Feature Interview Part I with Tom Paul is posted

[Mac Plumart]

The most recent example of the slippery slope in the Decline and Fall of Civilization occurred this past weekend. I am referring to both this Sunday’s play-off as well as one 30+ years ago. The first involved three people. When Fuzzy Zoeller made the putt on the 11th green, Tom Watson instinctively turned and shook hands with Ed Sneed whom had missed three excruciatingly short putts over the last several holes. Obviously Watson too was crushed in defeat but he had the presence of mind to reach out and console someone else. A class act. Compare that to Blubber on Sunday who goes into a death clinch with his caddie then mother etc. before shaking the hand of his fellow competitor. Who cares, you say? A gentleman, that’s who! Someone who puts social graces ahead of himself at all times for the sake of a better world. Tom Paul once quoted a great line to me ‘Character is what one is in the dark ‘ – and he was right.

Interesting take Ran.  I agree with all of it, but the last sentence.  I have no proof, but I believe Bubba passes the "in the dark" test.  But it would have been very classy to seek out Louis first, then celebrate with restraint.  Tough to do when the emotion of moment overwhelms...but, nevertheless, that would be the proper thing to do.

[Kris Shreiner]

Brian,

  I'm picking myself up off the floor mate...priceless!!!! Ya got me pards.

I could have gone there with the cat-o-ninetails, but the caddie seemed to get caught up in the moment as well. Hey, they're a team right, they both jointly lost it and left all decorum on the green!

GB,

+1!

Tom Paul can crank it up with the best and his thoughts, observations and insights peer backward and forward with equal flair. Thanks for the stimulating read Tom and Ran!

Cheers,
Kris
 

[Bruce Katona]

If we all throw in a few $$ (1,500 members @ $XXX/member) for publishing can we get TP to write a book?  TP can take care of the promotions on the book tour entertaining the masses with selected snippets of his stories.  With this collection of tales, it may be one of the better selling golf books published, especially in non-fiction!

Outstanding & priceless interview Ran!

[JR Potts]

The most recent example of the slippery slope in the Decline and Fall of Civilization occurred this past weekend. I am referring to both this Sunday’s play-off as well as one 30+ years ago. The first involved three people. When Fuzzy Zoeller made the putt on the 11th green, Tom Watson instinctively turned and shook hands with Ed Sneed whom had missed three excruciatingly short putts over the last several holes. Obviously Watson too was crushed in defeat but he had the presence of mind to reach out and console someone else. A class act. Compare that to Blubber on Sunday who goes into a death clinch with his caddie then mother etc. before shaking the hand of his fellow competitor. Who cares, you say? A gentleman, that’s who! Someone who puts social graces ahead of himself at all times for the sake of a better world. Tom Paul once quoted a great line to me ‘Character is what one is in the dark ‘ – and he was right.

Glad I'm not the only one who saw that.  ...I'm trying so hard to be reformed...

Great interview!

[Tim Martin]

I feel really lucky that Tom Paul was still posting when Ran allowed me a sign on. He was very gracious via a few PM`s we traded and gladly answered architecture questions that I`m sure to him were "Duh". I can`t wait for the next part of the interview.

[Mark McKeever]

Awesome interview thus far.  I can't wait for part 2.

Mark

[RJ_Daley]

I wish TEP could loosen up - not be so shy, and tell us what really is on his mind.

[Patrick_Mucci]

Ran,

Nice interview, certainly different from most interviews in that it's not one dimensional, but multi-faceted.

Co-incidentally, my parents eloped and got married in Elkton, MD, and just this year I made a donation to the Boys and Girls Harbor, so once again our fates seem to be intertwined.

I found the deal breaking incident with GMCC and Scott very interesting.
Imagine if you will, instead of declaring the hole inviolate, if TE had said, let me work on that and get back to you, left the meeting and presented the problem to C&C.  How different might golf and golf architecture been in the Philly area ?

My curiosity is, what did the Scott family want with an established golf facility ?
Development ?
What were the two parcels zoned for ?

Like others, I anxiously await the next episode.

[Chris Kane]

Patrick, a whole post about TEPaul without a character assessment? 
You are mellowing! 

[Patrick_Mucci]

Chris,

Tom's led a fascinating life and more recently has made golf course architecture the focus of his life.

The fact that he doesn't know Ha-Ha's from Ho-Ho's is another matter.

[Lynn_Shackelford]

I too thought it wrong the way Bubba handled the win in those few seconds.  Not as rude as Tiger when he beat Steve Scott in the Amateur, but he had just spent the last 5 hours dueling with Louis and I think I would have first acknowledged that.  The fact that he apologized is a show of class.  I doubt that Scott ever got the apology.

When I have some time, maybe this weekend, I will read this Tom Paul story.  I am looking forward to it.

[Jay Flemma]

Great to see Tom Paul participating in this way. Nicely done Ran, nicely done Tom!

I'll just say this...at a life-changing moment like winning the Masters, it's possible that you might be so overwhelmed that it might take a moment to compose oneself.  Maybe it was a social slight, but it certainly was unintentional.  It's one thing if he ran around grandstanding making the guy wait five minutes, but what Bubba did just seemed like a natural outpouring of emotion, and he did make sure to comfort Louis, who you guys are right - had to feel gutted.

[Tom_Doak]

JNC,

Coincidentally, the story of the Wetherill deb party happened to resurface in New York magazine just a couple of weeks ago:

http://nymag.com/news/features/scandals/fernanda-wanamaker-wetherill-2012-4/

Tom Wolfe even wrote about it at the time. Quite the scandal!

Tom Dunne:

Thanks for this link, too.  On top of the debutante scandal being interesting reading, the linked next story at the bottom of the page (re: the great Salad Oil Swindle of 1963) was a good one for me to read, too.  My dad was one of the chief commodities buyers at Lever Brothers at the time, specializing in soybean oil futures -- so he was heavily mixed up in that scandal.  I believe he was one of the guys who figured out what was going on, and urged his company NOT to buy when the price was skyrocketing.

All further proof of TEPaul's Small World Theory, of course.   

[Tim Pitner]

I have to admit I assumed the Fernanda Wanamaker Wetherill deb party scandal must have involved death, maiming or some other tragic result.  Representative of a more genteel time, I guess. 

[PCCraig]

I hope Tom Paul comes back as a posting member.

[Bill_McBride]

The most recent example of the slippery slope in the Decline and Fall of Civilization occurred this past weekend. I am referring to both this Sunday’s play-off as well as one 30+ years ago. The first involved three people. When Fuzzy Zoeller made the putt on the 11th green, Tom Watson instinctively turned and shook hands with Ed Sneed whom had missed three excruciatingly short putts over the last several holes. Obviously Watson too was crushed in defeat but he had the presence of mind to reach out and console someone else. A class act. Compare that to Blubber on Sunday who goes into a death clinch with his caddie then mother etc. before shaking the hand of his fellow competitor. Who cares, you say? A gentleman, that’s who! Someone who puts social graces ahead of himself at all times for the sake of a better world. Tom Paul once quoted a great line to me ‘Character is what one is in the dark ‘ – and he was right.

What a bunch of baloney.
Yeah, Watson shook Snead’s hand while Fuzzy was jumping for joy. B Watson had just won the Masters after a daylong battle, and with many personal issues going on behind the scenes. By all accounts from both Louis O and Bubba, they had a respectful battle with both congratulating each other and taking the time to talk about how great it was to be a part of it. A true gentleman doesn’t demean a son for hugging his mother after achieving the highlight of his career and especially considering events of his recent past.
BTW, Bubba and Louis have both stated that Bubba apologized for not acknowledging Louis sooner, and again according to both, the apology was accepted.

What does Bubba do in the dark? Financially support junior golf and raise money for charity. I have a feeling he would pass the dark test just fine.

I have mentioned this before but will again.    Bubba recently -- pre-Masters victory - committed to funding the full cost of the annual Divot Derby here in Pensacola.  It's our annual regional junior tournament, a couple of hundred boys and girls 6-18 playing three rounds.  I'm very proud of Bubba for doing that.  Every time I have met him, he's been a real gentleman.   Is he a bit off center?  You bet.   But overall I think he's good for golf, and that's pretty important these days.

I think Ran is redneck-phobic, sad if true.   

[Melvyn Morrow]

Well Done to both Ran for his Feature Interviews and to Tom for a very interesting read.

I must say it goes to show the quality of this site and to the majority of its Members & Guests who contributions increase our awareness not just to the game but also of ourselves.

I am pleased to see that  those ‘with something of the night’ have refrained from belittling Toms interview  allowing others to join in, alas a courtesy not always granted by the fringe bigots and racists that do so much harm to this site.

Having said that, thanks Tom for your answers so far, am looking forward to Part 2 or should we call it 'The Sequel'

Melvyn  

[JESII]

Not a sequel. Call it The Reload...of the tape recorder...

Tom has as much on his mind about golf, and everything associated with golf, it just blows the mind.

Time for another couple bottles of red TEP.

[Steve Lang]

Ran,

Well done.  TEP, like a fine car, just turn the key and it runs effortlessly.

p.s.  Mel,  Did you really have to slash out in the dark?  Was that something a Gentlemen would say or should say or need to say?

... the fringe bigots and racists that do so much harm to this site.

[Melvyn Morrow]

Steve

Yes as Ran's intro to my FI was trashed and no I am not slashing out in the dark, just read the comments which had zero to do with the Interview. One poster boasted that he had not read it but still submitted his comment. But then surprise, surprise did not see you complaining which shows the revolving faces of some of the Members on this site.

Can we leave it now. Let’s not detract anymore from Toms FI.

Melvyn

[Steve Lang]

  Mel,

Please do not cast me into some bucket of slop, old chap; I never read your FI or any of the related announcement postings.

Regards
s 

p.s.I will read your FI now however

[Adam Clayman]

For those who missed it, or can't find them in the archives, reading paragraph after paragraph, of TeP writings, on the slightest tidbit of minutiae, was commonplace back in the early days of the treehouse. Many a time I went glassy eyed reading those words, learning and being envious of his typing prowess.

Great way to bring him back.

[Josh Smith]

The most recent example of the slippery slope in the Decline and Fall of Civilization occurred this past weekend. I am referring to both this Sunday’s play-off as well as one 30+ years ago. The first involved three people. When Fuzzy Zoeller made the putt on the 11th green, Tom Watson instinctively turned and shook hands with Ed Sneed whom had missed three excruciatingly short putts over the last several holes. Obviously Watson too was crushed in defeat but he had the presence of mind to reach out and console someone else. A class act. Compare that to Blubber on Sunday who goes into a death clinch with his caddie then mother etc. before shaking the hand of his fellow competitor. Who cares, you say? A gentleman, that’s who! Someone who puts social graces ahead of himself at all times for the sake of a better world. Tom Paul once quoted a great line to me ‘Character is what one is in the dark ‘ – and he was right.

Ran,  The only way to back up what you have said here is to go to the truest gentleman standard that we have.  So I have just gone to the Tape and reviewed both of Ben Crenshaw's wins.  In '95 he clearly goes to his knees then hugs his caddy first (I am not sure of his mother's whereabouts).  In '84 the tape cuts off a few steps after he makes the final putt, and while he seems to be heading towards his competitor, his hand is initially heading towards a man's hand in a white jumpsuit, likely Carl Jackson again and so we can be fairly certain he again goes to the caddy for a handshake before getting to his playing partner.  Please stand down on your criticism of Bubba, given this new evidence it is the right thing to do. 

[Ran Morrissett]

People!

The closest comparison to winning a green jacket is probably being named to the All-Prep Golf Team of Virginia. Interestingly enough, that momentous honor occurred to me in 1981 so I am in the perfect position to replicate the emotions that Blubber went through last Sunday. After some sizzling play on the nine hole course at Woodberry Forest, did I soak my caddie afterwards? No, in part because I didn’t have one. Did I wallow in my greatness? Knowing me, I probably did but that is why my life is full of one regret after another.  REGARDLESS, imagine a different scenario from the one that played out last Sunday. At the moment of Blubber’s greatest triumph, he puts someone else first. Think about that and what an incredible high standard of conduct that would set for the millions of people who were watching. Catching such acts of superior sportsmanship is (or should that be ‘has been’ or even ‘was’?) part of the enduring appeal of golf for me. I am extremely fortunate to be of the generation that watched on television how folks like Watson, Crenshaw, Nicklaus, Faldo etc. comported themselves during the most intense moments that sports offers. Nicklaus’s career alone is littered with many exemplary moments. For some, the pinnacle was the 72nd green in the 1977 ‘Duel in the Sun’ at Turnberry but for me it is probably the 1969 Ryder Cup when he was but 29 years old. A great writer once noted that Nicklaus may well be a better loser than winner and we know what a champion he was.

Tom Paul shares this story regarding a delayed handshake:

Frankly I missed the whole Masters this year so I did not see that delayed acknowledgement of Bubba with Louis until much later. To me the far more painful delayed handshake and acknowledgement happened in the 1995 US Amateur which happened to be the US Amateur centennial at Newport. As you know my old friend Buddy Marucci lost to Tiger in a truly remarkable 36 hole final match that went the distance (in fact, Marucci played more holes than any other US Amateur competitor ever has that year). I was a big fan of Tiger's in those days but it was so painful to watch him and his father hug each other for seemingly 2-3 minutes while Buddy stood there patiently. Even when the endless father and son hug was over it appeared Tiger was not even aware of Marucci. Buddy had to almost follow him to shake his hand. What you are talking about is basically just good old fashioned MANNERS, or the lack of them. When I see someone with really good manners I generally tell them how much I noticed them and to please thank their mother for me for teaching them so well.

And that evokes another of my stories. Back at some point in the 1970s I went out for a year with a fascinating girl by the name of Clay Hancock. She was from Paris Kentucky and the daughter of the famous Bull Hancock of Claiborne Farm fame (Secretariat et al). Actually I was sitting right next to Penny Tweedy when her first great horse (Riva Ridge) won the 1972 Kentucky Derby! Had that not happened she never would've even owned Secretariat the next year. I was sitting with Clay Hancock in the sunroom of my father's house in Delray and my stepmother walked in. The next thing I knew Clay got up and came over to me, grabbed my hand and said: "Come on outside with me Boy!" We went outside and she said: "Don't you realize you ALWAYS get up when a woman walks into the room?" I guess I said: "Yes I do, Clay, I guess I just forgot." And then she hit me with one of the best remarks I have ever heard: "Don't you know that manners don't cost you anything, and they buy you a whole lot in life."

Cheers,

[Chris Kane]

Josh, there is a difference between going to the caddy (which is very common) and going to a family member who had no involvement in the contest.