I was talking with a group of friends about plum bobbing the other day and everyone had their own take on it. I have my own, from a book a friend gave me and from Mike Bender’s golf school.  My dad was one of the better putters I ever knew, and he just went with his gut, his wrists, and his feel.  As for plum bobbing, back to that in a minute. Although a good plum bob lesson in Caddyshack would have been funny.

Golf teams. Will South 1975 and University Buffalo 1979.

 My love of the game

I love golf.  It started by caddying for my dad at Audubon, and in sixth grade I rode out to South Shore with him to buy his annual set of clubs from Iggy Banko. It was my turn to receive the hand me down set because Tim and Dan just got theirs the year before.  And so my golf career began. From Audubon to Ransom Oaks to playing in high school and college and onto many competitive events to scrambles to invitations and by far my favorite was the Lockport Invitation where my dad and I sniffed a victory.

Lockport Invitation 1993

Not only did I do it once, but I did it with a group of friends.

The latest iteration I’ve come to enjoy is the birdie polski dog meat full handicap skins game.  The handicap levels the field and the competition is as fun as spectating the rest of the group for four hours.

 And lastly if I ever get around to writing a book, there will definitely be a chapter on golf and all the nuances that go along with it.  Here’s a humorous look at some of the topics and discussions we’ve all been involved in at the 19th hole.

1. On playing number 11 at Brookfield. How to properly line up your fourth putt and it’s no gimmie.
2. How to help your opponent organize and count the clubs in his bag.
3. How to Hit a Calaway from the rough when you hit a Titleist from the tee.
4. How to avoid the water when you lie 8 in a bunker.
5. How to get more distance off the shank.
6. When to give the Ranger a heads up.
7. Using your shadow on the greens to maximize earnings.
8. When to implement handicap management.
9. How to rationalize a six hour round.
10. How to find that ball that everyone else saw go in the water.
11. No one cares that you birdied the 5th.
12. How to let a foursome play through your twosome.
13. How to relax when you are hitting five off the tee.
14. When to suggest major swing corrections to your opponent.
15. The birdie-to-bogey three putt
16. How to quietly plan a footprint in the way of your opponent’s three footer without him knowing.
17. How to mark as if you are playing tiddleywink.
18. How to get free carts from your club pro.
19. On giving yourself a three footer  “who’s it hurting?”.
20. How to pocket your opponent’s ball and still help him look for it.
21. And lastly, taking advice from someone who has no clue how to plumb bob.