HK Classic 2009, Ryder Golf Course | Fort Bragg Military Base | By Solomon W. Jagwe | This morning I was startled by the sound of a golf ball being whacked followed by thunderous applause. I looked around, feeling disoriented. My hands gripped the couch for support as I braced myself. Still caught in a state of half sleep, I heard someone yelping with glee in the distance, “Nkafunye, nkafunye!!, kakano nkafunye! akapila kange nkanfunye!” (luganda translation: I got, I got it, here it is, I got!, I found my ball!”
“Charlie?” I uttered groggily.
Was I dreaming or was I back on a course in Maryland playing with one of my Ugandan friends? It soon became clear, once my eyes focussed, that I was awake and that the applause was not for me or any of my Ugandan friends.
The yelling was part of a dream induced by a real life occurrence. It’s one of the funniest experiences I have ever had on a golf course. My friends and I tease Charlie about his knack to find his wayward golf ball even when we’ve watched it sail over the trees, or kick deep into unyielding shrubbery. We nicknamed him Nkafunye. Today Charlie is a much improved golfer. He shoots well below the 96s and 94s; scores which have hounded me since I broke 100.
Now, about that sweet applause, alas it was not for me but really a part of the recap of the Presidents Cup on the Golf Channel. The decision had just been announced to include Golf as an Olympic sport. Needless to say, I was ecstatic over the decision. My first reaction was to call my golfing buddies and share the news.
I realize that this decision is only going to fuel the debate on whether Golf is a sport or just a game. Athletic purists will point to players like John Daly, who is less than the ideal shape and size of a professional athlete and has a penchant for the occasional beer and cigarette before, during and after every game. They will say golfers are not athletic and that the game does not belong in the same breath as soccer or track. Maybe they have a point.
What they will not be able to do is tell dreamers like Nkafunye and myself that we lack passion and the drive for this incredibly elusive game. In the meantime, we will continue to play the game with hopes that this could be the best score yet. At the end of the day one of us will walk away with a trophy that may seem insignificant to outsiders but testify to our commitment and heart for the game of golf .
We play because we think we can beat the game. We live with the illusion that everyday is going to be our best game yet. For many, golf is the hardest game one can ever play.
When a group of Ugandan friends came down to North Carolina from Virginia and Maryland to play in the HK Classic, we experienced all the above. We had heard all the bragging and trash talking for almost 3 months leading up to the tournament. My friends had turned in scores ranging from 89 all the way down to 78. I was intimidated by the frequent phone calls and text messages highlighting every new achievement on the score card tally.
Ibra bragged about his 300 yard drives and how he could hit a pitching wedge over 150 yards. Henry went on and on about his chipping prowess and his ability to stay in the fairway. Ivan texted about taming his Sumo driver. He talked at great lengths about what was messing up his tee shots and chip shots. Eddie, who is arguably the best in our group, vowed to beat anyone who ever challenged him in our group. He promised to humble Ibra and to put Ivan and Charles in their place. Even the ones who didn’t make it to the tournament: Fred, Charles and Gasuza, threw down the gauntlet, vowing to win the trophy.
I tried to warn my friends about the perils of not staying in the fairway at Ryder Golf course, on the Fort Bragg military base. I reminded them that the weather had been kind to the greens and that the pine trees were more treacherous than they appeared. That advice fell on deaf ears.
The day came and we played our best. The result; disastrous! At the end of the day, all I can say is that we had fun. Eddie kept his promise and emerged as the outright winner. Charles, aka, Nkafunye, never made it to the tournament. And as for yours truly, the host on home court advantage , let’s just say I was left wondering why I even bother to play this game. In humbleness, I remembered the famous line by Will Smith, in Bagger Vance, “This game cannot be won, it can only be played.”
So this morning as I watched the golfing world rejoice and cheer at the restoration of the game into the Olympic ring, I was left smiling and wondering how many times the above scenarios were going to be played out. One thing was clear, I want to be there to watch it all and hopefully my friend Nkafunye, will be prepared to represent Uganda in 2016. I will be on hand to offer my interpretation services, should he venture to utter or yell, “Nkafunye!!!”
Shoot me a line at grafx@sowl.com if you are a golf lover and a Ugandan. I am eager to hear about your golfing adventures.
Here are some Photos from the HK Classic Golf Tournament in Fayetteville, North Carolina
By Solomon W. Jagwe | http://www.sowl.com | http://www.galiwango.com
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