Seeing the snow melt and the lack of frost on my windshield excites me for one thing: summer golf.

Because it’s nearly impossible to maintain a perfect swing in both baseball and golf at the same time, I spend my spare time putting. Even though nothing gets rid of your anger like a few hacks during batting practice, putting is the most relaxing thing in the world and it helps you gain focus in every aspect of your life.

If you can sink a 15-foot putt on a voluptuous green, the world is your oyster.

Nothing else in the world requires the diligence and passion that golf does, which is what makes it the perfect recreational activity.

Besides a training place to work your work ethic to perfection, the golf course is also an incredible place to spend time and just let your mind relax.

After a long day at the office — The Patriot Room — the only thing I want to do is spend time with my blade putter on the green.

Because of the eerie similarities between golf and life, to master one, you must become one with your surroundings. You don’t become a master of your trade by winging it. You need to practice at the driving range and on the practice green, metaphorically speaking.

The most enjoyable facet of golf is that nobody starts off as good as Rory McIlroy, nor do they play their best golf every time they begin an outing.

Some days you will end up in a bunker. But just like in life, golf teaches you that with practice, you can take a mistake and turn it into a beautiful chip on the green.

My favorite part of golf is that you aren’t actually competing against the other players. You’re competing against yourself in a grueling game of finesse and mental tenacity.

At the end of the day, it does come down to strokes below par, but you determine your fate based off of the precision and work you put into each hack you take.

And yeah, if you’ve seen “Happy Gilmore” you understand that golf is a game of patience and can be very frustrating at times.

But so is life.

And that is what makes golf the best recreational sport in the world.

Eric Johnson is a Sports Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.