Samoset
Samoset Resort, in Rockland, ME, has always been one of my favorite places anywhere! The setting about 30 miles Northeast from Boothbay Harbor really is breathtaking. The breakwater just off the property is really a quintessential coastal Maine setting that took almost 2 decades to build (1881-1899). A popular near mile walk out on the breakwater leads to Rockland Lighthouse which was added to help guide ships into the busy harbor during foggy/stormy weather. This breathtaking spot is nearly worth the trip in itself, but the fact that it lies right off Samoset’s fabulous golf course truly puts it near the top of my favorite destinations list!
From an early age, golf has been a special activity that I’ve been blessed to enjoy! Starting with trips to the driving range with Grampy, pre-dawn rounds with Dad, to hours spent with Andy and other friends, the sport has always been a passion. Obviously, my TBI and left side hemiplegia changed everything for me and greatly altered my ability to put the golf ball in the hole. Amazingly, however, I honestly think my enjoyment of golf has only grown. Perhaps it’s a natural progression to have greater appreciation for an activity as opportunities to engage diminish with life’s progression…But I even find that facing greater difficulty in the already frustrating, imperfectible game of golf has increased my enjoyment and thrill of a well struck shot!
That being said, one of the first times I played all 18 holes post injury took place with my parents at Samoset. I can’t remember the exact date, but I’m guessing it was in 2008 or 9 that I was determined to finish all 18 holes at Samoset walking the course. Up until that day I had only played 9 holes at a time so it was a pretty ambitious goal. I do remember that I shot 140 and I recall my dad encouraging me to be more forgiving with scoring and drops to which I replied, “Well how will I know if I’m improving?” His compassionate reply was “Don’t worry You’ll improve.”, but he could have said, “Trust me, you can’t do worse!” Despite my doubling par for the course and somehow limping my way across the terrain with my mom pleading with me to “just get in the cart!”, that day ranks among my favorite times on a golf course.
My tendency to overfocus on chasing a little white ball around large swaths of grassy terrain (also known as golf) aside, the subject of More Than a Speed Bump’s latest post, Samoset; is my destination this weekend. I’m excited to play Samoset’s seaside course and spend some time in the beautiful Rockland area, and this trip is another step in building a life after brain injury.
To begin with, this marks my first trip to Samoset without A) My parents, both company and financial sponsorship and also B) With my girlfriend Kelly! The exclamation point accurately conveys my excitement to enjoy one of my favorite places with someone that I’ve come to love and I’m lucky enough to have Clooney share with me; certainly not the lack of sponsor 🙂