I can't think of many things in life that I choose to do that can be as infuriating or as exhilarating as golf.

When I was first playing, I was so bad -- and got so angry at myself -- that I used to break clubs over my knee. I wish I could blame it on immaturity, but I was 45 years old at the time.

Playing on full-length courses, I was shooting in the low 130s for 18 holes. My friend Mick was consistently beating me by 30-35 strokes, which isn't all that great for the ego.

I did get better, and my the time I reached 50, I was managing to break a hundred once in a while. I was playing a beautiful Southern California course -- I've written about the gorgeous Empire Lakes course many times -- and about four or five years ago, I finally managed to break 90, with the help of mulligans and winter rules. On my best day ever, I tore up the back nine at Empire, running off five pars and a birdie and shooting 38 for nine holes. My 83 that day is still the best round I've ever shot.

Today might have been better, but I'll never know. I only made it through 15 holes before I had to stop for darkness, but it was a pretty nice day at Sun City Peachtree. It was the first time I was able to play in shorts and shirt sleeves, and although I didn't start all that well -- a double bogey and four bogeys -- I started getting it together with a par on the sixth hole.

[caption id="attachment_859" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="The eighth green"]<a href="http://mikerappaport.net/onevoice/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/20101210_20.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-859" title="20101210_20" src="http://mikerappaport.net/onevoice/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/20101210_20-300x199.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="199" /></a>[/caption]

I came back with another par on seven, but it was the par-five eighth hole -- which I usually double bogey -- that was really special. I hit two pretty decent shots and left myself 113 yards from the hole for my third shot. I'm not a big hitter, so I usually have to overclub. I hit my seven-iron perfectly and left the ball four inches from the cup. I've never had an eagle, let alone a hole-in-one, but I tapped in for birdie and felt wonderful.

I parred the ninth hole and finished the front nine with a 41.

The 10th is a longish par four that I've only parred once, and I had an uphill 28-footer for par today. I didn't make it, but I have no idea why. I was right on target with good speed, but it lipped the hole and popped out. I tapped in for bogey.

My six holes on the back nine were two pars, three bogeys and a double bogey on a par five, so I had a 71 with three holes remaining -- a par three and two par fours. I would have had to par all three to top my best round, but my previous best round on this course was an 86.

Oh well.

As I said, sometimes I walk off the golf course feeling furious.

Today I felt wonderful.

It's a crazy life.