When I log into the site of my Canadian bank, they ask me security questions.  One of them is “What is your favourite sport?”  When I created an answer years ago, it was “Golf”.  Now that’s long gone as a passion of mine, but I don’t know how to change it to “Cycling”.

What has remained is my love for golf courses – especially Tarandowah near London, Ontario, with its wild, rolling fairways and deep bunkers reminiscent of a British links course.

Last week, I pulled into Tarandowah’s parking lot and crossed my fingers.  Then I uttered these words to the young employee behind the desk:

I used to be a member here.  What I’d like to do is walk over to the eighth green.  Behind it is my favourite spot on the course.  If I’m careful to avoid golfers, will you let me do that?

Yes

And off I went, remembering the shapes of Tarandowah.  Such as …

On to the eighth!  Here is the view that still thrills me:

The grass is shaved close behind the green and to the sides.  The shot from down there (right to left in the photo) is wondrously difficult.  It’s easy to run your ball all the way off the front of the green at the left edge of the photo.

And look closely.  There’s a wavy horizontal line on the left side of the picture, down from the lighter colour of the green.  There’s a huge dip that eats golf balls.  From the bottom, you can’t even see the flagstick.  Marvelous.  I love all the curves.

***

Hmm … maybe I still love golf

I know I love beauty