Hope springs anew, 18 holes at a time

The ground is coming to life again, and with it, the hopes of golfers.

There is, after all, something so persistent about the spring. Icy ponds melt, and the fish that hid below all winter can now dare to swim freely in open water. Snow cover recedes, revealing dormant grasses and the first signs of active plant life in the form of snowdrops, daffodils and crocuses. The sun reaches a new apex each day, warming the soil temperatures and encouraging golfers to look hopefully at their local courses during their daily drive-bys.

The rites of spring remind us that even amidst hardship, life renews itself. With economic distress commonplace and recent news filled with tragedies in Africa and Asia, it’s perhaps more comforting than ever to find solace and take refuge in the simple joys of sports. For some, that means baseball, with spring training the first evidence that “wait until next year” could pay off this year. With college basketball, it’s the March (and April) madness of bracketology. And with golfers, it’s the knowledge of The Masters coming up soon, and with it, stunning verdant images and dreams of playing great golf courses.