Page 55 - Vol. VI #9

western New York too of of course: Brookfield East Aurora Lancaster Lancaster Orchard Park Transit Valley Westwood etc but no one one one other than Great Uncle Henry Henry the the the pharmacist could afford to to to to to to to belong to to to to to to to one one one The only only way Dad or or or or one one one of of my uncles got got to to to to to to play play play Lancaster Lancaster CC was when hosted by Henry Henry a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a rare treat I I got got to to to to to to play play play country country clubs only only because I I I joined the the high school school golf team after we we moved to to to to to to Cheektowaga When compet- ing against suburban schools we we typically played played away matches at at at at at a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a country club ily responsibilities often intervened so so a a a a a a a day on on on the links playing 18 holes of of golf followed by rehashing shots over cold beers was something he he he he cherished In contrast to private country clubs where mem- bers could could call ahead for for an appointed tee-time public courses were democratic first first first come first first first served Dad spoke of of men he he he he he he he he he he he knew who slept in in in in in in in their their cars in in in in in in in the the the the the parking lot overnight waking before dawn so they could could be be be first first first to to to to place their their their balls in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the rack that that determined tee-off order It wasn’t until I I I got to to to to to to to college that that I I I learned about “professional Wednesdays ” when men men with-
“Iunderstood immediately why they expressed surprise and disbelief even if they didn’t say it it explicitly ” Great Uncle Henry’s pharmacy pharmacy just two blocks from the the the the the the Prorok family homestead where Mom grew up up served as as my uncles’ private clubhouse Like any other other neighborhood pharmacy pharmacy its front room had display windows open to the the the the the street free-standing shelves with over-the-counter med- ical supplies and and and household goods and and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a small soda fountain where as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teenager my mother worked after school Dad grilled me when he he he he he he he he he learned I I had played played a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a round at at at at at at Briarwood in in in Hamburg a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a private course he he he he he he could only dream about “What was was the yard- age what was was par?” he he he he he he wanted to know “Were
out out bosses told their their their receptionists to to to to to to to to make no appointments closed their their offices and took to to to to to to to the the the the the the fairways—private clubs to to to to to to to which they they belonged or or or ones they they were invited to to to to to to play as as guests of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a colleague or or or client the the the the the the fairways narrow and tree-lined? Were
Were
Were
they flat rolling hilly? Did Did the the the the the the course feature water hazards how many dog-legs? How high was was the the the the the the rough cut was was it it it thick? Were
Were
Were
the the the the the the the fairway fairway bunkers strategically placed for for long ball hitters? Were
Were
Were
the the the the the the the the greens fast? Did Did puts run straight or or or or dipsy-doo- dle?” On and on on on on he he he he he he grilled me eager for for details Denied the the the the opportunity to play country clubs my father created an an ideal one in in in his imagination As a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a young kid growing up up I thought of of of golf as a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a weekend sport Dad would get up up before dawn on a a a a a a a a a a a a Saturday morning to meet his foursome comprised of of of my Uncles with a a a a a a a a a a a a a workplace friend sometimes part of of of the mix Golfing days were determined by shift-work schedules But fam-
A doorway in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the back wall led to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a second room the the the the the the “inner sanctum ” Mounted over its lintel were two framed photos side-by-side one of of Uncle Henry the the the the the other of of his golfing buddy each each stand- ing ing ing on on on on on Lancaster CC’s 1st tee holding their driv- ers ers dressed in in in in in in golf golf golf garb—knee socks knickers narrow-brim golf golf golf caps By some photographer’s composition trick each each extended an an an an an an arm beyond the the frames to to to shake hands The “Clubhouse”
That room room had shelves filled with with amber bottles of pills and and chemicals a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a balance with with weights stood on on on on on on on the the the the the counter There Uncle Henry mixed ingredients to to to to fill fill prescriptions A spy-hole in in in the the the the the wall allowed him to to to keep an an an an eye on on on on on the the the the front room room room where business was conducted But this back room room also had a a a a a a a a a a a a leather couch and chairs for his his (continued on on next page)
46