current obsession

BY TARUN VENKATESAN ON 22ND JUNE 2025

Tomorrow’s gonna be a fun day. I’ve got a 6:45 AM tee time at Dos Osos, a local golf course 30 mins north of La Jolla (San Diego), and I’m both excited and nervous as usual. I’ve been playing golf for just over a year now, and honestly, it’s been such a wild ride. My attitude towards my own golf game has gone from being excited about it, to ashamed, to ecstatic, to dismal – a white ball really does tend to have that effect on me. I’ve shanked, sliced, thinned, and hooked my fair share of golf balls into the oblivion. But… here’s the thing: I love this game. There’s something so satisfying about hitting the ball on the sweet spot of the face of the club or pulling off a tricky up-and-down from the sand or absolutely draining that 25 footer. And even when I’m not at my best, I still love playing it. Mostly.

Golf isn’t just a hobby for me – it’s a challenge, a puzzle I’m determined to solve. And whether I’m playing with friends or on my own, the sport’s constant challenges keep me coming back for more. Today, I wanted to share a bit about my journey and break down some of the key parts of the game for anyone who might be new to it–or anyone who’s just curious about what golf is all about.

Golf in a Nutshell

At its core, golf is a game where you try to get a single white ball into a series of holes on a course using as few strokes as possible. Simple enough, right? The catch is that the course is full of scary natural elements like sand traps (bunkers), water hazards, thick rough, all designed to test your accuracy, strategy, and mental game. Funny that somehow thicker and longer grass scares us – welcome to the mind of a golfer. We’re a weird bunch.

You’re equipped with different clubs—drivers, irons, wedges, and putters—each designed for specific shots, and you’re allowed a total of 14 clubs on the course. A driver is for long-distance tee shots, irons are for approach shots, wedges help with chipping and shots around the green, and the putter is for those crucial final strokes on the green. The goal is to use each club wisely, manage the course, and outsmart the challenges it throws at you.

My Golf Essentials – Tips From the Course

Having played for about a year now, I’ve picked up some key tips and strategies that I use to improve my game. Here’s a quick rundown of the major aspects of the sport I focus on. Just don’t ask me my handicap, thanks.

The Driver: Just Bomb It

I won’t lie—there’s nothing quite like hitting a solid driver shot down the fairway. It’s exhilarating. But to make it count, I’ve learned a few important things:

Set up properly: Make sure your ball is lined up with the inside of your lead heel and that you’re set to hit up on it.
Tee it high: A higher tee gives you a better chance of hitting bombs with a solid launch.
Finish with control: Don’t forget to complete your swing and finish with your chest facing the fairway.
Stay still: Keep your head completely still during the swing. This applies to all shots, really.

Irons: Scheffler-like

Iron shots are all about accuracy, and for me, they’re a fun challenge:

Head still: Always keep your head still during the shot for better consistency.
Downward strike: You need to strike the ball with a downward motion and extend fully through impact for clean, crisp hits.
Flight control: Lift the club high to generate more height on your shots.
Punch shots: When you need a lower trajectory, grip the club lower and narrow your stance for a punch-out shot with a lower follow-through.

Wedges: Just chip in

Wedges are key for those finesse shots around the greens. Personally, it’s my favourite part of the game because of the possibility of chipping the ball in, using spin, and how most of the shot is mainly feel.

Spin it: To get more spin, turn your arms and the club face towards you after impact with the ball.
Chip it high or low: Open the club face near the pin for extra spin and a higher, softer shot.
Select the right wedge: I use my 56° for faster, steeper rolls and a 60° for more flighted chips. The 56° and 60° represent the lofts of the wedge (a higher loft means the ball will launch higher).
Set up right: Position the ball on your back foot for a steeper, spin-heavy shot or on your front foot for higher, softer shots.

Bunker Shots: Sand (everywhere)

Bunker shots can be a nightmare, but they’re not impossible to execute:

Set up behind the ball: Make sure your club is right behind the ball, almost sitting in the sand. This helps you hit the sand first, then the ball.
Stay down and follow through: Keep your head down, hit hard, and finish your swing to ensure consistency.
Legs & balance: Bend your knees and load up on your left leg for better control.
Open the club face: Aim correctly and open the face slightly to get under the ball.

Putting: Putt For Dough

Putting is the most delicate part of golf—and it can make or break a round:

Pendulum motion: Your putting stroke should feel like a smooth pendulum, with the same length of backswing and follow-through.
Even tempo: Keep the tempo of your stroke even, no rushing!
Head still: Just like with other shots, keep your head still to ensure accuracy.

Why Golf Keeps Me Coming Back

What I love most about golf is how it challenges you constantly throughout the 18 holes – both mentally and, less so, physically. It’s not just about hitting a great shot—it’s about being patient with yourself and managing the ups and downs. Kinda like life. Some days, I play really well and feel like I’m on top of the world (which is pretty rare if I’m being honest). Other days, I feel like the ball is conspiring against me, and I end up using more f-words than in Anora. Just kidding. But that’s what makes the game so fascinating: there’s always room for improvement, and it’s always demanding you to be better.

It’s also the people. Whether I’m out there with friends and playing for money (might have a gambling addiction), or meeting strangers who share the same passion for this crazy game, there’s an undeniable sense of camaraderie in golf. You can make this sport whatever you want it to be—relaxing, social, competitive, or all of the above. There’s also something super serene about being out in nature during your round. Amidst the the busyness and haze of daily life, a moment you can truly focus and live in the present.

So, tomorrow when I step onto the course in the crack of dawn, I know I’ll be chasing that elusive “break 100” score. But more importantly, I’ll be enjoying every swing and learning more about the game. Golf is tough, but that’s what makes it so rewarding.