I’m not much of an athlete, so I’m not good at many sports. I happened to start playing golf, and after just 10 months, something truly amazing happened. I made a hole-in-one, something most people never achieve in their lifetime.
The odds of making a hole-in-one are so slow that you’d have to play the same hole 3,000 times, and you might not even get one. It’s like a mirage. There’s also widespread superstition that your playing partners also enjoy good luck when you make a hole-in-one. Since then, I’ve been playing golf once or twice a month.
The weather was nice yesterday, so I went for a round of golf. We do a random draw at each hole to decide how much everyone pays. I lucked out and didn’t have to pay much. During dinner afterwards, everyone laughed as we agreed that both life and golf are more about luck than skill.
the odds of - the probability that one thing is so or will happen rather than another
superstition - belief that is not based on human reason or scientific knowledge
luck out - to be very lucky
나는 운동 신경이 없어서 잘하는 운동이 많지 않다. 그러다 우연히 골프를 시작했는데 10개월 만에 정말 놀라운 일이 일어났다. 대부분의 사람들이 평생 하기 힘들다는 홀인원을 해낸 것이다.
홀인원을 확률은 같은 홀에서 3,000번 쳐서 한 번 들어갈까 말까 할 정도로 굉장히 낮다. 홀인원은 신기루 같은 것이다. 또한 홀인원을 하면 플레이 파트너에게도 좋은 일이 생긴다는 속설이 있다. 그 후로 나는 한 달에 한두 번 골프를 치고 있다.
어제 날씨가 좋아서 골프 라운딩을 나갔다. 각 홀에서 무작위로 추첨을 해서 각자 얼마를 낼지 결정하는데, 나는 운이 좋아서 돈을 많이 낼 필요가 없었다. 라운딩 후 저녁 식사를 하면서 인생과 골프 모두 실력보다는 운이 중요하다는 데 모두 공감하며 웃었다.
- I visit my parents once or twice a month. / Once or twice a mont, we have a meeting to discuss our progress.
- I lucked out and got a reservation. / It’s almost impossible unless you really luck out.
- This game is more about luck than skill. / In most cases, gambling is more about luck than skill.
A: I went for a round of golf yesterday and got a hole-in-one!
B: A hole-in-one? Isn’t hitting one almost like a miracle?
A: Yes, the odds of hitting one are really low.
B: Wow, you must be really skilled.
A: Not at all. I just got lucky.
B: I’m sure that will be a moment you’ll remember for a lifetime.
