Ive often marveled at the loyalty of my dogs through the years. Weve had several in our lifetime and each one of them was one of the most loyal friends Ive ever had. I got to wondering once when one of our dogs passed away why humans cant be more like these lovable animals.

Then one day on the golf course, it hit me. Here I was, out for a nice round of golf with some friends when I was struck by the amount of time we spent in the woods looking for lost balls. The more I thought about, the more I thought we were like our canine friends, searching for our masters ball. Our master, of course, is the game of golf itself.

As golfers, we spend the whole day fetching balls for our master. We spend endless hours training with our master. Obedience schools for golfers are everywhere, cleverly disguised as Golf Academies. We wait for days for nice weather so we can get out for our walks. Somedays, we even walk in the rain if our master calls us out and we happily set out on our way merely grateful for another chance to spend time with our master. We are rewarded with treats at the 19th Hole after a long day chasing balls. Some golfers have even been known to pee in the woods. We try to learn tricks to impress our master and other golfers. Phil Mickelson can hit a ball with so much spin that it actually lands behind him. All in all, golfers are loyal and faithful to the master we love.

Golfers in general are one of the most fanatic groups of people in the world. They travel extensively to far away places to play golf. They watch hours and hours of golf tournaments on TV. The spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on everything from the newest equipment to the latest and greatest golf training aid in an effort to get better at the game they love.

While the similarities between golfers and dogs are somewhat startling when you actually think about it, could there really be an evolutionary component? Im not an expect in genetics or biology or science or much else for that matter but I do know one thing. I feel a special bond to my wonderful pet and to the game of golf.

Some say dogs only ever achieve a Grade 2 intelligence level and I know of some golfers who could challenge for that distinction. In the end, do you believe golfers evolved from dogs? Does it matter? Probably not but considering our canine friends can do basically the same thing without requiring acres and acres of land, the latest technology, snappy outfits, or a reserved time to go out and play, it makes one wonder who evolved from who.