Ben squinted at the expanse before him, a mix of excitement and apprehension tightening his grip on the oversized golf club. Dad chuckled beside him, nodding towards the scattered balls gleaming in the morning light.
"Alright, buddy, give it a try!" Dad said, handing the club to Ben.
Ben took a deep breath, swung with all his might, and promptly spun in a circle, landing unceremoniously on the grass. Laughter bubbled up from Dad as he helped Ben back to his feet.
"Is this stick broken or something?" Ben grumbled.
"It's all about the stance," Dad explained, wiggling his hips in a playful shimmy.
Ben mimicked him, feeling slightly ridiculous but determined. This time, his swing connected with the ball, sending it flying—straight into the back of a distant golf cart.
"FOUR!" Ben shouted, earning a gentle correction from Dad.
Dad produced a bag of gummy worms, and they shared the sweet treats each time a putt was successful. The squirrel, emboldened by the scent of sugar, crept closer, eyeing the colorful worms with interest.
"I think we have a new fan," Ben joked, tossing a gummy in the squirrel's direction.
"I live here now," Ben declared dramatically from a sand trap, his club stuck in the soft sand.
Dad laughed, shaking his head as he helped Ben out of the predicament. "You've got a knack for making golf interesting," he said, ruffling Ben's hair affectionately.
Ben looked at Dad, a satisfied smile on his face. "Golf is kinda fun," he admitted. "Even though I'm terrible at it." Dad grinned back, promising another outing.
Ben nodded eagerly, thinking of the squirrel, the snacks, and his dad's superhero shimmy. "Deal," he said, looking forward to more adventures on the green.
