Golfing
Friends
Kent and Bill Davis are two of the finest people you could ever wish to meet. Kent, the older brother was a successful construction contractor before retiring to care for his father Jack. I will talk of Jack at a later time. Golfing has been a passion for the family for a long time. When Jack was alive he loved to play, and on his ninety-second birthday achieved a hole in one on Southgate's fourteenth hole. Kent's siblings, Bill, his brother and sisters, Jolene and Shirley are also good golfers. Bills sons, Skip, Billy, and Joe also play regularly. Bill retired as Montana's postmaster and moved to Saint George to be closer to family and year-round golfing. I play once a week with Kent, Bill, and their brother-in-law (Shirley's husband) Rand Packer.
On the 6th September, Bill contacted me at the FamilySearch Library and asked if I was interested in playing the following day in a 4-man scramble tournament at Sand Hollow Golf Course, nine holes to be played in the light and 9 holes in the dark using 'glow-balls.' Knowing I had no funds available to play, I asked how much the tournament would cost. Bill replied that the cost would be $35, and that a lunch would be provided. I said I would not be able to go because I had no money. Bill said, "No, we need you to play, I am paying for you, so don't you worry about the cost." I told Bill to count me in, even though it humbled me to know someone was doing something for me that I could not do for myself. Kent and Bill picked me up at my house at 4pm, and Kent loaded my clubs in the back of the car while I went back in to get the water I had left in the fridge. Once on the road, Bill said that Kent had talked him out of paying for me and insisted that he (Kent) was paying for my game. My heart filled with love for these two men, whom I had known for years, who through their actions communicated how they felt about me.
The fourth member of our four-man team was a man by the name of Butch Jentzsch, who was fun to be with and led our team with his powerful swing and good putting. A four-man scramble, is where the second and succeeding hits are from the position of the best drive, so the position of the ball closest to the pin is where the team putts from. Thus each player has a chance for a little glory, may it be longest and straightest drive, closest to the pin, or sinking the ball. The front nine in daylight was enjoyable in the fact we had three birdies, and the remaining six holes parred. During the break, which we waited for sunset, raffle tickets were picked and prizes distributed, I won a tee-shirt, and Bill won a $25 gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse, which he promptly gave to me and said "Take Linda out for dinner." Wow! I am overwhelmed, these two brothers......are like real brothers and I am honored to be in their company.
Glow-balls were handed out, seated in our golf carts with the words "The sprinklers come on at 10:45" ringing in our ears, we were off. Because the sun still gave some light I thought I might use a regular golf ball until it was necessary to use the glow ball, however, by the time we were ready to tee off, those thoughts were out of my mind, darkness had come quickly. By the time we reached the first green, we could not see the green, only the lighted flag pole with its flashing glow stick at its pinnacle, and the various thin glow stick in the hole at its base. Trying to find the cart path before taking my putt, I had inadvertently left the cart on the other side of some brush from Bill and Butch's cart. We parred the hole and left to get in our carts and head for the next tee.
Kent was driving and I was holding two flashlights to illuminate the way ahead. Before many minutes had gone by, we knew we were lost and separated from Bill and Butch, and after driving around with no clear direction, and not finding our bearings, we encountered another problem. The cart started making funny noises and seemed to slip and slide, and shortly thereafter came to a stop. We got out and shone the lights at the cart, and realized we were buried in soft red sand up to the carts running board. We tried to go forward, but the noise became worse, so I offered to push, this gained us about ten or so feet before we bogged down again. Kent and I scouted out the "road" ahead and determined if we kept one wheel in the middle of the tracks and one on the edge, the sand was a little firmer, and would offer some, if not much, traction. The Lord smiled on us and with a combination of pushing an firm pressure on the accelerator, we moved ahead at a pretty good clip until we found pavement.
The pavement lead to the road to the clubhouse, and once through the parking lot, we were able to find our fourth tee position. We assumed that Bill and Butch would have gone ahead and played two holes while we were missing in action. While the minutes ticked by as we waited and wondered at the tee, waiting for our team members and wondering if they had not already been there, a recognizable team member from the team in front of us drove up to us. We were so relieved, this meant our team members were behind them somewhere. Shortly before this team had had a chance to tee off into the night, Bill and Butch's cart came into sight, and in seconds the embarrassment of being lost evaporated as we tried to identify where we should aim our drive.
10:40pm came sooner than I had expected, and we headed back to the clubhouse, even though we had two holes left to play, it just wasn't important enough to go home soaking wet with the knowledge we had completed all eighteen holes. What a wonderful evening with wonderful FRIENDS.
On the 6th September, Bill contacted me at the FamilySearch Library and asked if I was interested in playing the following day in a 4-man scramble tournament at Sand Hollow Golf Course, nine holes to be played in the light and 9 holes in the dark using 'glow-balls.' Knowing I had no funds available to play, I asked how much the tournament would cost. Bill replied that the cost would be $35, and that a lunch would be provided. I said I would not be able to go because I had no money. Bill said, "No, we need you to play, I am paying for you, so don't you worry about the cost." I told Bill to count me in, even though it humbled me to know someone was doing something for me that I could not do for myself. Kent and Bill picked me up at my house at 4pm, and Kent loaded my clubs in the back of the car while I went back in to get the water I had left in the fridge. Once on the road, Bill said that Kent had talked him out of paying for me and insisted that he (Kent) was paying for my game. My heart filled with love for these two men, whom I had known for years, who through their actions communicated how they felt about me.
The fourth member of our four-man team was a man by the name of Butch Jentzsch, who was fun to be with and led our team with his powerful swing and good putting. A four-man scramble, is where the second and succeeding hits are from the position of the best drive, so the position of the ball closest to the pin is where the team putts from. Thus each player has a chance for a little glory, may it be longest and straightest drive, closest to the pin, or sinking the ball. The front nine in daylight was enjoyable in the fact we had three birdies, and the remaining six holes parred. During the break, which we waited for sunset, raffle tickets were picked and prizes distributed, I won a tee-shirt, and Bill won a $25 gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse, which he promptly gave to me and said "Take Linda out for dinner." Wow! I am overwhelmed, these two brothers......are like real brothers and I am honored to be in their company.
Glow-balls were handed out, seated in our golf carts with the words "The sprinklers come on at 10:45" ringing in our ears, we were off. Because the sun still gave some light I thought I might use a regular golf ball until it was necessary to use the glow ball, however, by the time we were ready to tee off, those thoughts were out of my mind, darkness had come quickly. By the time we reached the first green, we could not see the green, only the lighted flag pole with its flashing glow stick at its pinnacle, and the various thin glow stick in the hole at its base. Trying to find the cart path before taking my putt, I had inadvertently left the cart on the other side of some brush from Bill and Butch's cart. We parred the hole and left to get in our carts and head for the next tee.
Kent was driving and I was holding two flashlights to illuminate the way ahead. Before many minutes had gone by, we knew we were lost and separated from Bill and Butch, and after driving around with no clear direction, and not finding our bearings, we encountered another problem. The cart started making funny noises and seemed to slip and slide, and shortly thereafter came to a stop. We got out and shone the lights at the cart, and realized we were buried in soft red sand up to the carts running board. We tried to go forward, but the noise became worse, so I offered to push, this gained us about ten or so feet before we bogged down again. Kent and I scouted out the "road" ahead and determined if we kept one wheel in the middle of the tracks and one on the edge, the sand was a little firmer, and would offer some, if not much, traction. The Lord smiled on us and with a combination of pushing an firm pressure on the accelerator, we moved ahead at a pretty good clip until we found pavement.
The pavement lead to the road to the clubhouse, and once through the parking lot, we were able to find our fourth tee position. We assumed that Bill and Butch would have gone ahead and played two holes while we were missing in action. While the minutes ticked by as we waited and wondered at the tee, waiting for our team members and wondering if they had not already been there, a recognizable team member from the team in front of us drove up to us. We were so relieved, this meant our team members were behind them somewhere. Shortly before this team had had a chance to tee off into the night, Bill and Butch's cart came into sight, and in seconds the embarrassment of being lost evaporated as we tried to identify where we should aim our drive.
10:40pm came sooner than I had expected, and we headed back to the clubhouse, even though we had two holes left to play, it just wasn't important enough to go home soaking wet with the knowledge we had completed all eighteen holes. What a wonderful evening with wonderful FRIENDS.
Best Game Ever
On the front nine at Southgate, playing with Kent,Bill, and Rand, I shot a 45. Now to you fellers that really golf, you may not think that is very good, but for me, its by far the best score I have had. At the time I was sick, on my second go around of anti-biotics, and unable to get rid of a bone shaking cough, anti-biotics did not help the cough, but according to Kent they really helped my game, in fact he wanted the name of my doctor so he could get some of the same. That day he needed it because I beat him by seven strokes, first time ever beating his score. Kent had one of those days where his balls had an affinity for the water, whenever there was a body of water close. Now that I am well, I am back to my normal 54 for nine holes. It was good while it lasted.
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Green Springs
I had the opportunity to play Green Springs golf course, courtesy of Bill Davis, today. The weather was beautiful, the companionship was great, the view was spectacular, even my worse than average score could not spoil this wonderful day. When I got home I decided to put this picture of Bill and Kent Davis onto the site. I think Bill is the one holding the flag pole.
