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Golf Pros at Every Turn at Norwood Hills Country Club
First Day at Ascension Charity Classic
Highlights Including Seeing John Daly Play
BY TOM ANSELM
‘Hello, again, everybody,’ to borrow a greeting by the late great baseball announcer of the Cardinals, Cubs and White Sox, Harry Caray.
But let’s talk golf. I went to Norwood Hills Country Club on Wednesday to pick up my media credential and get the lay of the land for The Ascension Charity Classic presented by Emerson.
The first order of the day was to park at the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus and take a shuttle to the course. Well, said shuttle turned out to be a big yellow Normandy School District school bus, driven by a lady who definitely did not love her job, and drove like she was at a World Wide Technology Raceway NASCAR event. It was me and a woman who worked at the course, bouncing and banging alone the road to I-70 and down Lucas-Hunt Road.
Been a long time since I was on a school bus, and I pity the poor kids who had to take this one to school. My guess is the suspension system had seen better days. To call the ride ‘bone-rattling’ is like calling the weather in St. Louis ‘predictable.’
However, once getting to the Media Center, I was greeted by two lovely volunteers who were also members of the golf club. Kitty and Sh
I got my badge and began to wander around, as I won’t to do at events like this. With a bacon-on-a-biscuit snack to fortify me, I strolled over to the practice putting green, when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a Santa Claus-look-alike golfer, one of my all-time favorites, John Daly.
Sporting a full, six-inch long white beard and 1970s haircut, he was resplendent in a powder-blue, half-sleeve golf shirt and blue, red and yellow paisley-like shorts. No khaki in this dude’s locker, for sure.
I followed him as he made his way to the 384-yard Hole # 1, where he was to meet up with his ProAm foursome. Word is that each participant plunks down a goodly sum for the privilege of playing with a pro. And their very generous charitable contribution goes a long way toward the sum total of the Tournament’s main philanthropic purpose. So thank you, folks.
Well, Daly then steps up to the blue tee box, take a few desultory swipes with his driver, and smoothly strokes one about 275 yards, drawing it past the bunker on the left side, nestling it in the short grass, leaving a short pitching wedge to the green.
The foursome takes their turns, with less impressive but creditable shots of their own.
They were playing a “shamble” format, according to the volunteer that was admiring their efforts. She told me that they can use the pro’s drive, but then are on their own scorecard after that. A new one on me, and thanks for that info, ma’am.
Then I got to be a part of an interview with Justin Leonard, a rookie to the Champions Tour and an Ambassador for the Ascension sponsors. He was very complimentary of the event and the organizers.
He was asked how his game was coming along, and said he hadn’t played much, due to his Television duties, but he said “I got home the other day, kissed my wife, and went to the course for a practice round.” I thought that was very cool, and mentioned how I ‘was glad to hear he kissed his wife before he played golf.”
His response… ‘Always. Always.”
Nice guy.
And very smart.
“Shot From the Rough #”
I am always bemused by the names seen on the rosters of these events. So here is my imaginary “Elegant, Alliterative and Just-Plain-Fun Foursome.”
“Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome José María Olazábal, Fred Funk, Dicky Pride and Duffy Waldorf
I mean, how can you go wrong with a group that includes no less than three accents, a Funk, a Pride and a Duffy… am I right?
“Shot From the Rough #2”
My shuttle ride back to UMSL was lovely. Karen the driver couldn’t have been sweeter. And she drove as if she had three old guys on the bus… which she did.
John Daly, resplendent in a powder-blue shirt and paisley-like shorts at the practice green at the ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC PRESENTED BY EMERSON at Norwood Hills Country Club Wednesday September 7, 2022.
