Enjoyable Oddities in Golf (Lesson No. 16)

The game of golf provides fantastic memories for all of us, over the years. Some of those oddities may have a lesson in them, though perhaps not obvious when they happen. My first such recollection happened over twenty years ago when I was a beginner and playing at the Rennassiance Pine Isle Golf Resort on Lake Lanier, near Atlanta, Ga.

I was playing alone as I often did after leaving work that day. My game was in the early learning stages. On the sloping up hill No. 7,  I was on a side hill up hill lie near the green when I chipped some thirty feet right into the cup! On the next hole (No. 8) I was at an uphill lie near the green perhaps 20 yards from the pin when I chipped up and the ball landed softly and rolled right into the cup. I had holed out two chip shots in a row. When I returned to the pro-shop I walked into Randy Mosely's office and proudly stated that I had set a record in the game of golf. Randy, knowing the level of my game,  looked at me with a dubious eye and asked what record I had set. I said I believed I was the first golfer to ever hole out two chips shots in a row for two consecutive double bogies!

A year or so later while playing with my brother Bob Englefield, who is an optometrist near Springfield, Ohio, I stood on the tee at the dog leg par five, No. 17 and said, "Bob, I am going to aim at the tall tree on the right at the dog leg (right). I then hit a very good drive that hit squarely the trunk of the large Oak tree on the right  side of the dog leg, perhaps 220 yds. away. I am still wondering if I should  pick a spot in the fairway when I hit my tee shots with my driver.

While playing in a PGA Sr. Tour Monday Qualifier at Horseshoe Bend C.C. in Atlanta, Ga. back in 1987 I will never forget my great hopes and excitement at merely being there. On the third or fourth hole I was one over par and my ball was on the green far away perhaps sixty feet from the pin. It was an undulating green and there were at least two bends in the very long putt. I could not see the cup, only the flag over the hill of the green. A caddy was  tending the flag as I stroked my putt to a hole I could not see. As I began my walk toward the hole a ball came rolling back towards me. Surprised, I looked to see who had hit the ball when the caddy explained my 60 ft. putt had rolled into the cup. I said, "It did?" The other pros all nodded in the affirmative. In those early days it seemed I made more long putts than short ones. Probably not, but I did make a large number of long putts early in my golfing career which is partly why I continued to this day. I make far fewer now that I am an experienced golfer at age 67.

I am sure I have previously mentioned the sand shot with my ball an inch from the lip of the bunker near the flag. I could only level my club head (sand wedge) and swing mightily. It flew about twenty feet high and dropped squarely into the cup for a slam dunk birdie!

I have never made a hole-in-one in 30 years of playing golf. I have hit the pin, had ball marks an inch from the cup, had par three iron shots stop within inches from the pin, but never a hole-in-one. Maybe if I adjust my grip I'll get one.................but I now believe it is unlikely. It is surprising how many golfers have had a hole-in-one. Pro shops, country clubs and resorts are filled with plaques with numerous names of individuals having made a hole-in-one.

The stories goes on but I have a tee time this afternoon and must take leave. I realize we all have stories to tell. And we all keep telling them. It is fun to stand on the patio at our club and listen to the stories being told nearly every day as the members come into the 19th hole for food and refreshments after their game. 

I just ordered a (nearly) new R-7 Taylor Made driver from my friend Jim Butler at Table Rock Golf Club in Centerburg, Ohio. Jim has a very unique shop with many hundreds of used clubs of every type imaginable. New or used, Jim probably has it or can find it for you. I once asked Jim, who is in his fifties, if we older golfers can improve our game. He said it not likely that we can improve very much. He may have been right but I can attest to the fact that being retired and playing golf nearly every day has improved my game in all areas where I previously did not practice. I now know how to handle side hill lies, up hill lies and up hill chip shots which I never had a clue about in previous years. I have lost distance off the tee but, occasionally hit one 280 yds. Most often 240 yds.; sometimes less.

Of one thing I am absolutely certain. Time and again I have helped seniors who are just retired and learning the game to a vastly improved game with merely good fundamentals. The same is true with young beginners. It is a fact that new golfers need tips at whatever age and such help can significantly improve their game.

Now, I'm headed for the range and a game. I will today work on the low & slow back swing. It nearly always fixes my shots to long and straight.

RHE

Richard Englefield