Ryan and Zac approached the 7th hole with some trepidation at the Finch Golf Club. Lining the perimeter from their position to the hole 400 yards away were 12 25-foot-high black metal statues.
“What are these?” Zac asked as he looked at the giant ram behind them.
“Those are the signs of the zodiac; the 12 houses,” a woman said, emerging from seemingly nowhere and frightening the golfers. The woman wore a black dress with purple crystals around her neck. “I am Astrid, your spiritual guide through this hole. While all golf holes have astrological pathways, we have calibrated this one to show you the correct path. Each house is positioned where the course’s natural energy resonates with that sign’s qualities. What are your signs?”
“Oh, I’m a Libra,” Zac said enthusiastically.
“I’m Scorpio,” Ryan said, annoyed.
“Does the Scorpio get too competitive sometimes?” Astrid asked.
“He definitely does,” Zac said. “And moody too.”
“I knew it,” Astrid said. “Now, here at the tee, you will find a line between the houses of Aries and Pisces. Scorpio, you’ll want to stay to the left of the line with Pisces. You’re both water symbols. It should lead to a harmonious shot.”
Ryan stepped up to the tee box and just barely put his ball to the left of the line, following Astrid’s instructions.
“Let me give you some advice on where to hit it,” Astrid said, but before she could, Ryan wound up for his shot. Ryan’s ball immediately hooked right and landed in the deep rough, far off track.
“Oh, I was going to warn you about that section of the course,” Astrid said. “The house of Gemini resides there. It’s a superficial foil for a Scorpio.”
Ryan fumed.
Zac stepped up to the tee.
“Libra, let me ask you a question. What’s your issue today? Do you need to pick up the pace or relax?
“Definitely relax,” Zac said.
“Then you should hit with Pisces too,” Astrid said.
Zac, put the ball down. “What should I do?”
“I know your instinct is to aim to the right, but stay to the left. If you can enter Sagittarius’s house on the course, you’ll be rewarded.”
Zac hit his shot and watched his ball soar through the air, land and then roll 50 yards more—a fantastic shot. Zac cheered and high-fived Astrid.
Ryan fumed and yelled at Astrid, “Don’t follow us.” He grabbed his bag and started towards his ball.
“That was great!” Zac said. “What do I do next?”
“Aim for the back of the green, to the right. The house of Leo could actually land you a birdie.”
Astrid handed Zac a zodiac guide to the rest of the course, and as he walked away, she shook her head and laughed. That Scorpio was so predictable on the golf course.
The Finch Golf Club is part of a series, you can read other entries here.