“I got the music in me”. The Kiki Dee Band, 1974.
Music has been a part of our world for centuries and unless you’ve been Rip van Winkling your life away, you may have noticed music is a part of golf.
Now before you get the torches and pitch forks out, readying to storm the castle, this is not a debate on music being played on the golf course.
This, my friends is a light-hearted piece about music in which the title or a lyric may or may not influence a shot or a mood on the golf course. Music only you and your group can hear by the way. Douse the torches.
Maestro, if you would please!
Let’s start with a title which should be your mantra from the opening tee shot to the last putt.
Boston’s “Peace of Mind” is not a gentle, relaxing tune but the title says it all. Now, halfway through your round you might be streaming some Norwegian death metal tunes as the slamming doors in your head get louder, but you do you.
There are holes (or rounds) where you don’t seem to be able to explain what is going on with your game, a perfect time for Golden Earring “Twilight Zone”.
You might have one member of your foursome which maybe is a tad slow, punch up Mick Jagger and the boys singing “Waiting on a Friend.”
No matter what brand of ball you play, they all sing to you with that Pat Benatar scowl, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.”
While we do try to hit our best shot, we know bad things happen and two songs which fit the mood may be Deep Purple “Smoke on the Water” or The Shangri-Las’ 1964 version of “Walking in the Sand” which has the lyric leading into the title “oh no, oh no, oh no no no.”. Fitting for sure.
Now this one is situational, depending on your course routing. You might be hitting on #15 or #16, whatever, a stray shot may prompt this tune, Stevie Nicks “Edge of Seventeen.”
In many cases we are playing this game in less than perfect weather, and it seems most days this song is in the background, Bob Seger, “Against the Wind”, and on every hole it seems.
Speaking of weather, if you are hearing Lou Christie wailing this line, “Lightning is striking again and again and again” you may want to stay in the clubhouse.
On the green, this is the song which might be in your brain, Gerry Rafferty, “Right Down The Line.” It might work, it might not. The song is a good one either way.
Now as you walk off the 18th green these two songs could be played to close out your musical adventure. It might be ? and the Mysterians “ 99 Tears”( yes, the groups name starts with a ?) but you should have this cranked on your drive home, Journey “ Don’t Stop Believin”.
If that doesn’t work, you can always cue up Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville” or Linda Ronstadt crooning “You’re No Good.”
Cheers!
