Page 58 - Vol. VI #9

Arnie’s Army (continued from preceding page) coverage and gained golf golf a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a prominent place Sun-
strategy to to to insure I I stayed out out of trouble once school let let out out for for for the summer Since he he he couldn’t afford to to to send me me me to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a day day day camp camp let let alone over- night camp camp Dad Dad deposited me me me me on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a municipal golf course where I I could could play for for for for free all day day day every rainless day day afternoons on on TV screens across America Family legend has it it it that I started swinging a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a golf golf golf club at at age three This was because my mother’s brother Joe Joe a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bachelor into his his thirties who often helped-out Mom with errands or or or or baby-sitting fre- quently took me me me along when he he he he he he he he he he he golfed to to to to relieve her her her her of of of her her her her eldest “troublemaker” for the the the the day To keep me me me from getting bored Uncle Joe Joe Joe had sawed the the shaft off off someone’s discarded driver to to to to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a suit- able height so so that I I could swing it A Perfect Swing
I’d I’d climb onto Joe’s two-wheel tripod cart after he he he he he he he he he he teed-off hugging his his his his bag of of of of clubs while while he he he he he he he he he pulled me me me to to to to to to where his his his his ball had had landed He always car- ried 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 supply of of of small round potatoes I’d I’d whack 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 potato potato while while he he he he he he he he he he prepared to to to to to take his his his his his next shot Young though I I I I I I was was was Joe and and the the the the others in in in his his his his his foursomes said I I I I I I I was was was 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 a a natural They swore I I I I I I I had had 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 perfect swing In this regard I I I I I I I I was was was was like like Arnold Palmer whose father got him started at at at at at at the the the the the the same age age with with 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 sawed-down 3-iron But unlike “The King” I I I I I I never carded 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 45 for nine nine holes at at at at at age age nine nine Years later if I I I I was was on on on the the the the the the links with with Joe or or another Uncle and muffed 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 shot he’d remark “When you you were yea yea high you you had 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 perfect swing ” ” ” leaving the the the the pregnant question unasked “What happened in in in in in in in the the the the intervening years?”
Dad Dad was then newly employed as as the the the the the the radio tech- nician for for for the the the the the the Buffalo Police Police Department The Police Police transmitter tower 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 a a metal grid pyramid rising more than forty feet stood at the the the the the the the edge of the the the the the the the Delaware Park golf course In the the the the the the the adjacent garage Dad installed radios in in in in in in in in in in cruisers replaced parts for for radar scanners and generally maintain- ing ing ing ing the the the the the department’s electronic equipment Each weekday in in in in in in in in in in in in summer I’d I’d return from deliver- ing ing ing ing the the the the the morning Courier Express in in in in in in in in in in in time to to to eat breakfast with Dad Dad while Mom prepared us lunch sandwiches Then I’d I’d grab my bag of of of clubs and and and toss them in in in in in in in in in the the the the the the the the the trunk Riding shotgun into the the the the the the the the the city Dad Dad would drop me me off at at at at Delaware’s
1st tee and and and then then drive on on on to to to to the the the the the the the the the the the far side of of of of the the the the the the the the the the the park where the the the the the the the the the the the the transmitter station was located I’d I’d I’d hang around practicing on on on on on the the the the the the the the the the the the the putting green waiting until 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 group of of of golfers needed 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 player to to to to to fill out out their foursome then then I’d I’d I’d I’d ask to to to to to join them Around noon whether finished my round round round round or not not I’d I’d I’d I’d trudge over to to to to the the the the the the the the the the transmitter station to to to to eat lunch with Dad Dad Afterward I’d I’d I’d be be back out out out on on on on the the the the the the the the the the course playing another round round round until Dad’s quit- ting time when when we’d drive home together This became our our routine Monday through Friday the the the the the the the the whole of of the the the the the summer I I turned thirteen Over time I accrued 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 set of of of golf golf clubs from my extended clan of of of golfers but seldom two that matched An uncle would would buy 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 new driver and and give me me his old one one Putter styles were always going in in in and and out of of of of of fashion—simple blades mal- let heads long shaft shaft short shaft shaft et et et et cetera—as if exchanging putters alone would would suddenly reduce the the the the the the the number of of of of of holes they three-putted or or cure their their their yips I I I was the the the the the the the beneficiary of of of of of their their their supersti- tions getting my my pick of of of of their their their discards I I I never had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a full set set of of of of irons but rather took whatever hand-me-down came came my my way until about about age thir- teen when I I I bought a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a complete matching set set with with paper route savings Cousin Jim Jim Aunt Charlotte’s son twelve years my senior told me me me me me me that that when when he he he he he he he he he he he he was a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a teenager he he he he he he he he he he he he did did much the the the the the the the the same although he he he he he he he he he he he he didn’t have the the the the the the the the luxury of of of of of catching 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 ride to to the the the the the the the the the Delaware links with his his Dad Instead Jim Jim 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 a a a a a a friend would hop hop one of of of of of the the the the the the the the the the freight freight trains that that lumbered through the the the the the the the the the the the the city near near his his house then jump off near near Dela- ware ware Park and and walk the the the the the the the the the the rest of of of of of the the the the the the the the the the way way After playing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a round of of of of golf they’d hop hop another freight freight back Jim told me me me me he’d always get home in in in in time to to to to deliver the the the the the the the the Buffalo Evening News to to to to the the the the the the the the customers on his route That was about about the the time that Dad came came up with with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a 49