[Derek_Duncan]

While pulling my golf socks out of the dryer this afternoon I happened to notice that they weren't completely clean, that there remained some soil ingrained in the cotton -- rust-colored soil.  Ah!  The beautiful reddish-pink Georgia clay soil from Cuscowilla was lingering with me from earlier in the week!  Rarely if ever before had I so enthusiatically descended into bunkers, and from digging in deeply and splashing several times, here it was, in little bits, with me still.  

I was perfectly content for minutes afterward, just remembering.  The small joys golf can bring.

Incidentally, the rusty sand at Cuscowilla must be one of the most recognizable sights in golf (or will be).  What are some of the other "signifiers" or instantly recognizable trademarks of great courses that none others share?  The wicker baskets of Merion is an obvious one.

[Tommy_Naccarato]

Derek, You get it...........

[Ed_Baker]

The view out the french doors in the upstairs breakfast room at Augusta National as the spring breeze mingles the scent of magnolias and honeysuckle with country ham!

The back porch at sunset at Sucession watching the last groups play 18 while sipping your favorite beverage.

Standing on any tee at Winged Foot tingling with anticipation.

Actually holding the green with your pitch shot on the 1st at Myopia and realizing the little hole has been terrorizing golfers for 127 years and appreciating why!

Removing your hat and skaking hands with your playing companions after the last putt is holed on any day, at any golf course, and realizing how lucky you are to be able to play this great game.

[Derek_Duncan]

Outstanding Ed!

[THuckaby2]

Walking in front of the first tee at Charles River CC, being met outside the clubhouse by an assistant pro who somehow knows your name though you've never been there before in your life, you realizing right then and there that you're in for a great day with a very gracious guy...

Hearing the first "invectives" from your host Mr. Baker on the first tee, realizing right there that on top of everthing else, he's absolutely hilarious and this day is gonna be even greater than you thought, and a learning experience to boot...

Sittting in the bar at CRCC with Ed and his friends, not wanting to ever leave, realizing that perfection can exist in this world...

then on another tack...

sitting on Ben's Porch at Sand Hills, staring out at the first hole, seeing perfection in bunkers, and incredible raw, natural beauty in the sweeping view of the landforms, and coming to another realization, that life isn't meant to be any better than that setting, that moment, that time, with those people...

The look on Dick Daley's face as he bounds up the steps to the clubhouse at Wild Horse, seeing several of us GCA addicts there, and the joy in him that we are gonna see the place he holds so dear...

one line from HGG Gene, in a parking lot in North Platte, NE: "Tom, welcome to the sand hills... I can't believe you're here..."

These are just recent "small joys" I've experienced, I could go on and on and on and on.... To all who have helped make such happen for me, you have my eternal gratitude.

TH

[Scott_Burroughs]

On that note, Huckster, another would be the anticipation and meeting of each new (and repeat) GCAer you're about to play with.  This includes meeting some in person for the first time after seeing their pics in a Barona photo or Links Magazine spot, then picking them out.

[THuckaby2]

ON THE NOSE, RIGHT ON, Scott!

Meeting these folks in person is always great, especially the first time.... and it's also fun when you HAVEN'T seen a picture!  I've had decent success matching mental images to the real thing, but I also have been very surprised... I suppose the one who surprised me the most on first meeting was Goodale.  Absolutely nothing like I thought he'd be... younger, quieter... And Tom Paul also surprised me too - somehow I pictured older there also.

Hey guys, these are compliments!

TH

[Allan Long]

I never get tired of seeing the lighthouse at Harbour Town while coming up 18. But now that I am 3,000 miles from my family, a round with my dad tops them all.

[BillyF]

Stepping to the tee with your father at PH No. 2 and seeing the excitement in his eyes and watching him laugh as putts roll past the hole and off the green and not caring because the victory is simply in being there together.

[Dave_Miller]

Having the good fortune to be part of the crowd with Ed and Co. at CRCC.
Sitting on the patio at Aronimink with a cool libation after a challenging round and being struck by the beauty of No. 1 and No. 10.
The incredible frienships made over the years because an old friend talked me into playing a round of golf in the early 70's and I was hooked.
Walking the US Amateur final round and watching a guy from your home Club competing for the No. 1 prize in Amateur Golf.
Standing on the 8th or 15th tees at Charles River on a crisp, clear, October Day and being struck by beauty of Mother Nature and when she gave out the colors We got more that a fair share.
The sunsetting in the Pacific as the bagpipes are playing along the fairways of Spanish Bay.
Golf anywhere, anytime with friends.
We are fortunate

Fairways and Greens,
Dave

[THuckaby2]

That's very cool, shivas.  But hey, don't mind if I try to top ya when it comes to early knowledge of young Mr. Woods:

playing in Los Angeles junior championship at Griffith Park for final time, hearing about a little kid who shot even par or something like that at Roosevelt in their flight... going over to watch him the next day and being freakin' amazed... playing Roosevelt myself later that week and not coming close to his score...  deciding to follow that Eldrick Woods from that point forward... watching him blaze through SoCal junior golf, with the rest being history.

No lie.  My golf buddies and all knew about him WAY early, as did most SoCal's into golf at all.  I'd have to guess the Emperor had heard of him as early or earlier, the Mike Douglas show appearance notwithstanding.

TH

[John Foley]

-Watching my 4 year old daughter's face light up when we went to get her first club sawed off & regripped.

-Trying to get a glimpse some exclusive course when I drive by it.

-Taking off my golf shoes.

-A crisp clear fall day.

-Being the only foursome on a course in a downpour.

-Seeing my clubs come off the bagage carousel (after they we're stolen once)

-Rediscovering old friends & making new one's.

-Chasing daylight.

[wsmorrison]

One summer day several years ago I was playing golf at Huntingdon Valley with my father-in-law, a dear man named Richie Ashburn, baseball Hall-of-Famer, outstanding baseball writer and broadcaster for the Phillies, a good friend of mine who was the member, and Harry Kalas (voice of Notre Dame football, NFL films, and broadcasting partner with Rich for the Phils--who's going into the HoF this July).  

I was not playing well and my father-in-law was carrying us all the way to the 18th.  I was out of the hole as usual that day and my father-in-law had a 40 foot double breaker for the win.  He said in his best announcer's voice:
"Boys, reminds me of the time I was battling Willie Mays for the batting title.  Came down to the last day of the season.  Mays played early and went 2 for 4 to go ahead of me and I still had a double header to play.  Well, I said to myself before the game, Say Hey my a-- and went 6 for 8 to beat him out for the title.  He then said as he often did "If I read it right boys, its in."  He went on and made the put for our win and was so happy with his play that day.  Winning meant a lot to Rich in everything he did from Major League Baseball to HORSE in the backyard.  But driving home he told me that he enjoyed winning but the real joy is the love of family and friends.  I'll never forget that day he showed me how to win graciously and truly knowing what meant most of all to him.

[JakaB]

When I got home yesterday from golfing my wife had just finished the laundry and when I took my shower the towels were still warm....nice.

[Dave_Miller]

WS:
Golf with Richie Ashburn.  Not only Priceless but awesome.  As a kid growing up in the Phila. area he was one of my heroes. One of the 1950 whiz kids.  It was a sad day in the City of Brotherly Love when he was traded to the Cubs.  The only member of the original Mets team to hit .300.
A great player and by all accounts from all sources a fine gentleman.

Cheers
Dave

[Curious JJ]

Shivas Legal
You've broken 80?!?  Awesome!  Bring it on bitch!!!

[stevec16]

Getting a letter from my 9-year-old daughter (who is away at camp for a month), who closes with the admonition, "Dad, don't go golfing without me!"

Reduced to tears. Nuff said.

[wsmorrison]

Dave Miller,

Thanks for your thoughts.  Richie was a better man than ballplayer, and maybe a better basketball player than baseball player (think as fast as Iverson, a better ballhandler, and could shoot 50+% rather than 39%).  Yes, he was for the longest time the last player to bat over .300 his final season.  Got the first hit for the Mets that inaugural year and was tagged for the last out that year (on a triple play, no less).  His desire to win couldn't allow him to lose so much as the Mets did that year.  So he quit the game however reluctantly.  

It was a joy to grow up listening to him and the other Philly announcers, they were all great!  Unfortunately now we have to watch this dreadful team and listen to Chris Wheeler.  I can't tell you how many grown men brought the transistor radios they listened to Phillies games to at the memorial park in Fairmount and laid them next to his coffin.  That was touching.  As was his 92 year old mother standing there for hours shaking hands with tens of thousands that came to pay respects.  Sports used to have more heroes, now very few and far between.  

[Bevo Francis]

Clicking on GCA in the morning and getting a primer on how to get invited to private clubs using obsequious flattery and calculating praise from TH and SB.

[THuckaby2]

Whatever, Bevo.  My feelings are genuine and AFTER the invites have long come and gone.

BTW, I think you got screwed by the NBA. You were the greatest.

TH

[Darin]

I haven't found anything that tops playing with my father and grandfather at TOC on a pleasant afternoon.  Teeing off on the first tee gave me goosebumps, but the best moment was playing 18 with "Scotland the Brave" being played by a bagpiper up the hill behind the R&A.  After the round, going in to a pub up the street and having a drink with our caddie.  By far the most rewarding experience of my life.

[John_Lovito]

The first tee at Shinnecock...

The excitement and anticipation of playing a course for the first time...

A cold beer or two with friends after a round...

And the best of all.. playing a few holes with my boys on a quiet Sunday afternoon.  Watching them enjoy the game I love so much makes life real good.

[JakaB]

Having a ball mark on my glove at the beginning of a round.

[David Wigler]

I could think of many but just had one several days ago that topped them all for me.  My 5 1/2 year old son started junior golf last Friday.  Our pro showed him how to hold a club, stand and swing.  My son took a huge swipe, actually hit the ball and it went flying high in the air.  He turned around with a look of sheer elation in his face and I knew I had a golf partner for the rest of my life.  Damn near brought tears to my eyes then and damn near is again as I write this.

[Scott_Burroughs]

Bevo/John Nash, Jr./coward,

Please point to my posts (only one in this thread) that do as you say.  I referred to the anitcipation of meeting people I've never met whom I know will be good playing companions, on various playing stages, some of which have included my home course and public courses, each of which are just as "joyful".  I also pay my respects after the fact.

When did Bevo Francis ever attend Ohio State, as your fake e-mail address implies?

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