I talked to Slag on the phone yesterday. He is still the great soul he has always been. But, he has been busy with his startup landscaping business. Ironically, also yesterday, I received a Christmas package from him with an array of the most thoughtful little gifts. He is one of the most genuine great characters I have met through this site. I encouraged him to write some observations her on GCA.com more often. Let's hope...
Gib, I do remember you were the one to name the "treehouse". On the farm, they have a saying... you name it - you feed it!
I was just trying to think of Johnny Thunder's name the other day on another thread. I didn't get the impression JT was very young. More like an aging rocker type, I think. Ken Cotner was about the only one that could stay with him on that head banger rocker trivia. (of which I know nothing)
Mike Duffy obviously was a great writer. He wrote and reported for the Straits Times on their Pacific Rim beat - cultural affairs, I believe... (or whatever that Aussie paper is named
) He had a bit of a physical injury to his hip or knee that gave him a lengthy setback with golf. I think he is back playing and travelling the Pac Rim steadily.
John McMillan, the economist always had some highly observant and informative takes on GCA. He joined us on a few pre and post GCA outings. I don't doubt he still looks in from time to time. He had moved from his economist job in Washington DeeCee, back to near Crystal Downs-Lake. I would too...
Patsy Johnson was a first class amatuer player from the Carolinas, having won many events and played very well in the USGA Womens Am on a number of occasions. She also did some rules official duties. She was quite active on the old Bravenet forum, and came to our first gathering in Pinehurst-Southern Pines area. She had major-major back-disc problems with many operations that took the game from her completely to the extent she couldn't even putt without severe pain. She posted her a few times. But when she got wind of the golf gambling riff-raff that were posting here, and a few of the less than kind flame wars, she split the scene.
Of course there is also that man of mystery - ex-marine, that only Noel Freeman and Russell Talley (also a rare poster) know his whereabouts - vaguely. Of course that would be Jim Reilly. If they told us his location, they'd have to terminate the website with extreme prejudice...
Also,there was a begining golf course constructor/designer and turf science major out of UofW, Eric Van Damme. He came over briefly from the Bravenet site, but really evaporated with another pal of his who was an assist super at Medinah during the '99 Tiger PGA. Very eirie stuff as I tried to locate either of them, and they are really in the wind.
Bruce Googhner was an Atlanta resident who had a dream to develop his own course. He was at the first gathering at S. Pines, posted a few times here and poof. I heard he had a small golf shop in ATL at one point.
Who the heck was BY? He may still be here in a real name status...
Mike O'Neil is also still around and looks in, I am sure. He did work for Bunkerhill at Bayside, C&C in Texas, and also Liddy had him over to Dukes for some assistance with the work load. Mike has a great Irish golf story of "The Links of Sinacura" that he ought to finish an publish. It is as witty as that other Irishman's prose, Feherty.
Is it too soon to sing, "Auld Lang Syne"?