The Pursuit of Perfection

This is an essay I wrote last year about my State Golf Tournament experience with a team I’ll never forget.

The Pursuit of Perfection
By Jordan Bates

An Iowa State Golf tournament is a remarkably overwhelming stage. The nerves and pressure that come with competition seem to be amplified tenfold in this exclusive arena. A surplus of ingredients combines to generate an atmosphere of the utmost intensity. When I stepped up to the first tee, the announcer bellowed, “Jordan Bates! Spencer!” As I grabbed my driver and paced to the designated teeing ground, I tried to look and feel composed, despite the noticeable trembling of my hands. As I gazed at the fairway stretched in front of me, I attempted to envision the ideal shot. When I began to take the club back, it felt as though it were made of cast iron. I managed to muster enough power to complete the swing and hit the ball. I heaved a sigh of relief and began my march down the fairway, already wondering what the day would bring and how my other teammates were faring.