Ignore your allergies and get moving.
Ah, spring: That regenerative time of year when we peel ourselves off our couches and put on our spandex-y activewear, when young men and women's thoughts turn to hitting little balls with sticks, be it in a gym, park, ice rink, ball park or golf course.
Yep, spring is that time of year when we all feel the urge to play ***image1***out sporty fantasies, before the harsh brittle summer slaps us in the face and reminds us: We're flabby, we smoke, we are not Tiger Woods.
But what is spring for if not indulging in the false bloom of delusion? We here at SFR are not immune to the charms of dusting off old sports equipment (OK, at least the lesbian members of our staff) and risking strains and sprains as we conjure up excuses for leaving work early in order to bask in that specific type of spring air that inspires a seasonal athleticism. This year we scouted out the basics of a couple different sports in order to share them with you; so whether you want to hone your skills or pick up a new kind of stick to hit a new kind of ball (or puck), here's some tips to get you started.
Golf
OK, the first thing you should know about golf is, it's really freakin' hard. Which is bad news in that it takes awhile to get the hang of, but good news in that you shouldn't feel so bad if you suck at it at first.
There are a number of basics to the golf swing, according to Linda Gammon, a pro at the city-run Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe: "Grip. Posture. Alignment. Ball position. And I like to add balance," she says. That's just the beginning, of course, and there's much to learn for the novice, but Gammon and her fellow pros at the Links are happy to teach you one-on-one or via any number of clinics they put on year 'round. If you think you're going to take one lesson and suddenly become the next Michelle Wie, don't get too excited: The basic golf grip and swing are counter-intuitive for most people, even natural athletes, so it takes a few rounds of instruction in order to start getting a feel for the sport.
The second thing about golf is, it's more addictive than Santacafé's crème brulee. This is good news in that once you start a-swingin' you'll have found a lifetime sport you can always improve at. The bad news is, even with the reasonable rates at Marty Sanchez ($23 residents, $29 non-residents), you might have to budget for it. Equipment-wise, a single club can set you back thousands of dollars but, unless you're a pro, expensive clubs are unnecessary. And also confusing-there are thousands of choices to fill your bag-but a good instructor or pro can do a lot to lead you in the right direction.
An excellent way to stay within budget and time constraints is to play the Links' Great 28 par-three course. (Usually a par-three consists of only 27 strokes; the final hole at Marty Sanchez is a par-four, so you can let the big dog eat.) The Great 28 is rarely crowded, less expensive (10 bucks if you walk it on a weekday, $12 weekends), doesn't extract a huge chunk of your day (only a couple hours if you walk), and is an excellent way to work on your short and mid game.
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Hockey
Yeah, we know it's indoors, but hockey's an excellent choice for retreating from those gritty March winds; plus, the chill of the ice proves soothing after a few weeks in the sun. The sport's popularity in Santa Fe has increased since the opening of the Chavez Center's rink (also home to the North American Hockey League's Santa Fe Roadrunners). Each week the rink has designated times set aside for pick-up hockey, as well as hosting a number of adult and youth leagues for both men and women.
The first thing you should know about hockey is, well, it's not as frustrating as golf, but it also takes a bit to get the hang of it. Especially the rules-Icing? Forget about it.
But the folks who run the various adult leagues in Santa Fe know their stuff, er, cold, and are happy to help you learn the ins and outs, from elementary skating skills to slapshots.
"We have women who can barely make it up and down the ice," says Lynn Werhane, who runs the ladies league, "but they still have a blast."
According to Gary Lincoln, who heads up the Rocky Mountain District of the Land of Enchantment Hockey Association, if you want to reach the level of, say, a Santa Fe Roadrunner, ya gotta get on the ice by the age of 6. We're assuming if you're reading this, you might be a touch older and have no illusions about going semi-pro and might need some help getting started.
That's where coaching comes in. "In order to be a hockey coach at any level you have go to through hockey coach training and be certified," Werhane says. "It's not just any old Joe who can be a coach." So even though we live in the desert, far from the culture of "pond hockey," instruction ranging from basic to advanced is top-notch.
As with golf, equipment is a large part of playing hockey. A mid-level set of pants, shin guards, elbow guards, chest pad, gloves, helmet, skates and stick will set you back between $200 and $300. Don't worry too much about needing the best gear: "Quality isn't that big a deal until you start playing really, really competitive hockey," Werhane says.
Whether that's the level you want to achieve or whether you play in the old-timers league, the icy sport shares another aspect of golf: Once you get the bug, it's hard to shake it.
"Hockey is a lifetime love," Lincoln says. "You play it and get a passion for it and it never leaves you."
For more information on joining local hockey leagues call Melissa Peterson, 310-0648. Call the Genoveva Chavez Center for information on designated pick-up ice times, as they change weekly, or visit
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The Marty Sanchez Links de Santa Fe are open daily, year 'round. Discounted twilight rates are available after certain hours and Santa Fe residents also
pay discounted greens fees. Call the pro shop at 955-4400 for more information.
