Happy 420, Golfers!

Golf has a long history with smoking, and what better time to talk about it than 420 weekend? In the classic golf comedy Caddyshack, it isn’t just Carl Spackler, the demented  greenskeeper who smokes onscreen. It’s Ty Webb, Dr Beeper, Lacy and Spaulding, Danny Noonan and all the caddies.  Is everyone in golf high?  Sure, Caddyshack was just a movie, but big news stories this week about NBA players playing high and an elite distance runner sponsored by a marijuana edibles company.  So what with weed and sports?

Seeing as how recreational cannabis is legal in the State of Nevada, we can be open about it. Why do so many athletes smoke cannabis? Why do golfers drink alcohol or smoke tobacco?  What are the healthiest options and best practices?  Let’s discuss.

It’s pretty common to see golfers smoking. Miguel Jimenez is cigar aficionado,  Ben Hogan loved his cigarettes and Harry Vardon straight up puffed on a pipe throughout his round. So why all the smoking in golf? I’d say it’s because golfers want to relax, and the ritual of smoking helps them stay calm and break the tension and pressure of the game.  Actors often smoked on screen for many of the same reasons.  Knowing what we know now about the risks of tobacco, it makes you wonder if there’s another way.

So now, in 2018, what’s the thinking man’s choice? After weighing all the risks and benefits, I’ll tell you what I’ve come up with. I don’t smoke for reasons, but I sometimes get anxious on the course, so I vaporize a cannabidiol hemp oil, or CBD that has no THC.  CBD is legal, safe and approved by the World Health Organization.  I get the ritual of smoking without the harm and because there’s no THC, (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis), I don’t get high. I do get medicinal benefits:

1. Anti – Anxiety
2. Pain Relief
3. Focus
4. Anti Inflammatory

You can also get a CBD/ THC hybrid, which is nice if you’re that golfer who wants to party during your round. You’ll get high, and you still the keep medicinal benefits.

I see people smoking weed on the course all the time, but I don’t think it’s actually legal in public spaces, and it may make the people some uncomfortable, especially if there are kids around. The reason I don’t use THC on the course is that I start to get a little too internal, that is to say – I get in my head too much. This can lead to dumb shots, mental errors and worst of all – doubt.

I play my best golf when I’m more external, focusing my thoughts on the target and the course conditions.  It’s a more positive mindset, and a CBD with no THC gets me there.  If I miss some shots or start to get some bad thoughts going,  a few drags on my vape pen helps out right away.  I’m able to stop thinking, let things happen and be the ball.

This is also how I cope with slow play, which has ended more of my rounds of golf than darkness. How many times have you had a round going and suddenly, it’s that par 3 over water? There’s a group on the tee and another waiting. The guys on the green are squeezing two foot putts. You sit forever and watch a few shots go splash until its finally your turn.  Out of rhythm and anxious, you chunk one into the lake and and your round goes into the toilet. Or is it just me?

Here in Vegas, if I have to wait between shots, I just grab my vaporizer pen and chill out with CBD. No matches or lighter needed, which is nice on windy days.  It doesn’t bother anyone else because we’re outside, and there’s no ash or smoke. I’m telling you, the citrus flavor oil is screaming with an iced tea. Now, I wouldn’t suggest sitting out there tugging on the pen all day, but it’s nice to have it when you need it. When its finally my turn to hit, I want my mind and body relaxed and ready.

I’ve also had success taking a few CBD capsules before my round. Anna does the drops in her coffee, and she’s starting to experiment with edibles. There’s also a topical cream that you can rub directly into sore joints. We’ll experiment with all the methods and keep you readers posted.

This is my third post, and if you’ve made it this far, I just want you readers to know – I appreciate you, so here’s a great exercise to help you with core strength and torso rotation. Lunge Stance Push/Pull (why Anna hits it so far)