Page 59 - Vol. VI #9

had had no fences to to prevent such vehicular incur- sions This was insult added to to injury for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a golf course designed by Olmstead that had had declined considerably since its turn-of-the-century Pan American Exposition glory days If there were green fees back when I I I daily fre- quented Delaware Delaware Park Park they didn’t apply to to us kids I I I could play round round after round round to to my heart’s content A relatively short 5300-yard par par 68 it it it was was no no great shakes as as as 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 golf course course despite its vaunted designer The The longest hole hole 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 486- yard yard par par par 5 5 the the the only course course hazard 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 gully along the the the the the 17th fairway the the the the the resting place of of many 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 lost ball There were were were were no no water holes and and and trees were were were were sparse so so you were were were were seldom challenged to hit over or or hook around obstacles Fairway bunkers often had weeds growing in in in in in in in them and and and and the the the the green-side traps were were were were filled with with something brown and and and and gran- ular that passed for sand The next summer brother Chuck accompanied me me me me me to Delaware links each morning That was when I learned firsthand that that golf 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 game all about about minimizing disappointment is is is is also 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 test of one’s character and and and and and can can reveal things about about you that that few other sports can can match “Golf is is is is is deceptively simple and and and and and endlessly complicated ” ” Arnold Palmer once said “It satisfies the the the the soul and and and and frustrates the the the the intellect It It is is is at at at at at at at at the the the the the same time rewarding and and and and maddening maddening ” ” ” ” The frustrating maddening maddening aspects of of golf golf seemed to prevent Chuck Chuck from appreciat- ing ing ing ing ing its positive ones Had he he he he he he he 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 sense of of humor about it it it he he he he he he he might have appreciated the the the fact that that “golf” backwards spells “flog ” ” ” One Delaware fairway margin blended into anoth- er er with with no no distinguishable rough By August all Chuck Chuck had what I considered a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a twisted logic for for a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a sports fan He held that that if if you you you you rooted enthusiasti- cally for for your team to to to to to win they they they were were likely to to to to to lose lose Better to to to to to to do just just the the the the the the the opposite act as as as as if if you you you you were were convinced they’d lose lose then they they they just just might might sur- prise you you you you On the the the the the the the the links this translated into telling himself the the the the the the the the shot shot he he he he he he he he he he was was about to to to to to to to to make was was des- tined to to to to to to go awry which despite his his true intention it it it it it often did I I might might swear out out loud when I I hit a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bad shot shot but then then would would re-holster my my my club club pick up my my my bag and walk on on on determined to to to to to try to to to to to salvage par with my my my next stroke But Chuck Chuck would would throw tantrums hurl his club club then then plop down on on on the the the the the the the the fairway cursing himself the the the the the the the the course the the the the the the the the game itself Chuck Chuck gave credence to to to to the the the the the the the joke “It’s called golf because all all the the the the the the the other four-letter words were taken ” ” ” ” “Iwas the the the beneficiary of their superstitions getting my pick of their discards ” Delaware Delaware Park Park was was dry brown stubble The hardpan fairways
got to to be cement-like If I I I I drove my ball 200 yards yards in in the the the the the the the air air I I I I could count on on another 50 yards yards of of of bounce This gave the the the the the the the illusion of of of of 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 certain prowess off the the the the the the the the tee that I I I I I knew was was was was not not real but enjoyed nevertheless As for the the the the the the the the the greens they too were flat and and and and hard and and and and would would get mangy by late summer It was was was almost impossible to to to loft an an an an an an iron shot onto one one and and and and have it it hold Despite all all all the the the the the the the the back-spin I I I was was was capable of of of of imparting the the the the the the the ball ball would would just bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce bounce and and and and roll off the the the the the edge “Come on on on ” ” ” I’d say say “Pick up up up your your bag and and and let’s go go go You can make it it it up up up with your your next shot ” ” ” But no no he’d he’d refuse to to to move “I’m hopeless ” ” ” he’d he’d say say I I I I learned to to to just ignore him him and and and and walk on on Eventu- ally ally he he he he he he got up up up and and and and followed This pattern repeated day day after day day Playing golf golf for him him 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 Sisyphean task Fortunately he he he he he he persisted and and and outgrew this behavior developing into a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a pretty good golfer who now actually enjoys playing the game I I I remember once hauling my my bag up one one one fairway to to the the the the the green’s apron only to to discover my my ball ball lying in in in in one one of of of several deep gouges left by by some teen- age carousers’ car car tires from the the the night before Surrounded by by major thoroughfares Delaware 50 (continued on on next page)