While in Dallas this summer visiting my friend Jeff, I was on the way back to DFW airport and had left a bit early having a full day pretty much free before flying home. My GPS took me to the rental car center - slowly but surely. As I turned on Rental Car Drive, there it was, off to the side - Bear Creek Golf Club. By instinct, I turned in...
I made my way down the bumpy drive, looking around. Coming into view, I saw a parking lot and clubhouse/golf shop. It looked 80s-ish. I tried to remember its look, but I couldn't. Nothing special from the outside.
Going inside, more of the same. It looked like a muni pro shop - basic gear for sale. Rates were posted - very reasonable - $35 or so for a round plus cart. Not too many people around but it was a Monday.
I struck up a conversation - "Well, sir, we have 2 18's, the West and East. The East is the more challenging, as you can see from the slope rating" I looked at the scorecard: 73.4/138 - quite high.
"That's the one" I said to myself.
* * *
It was 1983 when I saw that course for the first time. It was the American Junior Golf Association Hyatt Bear Creek Junior Tournament at that time. I drove up from Austin to play my senior year of high school. The AJGA was the big junior tournament tour at the time. I had played in one tournament in Abilene the year before and performed badly under difficult conditions. But I was a year old and better now.
The course, like the set up before in Abilene, was very tough. The course was long for its day and there were many trees, traps and water hazards. The first hole was a par 5 and I must have made a 7 or so on it. The next hole, the number 1 handicap hole. It did not get better. I gutted it out and really tried to do my best. I was certainly capable of shooting in the 70s or 80s at that time. But this was not the day.
After a string of bogeys or worse, on the 15th hole, I was down the middle with 140 or so to the green, Finally a chance for a short iron, put it on the green, get it going. But no. My ball was in a divot in the middle of the fairway. No chance - I hit it fat and well short of the green. That was the highest and lowest point of the day.
I shot some score in the 90s - can't even remember exactly. It was at the very bottom. Quite humiliating, even though there was no one I knew at the tournament. To make matters worse, I was staying at this SMU fraternity house with a friend of the family (not even a friend of mine) and had to go back to these people I didn't even know or like and report on my poor performance.
That night I decided that this AJGA tournament wasn't important to me, and that I needed to get back to Austin to clear out my game in time for the Austin high school District 26 5-A Championship which was that following Monday or Tuesday. So I bailed on the AJGA - just quit - did not show for round 2 - headed back home - the proverbial Trunk Slam.
It must have been just a poorly timed slump. I struggled on the range on Sunday in Austin, shot 92 again the first day of the District Tournament, but settled in at 83 on day 2 to help the team get second place. A week or two later at the Regional Tournament, I had 2 of my best rounds under pressure, 80-81 to nearly be low man on the team to Jeff's 83-77. We had a good senior finish the two of us. And we're still good friends. And he can still beat me. And that's just the way it is.
In hindsight, the competition on the AJGA circuit was nationwide and the players were among the best from many different states, not just Texas. The courses selected were very difficult. Both tournaments I traveled to at age 17 by myself. I didn't even consider playing a practice round and didn't know what to expect. There was an expectation that college coaches were watching. No wonder I did poorly.
Conversely, the District Championship was an "A" Tournament for me, and (looking back) I'm glad I realized that it was more important to me that some Dallas tournament.
* * *
The pro at Bear Creek asked "Would you like to play or maybe hit some balls? We've got clubs available" It was hot and I had a flight to catch so I declined and headed out. No sense in trying change the past.
* * *
Today, I still enjoy the game and have played many fine courses. I've met some good friends through the game and believe that I can play with anyone. I've had instruction from some of the greats of the game. Some of those friends from the Austin District Championship went on to careers on the PGA Tour.
I've got many more good memories than bad in my golf games. Living Well is the Best Revenge.
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