One golden afternoon, Sally and her friends, Jack and James, were playing golf together. The sun felt warm on their backs, and the fairway stretched wide before them, full of possibility.
Sally loved golf. She loved the crisp thwack of the club, the way the ball soared through the air, and most of all, she loved getting everything just right. So when they reached a tricky hole with a sand trap right in front of the green, Sally was determined to make the perfect shot.
Jack went first. His ball rolled safely past the sand and onto the green.
“Nice shot, Jack!” James cheered.
James took his turn, and though his ball bounced right up to the edge of the bunker, he grinned. “Not bad!”
Then it was Sally's turn. She gripped her club, took a deep breath, and swung with all her might. Whack! The ball shot forward—straight into the sand.
“Oh no,” Sally groaned. She marched over and swung again. The ball popped up but landed right back in the sand.
“This hole is impossible!” Sally huffed, frustration bubbling up inside her.
James walked over and smiled. “Try an easier swing, Sally. You don’t have to hit it so hard.”
Jack nodded. “Yeah! Just get it back onto the grass first.”
Sally frowned. She didn’t like making mistakes, and she definitely didn’t like asking for help. But her friends were right—she needed to slow down.
This time, Sally took a gentler swing. Pop! The ball floated up and landed softly on the green.
“You did it!” James said.
“I knew you could,” added Jack.
Sally's frustration melted away. She realized something important—golf wasn’t just about hitting the perfect shot. It was about patience, learning, and sometimes, listening to your friends.
As they walked to the next hole, Sally grinned. “Alright, who’s ready for a hole-in-one?”
And with laughter and friendly cheers, the game carried on, full of lessons, little victories, and the joy of playing together.