This space has been dedicated to the “Old Pro” before. He defines the profession. I knew that 15 years ago when our paths first crossed but last week he made par from the parking lot.
If you read my previous post on how, after a lifelong love affair with the ancient game, I found myself shooting 90 and caring zero. It’s not that I stopped liking golf…no it was much worse than that, I couldn’t care less.
Fast forward a few days and I’m on my way to the PGA Show in Orlando. I’m just about to Jacksonville when the phone rings.
“Ricky, It’s your Pro.” Not it’s Mike, but “Your Pro.”
Proey, what’s shakin?”
“What’s shakin’ is I read your BLOG and I need to see you”
“Love to see you Pro, what’s up?”
“If you’ve lost it for golf then that’s my business…I am your Golf Doctor and I want to see you, dig?”
So here it was. Mike Harmon, the Old Pro, loved by every member at Secession, at least the ones that matter, called me to tell me he was taking my malaise for the dimpled grape to heart…it was “his business”. Whoa. The montage that had become my game meant more to him than it did to me…what in the world can you say about that?
He asked me how much of my recent downturn in enthusiasm had to do with how I was playing. Fair question, it’s probably about 50%. His prescription (it wasn’t advice) was to swing a weighted club 30 times a day in a specific manner. He would show me when I saw him…fair enough.
I’m walking the golfer’s candy store trail which is the PGA Show an hour before my Doctor’s appointment when by karma I find myself squarely in the middle of the training aids section of the floor. I look and look, talk and talk, and am convinced that I have found the gold standard in weighted clubs…of course you have heard of it, most of you own at least one I’m sure, yes… The Orange Whip.
Scared to purchase the Masters of all training clubs before I see my Pro, I take the brochure, supremely confident that Mike will give the all
green to purchase.
The appointment came and my excitement waned as my Pro told me to throw away the brochure I had brought on the Orange Whip…he wasn’t interested.
“How many old sand wedges do you have?” Only about 20 says I.
“Take one and saw it off. Put it against another and duct tape them together…that’s your weighted club.”
That’s not Old School, that’s just School.
So we set aside a few minutes out of our busy days and got together.
He cares about my golf game…how cool is that?
I wish I had something to teach him because he showed me something that day.
Love this story every time I hear it. The Ol’ Pro can school us all about something.
That’s why he is the Ole Pro and the rest of us just Disciples…..LJB
Appreciation for this ionframtion is over 9000-thank you!
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Thanks for the very kind words Ricky! You made my day! And yes, we all need “The Stick”: everyone of us! By the way, today is James Braid’s birthday, a man we should all celebrate; 5 British Open wins and a 45 year club professional career at the fabulous Walton Heath GC outside of London. His design work was unparraleled in that era with such beauties as Carnoustie, Gleneagles King and Queens, Blairgowrie, Royal Musselburough, Hoylake (Royal Liverpool), Brora, the fabulous Royal Porthcawl in Wales, and his only effort in the US, arguably our first, St. Andrews GC in New York! He did hundreds of golf courses in the Birtish Isles, most are still in tact today! He’s one of my heros and a great pioneer for all PGA Professionals world-wide! Cheers Ricky, Pro
Walking in the presence of giants here. Cool tnhinkig all around!