East Potomac Golf Course- Blue Course: A Monument to Municipal Golf

East Potomac Golf Course. Washington, D.C.

I have been stalking the East Potomac Golf Course on social media over the last month. I knew I would have a day to play while my wife attended a conference in nearby Alexandria, Va. With my tee time secured for 10:00 am, I arose early to check on how long the Uber ride would take me. According to AI, the ride would only take 15ish minutes but I didn’t believe that for a second. Not after it took us 45 minutes to drive the final 5 miles yesterday as we entered the Beltway… so I was up and out by 7:45, hoping to get an earlier tee time and then who knows, I might squeeze in 27 today. While momma works, I get to play I thought.

Little did I realize that my last second decision to get a caddie would end up being maybe the best “golf decision” I’ve made, ever. So when they asked me after I checked in if I wanted a caddie…. I looked over the 20+ young men sitting, waiting to be selected, like puppies at a dog pound. A young man stood up right away and I knew he was my guy. Gustavo was his name and I’ve probably never felt more a like a golfer. I was playing golf, with a caddie. Someone to carry my bag, select my clubs, tell me yardage, read my putts, and keep my ball clean. Gustavo was and is so much more than that. He is a 15 year old rising sophomore in high school with hopes of attending medical school one day. He said he was interested in attending the University of Maryland or the University of Chicago. I told him to bring his talents to Rocky Top and that the University of Tennessee deserves his full attention.

Gustavo must have injected some confidence and calm into my golf because I played as well as I’ve ever played for the first 13 holes. Before we get into the flow and state of that golf bliss, I have to give proper respect to East Potomac- it’s a true big city municipal golf experience. It blends a “come one, come all” atmosphere with a “we are serious about golf” mentality in ways that I’ve never experienced. It’s truly an “any man’s” golf course, as witnessed by the 3 flat bellied teenagers playing in front of us and the 3 guys playing out of 2 bags that jumped in front of us at the turn. One of the guys on the back made a bold statement- he showed up in all black, black hat, black shirt, black pants, and black shoes. He did not fool anybody into thinking he was the next Gary Player or Johnny Cash… poor guy might have needed an IV after enduring the heat and humidity.

I would play East Potomac every day for the rest of my life. The fairways are generous, the greens pure, and the trouble somewhat hard to find. A true players course- it rewarded good shots and you had to really work to find a big score (which my playing partners found, more on that later).

Gustavo was friendly, competent, and did an excellent job reading the greens and being a part of the round. I’ve never had a caddie but Gustavo did more for my game than he’ll ever know. He was innocent and eager but not pushy. He enjoyed the golf and the company. He stated at one point (after I suggested that Luis move up a tee. I felt like me and Gustavo were bonding and he could handle my honest assessment) that, “that the goal is to have a good time.” Truer worlds have never been spoken.

The going rate for a caddie is $40 tip and that’s the best $100 I’ve ever spent. I have no doubt that Gustavo will be a success and I hope and pray that he receives the Evans Scholars scholarship- is he doesn’t, I’m calling BS.

I was joined on the first tee by Luis and Henry. Luis is retired and has 4 daughters. Yes, I said 4 daughters. As an expert on being a girl dad- I know we only have 1 but I’m a pro… Henry is in his early to mid 30’s, I’m guessing, and when I asked what he did for a living (standard question on the 3rd hole when golfing with a stranger. Any earlier than that and it’s rude, any later and you’re just fishing for convo), he stated he was “between jobs” and had moved to the DC area from New York. It’s funny and maybe because I’m old but I think everybody that says, “I’m from New York”, they must have lived in the heart of New York City…

Luis might have broken 110, Henry said he shot a 95 and I could care less what they shot. Golf brought us together this day, with Gustavo, for a round of golf I will never forget. I said earlier that I was locked in for 13 holes and I was. On the 14th tee, I was 2 over for the day and I was sure that I was going to shoot maybe a 75 on this historic day. My tee ball on 14 found the right rough and I sat 185+ yards out and had to hit over some marshy looking ground and I told Gustavo I was playing my ball left, short of the green, avoiding the DC marsh (who knew…) and trusting my short game to bring home par on the hole. I hit my 2nd shot exactly like I told Gustavo I would (by now I was in full “I have a caddie” mode and talking to him like we were embroiled in a high stakes tourney playing for real money and prestige, it was beautiful).

As I stood over my 25 yard pitch shot, I proclaimed that I was gonna “bump one up there, hit it short of the green and let it release to the hole.” The result of that swing was pretty much a straight shank 20 yards right that left me a tricky, awkward shot for par… double bogey ensued and I had fallen off the mountain of hope.

After back to back to back bogeys on 15 and 16, I knew I had to finish the last two holes at +1 to reach my holy grail- a sub-80 round.

17 was a pretty straight forward 546 yard par 5. After 3 swipes at the ball, I was faced with a precarious up and down for par. I knew that a par here would give me a little breathing room on 18 for the 79. I made the critical decision to talk through the need, the desire, my longing to get up and down for par on 17 with my caddie. I wasn’t sure if he had a clue what I was talking about but he smiled as I talked and seemed to be saying to me, “you got this”. So, I pitched my ball up to 5 feet and stood over the ball like a man in control of his own destiny and dropped the putt in the heart of the hole for a 5!

Off to 18, knowing I could bogey and shoot 79.

My tee ball on 18 found the right side of the fairway, short and somewhat straight is my mantra. I was 195 yards out and proceeded to scuttle bomb the ball about 100 yards down the fairway. So here I was, 100 yards out and needed to make bogey. I pulled my approach a touch left and it found the juiciest grass on the EP course. I needed to get up and down for my goal.

As we walked up to 18, I emphatically told Gustavo- we need the 58 (that is my 58 degree wedge…) I studied the line and it was a downhill left to right shot. The ball came out pure and stopped 6 feet from the hole. I had an uphill right to left breaking putt to give me a round I could text my wife, my daughter, and my boys about all afternoon.

As I stepped up to the putt, I thought, hell if I miss it, an 80 is not terrible, put a good stroke on the ball and move on. Good stroke I did, right in the heart and Gustavo and I shared the awkward high five/hand slap that was reminiscent of Tiger and Steve on 16 at Augusta! 79 secured- I felt like a golfer, with a caddie, and with a course.

Luis and Henry could not have been better to play with. We talked college, Trump and the battle over the National Links golf course, UVA law school, World Cup soccer, Peyton Manning, and though I’ll never see them again in this life- I’ll never forget them.

That may be the true beauty of golf. We shared 4 hours together. We have history and stories to tell. Nothing else mattered for that time. I hope Luis enjoys retirement. I hope Henry goes to Law School and I hope Gustavo becomes a doctor and builds a great life for himself.

Our country is not nearly as divided as we think. 4 strangers came together today and talked, laughed, encouraged, and enjoyed each other’s company. Thank you, East Potomac- I’ll be back.

Buttercuts- #7

Into The Fog

March 16, 2024

Me and T-Sweat

The Course at Sewanee

The Course at Sewanee. Sewanee, Tennessee

The hour long drive from Murfreesboro to Sewanee, Tn felt like a drive down to the local convenience store for a gallon of milk with my boy, Tommy Sweat. We were off on a journey, not a round of golf, to play the 9-Hole track at Sewanee. We talked all things Fulton hoops as the Falcons play for a state title tonight vs Ridgeway. “Uncle Tommy” is young enough to be my son but mature beyond his years.

I have longed to play the course at Sewanee for a few years and a trip to Murfreesboro for the boys state hoops tourney provided the perfect excuse to venture 60 miles for 4 hours of torture and the time of our life.

My trusty weather app showed beautiful sunny weather all day and we were set to enjoy a morning of purist golf- walk the course, play the ball as it lies, respect the rules of the game, and enjoy the beauty around us. My weather app was full of shit but we played the game the way it’s supposed to be played and that includes caring more about who you play with vs where you play.

Sewanee is a gem. More traditional than quirky. I thought it would be Sweetenesque but I was wrong. It rolls across terrain and plays like a traditional course and by traditional, I mean it has length and teeth at every turn. We played the first 9 holes hitting straight into the fog. Honestly, no idea where we were supposed to hit it but trusting tree lines and cart paths and it was freaking awesome. It was the best course I’ve ever played that I’ve never seen. Hitting into the fog like Jack London never felt so easy and pure and ironically, I hit the ball better when I didn’t know the target.

Into the Fog

Tommy Sweat is the official voice of Fulton basketball and a 2021 Fulton grad and his golf game showed promise from the first tee. His sweet swing and form looked pure and didn’t relent for the next 4 hours. His approach to golf is free and easy and resembles the game he brought to 2509 on the football field and basketball court. Steady, reliable but able to step on the gas when needed.

I joined Tommy on the radio broadcast to provide color commentary of our basketball games at the TSSAA state basketball tournament. And to be clear, all this really includes is a front row seat for me and I offer a few jokes. Listening to Tommy call the game is poetry in motion. His combination of hoops knowledge and passion for Fulton basketball permeates through the microphone like the golf ball coming off his driver- pure and powerful. His delivery and call of the game is flawless.

Tommy Sweat roping one on #2 at The Cousre at Sewanee

We finished the first 9 holes and went into the clubhouse to settle up. When we got out of the car at 7:15, we were the only two people on the property besides the groundskeeper who was nice enough but looked like he spent time as an extra on the movie set of Friday the 13th. I told Tommy I liked him but wasn’t making eye contact with the guy. Four dudes from Chattanooga joined us as we waited for the clubhouse to open and after pleasantries, they said, “the course is really hard, lower your expectations…” Really made me want to jump on the 1st tee and have a go at the place…

Hole 3/12…

The vibe at Sewanee (you have to say that in a hushed whisper…) is really cool and laid back. Not going to lie, I figured it might be a bit stuffy but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It feels more like your local, friendly muni where they treat you like family vs the University of the South’s swanky little course. And is it Sewanee or University of the South? We didn’t get the answers to that question so I guess we will have to have a repeat performance like the Fulton basketball team in the state tourney.

The Course at Sewanee

Oh, the Falcons did repeat as class 3A state basketball champions. We told the man that ran the clubhouse about the broadcast of the game and he said he would listen on his drive home. I’m betting he did and I’m betting he was cheering on the Falcons as he drove over and through the mountains on his way home. It’s easy to cheer for this group of young men. They work hard everyday, represent the best we have to offer at Fulton, they are coachable, tough-minded, and they do it all with respect for the game, the opponent, and each other. These guys will be great husbands, fathers, men, and success will find them.

2024 3A State Champions

Much like the Sewanee golf course, Fulton basketball lore and legacy only grows. I want to go back and play that course, walk its hills, appreciate its beauty, understand its nuisances. The same can be said for Fulton basketball- you watch them once and you want to go back. It’s the way they play the game. All heart, guts, passion, toughness, and desire. A great season can happen but sustained excellence takes a relentless pursuit and a steadfast approach and that’s exactly what Jody Wright, aka Chief, has done for the last 40 years. He is building a resume that will not be touched and is still going strong. He simply will not settle for anything less than your best, shows you how to achieve it, and holds your feet to the fire on getting it done. There is no back down, no let up, no excuses and his teams repeatedly maximize their talent and get results. I wish he could do this for my golf swing but we can work on that.

I went to work at Fulton in 2002 and had the opportunity to coach with Chief. Working with him is like getting a PhD in team building, game planning, teaching, how to treat other people, man to man defense, and how to make men. Now, I’m the principal and his boss but I’ll never stop listening to him teach, never stop going to him for advice, and never stop being one of his biggest fans.

Let’s do it again in 2025. Back to Sewanee and back to the Boro!

Buttercuts- #6

March 12, 2024

45 Holes at The Club

50-60ish and Blue Skies

Me and May

Leave the World Behind

Approach to 9 green

What started out as a tip for a good movie turned out to be the theme for the day. May had suggested the movie, Leave the World Behind, and that’s what we did for 45 holes on an absolutely gorgeous day. We played 18 and said what the hell, let’s go for more. We went for 9 more and saw no reason to stop. That led to more golf, which led to more golf… Some days you just can’t get enough. The golf was decent but the day was a masterpiece.

May has surpassed me as the official King of the Nerds in our little golf world but I can still make him earn it. He is the #1 ranked player in the ONGR for a reason and after I missed an Augusta National 10 foot slider on the 45th hole, he beat me by 1 stroke on the day.

May getting the back 9 started right with a bomb off 10 tee

Not even the Golden Girls foursome in front of us could dampen our spirits on this day. They moved at a snail’s pace for the entire 18 holes. It was almost enjoyable to watch them labor over every shot. They would “meet at the flagstick ” and then separate to toil over their 2 foot putts and they putted everything out. No gimmes with these ladies. We picked up one of their putter covers and tried to yell at them but their hearing was somehow worse than mine and they drove off only to circle back a hole later. One of the ladies lost a club and as she asked us if we saw it, you could see the disdain in her eyes and she lamented, “I’ve had a bad day…” game respects game and I could see myself fitting in nicely with the ladies- tee off from the up tees and play the ball as it lies, purist kind of stuff.

The Golden Girls meandering off the 15th green. All pondering how they missed the 2 footer and questioning their “flagstick in at all cost” approach

I mysteriously and miraculously had 140 yard shots on about every hole. No lie, it became another joke of the day but I’ll be damned if it didn’t keep happening. Swing your swing and dance with the fat lady that brought you, I went with the trusty little hybrid from that distance and started to see better results. The game doesn’t care what club you pull from the bag, it only cares that you commit to the shot and give it all you got. My game off the tee continues to be pretty strong, just nailing fairway after fairway and today I had some pop from the vaunted white tees. My putter was off most of the day but minimized damage on the green except for a 4-putt or two.. . May turned into Scottie Scheffler and that kept me hanging around.

Top: The Par 3 165 yard 3rd hole. Bottom: Approach to #8 late in the day.

As the sun began to set and the day was winding down, we knew we stole another one at The Club. I’ll watch the movie soon enough but I left the world behind for a day and I’m not sure you can top that!

Buttercuts- #5

27 at The Club w/ May, Capt, and G-Money/Gary Playa

March 10, 2024

Daylight Savings Day

45-52 degrees w/ Carnoustie Winds… WAH (windy as hell)

Pillow Fight

We knew we had an extra hour of sunlight due to daylight savings so 27 was a given today. As I left the house, Millicent (my beautiful and golf loving wife…) asked me if I was playing 18 holes today. I squared up like a good prize fighter, owned the moment, and said, “it’s a 27 hole kind of day.” I claimed the day and the golf that awaited like a champ.

We got to the range with enough time to have a nice warm-up session and hit the putting green. I had put the old Ping irons (most of them, I’ve lost a few over the years) back in my bag. I had accepted a “newer” set of clubs from Buck via his father in law but wanted to go back to my old friend. I think I’ve had the Ping G10’s for close to 20 years. They’ve seen my game at its best and I wanted that mojo in my hands. Truth be told, I could play all day with only a driver, 4 iron, 8 iron, and a putter in my bag. Come to think of it, I might try that next time out…

We played the standard game of switching partners every 6 hole, $1 a hole, $1 birdies, par or better to win. G-Money walked the dog on us today and had 14 points, Capt had 11, May 10, and yours truly ended up with 4 points… Scores were 87-88-88-89 and then 44-44-46-46 on the extra 9. We did play most of the day having to navigate the Carnousie winds again. Well struck balls could pierce through the wind unfazed but our group didn’t hit many balls squarely on the club face. It was all fairly forgettable golf if I’m being honest- not a ton of highlights and that got me thinking that is one of the things that draws me to playing golf. The thrill of the dramatic and special is only topped by the mundane and routine. Not every shot can be historic but there is always that hope, that moment, that chance that each shot could be a memory and a story to be told or written about forever. Today was beautifully mundane and I’d do it everyday if I had the chance.

The golf was not our best but I’ve seen and played much worse. It was classic Nerds Tour golf- lots of bogeys, very few birdies- like maybe one… but it wasn’t a total disaster. The course was still a bit swampy from the rain over the last few days so the CPO was a pain in the ass but it also helped keep us moving and staying warm. We finished the 27th hole and I think we were all ready for it to be over. That doesn’t happen much with me. I’m usually always up to play more but not today. I had opened the first two holes making nifty putts for bogey and that was the standard of the day. I parred every hole when I hit the green in regulation sans one, I hit #2 green in regulation the 2nd time through and promptly 4-putted. It was special. My short game was feast or famine- I chipped one in from 10 yards off the green on 6, had some other nice chips to gimme range, but also chunked/dipped/skulled several that led to more bogeys and doubles. So when our last putt fell on the 27th hole, we all were ready for the final bell.

At least the skies were blue and we had the extra hour of sun and the impending break this week. G-Money is headed to Hilton Head Island, May is headed to the doctor, Capt is headed to work, and I’m headed to Murfreesboro to watch basketball. As the principal at Fulton High School, our boys basketball team is a consistent source of pride. They represent the best we have to offer at Fulton and play the game so well- together, tough, coachable, and fundamentally sound. We are hoping for back to back state titles but this team could not disappoint me or Falcon Nation if they tried. I have said this to many over the last few weeks, this is my most favorite team I’ve watched in 27 years in education. I know I’m not supposed to have favorites but these young men are so good on and off the court. I will miss watching them play and will miss the impact they have on our school but we aren’t done yet and this team will rise to the occasion one more time.

I’m also hoping to squeeze in a little golf while at the state tourney… Stay tuned.

Buttercuts- #4

27 at The Club with May and A-Hole

Election Day

March 4, 2024

Cloudy and mostly calm

Election Day, 2024, provided us the rare opportunity for a midweek morning round. May and I arrived a little early and hit the range. May has some ailing virus running through his body and at my age, I just need to get loose before embarking on 6+ hours of golf.

A-Hole showed up 10 minutes before our 9:10 tee time and just like a Bamer- he spends 2 minutes on the range and then he strips one down Broadway on the 1st tee.

May is coming off a basketball season that will get sweeter with time but he’s still stinging from the last loss. He took a 7-10 team at mid-season and had them on the cusp of a state tourney berth. I watched them play throughout the year and they continued to get better, continued to work hard, and continued to gain confidence, much like May’s golf game over the last few years. He has almost graduated from the Nerds Tour and entered the world of real golf and keeping score and following all the rules but I think he likes the company on the B team. He’s like the junior that averages 20 ppg on the JV team.

May is the picture of consistency, he never gets too high, never gets too low but he is a competitor and the way this season ended will eat at him for a while. He’s got a great temperament for coaching. He’s detail oriented and organized, remains calm under pressure, and enjoys analyzing and game planning.

One story that embodies what he is about is from his 2nd or 3rd year as the head coach at Farragut High School, he had a player whose father died unexpectedly one morning and it was a morning that the family was up early to go visit a college. To say the least, it was tragic and a really tough situation. I remember telling him, “I’m sorry, I know you didn’t get into coaching to deal with something like this” and without skipping a beat he responded, “this is exactly why I got into coaching.” He’s had plenty of success, the all-time winningest coach in school history, state runner-up a couple of years ago, and countless girls playing at the next level, but it’s the opportunity to positively and eternally impact kids that calls him to coach. Love him like a brother and glad I kicked his ass today…

I did have the honor and pleasure of hiring Jason Mayfield to coach girls basketball at Farragut High School. Honestly, it’s one of the best decisions and moves I’ve ever made in my job. His interview is legendary- we drank Miller Lites on his back porch while he shared his vision and plan for building a program, chalked full of details on one of his patented spreadsheets. Sometimes it ain’t hard, he was and is the man for that job.

But today was the perfect time to kick a man while he was down and try to steal a W in the coveted “King of the Nerds” standings. When he hit his 3rd straight drive of the day dead right, I knew I had a chance. Mission accomplished- I went 86-41. May went 88-47. A-Hole 91-47, I think.

It was a fabulous day. The grouping is very comfortable and we all love playing but don’t take ourselves too seriously (when you shoot in the upper 880s and low 90s, no sense in taking anything you do on the course seriously) and we really enjoy each other’s company.

As we walked off the 18th green after 27 holes, we probably could have squeezed in a couple more holes but there was no need. We were thankful and ready for the next time we could get out and play together. We left the day thinking that a Tuesday morning tee time and all day golf was a pretty damn good idea. We had a blast.

My game continues to show slight improvements and I’m gaining confidence. I hit every FW but 2 but only managed to hit 3 GIR, that’s a problem but I kept the ball in play and in front of me. 2nd shot issues continue to plague me and put a premium on my 60 yards and in shot making. Thankfully, my short game was pretty good and I enjoyed numerous up and downs and eliminated big numbers, for the most part (maybe 3 doubles on the day). I managed to roll in a 20+ footer on the 26th hole for a birdie and walked away with $30. I’m hopeful that some much needed distance off the tee will be gained as the weather warms up and the course firms up but my biggest issue is with my approach shots- just not getting much pop on the ball.

Buttercuts- #3

Saturday, February 24, 2024

WindRiver Golf Club

48 degrees, overcast/cloudy/insane wind

May, Capt, A-Hole

Late February golf is never a picnic but today turned into the Carnoustie Open. Mostly benign, albeit cold, conditions on the front 9 turned into a British Open qualifier on the back. May saw what was coming and called it quits after 10 holes. He claimed he had a birthday party to attend but I’m calling BS on that. He wanted no part of the gauntlet on the back 9 with mother nature wreaking havoc on every hole.

Par stood no chance in the blustery weather. It became survival of the fittest and we all stood on the 18th green (except for May, he was at a “party”…) with a newfound respect for each other. We had survived the elements and were better for it, except May, he got worse today. He quit…

My game was a mix of fairway finders, up and downs, worm burners, and scud missiles with a little fade- hook to them. It all left much to be desired. I have a goal of more up and downs from 60 yards in- that’s what you do when you can’t hit a green if your life depended on it. I managed a few nice ones and I’ll take that. It seemed like we played every hole into a scene from the movie, The Perfect Storm, my golf ball trying to ride over the crashing waves, only to tumble and stumble back to my feet…

But a good time was had by all. A-Hole is such a great dude and I love playing with him. He’s really the opposite of an A-Hole which makes calling him A-Hole all the more enjoyable. Capt spits data and analytics like I throw out cuss words- plenty and often… we are in an intense battle to see who can shave strokes off their handicap. Stay tuned for the ultimate King of the Nerds contest. It was great to get May back out to the Club and the white tees threw him off a bit. Some guys can handle a curveball and some can’t…

I hit 10 FW and 2 GIR, w/ 32 putts… Strong showing but I feel things turning the corner and regardless, I’m having a blast playing again. I told Capt this week that I play golf to, “have a great time with my boys.” Mission accomplished.

Final tally:

May- DQ

Me- 88

Capt- 90

A-Hole- 97

Buttercuts- #2

Sunday, February 4, 2024

WindRiver Golf Club

50 degrees, overcast

Buck, Capt, Pat, A-Hole

February Golf… A time to set the tone for the golf year, lower your expectations, have fun, all the while longing for warm, long summer days.

It was time to get back to The Club and familiarize ourselves with the finest golfing experience in East Tennessee.

Our 1:00 tee time could not get here fast enough. We were all ready to put into practice all the instagram golfing videos we had watched over the long winter months. In January, we experienced a “30 year storm” in Knoxville and this afternoon granted us an opportunity to hit the links and forget the frigid temps.

I picked up Buck and Pat at 12:00- it’s standard to pick Buck up at least an hour before our tee time. He’s always ready and this will give us time to hit the range and get loose before we take breakfast balls, mulligans, re-do’s, and gimme’s. Buck had already broken the news to Pat- we would return to our tried and true position that Buck and I would be “cartners”. Pat took it like a champ, actually I think he was glad to not get burned, spit on, spilled on or have to deal with Buck’s BS. I embrace it- nobody I’d rather ride around with then my boy, Buck. He’s one of a kind and always has a good time. The music is blasting and he asks me far too frequently to read his putts, like I know which way the 15 foot bogey putt is breaking.

Buck’s neighborhood was all a buzz due to five police cars and the arrest of a not so friendly neighbor. Details are foggy at the moment but it’s safe to say that Gretchen will not be paying her HOA dues in 2024…

Ironically, all the videos we watched and practice swings we took in the living room and front yard, did not translate to the driving range. Buck quickly became disinterested on the range and headed to the putting green to get the flatstick rolling. I stayed back working on the numerous punch 7 irons my round would surely require. Buck moved the cart, and misplaced my driver head cover but that’s all part of playing with Buck.

The front 9 was actually pretty decent for us- Capt fired a 40, I managed a 42, Pat got hot late and came in at 43, and Buck shot the standard 45. Remind you, 90 is par (my rule) and we were all within range of a sub-par February round- not too shabby by our standards.

We picked up a 5th, A-Hole, at the turn and our 5-some whistled around the back 9 in majestic fashion. Not many dudes could join this iconic foursome and not miss a beat but A-Hole managed to fit in without any hassle or fuss. I did have some insider info to share about his daughter’s boyfriend that he was not so happy to hear about.

The final tally: Capt- 83, Me- 86, Buck-87, Pat- 91, A-Hole- no idea what he shot on the back 9 but it was gold. I had to finish par-par to beat Buck but that’s what I do. Winners win.

Capt played like he had been hitting balls all winter in his simulator at his mansion in the Fork and waxed us all pretty good. Buck will not play again until he wins his 25th state title, and I was pleasantly surprised with my driver and touch around the greens. Pat was Pat- jekyll and hyde round, per usual.

2024 will be a great year- I feel it. Stay tuned.

Buttercuts- #1

Thursday, December 28, 2023

Sweetens Cove Golf Club

36-45 degrees, chilly in the morning and turned AB by lunch

Ryan Atwell, Quinn Cannington, and Wes Huntsville

Sweetens Cove Golf Club. South Pittsburg, Tennessee

We pulled into the gravel parking lot at SCGC at 7:45 am CST with the excitement of two kids heading downstairs to see what Santa had left under the Christmas tree. The air was brisk and cool and the parking lot was mostly empty. As the sun peeked over the mountains, more cars (actually trucks, every vehicle was a truck…) ascended on the little course that could and guys layered up to bare the elements for a day of golf.

Joining me on the inaugural stop on this journey was “Q” and A-Hole/Alabama Frontal/Ryan. Ryan and I enjoyed the 2:15 drive down from Knoxville. We discussed family, work, and HS hoops- maybe not in that order but the conversation made the trek seem like a quick trip to a gas station and not a 120+ mile journey. Q came up from Atlanta and had already texted me the obligatory, “LFG”, a few times so I knew he would hop out of the car eager to take the course by storm. We made our way to the practice putting green and from what I observed, we were in for a fun but daunting day. The green resembled a ride at Six Flags and any putt would be a mind bender. It was like putting on my driveway and over Mount Everest all rolled into one.

The starter summoned all the brave soldiers to the Shed at 8:00 and gave us our marching orders. He was trying to be funny but you could tell his speech was on repeat and he had very little time for any small talk or BS. He was direct and firm. With only 25ish golfers man enough for golf in late December, the course would yield many holes and a good pace. We were told to report to hole 3 and start our round there.

We spent the next 9 hours in pure golf bliss. In a group of no single digit handicaps, we each had to be sharp to avoid absolute disaster on every hole. It was exhilarating and a hell ride from start to finish. Only one birdie on the day and it wasn’t from Q or Ryan… My lone birdie came on the 5th hole of the day after I hit a crisp 9 iron from 102 yards (chess, not checkers) that landed softly and took the slope of the green and nestled a cozy 2 feet from the cup. We traded jabs and engaged in an intense pillow fight for the rest of the day.

Q and Ryan, poetry in motion

Sweetens Cove is a golf playground. It twists and turns and slopes and rolls all around and over itself for 9 glorious holes and 70+ acres of land. You nervously putt from 15+ yards off the green (that’s what Sgt Starter told us to do so we obliged, except for hole 7 where I laid my sand wedge open and clipped my 2nd approach shot to 3 feet and made par- more chess moves…). We arrived at each tee box with excitement and laughter. We were more interested in enjoying the day and the company than the score on the card- sound advice for life. Enjoy the people you are with and don’t worry about the results. You’ll actually end up having more fun and won’t get so uptight about the swings, the highs, or the lows.

We were joined by Wes Huntsville on our last few holes. He was your average looking 30 something year old man. Not overly athletic in appearance. More postman than pro golfer. He proceeded to drive the 293 yard 5th hole and had a tasty 2-putt from 100+ feet for birdie. I thought maybe Wes was on his way to prep for the “Florida swing” on the PGA Tour when he bombed his drive on #6 about 320 yards and proceeded to dump his 80 yard approach shot in the cup for an eagle. We all ran and high fived Wes like we had been best buddys since the 3rd grade not acquaintances for 15 minutes. He could not have been a nicer guy and there’s another lesson on the day- invite strangers into your group, celebrate their successes with them, and don’t judge a book by its cover.

Q, Me, Wes, and Ryan on #9. Last hole of the day

As the daylight faded and the chill in the air returned, we didn’t want the day to end but we each were thankful for the experience. We “had stolen one” and played about as much golf as we could muster on this surprisingly gorgeous late December day.

As we backed our golf carts into the appropriate position- leaving the place as we found it and maybe even better and headed into the Shed to buy some merchandise, we all had a sense of accomplishment and joy that can only be experienced when you focus on others and not yourself.

I hugged Q in the parking lot and told him I loved him. I’ve known him for nearly 20 years. Watched him grow up, work around the world, get married, and settle down. He’s gone from student to friend. He’s an absolute stud. He is witty and talented. His golf game is improving- he has a John Rahmish backswing without the results but it’s a thing of beauty. Hits a consistent low stinger and plays the game with a smile on his face. He’s great to be around on the golf course. He never takes himself too seriously and naturally puts others at ease. His whole life is ahead of him and we will have more SC days in our future.

I’m ready to go back and definitely will in one year. Until then, I’ll keep my swing loose and long and make putts when it matters most. Play on Playa!

Hit the Gas

I took Shelby on her first driving lesson the other day. I figured she was ready- she’s 13, had a cast on her right foot, and could barely see over the steering wheel. What could go wrong? The parking lot at Fulton High School was the perfect setting. It looked like a mix of the Daytona International Speedway and the aisle at your local Kroger’s.

This was a full on “I’m sitting in the passenger seat and letting her take the wheel” experience. She was nervous and her palms were sweaty as she locked herself in the driver’s seat. I envisioned her mistaking the gas for the brake and had already conjured up excuses for how my Tahoe ended up in the lobby of Jody Wright Arena.

Apprehension soon gave way to some confidence as she maneuvered the vehicle through the parking lot. I might have suffered a mild case of whiplash as she slammed the brake pad through the floor board but she was elated to make a few right turns and mainly keep it between the white lines.

Much of these last few days and the weeks/months ahead feel like driving for the first time. Gotta know when to hit the brake and when to give it some gas. We have to trust our instincts and listen to the advice of those around us. We also have to have the courage to buckle up and get moving forward. Keep moving forward- a little everyday and we will eventually reach our destination.

Seek, Find, Lead

We are living in trying times, unchartered territory, and amid uncertainty. Our home, community, city, state, nation, world, and way of life is being challenged and transformed. What we seek, we will find.

For me, it is a time to step back and take stock. What have I valued and spent my energy searching for? In a time where we are forced to slow down and evaluate, we often find that all that we have allowed to consume the space in our minds and hearts is fleeting and futile.

Leadership lessons learned through this time:

1. Collect data and make informed decisions.

2. Act decisively and a good decision is always before you. If you try and wait for a perfect decision, you will fail every time.

3. Surround yourself with a variety of experts and personalities. You don’t have to pretend to know it all and it’s wise to lean on the knowledge and experience other folks bring.

4. Take action. Take ownership and be proactive. Our country has thrived in times of stress and turmoil because we took ownership and pursued the greater good of all.

5. Empathy and Sacrifice trump Pity and Selfishness. Think of others and seek to meet their needs. Our greatest joy can be found in helping our fellow man. Try it.

I also believe our future remains bright and we will have lessons and a platform to share insights with family, friends, peers, colleagues, and students. Seek, Find, and Lead- let love spread around your world!