Not the Tiger A New Age Parable - Page 5

Taming the Tiger

In the year of his 60th birthday, Fred was gifted a hat from his son on Father's Day. He wore it proudly in the weeks that followed, until a tennis partner asked him, "What's with the golfing hat, Tiger?"

That's when he noticed the TW insignia, emblematic of the Tiger Woods sporting logo. Fred realized that it must be time to tame the inner Tiger, or else, maybe to start playing golf. Soon after, Fred entered his first 9-hole charity golf tournament for Temple Chaim. In that golf game, he spent more time unearthing 'divots' than putting the ball in the cup. On the final hole, 170 yards, dogleg right, Fred drove a tee shot with such strength that it caromed off the apartment building adjoining the golf course. Next year he vowed to improve.

In the months ahead, Fred bought a set of practice clubs and on several occasions, went to the nearby driving range to figure out the golf swing thing. Fred could drive the ball well but he had no idea what the irons were all about (driving, pitching, etc). On these practice outings, he mostly learned that a golf glove is required to keep his hand from blistering when swinging the clubs.

At the second year's charity tournament, Fred's golf game picked up a bit. He missed the water hazards, sunk a few puts, made a few pars and got himself pictured in a classic looking tee shot. Unfortunately, without any golf shoes (cleats)! Fred followed through the photo-op by going bottoms up and finished the swing lying on his back with his feet in the air! Good photo though. Next year, he vowed to improve.

Leading up to the third year's Temple Chaim charity golf event, Fred kept up his infrequent practice at the driving range and bought some cheap golf shoes to keep his feet planted. Last summer, he put the new equipment to the test. The first three holes were typical play: the golf ball seemed to always know where the water hazards were and Fred took a six on each hole. Then, he peaked for a few holes with a couple of pars and a 20-foot putt! Things were looking up.

Unfortunately, inertia soon took over and for the next several holes, Fred went back to his miserable game. And then came the finale. He was back at Windrows Emerald Greens hole 6, par 4, dogleg right, where he had finished the first year's tourney with a bounder off the building. This time would be different. If Fred shot anything below a six, he would leave the course a happy camper (and much improved golfer). Head down with nerves steady, Fred concentrated hard on the tee shot, using his best Zen Mind and Tiger prowess (see the ball, hit the ball). Using his #3 driver, Fred executed a perfect back-swing and met the ball square, sending the dimpled golf ball flying 200 yard through the air, over the 40-foot fir tree and into a perfect hole-in-one! Hole in one window that is.

Crash … tinkle tinkle tinkle. Fred and his golfing partners could hear the resounding impact of the shattering window all the way back at the tee area. In their fourth story apartment, Mr and Mrs Corrales had a rude awakening when the speeding golf ball broke through a small decorative window, adding new ventilation to their humble abode. No worries, it had happened before.

At the Windrows Emerald's Greens, the architects designed a course complete with water hazards, sand traps and window pane targets for the residents living adjacent to the fairways. Fred, the Tiger, had found the bull's eye.