[Chapter 144: Playing Ball]
Bang!!
A white golf ball sliced through the clear blue sky, arcing far away before dropping onto the lush green lawn.
"Wow, nice shot!!"
"Not bad, Link. You drove it 240 yards! You're catching up to the pros."
At the Los Angeles Pelican Hill Golf Course, Jerome Preston watched as the golf ball rolled to a stop in the distance, slapping his hands together with his club still in hand.
"Isn't golf just about counting strokes? Why are we talking about distance?"
"It's the same thing. To hit the golf ball far, you need not just strength, but also to pay attention to the angle of your swing," Jerome replied. "If you're hitting at a professional golfer's level, it shows your arm strength and swing angle are top-notch, Link. If you ever decide not to direct anymore, consider going pro in golf. It pays pretty well too."
"Jerome, what are you joking about? Link is on the Forbes 400 list from directing. Golfers can't just pull that off!" Aaron Kutch, the deputy editor of The Hollywood Reporter, laughed.
"Link could think about making golf a second career," Graydon Carter, Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair, chimed in.
"A second career? More like a tenth! Don't forget this guy's not only a director but also a writer, screenwriter, actor, and cinematographer. His side hustles are endless." Jerome made a few exaggerated smacking sounds.
Link replied, "It's not that exaggerated. Directing is my main job; everything else is just a hobby. Golf is like that too; it's nice to play occasionally. If I made it my profession and had to practice every day, I might lose interest pretty quickly."
Aaron added, "Link's right. In addition to playing golf, I also like fishing, but you wouldn't catch me switching to a career in fishing -- no way I could handle that every day."
Everyone burst out laughing.
"Still, Link is impressive. He became the highest-grossing director of the year, a bestselling author, and his scripts are more popular than those of professional screenwriters. Plus, he single-handedly carried a 90-minute one-man show, and his debut film grossed over $70 million worldwide. I'm telling you, he deserves the Oscar for Best Actor this year. In the history of the Academy Awards, no one has carried a film alone like you have."
Graydon's voice boomed with excitement.
"Ha, Gray, if Vanity Fair had a movie awards show, I might at least have a shot at winning Best Actor," Link joked.
"Link, landing on our cover is just as prestigious as winning an Oscar. If you want, we can have you on there a few more times this year," Graydon chuckled.
"That's your call. As long as you guys need a cover star, feel free to reach out to me; I wouldn't mind popping in again," Link replied.
"Sounds good!"
...
The group walked over to where the golf ball had landed. Link measured the distance to the hole and the wind speed. After grabbing a 3-wood club from the caddy, he stood two feet away from the white ball, aimed carefully at its side, and swung decisively.
Bang!
The ball, carrying a bit of dirt and grass, soared towards the 6th hole, 60 meters away. It flew through the air for over 50 meters, bouncing a couple of times before coming to a stop just four meters from the hole.
"Great shot!"
"Keep going!"
"Go! Go! Go! Go!"
The men cheered loudly, eyes glued to the ball as it rolled forward.
It rolled another five or six feet and then plopped into the cup.
"Yes! It's in!"
Jerome, Aaron, and Graydon shouted with excitement, patting Link on the shoulder, happier than if they had just made a fortune in the stock market.
Link felt thrilled too, pumping his fist in the air. Despite having prepared for the shot, hitting a hole-in-one from over sixty meters was a rare feat, with odds far lower than scoring a long-range soccer goal.
What an incredible shot!
"Link, you should really consider a career in golf. With your talent, going pro is within reach."
Jerome said excitedly.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. That was pure luck! I can't guarantee I can sink every shot like that," Link laughed.
"A shot like that even championship winner Payne Stewart would envy. You pulling it off shows just how much potential you have in golf."
"Absolutely, Link, you played fantastically. We need to set up more golf outings down the line," Aaron encouraged.
"Next time we have a club tournament, you have to participate -- show them your golfing prowess!"
"Great idea! We four could form a team and wipe the floor with the others."
"Ha! With Link on our side, our chances of winning are enormous!" As they chatted excitedly about Link's impressive golfing skills, their energy levels soared.
Link smiled, humoring them, agreeing to whatever suggestions they made to keep the enthusiasm alive.
...
After finishing work at the company, Link handed off tasks to Michael and his crew, swapped into a golf polo and casual slacks, and headed to Pelican Hill to play.
This was a plan he had made with Jerome, who had invited him to join the 'Eagle Club' amateur golf group.
In the past few months, he had been too busy either filming or promoting his new book, leaving no time to hit the greens. Now that he had some downtime before starting a new movie, he seized the opportunity to play a few rounds and expand his connections in the entertainment industry.
For instance, getting to know Aaron Kutch, deputy editor of The Hollywood Reporter, meant he'd have a familiar face on his side should any unfavorable news come out about him or his production company.
Then there was Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair was one of the top-selling entertainment and fashion magazines in the U.S. Getting on its cover required high visibility and could significantly boost a star's fame.
Through his connection with Graydon, Link could help Monica and others land a spot on the cover or another page, raising their profiles.
This was the kind of networking that built doors in the entertainment industry.
In this world, while those at the bottom clawed for resources through hard work or skill, those in the mid to upper tiers relied on connections and resource exchanges.
For instance, Link could potentially gain an insider scoop through Aaron after this outing. If Aaron needed assistance down the road, and Link was able to help, he'd owe Link a favor in return.
This was simply how resource exchange worked in showbiz.
Everywhere in the world, it's about connections and favors; the social currency of relationships.
Without personal connections, it would be nearly impossible to navigate the upper echelons of society.
Link was the exception. His swift entry into mid-level industry circles happened due to a significantly successful run the previous year, quickly boosting his fame and value, not to mention his steadily increasing resources, which ensured he could find his footing in a mid-tier club like the 'Eagle Club.'
With his rising status, he could have accessed the highest social circles in entertainment, yet he preferred to advance at a comfortable pace for now.
As a multi-millionaire, he could easily adapt to the mid-level social scene, but once stepping into the higher tiers filled with multi-billionaire tycoons, he might find it a bit overwhelming. Staying in the mid-level for now felt just right.
*****
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