As a Bermudian which sport will you be focused on this week, golf or cricket?The Bermuda national cricket team are playing in Dubai as they try to qualify for ICC World Cricket League Division One while over in Augusta, Georgia the Masters takes place, golf’s first major of the year.How do they tie in with each other one may ask? Truthfully speaking they don’t. However, many Bermudian cricketers have married the two and so this weekend they will be monitoring both sets of results.It wasn’t until about two years ago that I started to play golf regularly and realised how many former and even current cricket players play the game of golf. Former cricketers like Eldon Raynor, Winston (Coe) Trott, Ricky Hodsoll, Maxwell Curtis, Philip Pitcher and Lloyd James just to name a few. Not only do they play, they are also very skilful and can hold their own in local golf tournaments.Is it the patience required, the preciseness of the game or the challenge and thrill of competition that attracts them to golf? I believe it comes down to the competitive spirit of these cricketers that ignites the passion for it, and because I am a cricket lover I see the similarities in the game especially as it relates to being technically sound.Back in 2005 when the national cricket team were preparing for Ireland, we chose golf as a bonding mechanism. Eight of us got together and went out to play a round of golf.Some would say that we didn’t really play a round we just happened to be on the course for eight hours. We had so many laughs. For those of you who think golf is an easy sport just ask a few of the players about that day at Southampton Princess.Without calling any names, it is still funny to think of players scoring 12 on a par three hole. Balls were landing on the road, hitting trees, just missing cars on South Shore and in some cases players were missing the ball completely.Not a hole went by that you didn’t hear a cricketer shout out “Fore” and no it didn’t mean four runs.That was a warning for golfers ahead to duck and beware as their ball had gone astray. When we finished playing that day, I know the groundsmen must have been glad to see us go and they probably earned some overtime money in order to repair the course as a result of the divots all over it.My first introduction to golf was through Phillip Pitcher of St.David’s. He used to tell me how much fun it was and he wanted me to try it. My thought was how hard could it be as I watched my fellow St.George’s cricket players, such as Ricky Hodsoll, Ritchie Foggo and Maxwell Curtis playing well on the course.After just one round of golf I had a new appreciation for golfers. Golf is not as easy as it looks. As a matter of fact it took me over a year to get a score under 100, when the average score for the golf course is 72 or thereabouts.What is most interesting to me is how so many factors can affect your game and the littlest of things can affect what your final score is. One day you could be hitting the ball clean and everything is going right for you and the very next day your swing could be all over the place.From the current cricket team, I know that Delyone (Borden) and Lionel (Cann) play golf regularly and they can attest that it helps them tremendously with their hand-eye coordination. The challenge of consistency is what drives me and I believe that’s why many former and current cricketers enjoy the game so much.Surprisingly enough my brother Wendell has never tried playing the game. I think he would or could have been really good at it once he learned the fundamentals of the game because he is a tactician and does well at reading situations. I continue to try and get him on the course, just once, as I am so curious to see how he would do.So as the weekend approaches I know there will be several of us cricketers watching golf and following the cricket over in Dubai with great interest.Will Tiger Woods finally win another major so that he can grace our Island with his presence at the season ending tournament the PGA Grand Slam of Golf? Will Bermuda win the tournament and gain promotion to Division One?This tournament is so critical to Bermuda’s future as the top four teams will stay in the ICC High Performance Programme, while the bottom two get demoted into Division Three. Let’s face it, Bermuda Government have invested in both cricket and golf, and if these two results can come to fruition it would be a great week for Bermuda sports.For those of you who are avid golf fans from your couch in front of the TV, I encourage you to go out and try it.The golf courses in Bermuda have lovely views and are great to play on. I have to warn you though, once you play it you may get hooked as many of our cricketers have.Lastly, best wishes to our national cricket team, I know you will do us proud. If I may offer you some words of encouragement, “Good cricketers enjoy the battle. Just do your best and leave it all out on the field.”