Lee, the caddie, looked at me as I climbed out of a small bunker guarding the green on No. 12 at The Honors Course.

My first attempt out of the sand landed on the face of the bunker, which is built more to suit a mountain goat than a golf ball. A second attempt out landed back in the sand.

I swiped at the ball four times just to get out of the bunker and Lee had the gall to ask, “Are you having fun yet?”

Normally I would have considered wrapping a wedge around somebody’s neck for asking that question at that particular time.

But I looked at Canon Cup competitors Bud Cauley and Jenny Shin, two of the best juniors in the country, who had waited patiently for me to absorb Pete Dye’s pain. They were holding back smirks. I’d just met them at the tee on No. 11 for the junior-am portion of the Canon Cup.

I looked around again, absorbed the surroundings, thought about where I was, what I was doing, who I was with and came to a quick answer.

“Yes.”

It would have been understandable to say no.

My knees were knocking on the tee at No. 11 and I picked up when I reached triple-bogey in order to maintain our pace of play in the shotgun format. The match-play scorecard had The Honors Course 1-up over me. Then 2-up after my bunker blunder.

Lee’s question has since changed my outlook on how and why I play golf — for the better.

As a competitive athlete during my youth and 20s, winning seemed to be the only thing in basketball, track, darts, flag-football, billiards, baseball or softball.

When I picked up golf after college, wayward shots and poor putts irked me. I thought I was good enough to shoot 80, could put every drive in the fairway and sink every putt within 15 feet.

I learned that day, in that bunker, and on that green, a round of golf is meant to be fun, enjoyable and memorable no matter how I score.

It’s a lesson that I’ve carried with me into this summer and will carry with me forever, no matter whether my score is in the 80s, 90s or triple-digits.

Why get upset over a bad golf shot? I’m a high-handicapper to begin with. Why not laugh at myself for misreading a putt? I’m human. Why not enjoy time on a golf course? They’re beautiful tracts of land built to be enjoyed — especially The Honors Course.

I once had dreams of being a professional basketball player. Those were assailed by high school. I have no such dreams of becoming a professional golfer.

I am an amateur.

One of many who have been, and many more who will be, humbled by the Honors.

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