Upon Further Review: Throwing down the golf gauntlet
Over the last couple of summers, golf has been the subject of several fine columns by your local sports writers. Our triumphant victories — and our devastating losses — have graced the pages of the Southern Standard.
The last two summers, Mr. Nunley and I have taken our day off on Wednesday to hit the links and go toe-to-toe for bragging rights (both here at the newspaper as well as with anyone within ear shot) after a successful bashing out on the links.
Yes, I’ve won a few, and Mr. Nunley occasionally managed to sneak in a couple of victories. But no matter who won, everybody enjoyed hearing our war stories.
Many of you have been disappointed over the lack of detailed information about the heated rivalry between Mr. Nunley and myself on the links this year. And to my disappointment, there have been few chances to go out and smack the ball around. In fact Mr. Nunley and myself have yet to hit the course for a little one-on-one battle.
We have teamed together this year for a couple of scrambles, and have had a respectable showing. Just a couple of weeks ago we managed to slap a 62 at the Rotary Tournament only to be pushed to the bottom of our flight because of some type of score card play-off. Five teams tie at 62 and we get left out of the money? Go figure.
This summer I have hit the course and struggled at times with my game, but I have been out there hacking it around. Now if you remember back this spring, just before Mr. Nunley tied the knot, I wrote a little column congratulating Rob and his lovely wife Gina. But as you may recall I suggested that Rob would no longer be available to spend as much time out on the course. If I remember right, Rob seemed outraged that I would even suggest marriage would hinder or keep him from spending time driving the ball down the middle of the fairway.
Did I say middle? I mean into the woods.
But as you can tell Mr. Nunley has had few days available to hit the links this season. Now marriage has been a great thing for Rob, but I must confess it has interfered with the friendly competition here at the paper.
Speaking of woods, Tiger Woods has spent more time in the lumber yard this year than Paul Bunyan. This past weekend at the NEC Invitational, Tiger would have fit right in with Mr. Nunley and myself as he spent most of his time recovering from errant tee shots that found every tree on the Firestone Course.
Now the only difference is Tiger launched his shots out of the woods and actually hit the greens, posting a 69 on Sunday to finish in second place. Rob and I would still be swinging away trying to keep from breaking 100.
With school back in swing and cool fall days ahead of us, my offer to Mr. Nunley will be back on the table for a few friendly rounds on Wednesday. So far this year he has had some type of excuses — “It’s too hot,” or “I have to take care of the kid.” It just hasn’t been the same this year without a little trash-talking here in the newsroom.
Mr. Nunley, your excuses are about to run out. I say it’s time to wipe the cobwebs from your clubs and let’s get at it.