COLONIAL SUMMARY & Memorial Day (observed)

Up at 3:26 AM. A gentle rain falls, some lightning and the faintest of thunder in the far distance. Probably Fort Worth. Now a loud one and very near.

Yes, home safe & sound and just thrilled to be here.

First thing I noticed is the absolute quiet. No God-forsaken hum of an unnecessary AC, vehicular traffic, sirens, or large numbers of people yakking in an imperceptible din. Peace & quiet … aka P’s & Q’s.

OK. First the days wrap up.

My group was near-stellar for the final day much to my delight. Jimmy Walker from Texas introduced himself on the first tee box as ‘Jimmy’. Chad Campbell, a more local native & fan fav, who I had been with before and from Argentina, Emiliano Grillo. The scorer was Marci one of the sharper more personable scorers in recent memory.

Campbell never really spoke and Grillo only said ‘Thanks for walking with us today’ after the round when he gave me a signed ball at the final hole & end of play. Nice enough guy, very good player obviously and a few unfortunate breaks set him back for the day.

Walker played well and ended up -5 for the tournament. He started -1 and was just steady and long. You can see why he is a good player. He moved Marci & I on the very first hole and we both thought it was going to be a LONG day with Mr Walker but he settled down & gave us each a signed ball afterwards.

We were in the exact position we were supposed to be in. We talked about it later. It wasn’t even his turn to hit & he was asking us to move & change where we were standing. You want to tell him to just go eff himself but cannot. Obviously.

But the big story in this group today was Chad Campbell. Very quiet & unassuming, probably even shy, he also started -1 and walking off seven (7) green which he birdied, I did some quick math (OK, arithmetic) and mentioned to Marci he was approaching course record territory. Seven was our 16th hole as we started on 10 due to the weather schedule & reshuffle.

He just missed a birdie on 8 and a drunken fan hollers out something about ‘course record’ while Grillo is putting & he (Grillo) glared at the jerk in the stands for a long while.

On the 9th but final hole, Campbell’s tee shot drifts to the right side too near the trees & he cannot go for the green rather pitches out to lay up short of the water hazard. Then he missed a putt missing the course record but still firing a sparkling 63 and vaulting up the leader board considerably.

Something else in Bill’s observations. Grillo’s caddie was the only caddie that I saw actually replace a divot. ALL WEEK. I got a chance to mention it to him and compliment him and then he explained why.

He said it was weather related but I failed to both see how that was a factor and didn't believe him.

I was thinking it was another example of American lassitude and caddies being all of a sudden much too important & lofty to actually bend down and replace a lowly divot. God forbid they show the least respect for the golf course.

Marci brought out the signed ball from Campbell, in red, when she came out of the tiny scorers room after verifying the scores with PGA officials. Campbell recall was on the 2008 Ryder Cup team and the red signed ball will go with my autographed Ryder Cup flag and shrine of that memorabilia we attended when it was in KY.

Overall the best finisher this year of the players I was with were Chad Campbell (-8) tied for 10th. Ozzie Steven Bowditch & Canadian Adam Hadwin both finished (-4) tied for 25th. Ben Crane & Jimmy Walker tied for 29th (-2). Big-hitting Tony Finau (-1) teid for 34th.

Ringer ‘best finisher’ obviously was Jordan Spieth who won it all. I was bowled over how many peeps or patrons I overheard talking that apparently KNOW Spieth personally or at least on a first name basis. Probably all friends on facebook. Remarkable.

Other notable Top ten (10) finishers from the past included … this year &/or all-time … besides Spieth & Campbell, Bryce Molder T8 (-10). Ozzie Marc Leishman & Chris Kirk, last years winner, finished (-7) T13.

OK.

Moving along ...

National Holiday this rainy Monday. Memorial day and a flag-flying day but not sure of the etiquette when it is raining.

Slightly miffed here locally with a flag issue. Some local ‘service’ org (thinking Rotary, Kiwanis or some such nonsense) will RENT you a flag, sent it out in your front yard on the 6 or 7 such Holidays AND pick them up !. For the ENTIRE weekend !!

How convenient is that ?

WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT OGO ?

Well, 2 or 3 things actually.

First, the flag should not be flown at night without proper lighting. Obviously lost on the ‘service’ organization and their ‘fund raising’ committee. I would very much like to bring it to there attention but fear labeling & retribution for such an action disrupting their cash cow.

Second, by leaving them out ALL WEEKEND, the flag is subject to the rain & inclement weather.

Finally, a convenience thing. Neighbors are what (?) ... too poor to buy a flag, too lazy to set it out more likely I am thinking.

Many to most seem to have forgotten the etiquette, values or regard for the flag.

But it IS a 'free' country.

These are many of the same people that never served, never run out of cigarettes, booze or whatever recreational drug is trending and are quite proud of their cherished tattoos or honor student that participates.

It’s OK.

If it stops raining, I’ll set out MY flag. Sewn white stars on the dark blue field, and sewn alternating red & white stripes still as brilliant as the day it arrived.

If it starts to rain again, I’ll bring it in and certainly without question or doubt BEFORE dark.

It just PROVES and goes to show where the level and quality of life has dropped.

That’s about enough for today.

Class dismissed.

God Bless America.