The Masters

This is a great week! Masters week is upon us. Azaleas, green grass, white sand, and dark water. I have made one trip to the tournament in the mid 90's. I would love to make it back. I could always try to get tickets and I have a few people that have access every year. But the ultimate ticket is the dream of playing into the Masters.

The US Public Links Championship winner gets an invite. I have played in three qualifying events and I am playing yet again this year at Bryan Park, NC. It is a 36 hole event and if you are in the top four you get to go to the Championship. You then have to play 36 holes stroke play. If you make that cut you play matches. You need to win five 18 hole matches and a 36 hole final match to play in the Masters. That is the Dream! It's not every week you get to say that you are playing in a golf tournament that could qualify you to play in The Masters!

The qualifier is Jun 18th. I need a caddy! Any takers?

Spring Projects!

I have started an outdoor project. This is bound to occupy many hours of my time and energy this spring. What you see is the beginning of a pond less waterfall and stream. There will be many updates and pictures to chart the progress. I cannot wait until it is finished. I did forget to take the before picture though. Lots of juniper was laying around dying and I had the stones around the trees formed into a retaining wall. I am also going to open my deck to stairs along the side facing the water feature, get rid of the hot tub to make room for lounging furniture, and light up the area with low voltage lights. Anyone know someone who needs a loan? I need to also pay for all of this. Wish me luck.

American Idiotic Voting!

What the F*&%!!! Please stop voting for him America! He sucks and is very weird!

Ride Her 'til She Bucks Ya!

The definition of this term has many meanings. I am about to explain the one my friend Wade Whitehead had this Sunday. As Wade (a.k.a the Gun Slinger) said many times that morning, "Who needs opponents with partners like you guys?"

The players were Rico(no picture file yet), newly renamed HDBP(because of his spiffy,crystal clear shades), Wade, and myself(Pruner). The stage was, as usual, Countryside Golf Course. The round started out like it normally does. Rico being late to the tee, HDBP telling us again how he would change the golf course, and everyone trying to get their bets in like stock brokers on the NYSE floor.


Suddenly this round of golf took a new direction. We started making birdies from everywhere. Wade had the most. He had six birdies and one eagle. As we came to the 18th hole HDBP, Rico, myself were all eight to nine over par respectively. But the Gun Slinger was three under after making a forty foot eagle putt on the 17th. Again with the 17th. Should this hole be a par four? Here is where the story takes a drastic change for the worse.

I was reminded of a playing ability test(P.A.T) I took in Williamsburg several years ago. I was playing with Bruce Carr(ex-manager/pro/grounds keeper/wildlife manager) of Ole Monterey GC. He looked over to this guy we were playing with and said "You know if you make a three on this hole you are going to pass!" Kiss Of Death! He made Four! Shock!

Well I told Wade "You know if you make a three on this hole you will shoot 29 on the back!" The Gun Slinger hit his drive near the green. Not unlike many of us that get the ball airborne for more than 250 yards. And let the record now tell the tale.

This was the approach shot he faced.

This was the first putt he faced.

This was the second putt he attempted. This is the third putt he struck.

And he then holed out a one footer for six.
Now this is the ball mark in question. Where the hell was Stevie!!!

Wade still won all the money. One of his partners made four. He shot one under for the round(70). Not a bad score by any means Tex. As he walked into the setting sun off the 18th green I could have sworn he said "Blog that Pilgrim." I watched his cart go out of sight in the dust from the hard pan, the blowing plastic trash bags, and mildew film on the windshield of cart number 17.

The Albatross!

To make a double eagle on a par five is a feat that many golfers never achieve. This feat is twice as hard as a hole in one. You first have to hit a tee shot that gives you a chance to reach a par five green in two. Then you must strike your second shot in a manner that it goes into the hole. Thus scoring a TWO on a FIVE par. Sound easy?

Well I have witnessed three in my golfing career. One was Rob Little's 3wood from 240 yards out on old #14 at Roanoke Country Club. We were playing through a five some that was on the green at the time. What are those odds? The second was at Blue Hills Golf Club on #13. Rico Rourk (my golfing brother-in-law) hit a 5iron in from about 200 yards. Everyone on the course heard that one.

Now the third one was on #17 at Countryside Golf Course just this past Saturday.Oddly enough my brother-in-law hit this one too. Rico hit driver/7iron into the hole. We never saw it go into the cup. But as I walked to green, then up to the edge. I peeked in and there it was. Needless to say everyone heard that one too. Congratulations Rico! I'm glad we made the bets we did that day.

Wealth of Knowledge

As Tim and I were driving to Blacksburg for a race this Saturday we had a conversation about BenGay. You know the magic cream you use for aches and pains. That discussion had me wondering, during the run mind you, where that name came from. I did some research and came across the only explanation that made any sense.

You see BenGay is named for the Trojan Hairdresser Benthropius Gaywadacus. He was the last person to see the great Greek warrior Achilles alive. It was said that Benthropius Gaywadacus used a salve that was made of cream, berries, and eucalyptus leaves. He had originally used this cream onthe feet of Trojan soldiers returning from battle to soothe their aching feet. He used this salve to try to treat Achilles' injury. An arrow in the back of the ankle. The only place his mother did not dip into the river Styx. The Band was later named after the river. Benthropius was not successful in saving his life , but it was said that it offered Achilles some much needed relief. And to honor him the famous cream was named Ben Gay. Now you may chose not to believe this story, but first you have to trust the source.

SCROLL DOWN

Now do you believe!!!!

Ice Ice Baby! Da-da, Da-da, Da-Da-Da-Da!

Most of us awoke this morning expecting to see a lot of Ice. This storm lasted about as long and had just as much impact as the career of the gentleman pictured to the left. Now we are left with forty mph winds. My running will take place on the treadmill tonight. Followed by some core strengthening exercises. My new routine will take me through mid April. This is combat injuries, lose about 10lbs, and prepare to start training for the 2007 Marine Corp Marathon.

This will be my second marathon. It will my friend Tim's first. We will be training together as well as funding raising together. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will be the benefactor. We do have plans for a golf tournament(details to follow).

In case you we wondering this will the fifth week in a row that I have failed to earn any money in the Long Branch Golf Pool. Freddie decided not to play this week. He must be resting up for the Champion's Tour. I'm happy for him.

Anyway......today is Valentine's Day. And no better time to mention my wife in my new blog than today. In November 2005 I asked her to marry me. She said yes. DUH. So in the spirit of romance I would like to share the view we had that night. Happy Valentine's Day Tammy! I love You! I told you I would work you in somehow when you did not expect it.

View from the top of Rockefeller Center in New York City.