Back when the earth was new and dinosaurs roamed the steaming landscape I worked for a large international corporation. This corporation was headquartered in Chicago but I worked at the Texas facility. I had to go to Chicago every few months to receive an honorable award or be threatened with unemployment....depending on the then current construction market in my area. I was an operations manager and had no control over the construction status in Texas or the surrounding states but I still got blamed if it was bad. It was a good career but it wasn't a great career.
On one of my treks to Chicago I was told I was to play in a golf tournament after a planned conference. I was already assigned a slot in the tournament and was instructed to bring my clubs on the trip. Some people might get excited about this. Some people might beam with pride for being invited to the annual managers' gold tournament. None of those people would be me. I had never played a game of golf in my life. I told the CEO and the CFO they had made a mistake. They told me corporate officers never make mistakes. I would be there for the conference and then stay over the weekend for the tournament. Actually, since the CFO was a recently transported German, I was told, "Roos, you vill play golf and you vill like it!" I have dreaded my trips to Chicago many times over the years for various reasons. I dreaded it because I knew it would be boring. I dreaded it because I might have to make a presentation. But I had never dreaded a trip because of a game of golf.
The conference was held very early in March at a beautiful country club outside the city. The week went by in a blur and on Friday afternoon all my lucky coworkers got to head to O'Hare for their flights home. I had to hang around for a stinking golf tournament. I whined to anyone who would listen that night. I begged to be replaced with someone who knew how to hold a golf club. I got no mercy from anyone left at the country club because they all loved golf. I went to my room that night dreading the next day.
I woke early that Saturday morning and left my room for breakfast. As I walked into the reception area and looked out those massive windows all I could see was snow. An early spring storm had dumped several inches of snow on the city.....and the golf course. Those who discovered it with me were so disappointed. I was thrilled by it all. I ate a huge breakfast that morning...with great gusto! The CFO came in, sat down beside me, and asked if I had prayed for snow. I told him I hadn't and I tried to act disappointed. He saw right though me. He sipped his coffee and sighed. Then he said, "Roos, you MUST learn to play golf. It is a gentleman's sport and you vill be expected to play in the future. Go home now and learn to play golf! Yah?"
And now, the rest of the story....
I told my son Cody about my experience and he agreed. I needed to learn to play golf. He volunteered to teach me. He told me to buy an inexpensive set of clubs and we would hit the local driving range. My old pal Scott Brown fixed me up with a used set of clubs he had found at a garage sale. A big $35 investment kind of riled me but it was for my career after all. Cody and I went to the driving range that next afternoon. After showing me how to tee up and hold the club he suggested I hit a few balls to get the feel. I was a natural. I hit that ball at least thirty feet on my first swing. Unfortunately I missed the ball on my second swing and whacked the rubber with all my strength. I heard a small crack but figured it must have been my spine. On the third swing I got a solid hit and watched the ball as it arched into the sky. I also watched the head of my club arch off beautifully to the right of us. It landed with a whack right in the middle of a group of seasoned golfers. I started to go after it when Cody grabbed my arm and said, "Dad, just let it go." He also said something about my choice of golf clubs but we won't go there. After a couple of nights at the range, Cody said I was doing well enough to actually play a real game at a real golf course. We scheduled the following Saturday morning for my debut.
Cody chose a little 3-par, nine hole course close to our house. He picked me up at 6:30 that morning. I didn't understand going out that early but it soon became evident. When we teed up at seven a.m. we were the only players on the course. I guess Cody was a little worried for other golfers. I had a great time and was wishing I had learned to play years earlier. I told Cody I was excited about becoming a serious golfer. It was about this time that I sliced a drive off to the right and watched in horror as the ball streaked over into a resident's patio, knocking items off the table and bouncing off walls. I started to go after it when Cody said, "Dad, just let it go!" I tried to explain to him that I needed to go after it because it was the only ball I had. He insisted I leave it. He gave me another ball and on the next green I over-compensated and sliced the ball hard to the left. Cody started yelling, "FORE! FORE!" to the ground crew who were about to receive that ball but they didn't listen. Finally he yelled "QUATRO! QUATRO!"....and they looked up in time to dodge the little white missle coming their way. Cody decided we had played enough golf. As we walked out to the car with Cody's clubs and the only club of mine he allowed me to bring he said, "Dad, about your dream to become a serious golfer....I suggest you let it go." So I did....
Great story!
ReplyDelete