Week off prior to Morelia

Tuesday: I arrived in Kitty Hawk in the early afternoon and my first stop was the post office to mail Uncle Sam his share last season's profits (with one day to spare) then settled in at Cathy and Foster's place. I have a cozy basement apartment with all the amenities.

 Kitty Hawk is reminiscent of the Myrtle Beach area just less developed. When dinner time arrived we chose a favorite watering hole of my gracious hosts , The Black Pelican for pizza and beer.

• Can you hear me now? I could hear but not see the screen on my cell when flipped open. This ailment has  progressively worsened over the last week and was probably due to a faulty connection. My plan had expired so I re-upped with Verizon and a new phone was included. An LG VX8300 is on its way.

• I'm getting hammered: Looks like the message board on the Seoul Sisters website (won't find too many advocates there) is putting it to me regarding my recent commentary, but the naiveté is astounding. These are not isolated occurrences but an endemic behavior. Have there been incidents of Americans cheating? Absolutely. I have heard of one or two over the years but not like we see now.

One person wrote "Acculturation and assimilation doesn't happen overnight". Oh really. I received an email from a father who's daughter played AJGA golf a few years back and said it was the same even at that young age. It's not a matter of assimilation but indoctrination of distorted values.

Now, lets get to the name calling. A few objected to the use of "kim-cheater" so I'll address it. That was used for one reason only. Shame. Maybe you follow the "politically correct" mantra but I'm tired of hearing it.

I see a few postings have resorted to personal attacks against me. Of course, the small minded attack the messenger instead of addressing the real problem. 

I'll sum up my position this way. What did Bobby Jones say about the integrity of the game of golf when he was praised for calling a penalty on himself? "You might as well praise me for not breaking into banks. There is only one way to play this game."

• On a lighter note: Cathy and Foster escorted me on a mini-tour of "the sights" of their home town which included a stop at Kilmarlic Country Club. This is Cathy's home course and has a corner of the pro shop dedicated to her golf exploits. Prominently displayed is the first place trophy for her win at the 1990 du Mauirer Classic.

Wednesday: I've been hear a couple days and thought it was time to play tourist. So what two gentleman really put Kitty hawk on the map? The Wright brothers of course. It's just a few miles down the road so I stopped in for a few pics. Finished my tour with a red hot (Chicago style) from Capt'n Frank's.

 

A well deserved place in history.

Contact!

Tough trek up that hill.

• Good eats: Foster prepared one of Cathy's favorites for diner last night, Swiss steak smothered in brown gravy. It was accompanied by a Cesar salad and a side of rice. Delicious.

Today it was spaghetti, ala Foster, and again, it was perfecto!

• Doin' the shuffle: An iPod Shuffle was given to all participants of last year's Michelob event but Cathy has been unable to sync her songs to the little bugger. Not having an iPod myself, but enjoying this sort of challenge, I gave it a go. The instructions appeared straight forward but her Gateway desktop would  momentarily recognized the Shuffle but then it would disappear. So, I took it a step at a time and updated iTunes first. Then tried a different USB port with the iPod and voila! She's now able to listen to Barry Manilow at her leisure.

Thursday: Was a day to just "veg out" but my phone arrived and had to get that going. Also, I helped Cathy format a lesson card for her students. Scanned the Kilmarlic logo for the front and created a lined interior with subject headings. Just need a proof from the printer and she's ready to go.

• Correction: We had "country steak" the other night not Swiss steak. Where do I think I am?

• A little short: Our final "full field" event of the season (Longs Drug) won't be that full after all. It will be limited to only 108 players. Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into potential travel plans. We'll be coming from Alabama so, anyone (including caddies) on the bubble to get in will have a major decision to make.

• Best quote contender: Allison Hanna-Williams has "Motorcycle Jim" on the bag and he has a tendency of fluctuating his vocal output to an almost inaudible level at times. Allison described it perfectly this way. "Sometimes he talks so softly, I think it's my own thoughts."

Friday: My last evening was spent at The Black Pelican once more but this time we were joined by Rhet and Jim Wilkinson (Talkin' Jim's parents). Plenty of beer and a little food. Went to the Wilkinson's cottage afterwards for some reminiscing and called it a night.

Saturday: Took Cathy's suggestion and parked at the Quality Inn instead of airport parking. Not much to the Norfolk Airport but it's a welcomed change from the behemoths of large cities. Easy in and out.

No entrada!! Both of my flights were on regional jets, and would have been on time, except the one going to Mexico had a bit of a role reversal and was delayed. One of the passenger's documents were not in order and was refused entry. Of course, his bags had to be removed and that took almost an hour. Imagine, an illegal alien trying to get into Mexico.

Sunday: The course was closed till 11 AM so we got are work done beforehand. It's in good shape but the greens will kept at 9.5 on the Stimpmeter due to their severe slope and anticipated winds. Afterwards, we headed downtown and took in the sights. Finished our tour with a scoop of cappuccino flavored ice cream  in waffle-cone which looked a lot better than it tasted.

• Lets eat: Rick and I took a taxi to the course this morning but breakfast had to be the first stop. Mcdonald's was on the way so we made it clear to the driver that it would be our fist stop. Instead of going in, we used the auto mac (drive through) and it worked out to be a bit of a hassle. We both order a meal that included a drink but I'm the only one that wanted coffee. After being asked at least four times how many coffees we desired, he finally got it right. Of course, I spilled it on myself on the way to Tres Marias but it blended in on my khaki shorts.

• When in México: It was Margaretville this evening as we hit the liquor store for some tequila and mix. Potato chips substituted for appetizers but who cares?

Tournament Week

My player this week is Dina Ammaccapane.

Monday: With nothin' to do and plenty of time to do it in, I took another walk-about, this time with Chad and Herr Steffler, into town again. Concentrically circling the square, we hit the candy mart for some toasted coconut concoctions, stopped for a cafe mocha and cafe Americano at one of the sidewalk eateries, purchased some pesos at a local banco, Burger King for lunch and general turista stuff before heading home. We eschewed the ubiquitous taxi and decided to hoof it (at least part of the way). Chad abandoned us with about two miles to go so we made one last stop for provisions (bread, peanut butter and jelly ought to do it) then headed home. The last segment of our trek was all uphill so we gave in to the taxi ride. This was probably my last venture of the week with the actual work starting mañana.

Tuesday: Dina arrived at the course just before six and we were on the tee by seven twenty-three. It was the perfect time to practice and, even though it took us five hours to play, it seemed less as we didn't wait for a single shot.

• Déjà vu: Every year it's the same, talk of lost luggage dominates many conversations. That regional jet out of Houston just doesn't cut it when you have to haul so many sets of clubs. A couple players took advantage of the opportunity, opting to stay in Houston another day, after being offered $600 travel vouchers for their trouble. We were enticed with premiums of only $300 on Saturday but turned them down.

• Stock up: The spread in player hospitality is excellent as usual but they added an item that may turn out to be the most popular of all. A plate of antacids sits next to the coffee pot and seems to be dwindling rapidly.

Wednesday: Arrived early for breakfast and to serf the Net but the password is unavailable for our use. Spent the time perusing some tech newsletters I've already downloaded and adding to this week's blog till Dina arrived. Had breakfast, practiced for a short time then ate lunch. Quite exhausting.

• True blue: Plenty of blue jeans (flip-flops, t-shirts, bare feet and other signs of missing luggage, Dina's included) are seen roaming around the clubhouse but all should arrive by noon today. At least five players didn't even have their sticks yet.

• Luck of the Irish? Our fourth roomy (we rented an apartment for the week) arrived late Monday evening and imparts a silver tongue, replete with his native nomenclature, to our mundane conversations. Vern Tess (Janice Moodie's looper) is honoring our humble abode with his presence and we hope he's brought along an abundance of his homeland's reputed good fortune.  

• 2+2 = 4, usually: Angela Stanford split with  her caddie Steve after Sundays' round in Orlando and we were racking our Lilliputian brains trying to determine his replacement. Then it hit us. Heather Young's husband, Jeremy, is scheduled to return from a stint on the PGA, and since he had previously won with Angela and Heather wouldn't reveal who he would be working for (top secret stuff out here), we figured it was a 99.9% chance it will be him. We'll see in Tulsa.

• Dastardly dot dilemma: As most of you know, the pin positions are given to us prior to each round but a couple holes are giving a few loopers fits on how they will be measured. A yellow dot is placed at the front and back of each green and the pin is walked on this angle. But holes eight and eighteen have the dot just over the bunkers which are 3 and 4 paces into the green respectively. So how are they measured? The pin is still paced from the front of the green and those extra paces are included in the measurement. Simple enough? e.g. If the pin is 10 and the dot is 3 yards into the green, it has been measured 7 yards from the dot.

• No-brainer: Due to the hilly nature of the Tres Marias lay-out, the rule governing bag size has been disbanded and Sunday toters are allowed. Always thinking of my every comfort, Dina brought one along and gave me the option of which to carry. Her normal medium-sized tour bag or a canvas sack with a handle and two pockets. Guess which one I picked?

• Just had to do it: No problemo getting a ride back to the Holiday Inn (player's hotel), and they may even take us all the way to the Hotel Posada Vista Bella were we are staying. Since all I did was eat two meals at the course with very little work in-between, I decided to walk the rest of the way from the Holiday Inn to work off the extra calories. Proceeding on a metronomic pace a Marine drill sergeant would be proud of, I arrived fifty-five minutes later without even breaking a sweat. Yeah, right! As I took in the sights, sounds and smells of my Morelia promenade, something eerily familiar struck me like the lightning bolt that zapped "The Bishop" when he missed his final putt for the course record in Caddyshack. The blaring horns of the perpetual traffic, trash strew streets, omnipresent Mariachi music and just a whiff of the stench of sewer gas all seemed conversant with another city I spent some time in. Phoenix!

Thursday: Got off to a slow start but brought it back on our second nine. Finished -2. Our most fortuitous shot of the day came on the par three 14th. Dina yanked it twenty yards left but in came all the way down the hill and finished 10 feet from the pin. Played "ball in hand" today which I think surprised everyone.

• Nice knowin' ya (not really): Another nail in the unethical Korean coffin has been hammered by Hye Jung Choi. She (or her father) fired her caddie (John Schiffer) today after posting a stellar -3. So far this year, she's had two top tens and made over $100K with him on the bag. Dada will be carrying the sack mañana.

• Hell no, dig no mo! Dina noted that the proletariat was demonstrating on the square this week just outside her hotel. A proposed subway system to transport workers to the downtown area is being protested to save the jobs of the taxi and private min-bus shuttle drivers.

• Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: I believe that book suggested that the sexes are as different as beings from other planets and the way they play golf is no exception. Let me expound by relating a tale from an experience on The Nationwide Tour by one of our regulars. He was working for Jeff Gallagher and, after finding their ball in a precarious position, was asked his opinion. The cadero, after being molded by years of experience on the LPGA, opted to pitch out which prompted this response from his player. Calling the attention of the others in the group he declared " Hey guys, my man here thinks I can't make this shot!" Call it whatever you wish, but this type of bravado is one of the main factors that defines the confidence level between tours. On the other hand, it also gets them into some of the most convoluted quandaries imaginable. I'll probably catch hell for opining on this subject too.

Friday: A threat of rain had us pull out the big bag today and couldn't believe the difference. I almost wrenched my shoulder picking it up the first time. It was unlucky also, as we shot +5 but at least we're playing tomorrow.

• Have it your way: ICE (Chad Payne) has very  peculiar tastes concerning his diet especially when traveling out of the country. Down here it's either Burger King or McDonald's and he always orders the same thing but of course, the order may be lost in translation so an ingenious remedy was concocted. He had Lorena write down exactly what he wished (I think it's two plain burgers, a medium fry and drink) and he just hands it to the counter person. We suggested it be transcribed on a laminated card for future travel.

• Do not pass go: Teresa Lu and her parents decided to take a circuitous route to Morelia and it may bite them it the butt. They drove to Tijuana and flew in from there but forgot to bring their passports. In an effort to help out, the LPGA has drafted a document verifying the reason they came to Mexico. I wonder, is that like getting a note from your mother?

• Good move? I previously  mentioned Candie Kung and her caddie Jeff split up but it may have been for the best (at least for him so far). He has been apparently spotted on TV working for Sean O'Hair at The Byron Nelsen event and is one shot out of the lead.

Saturday: The light bag was the only good news. Shot +1.

• A new low: Just when you think regard for many of the Korean players behavior has achieved previously unseen depths, a new milestone has been attained. I just found out the reason Hye Jung Choi fired John, and due to respect for his privacy can't reveal it, but it is truly despicable. This worm like, narcissistic, unconscionable deportment can only be associated with a sociopathic depravity of compassion to one's fellow human beings and if you think this diatribe goes beyond the pale, it doesn't. She deserves every bit of it. Even The Seoul Sisters "Kool-Aid consumers" would be appalled.

Sunday: Much better today posting a three under par round and made a few bucks.

• 1 in 4: That's the rule the LPGA has on the books regarding player participation and it may be a boon to the Corona event next year. They are required to play at least once every four years in each tournament or be subjected to a hefty fine and it would be interesting to look back and see who has missed all three so far.

• Look what I found: It's amazing how they go through your bags and help themselves when you travel down here. Ashli Bunch had jewelry and a brand new webcam stolen and the same happened with Portland John's backup hard drive with all his tunes and movies on it. Anything worth taking needs to be in your carry-on. If you didn't know already, Morgan Pressel had the same thing happen to her clubs at the Orlando airport after the win at Nabisco.

• Men at work: Ever wonder how are day is spent off the course (non-alcoholic that is)?

On the Net at The Hotel Posada Vista Bella