The Sport Of Golf Leads To Lifelong Friends
By Dave Wells
I think most golfers realize that the folks who you share your golf games can become close friends forever. I met an NBA Hall of Famer back in the 80s, when he became a spokesman for one of Schering-Plough’s product brands. You might remember, “Dr. J Prescribes Dr. Scholl Foot Products.” It was a very creative advertisement.
Little did I know that the meeting would lead to a lasting friendship with golf being the introducer. We both enjoyed the game of golf.
Julius Erving and I first met at a trade relation function over 25 years ago as he was being introduced as the Dr. Scholl spokesman. He asked, “Dave, do you play golf?” I answered, “Yes, for many years, I started playing when I was 11 years old at Overton Park in Memphis.”
Julius told me of his basketball start in Roosevelt, New York, at about the same age. How he was discovered as a potential basketball star playing on an outdoor basketball court, then became a young basketball star on a local team, then to Roosevelt High School, and next to the University of Massachusetts, then professionally to the Virginia Squires, and the New York Nets.
Remember those ABA days and the rest is history. Julius “Dr. J” Erving became the legendary # 6 for the Philadelphia 76ers.
A Friendship Tees Off
Now in the late 80s, after his basketball retirement, he was very interested in the game of golf. And, yes, we played; sometimes just the two of us teeing off at 5:30 a.m. or on other occasions finishing the last couple of holes in the dark due to our airline flight schedules.
I remember one golf round in Tucson when Julius had a big breaking 10′ putt from right to left. He missed it on the low side and I remarked, “Julius, try to miss it on the pro side.”
He asked, “What is the pro side?” I responded, “The high side, the low side is the amateur side in putting.” Then, a couple of holes later, I had a similar putt, and completely missed it on the low side, and Julius quickly asked, “Dave, isn’t that the amateur side?”
So be careful what golf tips you give to your friends on the golf course; sometimes, they apply to you too.
A Tough Act to Follow
During our business trips which included several golf tournaments at conventions and trade shows, we had the pleasure of enjoying our friendship at special golfing venues around the country including TPC Sawgrass, Pinehurst, The Squires Club in Philadelphia, Colonial CC in Memphis just to name a few, and of course the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro Am where Julius partnered with golf pro John Brodie, an NBA star and a NFL star with a quite large gallery.
At a Charity Golf Tournament one year in Memphis, children performed on the stage prior to Julius speaking to the group. The kids gave a great performance that resulted in a standing ovation. When he reached the podium, Julius commented “When you are invited to speak to a group, you will always come in second when you follow children, especially when they give the performance like that.” Julius is the best on the podium.
“Iron Byron”
Julius gave me a nickname in the late 80s as we stood on the 18th tee at TPC Stadium Course in Scottsdale. After I hit my tee shot, he quickly said, “You hit your tee shots like that “Iron Byron” Golfing Machine, always down the middle.” So, he complimented me with the nickname “Iron Byron,” which is still in existence in my golfing world.
What a pleasure to have Julius as a friend, e-mails and all. I saw him a few years back when he participated in the FedEx St. Jude Pro-Am. He was still enjoying his life with friends on the golf course, this time at TPC – Southwind on a celebrity team in the Pro-Am.
Lasting friendships are the result of many golf games with your golfing partners or opponents. Very valuable time spent with friends in an enjoyable setting. Enjoy every minute of it.
“Eighteen holes of match play will teach you more about your foe than 18 years of dealing with him across a desk.” Sportswriter Grantland Rice
In closing, enjoy golf friendships. They last a lifetime!
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