James Edwards,
I hit every fairway and nearly every green.
The putts weren't very long as my approaches were pretty close.
On 18 I probably had the longest putt of the day, a downhill 20+ footer with about 3 feet of break, I knew I needed it to break 70 and, although it sounds odd, I just knew I was going to make it.
TEPaul,
That round at NGLA under tournament conditions was special.
I knew they invited me as a courtesy, but, I told them that I would be competitive.
The one asset I had going for me was that I was so weak that I couldn't swing hard at the ball. I swung within myself and although the ball didn't go far, it went where I aimed it.
I was in the final phase of six months of full dose post operative chemotherapy, had lost 70 pounds and couldn't hit the ball very far. I had had surgery on January 21st, and prior to the surgery underwent radiation five days a week with chemotherapy 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, for several months prior to the surgery.
My doctors thought I was certifiably crazy when a week after being discharged from the hospital I drove out to NGLA to see the results of the tree removal project. Two weeks later, while in Florida, I played golf. My surgeon told me that I could just chip and putt, but, I played, never taking my hands back past waist high. Hitting a 4 iron from 150 was a new experience and fun.
I think one of the things I like about NGLA is the many ways you can play it. I had to take the circuitous route because I had no length and no power, but, I manueuvered my way around for a good round. I think that's one of the lures and charms of NGLA, that a so-so player, using his head, can get around that course and score well.
Holes like # 5, 7, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15 and 18 allow a low ball and short hitter to run the ball up to the green.
You just have to position yourself to give yourself the optimum angles into those greens, and you have to develop the "FEEL" for those kinds of shots.
I call them "ginky" shots, and I love experimenting with, and hitting them.
After playing at NGLA in the morning, I went over to Westhampton and played 18 more with Terry Cassidy and Terry McBride.
At the dinner that night when the MC made a toast to me, that's when I stood up, thanked him and the members and staff at NGLA, and related how I had played 18 holes with TC at Westhampton and had come to the conclusion, after watching him play, that he needed full dose chemotherapy a lot more than I did. Those in attendance who knew TC, and almost everyone does, got a big kick out of that line.
At this years dinner the MC made another toast to my battle, recovery and good round that day.
I thanked him, the members and staff at NGLA and then told a joke that brought down the house. Sorry you missed it.
While I'm not out of the woods yet, things are looking favorable, and I continue to try to do my best in every endeavor I attempt.
Geoff Childs,
Those rounds at Wild Horse and Sand Hills, especially with Ran, were the begining of my comeback in golf. Shooting 1 under, and losing to him, was a great experience, and, I have no doubt that if that pebble, or perhaps boulder, didn't deflect his putt, traveling at warp speed, on # 17 into the hole for a birdie, there's no way he wins that match going into # 18 only one up.
And, Geoff, thanks for being there for me when I needed all the help I could get.
I'm looking forward to seeing everyone The Creek on August 21st. Rumor has it that Ran may stop in for dinner.
With discretion being the better part of valor, he's chosen not to have a match with me that day.