Doug Ferguson is a word-artist. He writes newspaper columns. He would be about twenty years my junior, but we have been great friends since day one. As an aspiring writer for the Associated Press, his beginning beat called him to randomly stir up something (anything) to report from the Tulsa surroundings. One could tell he had a gift for writing; but that he knew he had not yet struck gold.
We are alike in many ways; he's a golf nut and I, too, have clubs. Maybe fifteen years ago I beefed up my erratic game by buying a sharp looking golf bag. The snazzy Wilson red, white, and blue had pockets which had pockets. I paid good money for it (maybe two weeks earlier) hoping I could at least look the golf part when I suited up. Lavish praises came from Doug one entire Saturday morning round regarding what a sharp looking new bag I had. I couldn't decide if he liked the bag that much or if there was little else about my game in which to make comment.
Afterwards our foursome stopped at a nearby convenience store. I was inwardly struggling as to whether to sacrifice my special (and brand new) Wilson bag. Decisiveness needed to be quick and accurate. While Doug was buying his Pepsi, I swapped my new bag for his lesser one and reloaded the clubs. My friend was both surprised and pleased. I could tell I had made the right decision.
Later on Doug struck gold being promoted to chief golf writer for AP. About twice a year UPS delivers surprise packages to my door from him. Everything from Masters' shirts and caps to British Open ties to new clubs come from this dear friend. Yesterday Doug passed along over $2000 worth of tickets for this week's PGA Tournament at Southern Hills.
Doug's nature would be to do all of this for me if I had never given him a thing. However, more than once, I have surely been glad I handed over my treasured new golf bag. It may have been pretty, but it has given so much back to me over the years. And, if truth be known, I feel that I played a major role in shaping Doug's career. No man can cover golf's Major Championships week after week and year after year with a rattly golf bag.
The next time you read a golf story which has Doug Ferguson AP beneath the headlines, you just remember it was me who got this man his job!
4 comments:
You are hilarious. Enjoy the PGA. I wanted to volunteer to sell ice cream (HILTI employees were invited to do so), but was told I could not have a day off this week :(((
So - enjoy for me.
Billye
I once saw a golfer unbuckle his golf bag from the back of his cart after hitting an approach shot into the drink. He carried the bag with clubs inside to the pond and did his best imitation of an Olympic discus thrower tossing bag and all into the pond.
He noticed my buddy and I staring at him from the next tee box in disbelief. As to make it alright to toss ones clubs and bag into the drink he said, "It's O.K., I make my own clubs!"
What a wonderful gift you gave your buddy. I think I'd rather do that with my bag than toss it into the water.
I believe you have helped many get their start! :) Another great story!! Have a great week! Love you friend!
So THAT's my problem! I needed a better looking golf bag to both improve my game and my station in life. Now I'm trying to figure out why no one came along and gave me a golf bag years ago. And Terry, you've been on the course with me ... you know how badly I could have used a nice bag!
I remember going to the driving range and hitting a small bucket of balls while we were waiting for our turn. On the first tee, after I shanked a couple of "gimmees" you said, "Greg, I don't think that bucket of range balls did you any good." This many years later, I remember with fondness how I was able to make you look good on the course that day!
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