“Happy New Year!”

We have spent the last couple of months closing out 2024 with family and friends. We haven’t played any golf – but we have taken part in plenty of holiday traditions.

All this holiday tradition activity, has me thinking about golf and the traditions of the game itself.

Golf is a sport steeped in tradition. For me, it isn’t just about mastering the swing or conquering the course; it’s also about the rich tapestry of practices that has shaped its culture. As I research and ponder golf traditions, it becomes evident to me that the heart of this sport lies in its practices. These practices, both spoken and unspoken, are the guardrails that guide behaviour on the course.

I believe that golf practices actually add to the game’s culture and etiquette, and help golfers feel part of a larger community. For instance:

• Respect. Golf is often called a gentleman’s game, and traditions like shaking hands at the end of a round emphasize respect for the game, fellow players, and the golf course. 
• History. Golf’s history dates back to the 15th century in Scotland, and traditions remind golfers of the game’s origins and the legends who came before them. 
• Sense of community. Traditions create a sense of camaraderie and belonging.  For example, the green jacket awarded to Masters tournament winners is a recognizable symbol of the club and the tournament. 
• Enjoyment. Traditions can make golf more enjoyable for everyone involved. For example, some golf courses have unique traditions, like a caddie dance at the end of a round. 

I recently read that in addition to its recreational and social aspects, golf has also played a significant role in diplomatic relations between nations. Throughout history, golf has served as a platform for diplomacy, with leaders and dignitaries using the sport to build bridges and foster goodwill.

In fact, I have experienced that first hand!

Quite honestly, from the simple act of shaking hands at the end of a round to the more eccentric rituals like wearing mismatched socks, golf traditions bring a sense of camaraderie and a touch of hilarity to the golfing world. They make me feel like we belong to something bigger than ourselves, something wonderfully absurd.

And it’s the same with my family and our holiday traditions!

My holiday traditions usually start right around Thanksgiving, when we spend time with my family in Minnesota. This time is filled with tons of food, many nights filled with games, and endless laughter. The weather is always colder than we would like, and my brother-in-law does keep the temps in his house a tad bit colder than we would like, but one thing is for sure – it’s a blast experiencing the annual Thanksgiving visit with them.

The next stop for our holiday traditions is time with Marc’s family in North Carolina. It’s here where we hold the annual DAD (Dinner At Dad’s). A meal that is centered around Marc’s 89 year old father and all Marc’s siblings, nieces and nephews. We even sneak in a generational game of LCR (Left-Center-Right)!

We continue our holiday traditions with a night sitting around the campfire with Marc’s family in South Carolina, sharing stories and connecting with nature, and this year we added another holiday tradition. My oldest sister and family moved to South Carolina recently, so we now spend a couple of days with her – with the intent to play golf – weather permitting.

And just like golf, our holiday traditions are important to our family foundation because they too create a sense of belonging, connect us to our family history and cultural identity, foster strong relationships, and provide a comforting sense of stability by repeating cherished rituals and activities across generations.

If I was to be honest, I would say I see our family holiday traditions as a time for:

• Family bonding. Our shared traditions have strengthened our familial bonds and created memories that are now be revisited year after year. 
• Cultural connection. Our time together often includes stories from days past and reflect the cultural heritage and beliefs of our families, helping me feel even more connected to my roots. 
• Sense of stability. Repeating familiar practices during holidays has provided me a bigger a sense of security and comfort, especially during times of change. 
• Positive emotions. My heart becomes full with the positive feelings like joy, gratitude, and togetherness, when we gather for a large dinner with our extended family. 
• Passing down values. I see many conversations between various family members during our holiday gatherings which are used to transmit important values and life lessons from the “old folk” to younger generations.

So here we are in the new year and I am now thinking about the purpose of New Year traditions. For starters, it is to symbolically mark the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. I honestly love this time of year. As I have said in previous posts – it’s the time of year when I look back on all that we were able to enjoy and reflect on the blessings we received throughout the year.  

And 2024 was full of so much for us!

We are already busy planning our golfing and RV adventures for 2025 – the open road, the freedom of driving, and the chance to explore this great nation’s scenic byways are all reasons why we are on this great adventure to begin with!

All the while checking states off our Golf Bucket List to golf in all 50 states, with 35 stickers on the map! Which means we will continue to be striking the ball from north to south, and from east to west!

I have also enjoyed sharing our golf experiences with you!   As 2025 begins, I find myself full of gratitude for every one of you who has joined us on our golf journey. And I can’t wait to share it with you!

My Reads from the Reds – Happy New Year!

Fairways and Greens – We are 18 Holes and Counting.   

Written by Kathy Festa