June 19
The High Road
I am thankful for the high road. The high road represents the morally "high ground", doing the right things and living the good life, whereas the low road represents the easy life filled with wrong decisions. The history of low road versus high road goes back to the days when the low road represented the shortest and perhaps easier trek but fraught with the possibility of getting "stuck in the mud". The high road is a further and more difficult road but is generally "high and dry", so ultimately it may be wiser and safer to take the high road. Low road versus high road is sung about in the song Loch Lomand: "You'll take the high road, and I'll take the low road; And I'll be in Scotland before you." Of course, the low road is so very tempting and I personally have not always avoided it. But in the long run, the high ground is much more rewarding.
I don't know if Arnold Palmer had the low road versus high road metaphor in mind when he designed the beautiful ninth hole at The Bluffs in St, Francisville, Louisiana, but I believe the hole is the perfect metaphor for it. The par five hole has two fairways, the one on the right is 10-15 feet higher than the lower one on the left. The left fairway is shorter, but riskier, than the right fairway. A lake follows the left fairway the length of the hole and then a shot of nearly 200 yards over water is required to reach the green. The lower fairway tempts those interested in going for the green in two. If you hit to the right fairway, there is a wider fairway, no water has to be crossed, but the route is longer, generally taking three shots to get to the green. It's interesting also, that The Bluffs has placed a small church chapel on the ground overlooking the low ground. Perhaps to save those souls who have stayed to the low ground!
Being tempted by a life of bad decisions and a morally indescript life which may seem easier on first look and may appear to hold the bigger rewards, requires that more "hazards" have to be navigated and carries with it the possibility of self destruction. The morally high ground may be more difficult at first glance but generally results in better outcomes.
I played at The Bluffs last week for the second time (last played more than a decade ago) and thoroughly enjoyed the golf course. It is absolutely gorgeous and is among the best golf courses in the state. In playing the ninth hole, I chose to take the "high road" but, unfortunately, I hooked my drive and my ball ended up hanging on the edge of a sand bunker in the left fairway. With an awkward stance, I had no choice but to hit an iron down the fairway. Then, looking at a 225 yard shot over water to the green, I chose to head back to high ground by going over the trees to the right fairway rather than risk the drink. Perhaps it is possible to recover from a journey begun on the "low road". I was on the green on my fourth shot. Not great, but better than the alternative of a ball in the water and a penalty stroke.
low road high road
low road high road
which one to take
a very tough decision
for one to make
easy to choose
the road that’s low
difficult to navigate
for high to go
but the road less traveled
the better pick
less worn down and trampled
but much less slick.
© rt tulley