"When I started, I liked layering the mats, " says Ms. Chilewich.

WSJ: The Art of the Table

Even though I learned to swing a club on plastic mats, through some mix of geography and good fortune, my family belongs to the club.

WSJ: How Mom Plays the Game | Golf Journal

Finally, I felt able to look up from the beer mats to the stage.

NEWYORKER: Dead Man Laughing