My 6-yr old son created a magical memory this afternoon. One that will not soon be forgotten by this dad.
We went out to play nine holes this afternoon to kick off the long weekend. When I take along my youngest son (2 1/2) as I did today, I don't take any clubs for myself. I just walk along, encourage my oldest, and herd the youngest. We have one swing thought for now - "keep your feet still when you swing" - otherwise he likes to do a little five step dance while he is swinging.
He's been busting a few good ones this summer - a 60 yard drive here and there mixed in with the less impressive efforts. He enjoys getting out and it is fun watching his swing come along naturally.
Today, "Poppie" (my father-in-law) joined us. He is not a golfer, but he's my boys' favorite person on Earth. As a result, my son was a little less focused on his golfing today and a little more focused on hanging out with Poppie. He had an occasional good hit, but mostly he was all over the place. On the 5th hole, I'm pretty sure he 8-putted from 10 feet (he was playing as a single and we were right on the group in front of us and no one was behind us on this late afternoon for all of you concerned about pace of play!!)
We get to the 6th tee - a hole that plays 151 from the front tee according to the card, but was probably only playing 130 today. It is "par 5" for Juniors. Obviously the pars on this course are irrelevant, though we have been using them for fun to teach him what bogey, double bogey, etc mean. He has never had anything better than a bogey, even using the Junior par.
He rips his drive 72 yards, not that I'm counting. OK, I am counting because he likes to ask how far he hit it and we're trying to make this fun, right? He pulls out his little hybrid and smacks it up on the green to about 7 feet. I was dumb-founded. He had been on one of the shorter holes in two before but was nowhere near the pin, and usually a good hole for him is getting on the green in three or four. Then the putting kicks in and we often stop counting! He's never made better than a 5 on any hole.
He walks up to the ball and lines it up (no cheater line and no belly putter.) I pointed about 4 inches above the hole and said "try to hit it right here." He hits the most beautiful putt I've ever seen him strike. Perfect pace, it takes the break, and falls in for an "eagle" three. So much for teaching him about par and birdie.
I realize this wasn't really an "eagle." But boy was this something special. The look on his face when he made that putt was priceless. Poppie has been talking about the event that will be forever known in this household as "the eagle" all night long. I'm sure many of you have lived through this moment before, but I thought I'd share what instantly became my all-time favorite memory on a golf course.
So much for vibrant rainbows and walking Ballyneal with Jim Colton after a violent storm.
