Today’s article, remarkably, is our 150th consecutive weekly post.
From its inception (About Bad Golf Guy), the venture has been a collaboration with my wife, Erin. Erin manages all aspects of the technology, is responsible for the presentation and organization of our site, searches/locates/positions our images and always takes a final peak at the content, making sure I am not making a complete fool of myself. To her credit, she has been reasonably tolerant of my exuberant use of the ellipsis (“…”) and incredibly patient when I pester her for the correct spelling of countless words, as my attempts sometimes mystify spell check. I am eternally grateful for her commitment to our nonsense!
Four winters ago in Lancaster, PA, on a particularly frigid winter day, I was cranky, sulking, bored out of my mind, pining for a “crack of dawn” tee time at the Highlands of Donegal. Erin, exhausted with my incessant childlike behavior, suggested the following; “Hey, you like to write and you like golf, why don’t you pass some time by writing about golf!?”
Equipped with a brown leather Barcalounger, two pillows, a laptop, an iPad, a blue #7 Pentel mechanical pencil, a black Cambridge Limited spiral binder and a Tops Legal Pad, I began to fumble around, attempting to piece together a few coherent sentences. An experiment turned into a hobby and a hobby turned into a passion.
I have so enjoyed sharing stories about my experiences on the range and on the course, my golfing buddies, my time working in the Pro Shop (“Behind the Counter”) and my time working with the Grounds Crew (“Blades Down”). In addition, I have enjoyed sharing stories about my family and our lives at 65 Washington Avenue in Springfield, NJ, during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. A perfect example is our “Three-Hour Rule”, where family members were required to be awake a minimum of three-hours prior to the consumption of alcoholic beverages! We were all early risers!
With some degree of regret, today will be our final weekly post for the foreseeable future. In the months to come, I aspire to rework previous posts, assemble and package my favorites and capture the details of conversations with interesting individuals in and around the golf industry. I am hopeful another exciting adventure is right around the corner! We will keep you posted!
To wrap things up, two questions and two updates:
Questions:
Bad Golf Guy, what will you miss?
Sharing funny experiences! A few examples within the last week:
- Waiting in a sizable line to check-in for my 2:15 tee time, I was fortunate enough to overhear and observe a patrons conversation with a frazzled Pro Shop employee. The lone Pro Shop employee, for a two golf course facility, was head down, immersed in his computerized tee sheets when the patron approached his counter. With the phone ringing loudly in the background, the patron muttered the following words. “Hi, my name is Bob, I am not certain of my tee time, I don’t know if I am playing Pine Barrens or Rolling Oaks and I think the name of my playing partner is Chris, can you lend a hand”! The Pro Shop employee, without expression, ever so slowly, pulled his chin away from his neck and peered over his glasses, staring at the patron for more than a few awkward moments. It was awesome!
- This past Monday, I had just left the golf course when my phone rang. It was one of my golfing buddy, a thousand-miles away, suggesting he had just experienced the early onset of dementia. He had stopped at the driving range on his way home to hit a few balls. He inserted his credit card into the ball machine, selected option #4, which represents the largest quantity of range balls and waited for the customary rumble of the balls dropping into the dispensing bin. In a brief moment of clarity, he realized he had forgotten to put a basket under said dispensing slot. A mad scramble ensued, as he attempting to grab an empty basket from the inverted stack. Unfortunately his efforts were in vain, as he only captured five or so range balls from the deluge, as the footloose and fancy free range balls bounded off the concrete slab in all directions. Spectacular!
Bad Golf Guy, what is your favorite story?
This is akin to being asked to select a favorite child when there is more than one; fascinating dialog in most households. I am personally comfortable with the unspoken truth.
Anyway, a few come to mind:
Updates:
- Ricky Castillo, the #2 ranked Amateur in the World, coming off of a decorated* freshman year at the University of Florida, will compete in the Western Amateur (July 27th-August 1st, at Crooked Stick Golf Club in Carmel, Indiana) and the US Amateur (August 10th-16th, at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon). A competitive finish in these events should yield an invitation to participate in the 120th US Open (September 17th-20th, at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, NY).
*Winner of the Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman.
*Named as one of three finalists for the prestigious Ben Hogan Award, given annually to the top men’s collegiate golfer.
- Bad Golf Guy friend and Pinehurst, North Carolina resident, Jane Hixson (renowned pastel artist/author), has recently published “Painting Pinehurst #2”, a stunning compilation/guided tour of all eighteen-holes at the iconic property. It is truly amazing! Please track Jane down at JaneHixsonArt.com.
We are so grateful for our loyal followers through the years, whose encouragement has been the impetus for our longevity. We truly thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Bad Golf Guy, “out” for now!
The back nine can only get better!
badgolfguy@gmail.com
Will miss your weekly post. Good luck with whatever the future holds Amigo. All the best to you and Erin.
Congratulations on such an impressive run Jim! What an achievement! I’m sure a collection of thes posts would be a big hit somewhere in the golf publishing world. Since I’ve only been following you for part of the journey there’s plenty off backlog for me to read.
We will miss you but understand the need for a break.