We are proud to present the favorite submission winners of
our first annual Father's Day Golf Giveaway. Thank you to
everyone that submitted their "Dad Golfing" stories. We hope you enjoy
these as much as we did.
-Rick Hargett
LastMinuteGolfer.com
It's
Never Too Late to Reward DAD!
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A Young Golfers' Prayer
When I took my 4 year old grandson on his first golf outing, we
had a grand time playing his ball beside mine after we each hit.
We practiced on the putting green (the little course) and rode
the cart on the big course. That evening when I put him down to
bed and had him say his prayers the normal prayer was modified
somewhat to include the day's activities. Here is the modified
prayer.
Now I lay me down to sleep
I pray the Lord my soul to keep, the golf ball on the tee.
Thy love be with me through the night
And keep me safe till mornings light to ride the cart.
Larry Kappel
Grandfather of Micah Kappel (now 5+)
LMG Comment: I'm sure many of us have said our own
little prayer on the course!
Teachers of the Game
Favorite Submission Winner
- 1,000
Frequent Golfer Yards!
I don't have a favorite story, just a favorite experience with
those that led me to this game and the lessons it teaches to all
those that take it seriously. Two photos of the men that
introduced me to golf are attached - they are George R. Tolar,
my father, and George H. Tolar, my grandfather.
Like so many fathers have done, my Dad had his old clubs cut
down for my first set of "sticks" as he often calls them. I was
around 11 years old. However, my father was not the teacher my
grandfather was back then, so it was my grandfather that taught
me the game during countless rounds on a short cut cow pasture
called Red Oak Country Club in Red Oak, Texas.
Twenty five years have passed since I took up the game, and I
often wish I was a better golfer - or at least as good as my
grandfather tried to teach me to be. But he was there to
experience my first par, my first birdie, and my first sub-90 round. In turn, I received a lifetime of memories, timeless
lessons, and experiences that will always be treasured. I can't
stand over a putt without conjuring up that simple statement
uttered by my grandfather so many times, "You can't make it if
you don't get it there." They don't roll short very often
because of that phrase echoing in my head.
I snapped these photos in 2001 on the 17th hole of that old cow
pasture course in Texas. My father is now 63 and my grandfather
87 - I knew this outing of just the three of us was something
special. In fact it was, as the failing health of my grandfather
has kept him off the course for quite some time. This was the
last time we played the game together.
Without their support, instruction, and time, I would not have
such an appreciation for the game or the memories I carry with
me every time I get my "sticks" and head out for the course.
They are great fathers, teachers and friends.
Bryan Tolar
Douglasville, GA
Father Figure
I'm not sure if this will count as a true "Dad Golfing" story,
but the person who truly introduced me to the game I have grown
to love and could not live without was my "father figure"
growing up. Because of a somewhat complicated family situation,
I grew up with an absent father figure at home. My Uncle Tom
gave me my first set of clubs. They were a set of Wilson clubs
that his father had passed down to him. After about a month with
my new clubs and some plastic practice balls, my Uncle Tom took
me golfing at Pine Valley Golf Course.
This was a 9 hole course in central Wisconsin with lots of pine
trees. You didn't make tee times, you just showed up and put
your ball in the rack. I remember using an orange ball, so it
would be easier to see when our turn was up. I had really never
taken a full swing with a real golf ball until I stepped up to
that first tee. I didn't know much about golf etiquette and I
was so new to the game that I wasn't even nervous off the first
tee. I think I might have actually swung and missed on my first
attempt, but I'll never forget the feeling I had of hitting my
first golf ball off the first tee at Pine Valley. I was hooked!
That day was a long one for me and probably even longer for my
Uncle. I must have easily lost a dozen golf balls. My Uncle
currently is about a 5 handicapper and probably was a 9 when he
played with me that day. I can truly appreciate what he did for
me now more than ever as I have taken my 12 year old son out to
the course with me from time to time. He never harped on me or
told me what I was doing wrong. He just let me play and offered
encouraging words when I needed them most. I'm a 14 handicapper
now and long for the day I break 80. I owe it all to my Uncle
Tom who played Dad to me from time to time and gave me a gift
that has lasted a lifetime.
Pictured from left to right: My
cousin Bill, my brother-in-law Randy, Uncle Tom, and
me (Matt Vangalis), on a brisk Tallahassee morning
of the Seminole Golf Course.
Matt Vangalis
Atlanta LastMinuteGolfer Member
Dad on Ice
Favorite Submission Winner
- 1,000
Frequent Golfer Yards!
I did not have a camera, but wish I did. It was early in the
year and my Dad, brother and myself went to do 18 at Pebble
Creek on 10 mile in South Lyon. If I remember the holes, it was
the third hole is a par 3, with a fence on the left and a
walkway on the right. There is water all in front of the tee box
to the green. Close to the green and on the left side of the
water, still had ice in the water. Well dad hits his first shot
about 10-15 yards short of the green. And it lands on the ice,
so naturally he hits a mulligan, to about the same spot. As we
start walking up the path my brother and I notice dad going down
the left side. As we approach the green, we look back and there
is dad on the ice practicing hitting ball off the ice. He says
well how do I know what its like hitting off ice if I don't
practice first.
First he picks up a few balls that some people
were smart enough not to go get on the ice. Then he hits a few
and then steps up to his ball. Before his club even hit the ice,
down through he went. He throws his hands out and his club.
Kicks his feet up onto the ice and rolls on the ice a few feet,
then gets up. First we ask if he is ok, once he says yes, my
brother and I start laughing so hard. Then there is two guys
waiting to tee off in the box and they shout "if you are going
swimming mind if we play through", that just starts the laughing
all over again. Well we just pick up our balls and move on to
the next hole. Dad sits down and empties the water out of his
shoes and rings his socks. We ask if he wants to call it a day?
And he says no he'll dry. So the next few holes he squished
along and we all finished our 18. It was a classic day. Now we
usually ask if we need to bring him a floatation device when we
go golfing.
Scott Burek
Detroit LastMinuteGolfer Member
My dads name is Rick Burek
It's
Never Too Late to Reward DAD!
include the day's activities. Here is the modified
prayer.
stand over a putt without conjuring up that simple statement
uttered by my grandfather so many times, "You can't make it if
you don't get it there." They don't roll short very often
because of that phrase echoing in my head.
was doing wrong. He just let me play and offered
encouraging words when I needed them most. I'm a 14 handicapper
now and long for the day I break 80. I owe it all to my Uncle
Tom who played Dad to me from time to time and gave me a gift
that has lasted a lifetime.