... then how do I answer " are you good?"

Although I have a number of interests, I fit them around working in the golf department at a large sporting goods retailer.

Despite my wearing a cheesy lanyard that says "PGA Professsional," a surprising number of people ask me:

"Do you play golf?"

Rather than rattle off my background as a (former) avid player and a current instructor, coach, and golf professional, I simply nod and say "I play a bit." The inevitable follow up leaves me more baffled:

"Are you good?"

How am I supposed to answer that?

Between family, coaching, teaching, and working online, I frankly have little time or desire to play. I play mostly in short 3 to 6 hole segments before and after golf lessons, with my high school students, and with my 7 year old son. Otherwise, that's it. I played two 18 hole rounds in 2008. I haven't played a complete round in 2009. I don't compete. I rarely practice. I play to get some quiet and some fresh air - just like most of you! I like to play, but I can certainly live without it.

So that leads to the question; Am I a good player?

Statistically speaking, I am a good player:
Since I formerly put so much effort into learning the game, I have a lot of residual knowledge and "muscle memory" (if that even exists) that gets me around without looking too foolish. I am still far better than the average player.

I usually fire nine holes in about 40 and last year I shot 35 on the back nine at the Penn State Blue Course. (I played by myself and in just over an hour but it was an honest two birdie, one bogey 35.) My personal low is 67, but I think the best I ever played was when I shot 72 on a blustery day at TPC Virginia Beach. (I played the gold tees - about 7000 yards.)

I haven't kept a handicap in years, but I used to so I could model participation to the TPC Virginia Beach membership. I was the Head Professional, but I played to about a two handicap. Thankfully, my job was NOT to play.

Professionally speaking, I'm not a good player.
I have been a PGA member since 1999, and I have never played in a tournament. I have never been interested in competing and, therefore, I just don't practice or play the way I should. My game is sloppy and my lag putting - especially - lets me down quite a bit.

I'm sure there's a school of thought that says I should be expelled from the PGA for lack of competitive playing ability. After all, many say the PAT is too easy - and I passed that back in September of 1995 anyway! Many say a PGA professional should be an outstanding player, but I'll digress. That's a debate for another day.

Feedback Needed
So if anybody has any ideas how I should answer the one-two punch of "Do you play golf?" "Are you good?" let me know.

As always, I welcome your comments or feedback.

Keith Bless, PGA
kbless@pga.com