DAILY TRIBUNE celebrated its 26th anniversary last Tuesday.

Compared to many newspapers, 26 years is still young. But in that time, DT has earned its place in Philippine journalism and has continued to grow with the changing times.

That got me thinking.

What was the world like when the TRIBUNE was born in 2000?

Yes, mobile phones were already around. But they were nothing like today’s smartphones. Most were used only for calls and text messages. They had tiny monochrome screens, internet access was slow or non-existent, and many people still depended on landlines, pay phones, or even pagers.

Then another question popped into my head.

What was golf like before mobile phones became part of everyday life?

For one, golf courses were quieter. Not because there were fewer golfers, but because there were fewer distractions.

People came to the course for one reason — to play golf. There were no notifications buzzing every few minutes. No checking Facebook or Instagram while waiting on the tee. No taking selfies on every hole.

Instead, you talked.

You laughed.

You listened.

The walk from one hole to the next was filled with stories, jokes and friendly banter. Four-hour rounds became four hours of catching up with friends. Sure, there were plenty of bogeys, but there were also plenty of memories.

Keeping score meant using a pencil and a scorecard. Yardages came from sprinkler heads, marker posts or the caddie. If there was a rules question, somebody in the group usually had an answer — or at least acted like they did.

There were no GPS watches telling you it was exactly 147 yards to the pin. You judged the wind by looking at the trees. You trusted your eyes, your instincts — or your caddie. And if the shot didn’t work out, well, the caddie usually got the blame.

Photography was different, too. Someone might bring a camera, but it was mostly used before the round or during the trophy presentation. There were no swing videos, no instant replays and no pressure to post everything online.

Even a hole-in-one wasn’t followed by a flood of social media posts. It was celebrated by the people who were there.

Maybe the biggest difference was patience.

If your buddy was late, you waited. There was no text asking, “Nasaan ka na?” If dark clouds rolled in, you looked up at the sky instead of checking a weather app.

The game simply moved at its own pace.

Of course, technology has made golf better in many ways. GPS devices help with club selection. Swing analysis helps golfers improve. Fans can follow tournaments in real time from anywhere in the world.

But every once in a while, it’s nice to remember those unplugged rounds when the only line that mattered was the one on the putting green.

Golf has survived every generation because, at its heart, it hasn’t changed. It still teaches patience. It still demands honesty. And it still gives us a chance to enjoy the company of the people walking beside us.

So the next time you play, maybe leave your phone in the golf bag for a few holes.

You might discover that some of golf’s best moments don’t need a photo, a post or a like. They’re simply memories shared with the people who were lucky enough to be there.