Jonathan ClearyJonathan Cleary
Chattanooga
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Jonathan Cleary grew up in a golfing household, but the sport never really stuck with him as a high school kid at Baylor or during his undergraduate years at the University of Tennessee.
But he's back.
Cleary striped a few drives - sliced a few and even hooked a few - last Friday on the range at Moccasin Bend.
That's OK. The 28-year-old is playing the game and practicing it more now than he has in years.
"I took several years off, and now I'm trying to ease my way back into golf," Cleary said. "Hitting balls is a nice little Friday evening activity.
"It's a good way to tear up your back before going to a friend's party."
Another sport stole his fancy, especially during Cleary's high school and college days - fencing.
"I coached the club up at UT, and if I was doing a sport then, it was that and not golf," Cleary said. "Nerds at Baylor, we go fence for our required sport."
Both sports are typically individual as opposed to team competitions, but the physical requirements are far different. Plus, one is contested indoors and the other is outside in the elements - heat or cold, wind or a light snow.
"Fencing is not forgiving of bad form, but golf apparently is," he said. "The footwork is totally different. Fencing is basically at a 45-degree angle and golf is a 90-degree angle at address.
"You never shift weight in fencing. The power is in your legs."
Another similarity between Cleary's two active sports of choice is that both allow participants to compete long after basketball and football players have retired. Which is one reason Cleary thought about dusting off his clubs.
"Last year I really wanted to get back into golf," Cleary said. "There's something about it that is fun and relaxing. You can get into it real easy, in and out."