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Authors: Kevin Alan Milne
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you’ve been gone this whole time. You haven’t taught me a single thing.”
He grabbed some peanuts from a tray on the table and popped them in his mouth, still watching the TV. “Delores was your instructor today.”
“What do you mean? She knows less about golf than I do.”
London pulled his stare from whatever he was watching and gazed at me, blinking twice. “Fine then. She wasn’t your instructor. But she was your partner today, and just the sort of partner you needed. What did I tell you before I left you two alone?”
“That she’s been going through a rough time.”
“Exactly.”
“And? What does that have to do with golf?”
He looked at me with a slight sadness in his eyes, as if he was disappointed that I wasn’t understanding what he was trying to tell me. With a sigh he repeated the words I’d heard so many times before. “Golf is life, lad. Who else do you know who is going through a rough spell these days?”
“You mean Erin? With the pregnancy?”
He tilted his head to the side and winked. “Erin may not be out here swinging clubs with you, but she is your partner all the same. Marriage is a partnership in every sense of the word. Today Delores made it through the first nine holes only because her partner— you —were there encouraging her, helping her, and lifting her when she needed it. I’m sure you also showed great patience and understanding when she struggled, because that’s what good golf partners do. With your spouse, if you support and encourage each other, and always put the other person first, then your marriage will be able to survive whatever turbulence may come—even these nine months while Erin isn’t exactly herself all the time. Just work every single day to be the best golf partner you can be, and you’ll be just fine. Got it?” A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.
I studied my father for several long moments. At some level it bothered me that for the second month in a row he’d managed to teach me something other than golf while on the golf course, and he didn’t even have to play a single hole to do it. But I really couldn’t get upset, because he was right. It wasn’t me that was dealing with the pains and struggles of pregnancy, it was Erin, and I needed to be more compassionate to help her wade through it. “Was there even an emergency at the restaurant today?” I asked finally.
He shook his head and pointed at the TV. “I’ve been sitting here watching an LPGA event in Maui. After I recruited Delores to play I had her run ahead while I used the restroom. From there I called the restaurant and told them to call me back in fifteen minutes so I’d have an easy out.” He smiled smugly, obviously proud that his plan had worked out so well.
Delores showed up just then and sat down in the empty chair beside my father.
“So are we going back out for another nine holes?” she asked. “I’m bound and determined to shoot less than twelve on at least one hole today.”
“You two go on without me,” I said before my father could reply. “I’ve got another golf partner at home who needs some attention.” London stiffened in his seat. I could only guess that he did not want to be left alone on the course with Delores. “Besides,” I continued, seizing on the opportunity to make my father feel uncomfortable, “London was just saying that you two could really use some alone time on the course.” I winked at Delores and she beamed with delight. London’s face went as white as winter snow. I looked directly at him once more before leaving. Leaning in close so only he could hear I whispered, “If golf is life, then live it.”
CHAPTER 8
If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.
—Bob Hope
M ay 19, 1973 —I’ve been called many things in my life, but never a louse… until today. Suffice it to say that my father-in-law, Oswald Call, is less than enamored with the
He grabbed some peanuts from a tray on the table and popped them in his mouth, still watching the TV. “Delores was your instructor today.”
“What do you mean? She knows less about golf than I do.”
London pulled his stare from whatever he was watching and gazed at me, blinking twice. “Fine then. She wasn’t your instructor. But she was your partner today, and just the sort of partner you needed. What did I tell you before I left you two alone?”
“That she’s been going through a rough time.”
“Exactly.”
“And? What does that have to do with golf?”
He looked at me with a slight sadness in his eyes, as if he was disappointed that I wasn’t understanding what he was trying to tell me. With a sigh he repeated the words I’d heard so many times before. “Golf is life, lad. Who else do you know who is going through a rough spell these days?”
“You mean Erin? With the pregnancy?”
He tilted his head to the side and winked. “Erin may not be out here swinging clubs with you, but she is your partner all the same. Marriage is a partnership in every sense of the word. Today Delores made it through the first nine holes only because her partner— you —were there encouraging her, helping her, and lifting her when she needed it. I’m sure you also showed great patience and understanding when she struggled, because that’s what good golf partners do. With your spouse, if you support and encourage each other, and always put the other person first, then your marriage will be able to survive whatever turbulence may come—even these nine months while Erin isn’t exactly herself all the time. Just work every single day to be the best golf partner you can be, and you’ll be just fine. Got it?” A small smile played at the corner of his mouth.
I studied my father for several long moments. At some level it bothered me that for the second month in a row he’d managed to teach me something other than golf while on the golf course, and he didn’t even have to play a single hole to do it. But I really couldn’t get upset, because he was right. It wasn’t me that was dealing with the pains and struggles of pregnancy, it was Erin, and I needed to be more compassionate to help her wade through it. “Was there even an emergency at the restaurant today?” I asked finally.
He shook his head and pointed at the TV. “I’ve been sitting here watching an LPGA event in Maui. After I recruited Delores to play I had her run ahead while I used the restroom. From there I called the restaurant and told them to call me back in fifteen minutes so I’d have an easy out.” He smiled smugly, obviously proud that his plan had worked out so well.
Delores showed up just then and sat down in the empty chair beside my father.
“So are we going back out for another nine holes?” she asked. “I’m bound and determined to shoot less than twelve on at least one hole today.”
“You two go on without me,” I said before my father could reply. “I’ve got another golf partner at home who needs some attention.” London stiffened in his seat. I could only guess that he did not want to be left alone on the course with Delores. “Besides,” I continued, seizing on the opportunity to make my father feel uncomfortable, “London was just saying that you two could really use some alone time on the course.” I winked at Delores and she beamed with delight. London’s face went as white as winter snow. I looked directly at him once more before leaving. Leaning in close so only he could hear I whispered, “If golf is life, then live it.”
CHAPTER 8
If you watch a game, it’s fun. If you play at it, it’s recreation. If you work at it, it’s golf.
—Bob Hope
M ay 19, 1973 —I’ve been called many things in my life, but never a louse… until today. Suffice it to say that my father-in-law, Oswald Call, is less than enamored with the
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