Golf and Good Deeds

Amidst articles about war and politics, it was pleasant this morning to read two good news stories, one about the Washington region's apparently strong commitment to volunteerism and the other about the success of Tiger Woods' AT&T National golf tournament at Congressional, which has both Wilbon and Boswell waxing ecstatic. The volunteerism piece, by Annie Gowen, reports that, despite the busy-ness of our lives and the extensive commutes many of us endure, we volunteer at a higher rate than the national average. As for the golf tournament, fans turned out in droves (to use the cliche) despite the ghastly heat and humidity. Tiger said he wants the tournament to become a permanent fixture at Congressional, which may be harder to do than it is to volunteer.

First, golf. I am a much better person since I quit playing golf 47 years ago in a fit of pique on the Par 3 third hole of the University of Oklahoma golf course after unintentionally driving three balls into a water hazard and then intentionally driving my remaining 10 balls into the same water hazard. Nonetheless, I retain great admiration for those who make good livings doing better than that. And I am delighted to see a major league tournament back in town, and so were the region's fans.

Deep in his column Boswell wrote "For now, this is the time to appreciate an event that went off with few hitches unless you count [tournament winner K. J.] Choi's lugubrious pace of play." So jk67 asked, "What was wrong with Choi's pace of play? It didn't seem like he was slow with his shots or his mannerism didn't seem to be gloomy in any way. He seemed to be gracious and fired up actually! What's the point of having a negative remark when the tournament seemed to go so well?..."

And barbnc said he thought Wilbon "dug and dug and decided the venue was what you could be negative about. Geez. A very well run and well received golf tournament comes to DC and you are put out that they didn't choose another venue?" What Wilbon (and Boswell) both said is that it is questionable whether Congressional can be made available every year for the tournament, not that this classic course is found wanting.
Ah well.

As for the volunteer story, a study reported that the region has an average annual volunteer rate of 32 percent, compared with 28 percent nationally. The typical suburban volunteer here logs an average of 60 hours of such work a year, compared with 48 hours for their District-dwelling counterparts or 50 hours nationally. The national leader cited in the federal study was Minneapolis, at 40 percent.

411Tibby suggested that "...Volunteer is some peoples way of networking. Being head of a block association in a clean up efforts if you live in an affluent neighborhood can mix and mingle you to a fat contact file of whose who. In other situations it can provide associations and friendships of like-minded people.."

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All comments on volunteerism are here.