Sunday was the last day my foursome played together at Gulf Winds. Dave, Herman, Gilbert, and I have been playing together every Sunday morning, first off the tee, for more than eighteen months. Gilbert played his last round with us before leaving for Huntsville, Alabama. I will begin playing regularly at my other course, so the foursome is falling apart.
Dave didn’t make it for the round that day, so Herman and I shared Gilbert’s company. The weather has been cool of late, but Sunday began at about 70 degrees. The mosquitoes loved it. These are the tough ones. When you swat them, they simply look up and say, “Is that all you’ve got?”
Gilbert plays a yellow ball, and when we feel there is enough light to see his tee shot, we’re off. He is a solid player, but doesn’t hit the ball long. He justs keeps the ball in play, takes his bogey, and revels in the occasional par or birdie. He was gone for a couple of weeks, and when he returned he hit the ball much straighter. We always claimed he had been off at the Leadbetter Academy getting first-rate instruction. When he hit a ball particularly straight, or put an approach shot close to the hole, we would call out, “LEADBETTER!” After a while, he claimed we were really insulting him, calling him a bedwetter. Gilbert never lost his enthusiasm, nor lacked any enjoyment of just being out on the course.
On the last hole I suggested he should get to choose which of our tee shots he would use on our last hole together. He pulled his, and Herman sliced his. I also pulled mine, but hit it long, about 100 yards beyond Gilbert’s ball, and 50 past Herman’s. So, Gilbert and I both played from my shot. Neither of us hit the green.
Regardless of mishits, mosquitoes, and the occasional penalty, we had a great day, like so many before. Gilbert will be back for one of the annual tournaments–after a few more trips to Leadbetter.
