It was the usual day for our game
The ball covered the distance and dove in the hole
I wanted to say "good shot my friend"
I learned a lesson, in golf, that day
He turned to me with a calm steady gaze
So take heed my son, as you play life's game
For he is more dangerous than Dan McGrew
We were relaxing and having fun
When all of a sudden his shot went awry
But wait! It's not over and done.
Like a snake deprived of the sun
I stood in amazement and shocked disbelief
While recovering my shaken aplomb.
But the words just never came up
So I smiled to him, as he ambled by
And plucked the ball from the cup.
As he explained that errant shot
"Take credit for anything that goes in the hole
If you know how it got there or not".
Till my dying day, I'll allege
He said, "friend John, that's my favorite shot
I CHIPPED WITH A HOODED WEDGE".
ADDENDUM
And never relinquish an edge
Beware of a guy with a steel blue eye
THAT CHIPS WITH A HOODED WEDGE.
If you play him, all bets I would hedge
You never can plan on beating a guy
THAT CHIPS WITH A HOODED WEDGE.
I also was fortunate to have another hole-in-one on the 6th hole of the Bradenton Country Club in Florida at 78 years of age and Jim scored another at SCC.
Well, the first hole in one was in 1993 during a tournament, the Great Lakes Spring Amateur. It was at Heatherdowns Country Club in Toledo, and I hit an 8-iron that looked like it was 2 feet right of the hole. We looked all around the green for the ball, for 5 minutes, and finally another player's caddie checked the hole and there it was.
The second one was about 6 months later at Orchard Lake Country Club, playing with my father and his friends. I hit 6-iron on the 16th hole, and it was a little skinny, but cleared the bunker and rolled into the hole.
The one I just made was on the 13th at Mill Creek Golf Club in Geneva, Ill. and I hit 6-iron right at the hole. We did not see the ball go in, and I stopped at my house (adjacent to the golf course) to get coffee before going up to the green. I was standing in the kitchen when another guy yelled "It's in the hole!".....John
The shadows were long on 18 that day
He studied the lie, the grain and the roll
The agony of missing went deep to the quick
The beer was flowing, the losers had paid
"I hit it pure, while you had the luck
That "o.b." you called, that I thought was in?
The chip-ins on 4 and 9 from the sand?
I know darn well this is the best I've shot
And that, "gentlemen is a new Saginaw Country Club record!"
Our Saturday foursome was finishing play
The others had putted, the money all hung
On a two foot put, a "gimmie" to some.
There was no way, in hell, he could loose this hole
He stood over the ball, "now don't look up"
Grimly stroked the ball, and rimmed the cup.
He quietly swore and broke his stick
He had shot a 70, that fateful day
The game of his life and still had to pay.
And each was recounting the score he had made
The BS was flying when he took the floor
To relive again, how he made that score.
I shaded par and still lost a buck
I putted five times while going for bird
The grain on these greens is a four lettered word.
"A game of inches?" You can say that again!
Sure, I ran in a couple of snakes
How could I miss? I read all the breaks.
Why, man,that was the only garbage, I canned
How about that eagle and five birdies, I made?
Just routine, old Buddy, that's how it's played.
But think it over, it's not so hot
Seriously now, I think you'll agree
That 70 I shot?....should have been 63.
Al Collier and I were more than friends for over seventy-three years, having gone to grade school together as children. When I suffered a heart attack in 1970, the rules were, family only. In came Al, one day. I asked, "how did you get in"? He said; "I told them I was your brother.". We played golf, for many years, three times a week and rarely ever missed.
One year, playing together we won the Saginaw Invitational First Flight Championship. On another occasion,I'll never forget, he beat me for the First Flight Championship on the first extra hole (19th) by sinking about a twelve foot putt while I missed a three footer. Some say "being beaten by a friend is more bearable" "I say baloney to that idea"........smile........Al is greatly missed ! Al on left.....JH