Tuesday, September 11, 2007
A Tale With A Moral or A Moral Tale
My Dad has been playing golf for almost his entire life. His golf game is old enough to file for social security. Except for his time in the Navy, he has been a regular at Hillcrest Country Club in Bartlesville. If he has averaged 30-40 rounds a year, he has played well over 2000 rounds in his lifetime, most of them at Hillcrest.
He has always been a pretty good ball striker and a very good scorer. When I was 13 or 14, we won the Father-Junior tournament when Dad shot 33. That included two hole-outs for eagle, but 33 is still 3 under par for 9 holes. A great score! Ok, he shot 45 on the back. Still, Dad has had a consistent handicap for the 40 years that I have been watching his game. He was probably a 6 way back when he only had two boys. But for the duration of his time with four boys and a store to run, he has been a 9, 10, 11, 12 handicap. Pretty good for anyone, much less a 73 year old.
This past Labor Day, Dad went out to play in the middle of the afternoon. He had probably been doing yardwork or paperwork at the store or some chore around the house earlier in the day.
Dad and I played golf in July at Hilton Head and he was struggling. He is always tinkering with his swing to get the club and his weight and the other moving parts into the right places at the right time.
At Hilton Head, he was out of synch. But at Hillcrest on Labor Day, he had it all worked out. He piped his drives and hit his approaches close to the hole. Granted, the course was playing short. They were working on the tees so the tee boxes were moved up. Still, it was not a putt putt course. Hillcrest is rated one of the top courses in the state. You have to play well to score. Dad did that - he shot 33 on the front 9.
Now he had a dilemma. Dad has never shot his age and he had a chance to do just that. A good chance. Despite his years of playing golf, Dad has few milestone rounds or events. He has never made a hole in one. No notable tournament wins. Just the satisfaction and enjoyment of a lot of good scores. Shooting his age would be a rare, special, memorable feat.
But he was expected to meet Mom at the grill at the club for Labor Day dinner at 5:30. If he played the back 9, he would be very late. What do you think he did?
He ended his day after 9 holes and went to clean up before dinner. Dad loves golf. But he knows one of the secrets to his 47 year marriage is doing the right thing. When I spoke to him the following week, he was not upset or wistful or disappointed not to have had a chance to record a 73 or better. Maybe he can keep the good rhythm going next time.
Dad - you are the greatest. This Bud's for you. Actually, this Oban is for you. Cheers.
He has always been a pretty good ball striker and a very good scorer. When I was 13 or 14, we won the Father-Junior tournament when Dad shot 33. That included two hole-outs for eagle, but 33 is still 3 under par for 9 holes. A great score! Ok, he shot 45 on the back. Still, Dad has had a consistent handicap for the 40 years that I have been watching his game. He was probably a 6 way back when he only had two boys. But for the duration of his time with four boys and a store to run, he has been a 9, 10, 11, 12 handicap. Pretty good for anyone, much less a 73 year old.
This past Labor Day, Dad went out to play in the middle of the afternoon. He had probably been doing yardwork or paperwork at the store or some chore around the house earlier in the day.
Dad and I played golf in July at Hilton Head and he was struggling. He is always tinkering with his swing to get the club and his weight and the other moving parts into the right places at the right time.
At Hilton Head, he was out of synch. But at Hillcrest on Labor Day, he had it all worked out. He piped his drives and hit his approaches close to the hole. Granted, the course was playing short. They were working on the tees so the tee boxes were moved up. Still, it was not a putt putt course. Hillcrest is rated one of the top courses in the state. You have to play well to score. Dad did that - he shot 33 on the front 9.
Now he had a dilemma. Dad has never shot his age and he had a chance to do just that. A good chance. Despite his years of playing golf, Dad has few milestone rounds or events. He has never made a hole in one. No notable tournament wins. Just the satisfaction and enjoyment of a lot of good scores. Shooting his age would be a rare, special, memorable feat.
But he was expected to meet Mom at the grill at the club for Labor Day dinner at 5:30. If he played the back 9, he would be very late. What do you think he did?
He ended his day after 9 holes and went to clean up before dinner. Dad loves golf. But he knows one of the secrets to his 47 year marriage is doing the right thing. When I spoke to him the following week, he was not upset or wistful or disappointed not to have had a chance to record a 73 or better. Maybe he can keep the good rhythm going next time.
Dad - you are the greatest. This Bud's for you. Actually, this Oban is for you. Cheers.
