My love for golf began around 1973, somewhere between El Paso, Texas and Las Cruces, New Mexico at a golf course named Dos Lagos.
My Dad was an avid golfer and as I can only imagine, he could not find someone to watch me while he went out and played golf. I would like to believe he wanted to introduce me to the world of “small ball” but as a parent; I know how it goes.
I remember following him around the driving range, getting yelled at for trying to get the balls that were just out of reach, the duffs that other players hit, none by my Dad of course. I was taught, mostly by scolding, the etiquette of golf in those years. I would tag along with him as he played a round of golf, mostly just us, but sometimes with other adults, that were none too pleased that I was there. My Dad was a staunch protector and would never let anyone talk shit about me. I never saw the actual altercations, but I know they happened by the mere awkwardness of the encounters.
I really gained a true love for the sport that way and will never forget it.
I played golf in High School and would go out with my friends at night and play golf on closed golf courses, keeping an eye out for the “man” and try to remember which flask had the water and which had the Southern Comfort. At those times, we would take three to four balls each and the last person that still had a ball won. We would rarely make it through three holes!
I still play to this day, but never at the same level as him. I have his old clubs and treasure them as a memento to our “times” at the course.
I will never forget, one time we were playing a course in Albuquerque, NM and the group in front of us was about to tee off. Just then, the man in the passenger seat of the golf cart fell out. Dead. Many people around went to his aide, including my father, when the paramedics arrived to pronounce him dead, my Dad leaned over to me and whispered, that is how I want to go. That did not happen, unfortunately. But I like to think that was on his mind when he passed. I was with him when he died, just as I will always be with him on the golf course. That is my closure, which is my solace. Together as a team, united on the golf course.
Here’s to you pops! I still slice it, by the way!
CC
