”
Son: “Great! Can we hit the range together at some point?”
Me: *Dumbstruck* “Of course. You have… had… such a wonderful swing. Let’s see if you can still remember.”
Son: “Okay. Thanks, Dad.”
I spend the next few days in a daze, wondering if I’ve stepped into some strange bizarro world. My son DOES NOT just come out of the blue and ask to play golf. He’s even gone on record saying that golf is a sport for old men like me.
And yet here we are, a week later, driving to the golf range.
Me: “So, why the sudden interest?”
Son: “[Girlfriend]’s dad. He’s a stereotypical old [slang for Caucasian] man.”
Me: “And what does that have to do with anything?”
Son: “What do all old white men do?”
Me: *Sudden realisation* “They play golf.”
Son: “They play golf.”
Me: “So that’s why you’re suddenly so interested!”
Come to think of it, he really only played golf to be with his crush. When she stopped, he stopped. It made total sense that he’d come back if a girl was involved. He didn’t play golf for a decade because none of the girls he’s liked since then — or their parents — played golf. This alone is honestly enough to get me to approve of his girlfriend.
Son: “That, and I realised that in the future, I’m going to have to deal with a lot of old men, so I might as well learn how to play this old man’s sport enough that I don’t embarrass myself.”
Me: “Don’t forget tennis, as well. That’s another thing old men like to play.”
My son swore violently in Malay.
Like golf, he has no interest in tennis. Unlike golf, he’s got no talent for tennis. Too many years of playing badminton have given him some seriously sloppy habits.
Nevertheless, I’m so happy that my son has finally come around to playing golf again. That girl is definitely a keeper.
