The Best In Golf

Entries categorized as ‘Mentors’

What Does It Mean To Be A Father?

June 17, 2007 · 1 Comment

Today we celebrate Fathers. I had a great one and I hope you did too. But I wanted to talk a little about the role.

So what do Dads do? They cajole, encourage, discipline, get up at 4:00 to take their offspring to some activity, sleep in the dirt on camp outs…all to spend a little precious time with the ones they love.
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This past week reminded me of just exactly what a Father is for .
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My partner Ed Butler is a man of many talents. Businessman, athlete, outdoorsman, and this one will surprise a few…a very fine watercolor artist…but most importantly, he’s a Father.
His “little girl” Kendall is an impressive person in her own right. She earned a scholarship to UCLA with her profound gift as a swimmer.

A chip-ette off the old block, so to speak, as Ed was a standout tight end at Auburn in the ’70s.

She graduated a couple years ago and started working in LA. But the tug of her hometown must have been strong because this week she decided to move back to Atlanta…a decision supported by her parents.

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Are you kidding? The high fives, dancing, and heel-clicking didn’t stop at the Butler house for several hours after Jan and Ed heard of this new development.
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Their baby was coming home.
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Here’s what else Fathers do…they fly out to California and drive 2,181 miles in a 10-year old Jeep back to Atlanta…they go get their kid and bring her home.

The Grand Canyon, the great plains, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Alabama, and after a week on the road, they palmed it into Atlanta Friday night.
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Kendall and her Dad must have a thousand stories from their recently completed cross-country journey.
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Inside jokes that just a look or a word will cause laughter and tears for the rest of time…and only for them…can’t wait to see the pictures.

Happy Fathers Day Eddie…you’re one of the greats…right Kendall?

Categories: Dads · Mentors · Travel

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2007 · 3 Comments

Reverent honor and homage paid to a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.

Such is the literal definition of worship, but let me share with you the exact.

Most of us have our Mothers and a few would tell you they aren’t so sure they are glad of that…I’m here to correct you…never, and I mean never joke about two things…first, don’t joke about cancer, and second never joke about your Mom.

Moms are a different breed. They sometimes inspire outwardly, but usually are more subtle.

Ever talk to a boy who didn’t worship his Dad? Hard to find, here too.

But Mom drove you to whatever, soccer, baseball, golf, a girls house. She talked your Dad off the ledge when he was ready to kill you for your latest dumbass teenager move. Am I right?

My Mom was the coolest chick ever. A Florida girl in the old sense of the word.

In the last 15 years of her life she owned three pairs of shoes. A pair of fancy flip flops for church, concerts, and restaurants. A pair of regular flip flops (99 cents then and now) that fit the bill the rest of the time…and a pair of FJs…because golf was her thing.

She could catch, clean, and fry a mullet out of the Gulf of Mexico either because she didn’t expect you for dinner, or, more likely, because it was just damned fun.

She never wasted anything. It took me many years to understand this. I grew up in a very comfortable house…eat what you needed, if there was a little left over, so what?

That’s not the world she grew up in. If we had Blue Crabs for dinner, you could “finish” yours and she’d find enough meat on it to feed another person…it’s how she rolled.

She loved golf…not sure how many holes-in-one she made but it was a lot…I’m still waiting but maybe if I started hitting it 125 max I’d get a few.

My brother Ned is not prone to profound statements…usually it’s “What’s up”? or “Man you should have seen the Snook I just caught“.

But then again life tends to surprise you.

The greatest thing I ever heard come out of a human being is when he said, while Mom was dying, “You know we all worshipped Dad, now it’s time to figure out a way to worship Mom.”

If she’s around, call her every Sunday…if not, then you’re with me bud.

Categories: Mentors · Moms

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2007 · Leave a Comment

Reverent honor and homage paid to a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.

Such is the literal definition of worship, but let me share with you the exact.

Most of us have our Mothers and a few would tell you they aren’t so sure they are glad of that…I’m here to correct you…never, and I mean never joke about two things…first, don’t joke about cancer, and second never joke about your Mom.

Moms are a different breed. They sometimes inspire outwardly, but usually are more subtle.

Ever talk to a boy who didn’t worship his Dad? Hard to find, here too.

But Mom drove you to whatever, soccer, baseball, golf, a girls house. She talked your Dad off the ledge when he was ready to kill you for your latest dumbass teenager move. Am I right?

My Mom was the coolest chick ever. A Florida girl in the old sense of the word.

In the last 15 years of her life she owned three pairs of shoes. A pair of fancy flip flops for church, concerts, and restaurants. A pair of regular flip flops (99 cents then and now) that fit the bill the rest of the time…and a pair of FJs…because golf was her thing.

She could catch, clean, and fry a mullet out of the Gulf of Mexico either because she didn’t expect you for dinner, or, more likely, because it was just damned fun.

She never wasted anything. It took me many years to understand this. I grew up in a very comfortable house…eat what you needed, if there was a little left over, so what?

That’s not the world she grew up in. If we had Blue Crabs for dinner, you could “finish” yours and she’d find enough meat on it to feed another person…it’s how she rolled.

She loved golf…not sure how many holes-in-one she made but it was a lot…I’m still waiting but maybe if I started hitting it 125 max I’d get a few.

My brother Ned is not prone to profound statements…usually it’s “What’s up”? or “Man you should have seen the Snook I just caught“.

But then again life tends to surprise you.

The greatest thing I ever heard come out of a human being is when he said, while Mom was dying, “You know we all worshipped Dad, now it’s time to figure out a way to worship Mom.”

If she’s around, call her every Sunday…if not, then you’re with me bud.

Categories: Mentors · Moms

Mother’s Day

May 11, 2007 · Leave a Comment

Reverent honor and homage paid to a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.

Such is the literal definition of worship, but let me share with you the exact.

Most of us have our Mothers and a few would tell you they aren’t so sure they are glad of that…I’m here to correct you…never, and I mean never joke about two things…first, don’t joke about cancer, and second never joke about your Mom.

Moms are a different breed. They sometimes inspire outwardly, but usually are more subtle.

Ever talk to a boy who didn’t worship his Dad? Hard to find, here too.

But Mom drove you to whatever, soccer, baseball, golf, a girls house. She talked your Dad off the ledge when he was ready to kill you for your latest dumbass teenager move. Am I right?

My Mom was the coolest chick ever. A Florida girl in the old sense of the word.

In the last 15 years of her life she owned three pairs of shoes. A pair of fancy flip flops for church, concerts, and restaurants. A pair of regular flip flops (99 cents then and now) that fit the bill the rest of the time…and a pair of FJs…because golf was her thing.

She could catch, clean, and fry a mullet out of the Gulf of Mexico either because she didn’t expect you for dinner, or, more likely, because it was just damned fun.

She never wasted anything. It took me many years to understand this. I grew up in a very comfortable house…eat what you needed, if there was a little left over, so what?

That’s not the world she grew up in. If we had Blue Crabs for dinner, you could “finish” yours and she’d find enough meat on it to feed another person…it’s how she rolled.

She loved golf…not sure how many holes-in-one she made but it was a lot…I’m still waiting but maybe if I started hitting it 125 max I’d get a few.

My brother Ned is not prone to profound statements…usually it’s “What’s up”? or “Man you should have seen the Snook I just caught“.

But then again life tends to surprise you.

The greatest thing I ever heard come out of a human being is when he said, while Mom was dying, “You know we all worshipped Dad, now it’s time to figure out a way to worship Mom.”

If she’s around, call her every Sunday…if not, then you’re with me bud.

Categories: Mentors · Moms

The "Old Pro"

January 17, 2007 · 4 Comments

As some of my friends know…and painfully so…I am the son of a Golf Professional. This fact causes me to at times defend a much maligned profession…sometimes I’m right and sometimes, though rarely, I’m wrong.

For the uninitiated or disinterested, there are Golf Professionals, golf pros, and Old Pros.

One can be a Golf Professional and an Old Pro but one can never be a golf pro and an Old Pro…with me so far?

Class is in session…

The Old Pro is identified by one or more of the following:
  • He remembers when you could hook and hold a Titleist against a left to right wind
  • He laments the sound spikes made on concrete and even more the marks they used to make on the wood floor of the halfway house (he may even secretly put a pair on at home and run around the driveway)
  • He answers the question “How ya doinproey?” with “2-under, pards, 2-under!”
  • He puts up with Presidents and Greens Chairmen with great aplomb and skill. He knows if he waits long enough, their term will run out before they can put that waterfall behind 12 green

  • He’ll take that pair of black and white golf sandals you won in your brothers Member-Guest in Jacksonville and issue you a credit in his pro shop…then discretely put them out back with the rest of the garbage
You see the sad thing with the Old Pro is he is about as rare as the laminated 2-wood…yes, he’s been on the endangered species list for many a rain delay…it’s all of our loss.
There simply are too few around to teach the craft…and too few willing to embrace it.
Luckily for us, and the many assistants who have come through his operation, there are a few more true Golf Professionals in the world and even one or two Old Pros in training.

Michael Harmon is the PGA of America’s 2006 recipient of The Bill Strausbaugh Award and the Director of Golf at Secession GC…I like to call him my Pro…never really cottoned to Director of Golf…but that’s just me.

Bill Strausbaugh, by the way, was one of the all time all-time great Old Pros who ever stalked a driving range looking for a reverse pivot to fix. He was a true role model for his industry from Sansabelts to Tommy Bahama’s…now that’s a long time homie!

It is an award that recognizes years of educating and mentoring one’s peers as well as your ability to pass on the dignity, pride, and enthusiasm that should come with the profession.

That’s my definition but it’s pretty close.
Mike’s not really in his business for the reasons above…he’s there because he can’t imagine even one day away from the game…or the idiots who flog at it.

Congratulations Mike, class is always in session at your place…see you at The Show

Categories: Mentors

Father’s Day

June 17, 2006 · 3 Comments

My friend and partner, Blair Leburn, has one of the truly great dad’s in golf…his mom and the rest of the family are two-under also but it is Father’s Day after all.
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Blair, Dad, and brother Kevin are pictured here, credit to Mark Burris.
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In 1960 “Lord” Leburn began a group at his home club, Royal Troon, that he dubbed the Pink Elephants.
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He described it to me once as “You know the guy who finally gets into the club after years on the waiting list and is somewhat of a dolt? He can’t ever find a game because he’s just not very smart, pleasant, funny, or a good golfer?”
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“Yes”, I replied, I know what you mean.
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“Well”, Mr. Leburn continued, “we make him a Pink Elephant”. Ah, I get it.
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I also had one of the great dads in golf, and I’ve missed him every day in the 20 years he’s been gone. I don’t always behave correctly as my friends will attest but when a big life decision needs to be made I simply think of what my dad would do…he was a man who never intentionally hurt anyone and treated people the same no matter who they were…superb guy.
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Back to John Leburn. He has a silly way about him…boylike in so many ways. The way he pretends to hide from the press at the British Open because he’s afraid he’ll be recognized, to the way he says after every driver swing (with ball still in mid-air) “Oh No! Oh No!, Oh, it’s perfect!!”
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He will “shush” you if you describe a match you’ve won…he says gentlemen never talk about the opponents they’ve beaten…he has a sheepish smile on his face when he says this but if you pay attention, you just might learn something important.
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Blair knows how lucky he is to have the family he does, we talk about it often…so as a representative dad on Father’s Day, let’s agree that Mr. Leburn is a Best In Golf.

Categories: Dads · Mentors · Rules

Father’s Day

June 17, 2006 · Leave a Comment

My friend and partner, Blair Leburn, has one of the truly great dad’s in golf…his mom and the rest of the family are two-under also but it is Father’s Day after all.
.
Blair, Dad, and brother Kevin are pictured here, credit to Mark Burris.
.
In 1960 “Lord” Leburn began a group at his home club, Royal Troon, that he dubbed the Pink Elephants.
.
He described it to me once as “You know the guy who finally gets into the club after years on the waiting list and is somewhat of a dolt? He can’t ever find a game because he’s just not very smart, pleasant, funny, or a good golfer?”
.
“Yes”, I replied, I know what you mean.
.
“Well”, Mr. Leburn continued, “we make him a Pink Elephant”. Ah, I get it.
.
I also had one of the great dads in golf, and I’ve missed him every day in the 20 years he’s been gone. I don’t always behave correctly as my friends will attest but when a big life decision needs to be made I simply think of what my dad would do…he was a man who never intentionally hurt anyone and treated people the same no matter who they were…superb guy.
.
Back to John Leburn. He has a silly way about him…boylike in so many ways. The way he pretends to hide from the press at the British Open because he’s afraid he’ll be recognized, to the way he says after every driver swing (with ball still in mid-air) “Oh No! Oh No!, Oh, it’s perfect!!”
.
He will “shush” you if you describe a match you’ve won…he says gentlemen never talk about the opponents they’ve beaten…he has a sheepish smile on his face when he says this but if you pay attention, you just might learn something important.
.
Blair knows how lucky he is to have the family he does, we talk about it often…so as a representative dad on Father’s Day, let’s agree that Mr. Leburn is a Best In Golf.

Categories: Dads · Mentors · Rules

Father’s Day

June 17, 2006 · Leave a Comment

My friend and partner, Blair Leburn, has one of the truly great dad’s in golf…his mom and the rest of the family are two-under also but it is Father’s Day after all.
Blair, Dad, and brother Kevin are pictured here, credit to Mark Burris.
In 1960 “Lord” Leburn began a group at his home club, Royal Troon, that he dubbed the Pink Elephants.
He described it to me once as “You know the guy who finally gets into the club after years on the waiting list and is somewhat of a dolt? He can’t ever find a game because he’s just not very smart, pleasant, funny, or a good golfer?”
“Yes”, I replied, I know what you mean.
“Well”, Mr. Leburn continued, “we make him a Pink Elephant”. Ah, I get it.

I also had one of the great dads in golf, and I’ve missed him every day in the 20 years he’s been gone. I don’t always behave correctly as my friends will attest but when a big life decision needs to be made I simply think of what my dad would do…he was a man who never intentionally hurt anyone and treated people the same no matter who they were…superb guy.

Back to John Leburn. He has a silly way about him…boylike in so many ways. The way he pretends to hide from the press at the British Open because he’s afraid he’ll be recognized, to the way he says after every driver swing (with ball still in mid-air) “Oh No! Oh No!, Oh, it’s perfect!!”

He will “shush” you if you describe a match you’ve won…he says gentlemen never talk about the opponents they’ve beaten…he has a sheepish smile on his face when he says this but if you pay attention, you just might learn something important.
Blair knows how lucky he is to have the family he does, we talk about it often…so as a representative dad on Father’s Day, let’s agree that Mr. Leburn is a Best In Golf.

Categories: Dads · Mentors · Rules