Starter Set
I’ve enjoyed playing golf since the beginning of my teaching career. My parents bought me a starter set for my birthday my first year in the classroom. It was a very simple set with four irons, a driver and a putter. On the first day of having my clubs I was “chipping” with a nine iron in my parent’s backyard. We had a couple of hoops from a “jart” game and I was chipping back and forth from hoop to hoop.
My dad came out and said, “Let me try.” I gave him the nine iron, thinking that he would follow suit and chip from hoop to hoop. He was facing the house when he took his first and last swing. Our entire lot, including the house and garage, was 50 feet wide and 150 feet deep. He took a full swing, lofted the ball over the house, and I was sure that someone across the street at Matson’s house had been injured by an incoming golf ball. I was wrong. No one got hurt.
Hole In One
I’ve had four holes in one since the purchase of that first set. My first was on May 11, 1984. I used a nine iron from 162 yards. I was substituting in a league with my friend, Jan. It’s the only day that I played in that league. I never understood the idea that the guy who made the hole in one should buy drinks for everyone else, but I made the purchase. There were four leagues and over 100 people playing that day. I bought a keg and the league split the cost with me. My end was $23.00. There’s a lot of beer in a full keg and I drank more than my share.
My second came the following spring in Myrtle Beach. I hit a wedge 110 yards. The thing I remember most about that shot was my son, Michael, was with me. He ran and jumped down the entire fairway. He was happy for me and let everyone on the course know about it. I think Michael and I celebrated with ice cream cones rather than beer.
I waited 33 years to hit my third and fourth. They came five weeks apart in The Villages, Florida. The first of the two came while I was playing with three strangers. They were fellow Villagers, but I don’t know them. I hit a nine iron from 112 yards. I offered to buy a drink for my playing companions but they had to leave to “go dancing in the town square”.
The final of the four came while playing with my friend, Dave. I hit a six iron from 136 yards. I bought dinner and drinks for Dave, Ruth, and my sister, Jackie, who was in town for a couple of days.
I tell these tales, not to brag about the accomplishments, but rather to make a point. The experience is memorable no matter the distance or your club selection. I can’t hit as far as I once did, but I can still play. Being in the game, no matter the endeavor, is key. It’s important to “keep on” “keepin on”.
Area Code 517
One of the first times that I played golf after I moved to take the job in Addison, I played with the high school principal, Don. Don had been with the district for several years and was a great mentor to me. He provided invaluable advice whenever I sought it. He’d “been there” and “done that” and I appreciated his help.
I remember three things about that first golf match. We played with the middle school principal, Rick, and his good friend, Steve. We played at the Devils Lake Golf course, which was just nine holes at the time. And I remember Don’s score on the first seven holes we played.
Don’s score, in order of play, was 5 – 4 – 7 – 7 – 3 – 6 – 3. After Don scored his second 3, I rattled off the numbers and remarked, “Those numbers sound more like a telephone number than a golf score.”
He quickly replied, “That’s my telephone number!” What are the odds of shooting your telephone number?
One thing for sure. After 71 years I have four telephone numbers locked in my memory: my original number from my childhood home, Ruth’s, mine and Don’s.