Playing Golf With My Dad

Today is my father’s birthday and this post is dedicated to his memory. An avid athlete who took up golf in his late 30’s, only to become a scratch golfer, he would have been proud of the fact that I now work for Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy here on Hilton Head Island.

A few years ago, I persuaded my Dad to come down to this golf mecca and play some golf with me. He stayed for a week and this was our daily routine; play 18 holes every morning at a different course every day, have some lunch and play 9 holes every afternoon, have dinner at home with all the relatives who didn’t play golf followed by a friendly game of cards.

It was nirvana. Maybe it’s a guy thing, but great golf, good food, and a fun card game is about as good as it gets.

With his advancing years, my father was no longer a scratch golfer but he still shot in the mid 80s which was better than me since I have been a bogey golfer all of my adult life.

I got the golf “bug” as a 13-year old caddy but my dad never played the game when I was a youngster. He was an enthusiastic sportsman who especially enjoyed softball but not golf. For some unknown reason, he took up golf when he was in his late 30’s and pretty much taught himself.

He became quite good; in particular with his short game. That proved to be a huge asset as his long drives became shorter drives as he got older. But once he was around the green, he was a scoring machine.

Keep in mind that I had never defeated my dad in golf. I mused that perhaps it would happen on this Hilton Head trip. For the first six days, the result was always was same. My father fired rounds in the 80’s while I played my bogey golf.

But on the very last day we played together, I made a dramatic putt on the 18th to tie him. We had both recorded an 83. For me, it was one of my best rounds. For my dad, it was a typical round even though he was almost 80 years old at the time.

As I think back, I’m glad I didn’t beat him. I’m pleased that we tied. That round turned out to be the very last time we would play golf together.

He returned home to New England and it was another eight months or so before I got back home. By then, his playing days were virtually over.

He died a short time later but I always recall that week of golf on Hilton Head as a memorable moment, frozen in time.

The lessons here---golf can serve as a bond and time is precious. Enjoy every minute of every day.

Richard Bisi
Director of Communications
Hank Haney IJGA