KEEPING ALL IN PERSPECTIVE...

Augusta National #13 - "Azalea"

All majors are special, but although The Masters (April 7-10), is the “youngest” of all, it has a mystique that no other major has. If nothing else, it is the home of Bobby Jones which alone, makes it special.

Augusta National #15 - "Firethorn"

 But there are other things: it was intended as an invitational (“Augusta National Invitational”), but it became a championship, though is still an “invitational”; most of us can think of more “Masters moments” than all other majors combined; it is played in the spring, before the real golf season begins in most places across the nation; it is the only major played in the same place every year and the only major that never announces the purse until after the event; it hosts a “champions dinner” and has a “champions locker room”, along with a cabin that hosts all amateurs in the field, the “Crow’s Nest”, free of charge, including meals; it is the only major with a Par-3 tournament to start festivities and the only major with honorary starters; the only course that has a tree named after a president (the “Eisenhower Tree”), and bridges and places named after great champions of all times; the only major that has been won 6 times by any one player and the only major that starts with less than 100 players in the field; and don’tforget, the only major where you only pay $2.50 for a pimento cheese sandwich and $1.50 for a Coke, not to mention that trash is picked up before it hits the ground, literally.

There are many “onlys” concerning The Masters. And who can argue that both, hosts and TV make a fascinating place even more fascinating and desirable: the photos and scenes never show a blade of grass or a grain of sand out of place, never show a yellow piece of grass or even dirt in the “roughs” which are filled with wood chips; and of course, always show beautiful blooming flowers, with each hole having been named after a flower, my favorite holes, #13 (Azalea) and #15 (Firethorn) could not be named any better.

However, in the real world of minuscule budgets compared to those of “megabucks” funded by CBS, Cadillac,The Travelers and others in the PGA Tour, The Masters is also a pain in the neck for many able and hard working maintenance crews all over America where their bosses, instead of asking “are we better off now than four years ago?”, they choose to compare their course with Augusta National… like comparing a brand new Cadillac, paid in cash with a 5 year old car of any brand, that you are still making payments on and that you have taken from coast to coast... almost like one of those Obama “clunkers” that he wanted off the roads! 

The truth is that most of these hard working people do so with pride and no recognition, no even when they perform small unseen and unheralded miracles. How come when our Titleist doesn't go in, we tend to blame it on the green, but when we make one, even if in less than perfect greens, it happens to be our skill and we “forget” about the conditions? 

Abandoned Teeing Area - USA

Keeping all in proper perspective, let’s not confuse “less than perfect” conditions, with the expensive path of destruction some true maintenance impostors leave behind. For those golfers who think that all golf courses should permanently be in pristine conditions, I ask, “why are the Rules of Golf are written so that when there is damage or ground under repair you get free relief?”

Elk City GCC - View of #7 & #6

So, next week, while you are watching The Masters (and cheering for Phil Mickelson), think about HEAVEN and EARTH, you are on earth… right along with your course superintendent, and if you have a playable golf course, LEARN TO APPRECIATE IT AND THANK HIM!

CONGRATULATIONS...

To coach Garrett Mantle and his Elk City High School team in winning the Weatherford High School Invitational!

After a slow fourth place finish in their previous tournament, the team rebounded and caught some fire, and now it looks that the team will be in the running for a second straight State Championship.

The team, led by Joby Gray's 69 (9 birdies!!!) shot a nice combined score of 299. Other team scores were Brock Walker 76, Kegan Hall 76, Cody Lake 78 and Berek Dyson 81.

It looks like good practice is paying off and Joby Gray was medalist as well.

Congratulations to all!

CURRENT & COMING UP...

First, let’s all wish Myra Baker, our club manager, a full recovery for her daughter who has been in and out of the hospital the last two weeks. Last word is that what looked as a very serious problem, was finally controlled in a hospital in Oklahoma City, and they will soon be back in Elk City.

This Saturday (March 26), the club will host their annual "President's Ball", this year in honor of Joe Wynn, current president. Make your reservations quickly as it is filling up rapidly. Party starts at 7:00 p.m. Then, during The Masters week and the day after the final round (Mondays April 4 & 11), the Elk City High School will host their annual golf invitational, April 4 for boys' teams and April 11 for girls' teams. If you have a chance, come and watch them play. The boys’ team is the current state’s champion!

A big personal “thank you” to David Clinton, who invited me to play a round of golf earlier in the week. We were joined by Merrick Hutson and Bobby Babcock. Even though the day was one of the windiest of all spring so far, I enjoyed myself tremendously. It would have been just an exclamation point had David’s ball gone in the hole on #8 for an ace, where his ball barely missed the hole and ended up just a couple of feet behind it for an easy birdie. Nothing like being invited by a youngster! Also “thank you” to Ed Hughes, our superintendent, who in order to help you see your practice targets better during the dormant season, painted a circle around the driving range poles. It sure makes it for easy aiming!

AND PLEASE REMEMBER! DON'T RISK INJURY OR WORSE! WHEN LIGHNING IS CLOSE, COME BACK TO THE CLUBHOUSE OR TAKE SAFE SHELTER!

ENCOURAGING LAST WEEK OF WINTER....

(Pictures > Top to Bottom: a) lighting bolt at a golf course, kids playing by themselves, Kinsley Hall, Colin Dyson, Trace Hill)

... AND FIRST WEEK ON THE JOB!
Starting a job somewhere new, is always a life changing experience, and this is no different, but,
though it has only been a week in the job, we are truly feeling that we have been welcome as an active part of this great little community. Thanks to all.

COMING UP:
Saturday, March 26, President's Ball (7:00 p.m. at the club - Bring your dancing shoes!!)
Monday, April 4, Elk City High School Boys Tournament
Monday, April 11, Elk City High School Girls Tournament



THE WEEK IN REVIEW: The last week of the 2010-2011 winter started with thunder, thunderbolts and a little rain in the morning of Saturday, so much, that it sent all morning golfers to seek shelter or back to the clubhouse, especially when a lightning bolt hit close or on the golf course somewhere, it sure raised the hair on your skin, which makes one wonder just how dangerous it is to be on a golf course when the clouds are charged. ALWAYS FOLLOW SAFE OPTIONS WHEN FACED WITH CHARGED WITH ELECTRICITY (http://sportsmedicine.about.com/od/enviromentalissues/a/lightning.htm).

That said, I was encouraged to see so many kids hooked to the game, some came with dads or moms, and some came alone. Either way, encourage a junior to play. If a neighbor, cousin, nephew (niece) doesn't play the game, bring them to the range, and let them hit a few balls. You (or them), won't regret it.

A DIFFERENT KIND (KINDER) WAY OF WELCOMING....

Years back, a young golf professional came to a new job. He spent a few days at a cheap motel with his family while he found a permanent place to live. Meanwhile, he started working. On the very first day of work, an older man, dressed in the worst possible golf attire (it looked like pajamas or something someone would go to sleep with), light checkered shorts, broad stripes on his shirt and argyle socks to his knees, came in and said, "hey pro, I am Toby and I know you have not had the time to unpack or move to a permanent place, so, I went to the supermarket and brought you this sack". The little paper sack contained a few pieces of fruit. The golf pro was grateful for the thoughtfulness, but...

The man went out to play and the pro ate some of the fruit. When Toby finished playing, he went to the shop. The pro was busy taking care of some customers. When the customers left, the pro asked Toby about his round, but Toby answered with a question: "can I get paid for the fruit?” Of course, the pro was surprised and did not know what to say, other than a hesitant, "how much?" Toby told him, the pro paid, and Toby left. I'll never forget that story.

This last Friday, I arrived to Oklahoma and start work on Monday at Elk City GCC. Most likely, under similar circumstances as the pro in the story above. New job, must find a (permanent) place to live (in this case, thanks to Ann Cowan and Joe Wynn, I had already found a place for the next six months), getting familiar with the people, streets, city (in this case at least two cities: Elk City and Sayre), golfers, bosses, high school players, coaches, neighbors, churches, etc. I knew no one but the people who hired me, and a handful of golfers, some of whose names I don't remember now, but that I will soon learn.

On the road to Oklahoma, the story above was not in my mind at all, until after I received a couple of text messages from Mrs. Ann Cowan and a phone call from Mr. Brad Spitzer, owner of the Sayre Record.  The text messages and phone call were to inform me that someone would help me unload the big truck I drove from Gallup with all that we could bring to Oklahoma. At first, I expected some hired help, which I didn't mind paying. But to my surprise, when I arrived in Sayre and drove to where Ramona and I will be living, none other than Mr. Spitzer was ready to help me unload the truck along with his son Drew and a young employee of the Sayre Record. It took us only about three hours, to unload. It looks like I will need to start working out, I was puffing and my muscles were tired, while Mr. Spitzer looked like he was just relaxing and getting ready walk in the park.

How is that for a humbling experience of welcoming to a new place? One of the members you will serve was there personally to help the newcomer. Just like if we were old friends or neighbors. I hadn't even met him yet until Friday! Thank you all for making us feel at home from the minute we
arrived!

P.S. Oh yes... I did meet Mrs. Dayva Spitzer , but very informally, from her vehicle window to mine: as I was clumsily trying to maneuver the large U-Haul truck with a trailer in reverse, I was blocking the street when she drove by and smiling joked: "GET OUT OF THE WAY!"... which I did, drove away to try to go around the block, and got lost, now Mr. Spitzer had to go and get me as well!

Matt: 25:31-40