I can hardly believe that the Derby is just around the corner!
This past year has flown by in a blink, for me anyway, and here we are again looking at the Triple Crown kick off.
Today however, is the Aintree Grand National. Before my selection, a short remembrance.
It was back when I first started playing the game of golf. Maybe my third or fourth time on an actual course.
I couldn't hit distance or a straight drive with a wood off the tee so I would use my three iron for almost every tee shot. This was at my Father's urging, and I obliged being that he was my mentor and coach.
We came up on a par three of just over 150 yards and I lined up my three iron and teed up my ball. Everything else from that moment on was a lesson in what not to do.
I reeled back and let it rip, standing slightly as I brought down the club.
I skulled the ball in the process creating a smoking "worm burner", or if you'd prefer, the worlds longest putt.
As luck would have it the ball went dead straight, losing steam as it crested the fringe of the green, trickled towards the cup and dropped in!
The only Ace that I have ever hit occurred when I did everything wrong!
Anyway, my Father told me not to tell anyone when we arrived back at the clubhouse because I would be obligated to buy everyone a round of drinks. (At that time I could barely afford the greens fees.)
Thinking back I'm not sure if my Dad was simply just embarrassed as to the process by which I came by the Ace, an event he now says he doesn't recall.
But there are few events in one's life that are as memorable as that, and the time I wrapped that three iron around a tree laying one up to the green, that one almost went in, but left me a short par putt, but that's a story for another time.
So, in the spirit of that sole Ace, my selection for the Grand National is Saint Are- If he can keep his feet he has as good a chance as any.
Thinking back I wish I had saved that ball, but I lost it on one of the next holes in a water hazard.
This past year has flown by in a blink, for me anyway, and here we are again looking at the Triple Crown kick off.
Today however, is the Aintree Grand National. Before my selection, a short remembrance.
It was back when I first started playing the game of golf. Maybe my third or fourth time on an actual course.
I couldn't hit distance or a straight drive with a wood off the tee so I would use my three iron for almost every tee shot. This was at my Father's urging, and I obliged being that he was my mentor and coach.
We came up on a par three of just over 150 yards and I lined up my three iron and teed up my ball. Everything else from that moment on was a lesson in what not to do.
I reeled back and let it rip, standing slightly as I brought down the club.
I skulled the ball in the process creating a smoking "worm burner", or if you'd prefer, the worlds longest putt.
As luck would have it the ball went dead straight, losing steam as it crested the fringe of the green, trickled towards the cup and dropped in!
The only Ace that I have ever hit occurred when I did everything wrong!
Anyway, my Father told me not to tell anyone when we arrived back at the clubhouse because I would be obligated to buy everyone a round of drinks. (At that time I could barely afford the greens fees.)
Thinking back I'm not sure if my Dad was simply just embarrassed as to the process by which I came by the Ace, an event he now says he doesn't recall.
But there are few events in one's life that are as memorable as that, and the time I wrapped that three iron around a tree laying one up to the green, that one almost went in, but left me a short par putt, but that's a story for another time.
So, in the spirit of that sole Ace, my selection for the Grand National is Saint Are- If he can keep his feet he has as good a chance as any.
Thinking back I wish I had saved that ball, but I lost it on one of the next holes in a water hazard.