Sand Hills: Faintly Reminiscing

[Mike Hendren]

A rumor has been circulating for some time now that a tall left-hander from the northeast was so verclempt upon seeing the beautiful and natural bunkering of the 10th hole at Sand Hills that he actually fainted.  Two eye-witnesses have confirmed the rumor.  

New light should be shed on this episode, and I have just the article to do it.  This from this Sunday's edition of The Tennessean, Nashville's one and only daily:

NO KIDDING, A FAINTING GOATS FESTIVAL.  

The city of Lewisburg is starting an annual goat festival - dubbed Goats, Music & More -- and this year's focus is on fainting goats.  The free celebration is set for Oct. 10-11 and the theme is 'Bring your goats and come on home.'

The goats have a neuromuscular condition called myotonia that causes their muscles to stiffen when they are scared, resulting in their 'fainting,' or falling over.  The condition lasts 10-15 seconds and then the goats get up and go about their business.  

The unusual breed was close to extinction in the 1980's but is enjoying a resurgence thanks to fainting-goat enthusiasts such as Gene McNutt, chairman of the featival's fainting-goat show.  'When we got our first one, it was her pet,' he said, pointing a thumb over his shoulder at his wife, Gail.  'And I didn't know she was a fainter.  Well, I came around the corner of the barn about the same time the goat did, we scared each other and the goal fell out.  I thought, 'Oh, no, she's had a heart attack and died.'

Now you know.  While this thread has no architectural merit, I do hope it survives since cultural exchanges have long been a hallmark of GCA.

Mike Hendren
Honorary Member
The Hee-Haw Gang

[A_Clay_Man]

Mike, Your timing couldn't have been better. Being the proud feeder of two new goats, both Sheryl and myself just loved this. Thanks.

Now, as for the secrecy behind who would faint at the bunkers on #10 at SH...? I remember having a kaniption cramp when I found the hidden bomb blast left on 11 looking for Doug Wright's ball..

[RJ_Daley]

Just in the interest of clarity   :

Said episode was not a faint, but a full blown heat prostration, dangerously close to dirt nap.  The temperature that day was a balmy 98*F, and said left-hander did indeed complete 18 with caddie, and the front 9 on a second round carrying his own.  Since he had seen the 10th in the morning round, he shouldn't have been too startled to reach his tee ball (although it is a more dramatic shot from top left LZ, from the previously visited lower right).  Given that this well nourished W/M 50lbs overweight and fully qualified for the AARP tour had experienced the same round and was one hole behind and seeing stars from the heat myself, I gladly accompanied said left-hander to the barn for a cold shower and some peaceful time over the dismal river babbling brook, reflecting on the previous 27 1/2 holes of hot time at Sand Hills, glorious golf.  While the lights did go dark for a moment in Mullen, fainting was not exactly the word I'd use...

[Doug Wright]

Mike, Your timing couldn't have been better. Being the proud feeder of two new goats, both Sheryl and myself just loved this. Thanks.

Adam, You are one unique individual--do you get milk from them goats?  

Re that shocking bombed out bunker to the left of #11, hey you didn't have to go down there to play your shot.   Think I made par from there though...

All The Best,

[THuckaby2]

I'm glad Dick was the party pooper because Shivas is correct, the legend is way better than the truth.

But as one who was present for said event (although a group ahead so not witnessing it directly) I must sadly state that my understanding of the events jibes with Dick's.

TH

[ed_getka]

I prefer the version with ? being overcome with rapture at the beauty and beastliness of the bunker in question. Something along the lines of , now thats a bunker, thats the way a bunker should.........    Aw heck, I can't do it justice, I'll just wait for Gene to chime in.

[Dan Kelly]

If one of you can arrange to get me back to Sand Hills, I promise to faint (or: fall victim to heat prostration, have a seizure, speak in tongues, etc. -- your choice!) before the approach to every green -- giving you enough material for generations and generations of gca.com threads!

Deal?

Thanking you in advance,

Dan

P.S. "Dirt nap" excepted!

[RJ_Daley]

Fainting goats at the sight of the 10th, Not!

Bleating lambie pies on the tees of 16-17-18 perhaps...

Attractive sheep after a long Sand Hills winter... you'll have to ask ol Dan...

[Mike_Cirba]

Why are my ears ringing?  

I won't spoil the story.  Please believe any version that will add to the legend.  

And, thank you again Dick, for rescuing me!!  

[JohnV]

Check out the following column from Jon Carroll about fainting goats: Goat Column

[Dan Kelly]

Perhaps Mr. Cirba, having cleared up the SH incident, could settle something that's been ringing in my ears, since I see under his name that he appears to be a Johnny Quest fan.  

Mike, for some time, I have held the position that Race Bannor and Dr. Quest had a thing going.  Why else would a chiseled, good looking, studly guy like Race travel the world, never score any strange, and put his life in danger for the older, intellectual, apparently none-too-wealthy Dr. Quest?  What's your take on this?

Shivas --

Sorry, but this belongs in "Frank Mungrem's" thread -- which, it has amused my strange little mind to see, recently sat right under (or was it on top of?) the "I've got a new partner" thread.

[Mike_Cirba]

shivas;

I always suspected as much.  If you look closely, you can see the glint in their eyes as they laughed together heartily at the end of each episode, usually accompanied by Bandit rolling his eyes in dismay.  

Simply put, I think Race was a kept man, with the "bodyguard" role as something he took very seriously, if you catch my drift.  

Besides, how many straight men named "Race" do you know?  I heard it was originally "Lance" Bannon, but the creators only wanted to hint at the closeness of the two, not flagrantly flaunt it.  

Dan Kelley;

I hate to drag down this thread with my tawdry speculations but I couldn't resist.  Besides, it was just about some weak-livered lefthander who couldn't stand some nice aesthetics and 100 degree heat at the same time.