TALKING GOLF...

-It's hard to believe that a new year has already started and the first major, is just around the corner (The Masters will be played April 10-13). This year, with several other Elk City Golf Club members, Mona and I will have the pleasure of traveling to Augusta, GA, and walk the famous grounds of Augusta National. I can't wait!

-I love to see youngsters come to play, whether it is by themselves or with older family members. It is healthy for golf... and for them!!- And speaking about (younger) kids... We will end the month of March with an impromptu Junior (up to 14 years old) Tournament on Saturday, March 29:  "Junior Season Opener". 9:00 a.m., first 36 sign ups. We will play 4-9 holes without interfering with regular play (WILL NEED PARENTS TO HELP SCORE AND SERVE PIZZA AND DRINKS, IF YOU HAVE A GOLF CART, BETTER). Special Competition with old clubs for those dressed in "Plus-Fours". Members only (or a member's guest). No entry fee.

- A couple of weeks ago, playing against the best field of the year so far, Patrick Reed won the Cadillac Championship at Trump's Doral National... during the presentation of the trophy, he confidently said, "I'm one of the best five players n the world".... and then, the tweets and comments flew around, "what a cocky s...!, "he shouldn't say that, even if he believes it" and so forth. Well, we don't know if he'll be another Johnny Miller (he was so cocky that he challenged Jack Nicklaus to a one-on-one match), another Tiger (who has forgotten the "I won with my 'B' game" comment?), or, another Lanny Wadkins. The point is, at least for now, "its not bragging if it is true!" Wouldn't you want someone like him in our Ryder Cup team?

- Speaking about Ryder Cups: Tom Watson, this year's captain,  was also captain in 1993 at The Belfry (England). Like Ben Hogan when he captained in 1967, he said he "came to win" and presented his players as the best in the world. The U.S. had never won at the Belfry... until 1993, when the U.S. won 15 to 13. Again, "it ain't bragging unless you can back it up!" The question is, are his players believers, or as his players believers?

- Was Jack "cocky"? You be the judge: One time, sportswriter Dan Jenkins (one of my top three favorite golf writers of all time) asked Jack Nicklaus something about his ability to win majors, Jack answered, "I had a great God given talent, it would be a waste if I don't use it". So there, you've got to back it up!

- Watching one of our members expertly handle x-stiff shafts on the range, reminded me of a little story about my brother Armando (75) who in his younger days was a pretty decent golfer. Armando, lived in Brownsville, TX and was a non resident member at the Champions Golf Club in Houston, TX where he met Ben Hogan. Afterwards, when Hogan traveled south to practice, my brother would take pictures from the distance, after which, he would go and hit balls from the same place as the master had just done. He would now have someone take pictures of him to make as exact comparisons as he could (seriously, I've seen the pictures!). Anyway, he was so infatuated with Hogan, that one day he drove to the Ben Hogan Factory in Ft. Worth and ordered a set of clubs "with the exact same specs as Mr. Hogan". The club maker at the factory told him, "the shafts are very stiff, do you think you can hit them?", to which my brother cockily responded, "I don't know if I can hit them, but I can afford them". Two weeks later, the cocky young man humbled, he came back to have the same club maker at the Ben Hogan Company re-shaft the clubs with

more forgiving shafts. Note: Few can use X-Stiff shafts, my brother was not one of them.

- You ever had a favorite club? I've had two. The first was a used MacGregor persimmon driver I found in 1974 at a little golf shop in Alice, TX while I was playing for Texas A&I University in Kingsville, TX. I used that driver for nearly 15 years and used to hit every shot in the bag with it at will. In the late 90's, it was very hard to change to metal woods. The other favorite club was a putter, the ugliest putter you'll ever see, the AYD from Ping which I used to the early 2000's when I lost it. This time, I tried to replace it and bought a brand new AYD from Ping, but could never duplicate the old feeling, nor the putting stroke. I thought I was a good putter until I lost that club.... a good putter will do well with any club in his hand!

Shawn & I always have fun with how
far he can hit the ball.... but, as all
of us, not two shots are alike!

- Anya returns to competitive golf this week and next week. She'll be playing Symetra Tour events in Lake Wells, FL this week and Longwood, FL the next. With conditional status on the LPGA, it is difficult to get in some of the tournaments, but she will find an opportunity and make the best of it! Go Anya! Baby, all I can tell you is keep "Following the Sun".. you'll find it!

- In closing: The USGA has now allowed the use of distance measuring devices during amateur competition. Good or bad? Probably good, at least mentally (amateurs will not be "doubtful" of distances), but come on, you have two guys measuring the distance with their trusty laser, one says it's 143 the other one says 142, does it matter when neither can hit two consecutive shots with the same club within 10 yards of each other?