Find your “One more time” thing

On Sunday, I attended the Celtics vs. Heat playoff game. As the players were ending their warm-ups and prepping for the National Anthem, Payton Pritchard was shooting some final three-pointers. He made one and then stuck his index finger in the air to the rebounder to signal, “One more.” He missed it and repeated the signal, sank the shot, and joined his team.

It was a quick exchange, and it was probably a superstition that he wanted to make his last shot before the game started, but he made one and still asked for “one more.”

It got me thinking about “one more time” things and what activities we participate in where we want one more try. They vary for everyone, and it’s probably a good insight into what we truly love doing. I know that for me, there are almost never enough golf holes to be played. Put me on a chipping green, and I’ll hit that “last chip” for ten minutes.

For others, they might want to play one more song on the guitar before heading downstairs for dinner. For others, it might be one more page of a book. The list goes on and on.

As we grow up, those opportunities tend to dwindle. The freedom of time disappears as other responsibilities fill the bucket.

Of course, there are also the “one more time” things that aren’t great. One more episode of a show, and suddenly, the day is gone. Or one more drink, we know how the next morning feels after those nights when “one more time” might be uttered three or four times.

Any way you slice it, wanting to do something “One more time” is proof you’re in a flow, you aren’t ready to leave, you love whatever moment you are in.

A few summers ago, I met my buddy Phil and his son at Stone Meadow for pitch-and-putt. After we finished, Phil’s son wanted to hit a few putts on the putting green. The sun was setting, and he wasn’t ready to go home with his dad yet. He wanted to keep playing. After about 10 minutes, Phil said they really had to go.

“One more” he said as he chased golf balls around the green and put them into the hole. Phil had to carry his son and both sets of clubs to the car. A year later, this duo joined me on my 100th course. It was a rainy day at Maynard, and Phil’s son didn’t give a hoot about getting soaked. When the adults decided to call it quits as the heavy stuff started pelting us, Phil’s son couldn’t understand why. As we walked past the putting green, once again, he asked to putt “one more time.”

The media loves to ask athletes what they imagined winning as they practiced a putt or a shot as a kid.

I’d love to know what their “one more time” thing was when they were young. It might have nothing to do with the sport they play, but I think it’s important for everyone, no matter what age, to have something they have a hard time walking away from or the thing that makes time melt away, even if they only get to do it a couple of times a year.

What’s your “one more time” thing?

Double Click(s)

I’m going to use this section to “Double Click” on something I discovered or thought about this week.

1. Thought this Tiger Woods clip from 34 years ago was pretty incredible.

2. From one great to another… Rory McIlroy is planning to return to the PGA Policy Board after resigning in November.  I’m not entirely sure what Rory McIlroy is thinking. When he left the board, he spoke about focusing on the things that matter. As Rory hits his mid-30s and we watch Scottie Scheffler gobble up wins like Pac-Man, I’m becoming more fascinated with how Rory will be remembered if he doesn’t win another major. Is he Kevin Durant?

3. MassGolf announced this week that Concord CC is hosting the 2025 Women’s Mass. Amateur and Worcester CC with host the 2025 Mass. Senior Open. Two of my favorite courses in the state! I will not be eligible to play in either, but glad they’re going to get some love next summer.

I checked off a new course on the quest this week

On Thursday, I woke up early to catch the Nantucket ferry. I played Miacomet to get the $70 off-season rate before May 1. The place was awesome. Will have more on it in the future.

Over the last month, I’ve added a mid-week post. Starting next week, that post will be for Premium Subscribers. Friday posts will be free to all readers.

What does a Premium Subscription get?

Additional posts

Ability to comment on posts

4 exclusive videos a year

Tee time offerings to join me on my quest

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

• Randy Johnson might have found his “one more time” thing, and it isn’t striking out batters… GQ Sport has a feature about the Hall of Fame pitcher who has always loved photography. He has the time to do it again, and he’s traveling to Africa to do it. Read it here.

• Bill Belichick is heading for a busy year in the media. This ESPN piece explains, quite bluntly, why he isn’t coaching in the NFL.

I’m listening to…

• Like everyone else, I gave Taylor Swift’s latest album a listen. I’ve always liked TSwift, but this whole album/double album surprise wasn’t great. People will explain it as a purge of her past before she probably blasts us with some upbeat poppy album all about the football she’s in love with. It’s also an exercise in how much she can get away with. The stories of people staying up through the night to listen reminded me of midnight Harry Potter book launches. That kind of influence can go to people’s heads. We’ll see if TSwift can avoid touching the sun for too long.

• Soly from No Laying Up won the Augusta National media lottery and got to play on Monday after the tournament finished. They did a deeeeep dive on the day. It’s a good listen.

I’m eating…

• Made this White Bean, Rice, and dill soup this week.

• Before hopping on the ferry for a day trip to play some golf on Thursday, we stopped at Old Kings Coffeehouse in Hyannis. Had a delicious breakfast burrito.

I’m watching…

• No Laying Up is in Australia. You should watch.

• Every now and then, I’ll put on The Social Network. I tell myself I’ll watch the excellent opening scene, and it just continues to play after Mara Rooney’s cutting line to finish the scene. “You are probably going to be a very successful computer person. But you're going to go through life thinking that girls don't like you because you're a nerd. And I want you to know, from the bottom of my heart, that that won't be true. It'll be because you're an asshole.”

  • Also, it seems Mark Zuckerburg is now a mash-up of Dave Portnoy and Chris Martin. NYTimes has an interesting article on the new Zuck.

PLUGS

New stuff:

• Got flattened by a cold early in the week, and sounded like hell. No new podcast/video this week. Go back and listen to and old pod, like the one with Ben Larsen about golf in Western Mass. and various experiences writing about and covering golf. Spotify and Apple Podcasts

• My mid-week post was about an unbreakable record that was set in 1901 at Myopia Hunt Club.

Old stuff: 

I'm (shamelessly) plugging...

• Bay State Picks: Best courses you can walk for less than $60.

• Bay State Picks: Nine-hole courses to play before or after work

• Bay State Picks: 18 public golf that is worth your time

• Bay State Picks: Easy 18-hole public walks

• Bay State Deep Dive: Myopia Hunt Club

   

• "On Course" New England Journal Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

  • WATCH HERE (and subscribe!)

• Amateur Golf Podcast

  • LISTEN HERE (and subscribe!)

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