Butler National

As I was catching a few extra zzzzs on the Thursday morning after the Pear Jam concert my cell phone start ringing - way too early for a Thursday morning.  I just have not had any of those early morning crisis calls in so long.  Who could be calling me this early.  Must be a wrong number.  Sandi brings the phone into me and I see that it is Kevin Duffy who has been calling.  I checked my vm and find out that he has an extra spot at 11:15 that morning to play Butler National!  Immediately I am feeling better.  Of course I can play Butler this afternoon.  Better yet, David Duerr is hosting Kevin and the rest of his forum group (my former forum group save one guy)  I showed up at Butler with my shoe bag in hand walking as slowly through the foirier as possible so I could take in some of the sights (pictures and framed stories of the golf club)  I found my way back to the locker room to be assigned a locker directly across from Jeff Sluman's (Kevin's name was taped over Slumans for the day) Once I stared to get my shoes on the guys from the Forum started rolling in so we had a chance to talk a little - on to the range.  I was smacking balls pretty well and ready to get out on the course.  I walked over to putting green and hit some putts on some of the truest greens I've ever set foot on.  While on the green I was introduced to Gerry Graunke who noticed I had a Troon shirt on.  He recognized my Father and asked me to say hello to him for him.  On to the course - Duerr wanted me to play in the first group to "take a shot" at me.  In all there were about 20 guys on the first tee.  Our 2 groups 8 caddies, the started and a few other guys that were hanging around.  Kevin teed off first and duffed (no pun intended) one in the woods right off the tee.  I was up next and blasted one right down the middle.  What a rush!  On the way to our balls all of us commented on just how nerve racking that was.  I hit the first green in reg. but ended up 3 putting - the 50 mile an hour wind and impending hale that may have had something to do with it.  Right as we were walking off the first green rain mixed with hail started pouring down.  Luckily I had my umbrella because we decided to wait it out!  About 10 minutes later the rain passed and the sun came out.  As soon as we got ready to hit off the 2nd tee the lightening horn blew and we had to walk in.  After a 25 min. delay we heard the clearing horn.  Back to the second tee!  The rest of the day was fantastic - a little windy but really great.  What a tremendous course Butler is.  Long, well shaped dramatic fairways, huge bunkers with gnarly lips, Great par 3s with tuff greens to hit.  Some holes were lined with trees while others were wide open.  My favorite hole was 15. We played this huge dog leg right at about 585 yards.  A huge trap cuts the dogleg on the right hand side slopes down and then back up to the green.  I had a 6 because I hit my drive too far left and had to punch out right.  My third shot was 205 yard under a line of trees back up the hill to the green.  I hit a great punch up the hill and failed to get up and down.  Maybe next time.  After the round we had a few beers in the bar and got a chance to catch up a little.  Steve Thayer, Kevin and I grabbed some dinner at amber in Westmont and then called it a day.  I hope to keep in touch with these guys

Comments

[Joe]

I caddy there I know the feeling.