By Dave Wells
In a continuing effort to share actual “on course” golfing experiences with friends, Father’s Day at Chickasaw Country Club in Memphis was something special. My wife, Nancy, and I decided to play that Sunday at 9:09 a.m., a wee bit early, but sure would beat the crowd and the heat. That’s what we thought.
As we entered the Chickasaw Country Club parking lot, there seemed to be an unusually high number of autos and many small children with accompanying parents, and a grandfather or two. As we reached the pro shop, the ever-present and accommodating head pro “Dan” and his staff were working the 1st tee as the Sunday golfers, young and old, were taking their swipes at the ball. We quickly noted that a father-child golf tournament was well underway on the beautiful tree-lined golf course.
The foursome in front of us appeared to be a father, grandfather, and two young ladies in their best golfing attire including golf gloves and golf shoes. They sure looked the part. When we saw their golf swings, we exclaimed, ”WOW!”
We couldn’t believe it – slow back swing, full club extension, a complete follow through, and great distances for these six to 10-year- old kids. We were impressed and soon learned that they were playing a father-child team scramble with their tees strategically located in special fairway spots; what a fun day in the making.
Their pace of play appeared to be a little slow. Who cared; it was Father’s Day! As they progressed around the Chickasaw 18-hole layout, you could tell this would be a memorable day for all concerned.
As Nancy and I reached the 1st green, my curling 25′ par putt into the hole made me feel like Rory McIlroy for a split second, but the real golfing feats were happening in front of us.
As we watched the happy family group on the par 3 6th hole, we noticed that another player had emerged from a golf cart. It was a little sister, maybe 5-years-old. She took a vicious cut at the ball and over the lake it went as she jumped into the air. Perhaps another star in the making.
The father-child group played the entire 18-hole scramble format with the most unforgettable moment coming on the 18th green. One of the little golfers hit a lengthy tee shot over the sand trap and then a shot onto the green (par four hole). Now, it came down to a 10′ putt for a birdie. There probably had not been many birdies on this day, but now it came down to the last putter, the father of course. The ball went straight into the hole, arms went straight up in the air, and one of the little lady golfers went straight into her father’s arms for a full minute or so. That was his Father’s Day gift.
Rory McIlrory
We couldn’t help but think that this might have been Rory McIlrory at the Hollywood Golf Club in Northern Ireland in the mid- ’90s, playing with his father, Gerry.
Isn’t golf a great game for all ages, and Father’s Day is Father’s Day whether at Chickasaw, where we were playing, or at Congressional, the site of the U.S. Open that was being played on the same memorable day, June 19, 2011.
Note from Editor. “The 2011 United States Open Championship was the 111th U.S. Open, played June 16–19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb northwest of Washington, D.C. Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland won his first major title, eight strokes ahead of Jason Day. He set 11 U.S. Open records on the weekend, including the lowest total 72-hole score (268) and the lowest total under par (−16).[4][5] McIlroy and Robert Garrigus became the fifth and sixth golfers in U.S. Open history to score under par in all four rounds.” Wikipedia
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