GET INTO THE SWING

The sun is setting slowly over the Adriatic, the mountains turning dusky blue as the clouds flush flamingo pink. The last bathers by the Seahorse pool are grabbing their towels and pointing their phones at the sky to capture the beauty of the view. I am also up on deck, but my attention is firmly on the little white ball at my feet.

Grip, wiggle, swing, thwack – it flies pleasingly forward and I am ridiculously thrilled with myself. A short while ago, I had never so much as picked up a golf club; now, after some expert tips, encouraging words, and infinite patience from Dale Williams, Crystal’s new onboard golf pro, I’m hitting balls without embarrassing myself. Who would have thought?

Playing golf in the middle of the sea sounds, to put it bluntly, a little crazy. But Crystal has a nifty set-up on both ships, with nets where you can practice your swing and, if you choose to take a golf clinic, hone your technique, whether it’s your first or fiftieth time wielding a club. “All you need to do is hit the ball upwards and forwards,” Dale assures me. And with the nets, thankfully I don’t need to worry about knocking out a passing captain.

Dale, who runs the complimentary clinics and also offers private lessons, is all twinkly-eyed charm and boundless enthusiasm, while also being a stickler for proper form. After every swing, he takes the club off me so that I have to practice my hand placement over and over again. “A good grip is the foundation to your whole game,” he tells, me, noting my posture and usual stance to show me where and how I should hold and swing the club. Thanks to his tips, I’m hitting ball after ball – he tells me that’s rare for a total beginner but I’m pretty sure he’s just being kind. Either way, he’s built my confidence in such a short time that I think I could get a taste for this.

These golf clinics run several times throughout every sailing and are a brilliant way to get an introduction to the game or build on your existing experience. And in Dale’s wonderful company, they’re also plenty of fun. I may have missed a killer sunset, but I’ve gained a skill and a newfound appreciation for the sport.