For the last 20 years, I have been on a quest to play every course that has ever been on Golf Magazine's nine "Top 100 You Can Play" lists and Golf Digest's "America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses" list. The Quest has allowed me to see our country. I’ve now played golf in all lower 48 states. I have met countless interesting people and have invitations to play many of their courses when schedules allow.
As you might imagine, I have taken some unbelievable golf trips. But my most memorable trip was in March, 2012. I started in Pinehurst, NC and finished in Orlando, FL. I was playing alone at Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC on March 3, 2012. I had played a rainy round at Pinehurst #8 that morning (number 68 on Golf Digest's list and number 100 on Golf Magazine's list at the time) and was now playing an afternoon round alone at Tobacco Road (number 68 on Golf Digest's list and number 97 on Golf Magazine's list) in Sanford, NC (see http://tobaccoroadgolf.com).
As you might imagine, I have taken some unbelievable golf trips. But my most memorable trip was in March, 2012. I started in Pinehurst, NC and finished in Orlando, FL. I was playing alone at Tobacco Road in Sanford, NC on March 3, 2012. I had played a rainy round at Pinehurst #8 that morning (number 68 on Golf Digest's list and number 100 on Golf Magazine's list at the time) and was now playing an afternoon round alone at Tobacco Road (number 68 on Golf Digest's list and number 97 on Golf Magazine's list) in Sanford, NC (see http://tobaccoroadgolf.com).
I had just finished the par five 13th and at the par three 14th hole, knocked my tee ball into the hole for my second hole-in-one! Horror of horrors--no witnesses I thought! But to my great fortune, the foursome playing directly behind me had seen the shot as they made their way to the 13th green. One of the players accompanied me to the hole and pulled the ball I identified to him out of the hole and signed my card. How cool is that? I'm now on their "Road of Fame" (http://tobaccoroadgolf.com/roadoffame/2012).
The 14th Hole at Tobacco Road Golf Club
Interestingly, this was not the most thrilling event on the trip. My last stop was Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Resort (48th on Golf Magazine's current list). See http://www.bayhill.com/Home-1.html.The Bay Hill Resort is special. The lodging looks out at the practice green and driving range and the pro shop is at one end of the lodge. Everything is within short walking distance and I found it to be a perfect way to end a long trip. I played the Bay Hill course on March 8, 2012 as my last round of the trip.
Having played the back nine first, as we finished our 18th hole on number 9, I noticed The King himself, Arnold Palmer, hitting balls on the range. I said to my partner for the day “hey Rich, let’s go see if we can get a picture with Arnie.” As we approached, Mr. Palmer was placing clubs in a bag that must have held forty clubs. I asked him if he needed any help but he politely declined. I mentioned that I had caddied at Pine Ridge Country Club (Wickliffe, OH) in the early 1960’s. This was the course where he became a member while serving in the Coast Guard in the early 1950’s while stationed in Cleveland. He won the Ohio Amateur at that course in 1953. And I mentioned that my club in Fort Wayne, IN, now known as Coyote Creek, was the course where he made his first check on the PGA Tour ($145 for a 25th place finish) in 1955. He asked how I knew that and I assured him the golfers at my course take great pride knowing that he is a piece of our history. After a few more seconds of small talk, I asked him if we could get a picture with him. Ever gracious, he put his arm around me and Rich snapped the picture.
Like many golfers my age, I have always been a member of Arnie’s Army. My only trip to The Masters in 2004 was the last time he played in that tournament. How many times did I play four balls representing Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Arnie in my backyard as a kid? Somehow, Arnie always won. I can’t imagine a greater thrill than a golfer of his stature taking time out just a week before his Bay Hill Classic to chat with me. It just doesn’t get any better.
Having played the back nine first, as we finished our 18th hole on number 9, I noticed The King himself, Arnold Palmer, hitting balls on the range. I said to my partner for the day “hey Rich, let’s go see if we can get a picture with Arnie.” As we approached, Mr. Palmer was placing clubs in a bag that must have held forty clubs. I asked him if he needed any help but he politely declined. I mentioned that I had caddied at Pine Ridge Country Club (Wickliffe, OH) in the early 1960’s. This was the course where he became a member while serving in the Coast Guard in the early 1950’s while stationed in Cleveland. He won the Ohio Amateur at that course in 1953. And I mentioned that my club in Fort Wayne, IN, now known as Coyote Creek, was the course where he made his first check on the PGA Tour ($145 for a 25th place finish) in 1955. He asked how I knew that and I assured him the golfers at my course take great pride knowing that he is a piece of our history. After a few more seconds of small talk, I asked him if we could get a picture with him. Ever gracious, he put his arm around me and Rich snapped the picture.
Like many golfers my age, I have always been a member of Arnie’s Army. My only trip to The Masters in 2004 was the last time he played in that tournament. How many times did I play four balls representing Sam Snead, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Arnie in my backyard as a kid? Somehow, Arnie always won. I can’t imagine a greater thrill than a golfer of his stature taking time out just a week before his Bay Hill Classic to chat with me. It just doesn’t get any better.
RSS Feed