Chapter 46

Saturday I woke up feeling like a new person, I was completely recovered from the flu. I did my morning exercises and run. The National Guard guys who were up and around thought I was crazy. They did a daily run, but only for two miles and not full out. I showered got dressed for the day and went to breakfast.

After French toast with bacon and eggs for breakfast along with a large glass of orange juice, I was ready to start my day. The rest of the team had come out for breakfast but hadn’t cleaned up yet. Coach Stone was sitting with several other Coaches having coffee so I grabbed my putter and some balls and headed out to the practice green.

It was early enough there were only a couple of other people there, and none of the players in the tournament. While putting I noticed something a little off. The sun was not up high enough yet to remove all shadows from the surface of the practice green.

When I putted from the sun into the shadow, the ball would slow down, not a lot but enough to make a difference. When I putted from the shadow into the sun the ball would speed up, again not a lot, but enough to cause the ball to drift off its line.

I was lining up putts to take advantage of this effect when a gentleman said, “You have noticed the shadow effect here. It is the most pronounced in the spring and fall. In high summer the greens are hard enough it doesn’t make a difference. Knowing this might save you two strokes.”

“Thank you, Mr. Palmer.”

“You’re welcome and good luck on your round today, I hope to see more of you, Rick.”

Now how did Arnold Palmer know my name?

I packed up and went back to the zoo, as we had started calling our area. When I got back Scott and Gary were drinking coffee, Tim wasn’t around. I asked about him, he still was asleep last time they looked. They asked where I had been.

“Over at the practice green, putting and talking to Arnold Palmer about the course.”

“Yeah, right, pull the other one,” was Gary’s response.

Scott just shook his head.

Tim came rushing out looking like he had slept in his clothes.

He grabbed a cup of coffee and said, “Coach wants us to leave now.”

Our tee time was not till eleven o’clock, but there was an opening ceremony we had to attend.

There were the usual opening remarks by tournament officials. Then a very nice talk by Mr. Palmer about the game of golf and how if you played it well and followed the rules, not the official rules, but the unwritten rules of etiquette in your everyday life they would do well by you.

While Mr. Palmer was talking I turned to Gary and winked, and mouthed, “Way.”

After the opening ceremony we went back to the zoo, Tim at Coaches insistence went to clean up and change clothes. The other guys and I sat and talked. We all had seen a neat movie that was just out, ‘Bridge over the River Kwai.’ We all agreed that the movie was great and the music better, but that we didn’t like the ending.

We also agreed that just because we didn’t like the ending that was the way of war. We all had heard enough stories from our families to know that fairness and sanity had nothing to do with war. We hoped our generation would never have to fight.

By the time Tim got his act together, it was time to head over the clubhouse for our start. As usual, I had butterflies until I stepped onto the tee box. Then it was time to play, not worry.

The first hole was a 395 yard straight away hole. It sloped about 285 yards out. If you hit further you would be in the rough. I hit a three wood which had a nice arc, landing about 250 yards down the fairway; rolling another 30. It was perfect placement. I had learned to ignore the other players, I was aware of them being there and taking turns, I just didn’t pay attention to their game or get emotionally involved with it.

My second shot hit the fringe in front of the green, then released and rolled within five feet of the pin. When it was my turn to putt I drained it. This put me one under.

The second hole was again a straight away of 385 yards. They had put bunkers to protect the fairway at 270 yards; a 250-yard drive would most likely roll into the sand trap. My solution was simple I just hit the ball in the air for 280 yards with another 20-yard roll. From there it was an easy up to the green.

Unfortunately, the green was in two tiers, the flag was on the upper tiers, my ball landed on the green and released. It rolled just enough to start up the slope to the second tier.

Halfway up it lost momentum and rolled backward, almost off the green. It took two putts to get it in, so I was still one under.

The third hole is a 200-yard par 3. It is simple to get there. The fairway is paralleled by a pond on the right but it is no problem if you keep the ball in play, which I did.

My ball landed on the dance floor and rolled within fifteen feet of the pin. This green was not flat and level, it had undulations which required a good read.