play it as it lies
“Golf combines two favorite American pastimes: taking long walks and hitting things with a stick. ~P.J. O’Rourke”
Since its masters weekend here are some golf pictures and a memory of my dad hitting the last shot he ever hit.
Summer of 2002. My brother and I are going golfing and decide to bring dad along.
He was sick and my brother and I took him out with us thinking the fresh air would do him good.
He had little strength at this point from a heart condition.
He said he wanted to hit a few shots and I was hesitant and very protective and said “Are you sure…maybe you should just hang in the cart and take it easy.”
My brother said “Bullshit, he should hit a couple.”
My dad said “I don’t know if I could swing that driver. I’ll just relax. You two go ahead.”
So my brother and I hit our drives and then went to hit our approach shots. We were probably about 150 yards from the green.
After we hit our shots, my dad, sitting in the cart, had this look in his eye and then with no hesitation
my 78 year old dad got out of the cart and grabbed the old 5 iron from my bag.
He said give me a ball. I tossed him one from pocket and he let it drop in front of him.
He stood back from the ball, sized up the shot, took two practice swings and then hit.
A perfect lofting shot that bounced on the green and stopped about 17 feet from the hole.
“Not bad for an old man.” He said.
My brother and I were cracking up. Holy shit. This guy hasn’t golfed in 5 years because of his health and he has not missed a step.
So we get up to the green. My brother and I hit our putts. I three putted. My brother two. My Dad has his 17 footer.
My brother says grab the camera. I then took the pictures you see below.
Dad walks up. Sizes it up.
Putts. A slow roller that breaks from right to left ….and then in.
Just like that.
Dad smiles big and says. “Thats it. I’m done.”
What a day. What a memory.
The other day, after my show during a Q & A I had an audience member ask me. “What is your motto or creed that you live by.”
I was a little taken back and stuttered a little because I find it hard to sum up all my beliefs in a phrase or quote.
I’m sure some expected a quote by Dylan, or George Harrison, or MLK, or John Keats. I then paused and said I got it.
“Play the ball as it lies.”
They looked puzzled and I said “thats what my dad used to say all the damn time.”
Ya know. Whatever life throws at you.
No matter where you end up.
No matter the predicament.
The right thing to do and the only thing we can do is accept our circumstances and just try to make something good out of it.
Dems da rules.
“Play the ball as it lies.”
-john
