MEEKER | Once upon a time ago, along in the 1980s sometime, three Meeker “Yahoos” by the names of Ray McKee, Bill Zobel and Tom Pilkington decided they needed to play a round of golf. So, they each rounded up some clubs and drove out to the Meeker Golf Course up Flag Creek Road a-ways.
They each thought this would be an easy game to master. After all, they were wrestlers and football players in high school, so how hard could it be to smack that little ol’ ball with a stick? Besides, Bill had actually played a couple of times in Craig. Plus, Ray and Tom had both hit wiffle balls in Gary Eyre’s P.E. class 20-some years ago.
So off to the links they go. Jim Cook is in the club house, and they pay their fees. He asks, “do you want to walk or cart?” Of course, those little carts look like fun, so they pay for two of those little goin’ machines. Jim asks, “I have a single that wants to play, can he go with you?”
“Sure, who is it?”
“It’s me,” says this old timers, and they he steps out wearing a big ol’ smile and a cowboy hat. It’s Charlie Bloomfield who they know from their friend Bob.
They load up and go! On number one, “This looks like a nice shot off of this hill. Just hit it down to that landing area into the short grass,” Jim advises the foursome.
They each hit a pretty good shot off of the white tees. Charlie’s is best and just short of the pond.
As they race down the hill, Tom says, “I’ll hit first as I’m away.” Then a splash, and then two more splashes!
“What’s that up on the green?”
“That’s Charlie’s ball.”
So they each take a drop as per Charlie’s rules and then hit over the pond but not on the green. They go to chip on and then putt. Charlie two putts for par and the three “studs” all take a seven.
On to No. 2. This one is short, so Charlie advises an iron, but Ray hits over the net. “That’s OB, so hit a mulligan.” Charlie scores a 3 and the “Yahoos” score two 5s and a 6.
On they go. “I think that’s called a slice,” became a common comment as they continued. “Unless it’s a hook,” was also used often.
They each found a couple of balls while they were in the long grass looking for their own.
They had to smoke a big cigar for old times’ sake, but Charlie didn’t want to light up. He just smiled, laughed a lot, and hit down the middle of the “freeway” as they called it.
They come to another par 3 and Charlie advises, “Don’t go long and over this one — it’s pretty steep back there.” A while later as Ray was off the hill and into the gully, they hear him cry, “I see what you mean. I think I’ll climb out of here and drop one.” OK.
“Say, who is that over on that other hole?”
Charlie knows. “That’s Dean Parr and Charlie Homes. They’re out here all the time.”
“And who is that behind us? I think I know them,” asks Tom.
“That’s Harry Watt and Gene Clapper, they are both real good players.”
Tom says, “I thought they were wrestlers and football players like us.”
“That was then, this is now. Let’s tee off,” says Charlie.
On they continue, while wising off and harassing each other until they complete No. 9. They it’s up the hill in those cute little carts. In the parking lot they meet three pretty ladies — the wives — Diane, Yvonne and Meryl.
“Are you guys done playing pasture pool?” They inquire.
“Probably not,” is the answer. “Let’s get something to eat then decide.”
“Come on Charlie, we’re buying.”
So, Jim Cook’s wife fixes them all a hamburger and they each have an adult beverage. Charlie has iced tea.
“I need more ammo if we go again,” says Tom.
“Jim has them in the pro shop and says these Top Flights go straight,” says Bill.
“Hey Charlie, we’re going back out, do you want to go? We’re ready for the blue tees.”
“Sure,” he answers. “Why not, you guys are a lot of fun.”
So, they hit off the blues, light up a new cigar, take and adult beverage with them and drive those cute little carts off the hill, wising off as they go.
They did finish just before dark.
By Tom Pilkington
Special to the Herald Times
