The officials are a tad over the top. At local US Open qualifying a few years ago they were watering the greens during play due to heat. It was at the Dye course at Stonebridge and 17 is a par 3. We waited on the tee while the group in front putted out then the watering crew came on. We waited a solid 8 or more minutes on the tee for them to finish. By the time we got to 18 tee the group in front of us had just walked off the green which is what makes the USGA consider you out of position. When we got to the scoring tent the official informs us we were being penalized 2 shots. Well, I shot 70 and that was going to qualify for sure as the Dye course is brutal. It took 30 minutes of losing my mind on about 3 officials before they would call the home office for a ruling. The group behind us even confirmed immediately to them that we had to wait on the tee for the watering crew.

I agree that for amateur golf there is nothing better...any of the championships truly resemble a Tour event in quality of event. Love the Hogan story, the stare down still works!

1200 sounds high but if he is "somebody" maybe. My deal was 500 a week last year for ball/shoe/glove and that was the cookie cutter deal. There was a club pool but you had to play the driver...and as mentioned before, you will have to pry my Cobra from my cold dead hands.

Well, Spenda you're in luck. It was completely boring. 9 holes of a practice round and absolutely nothing to report...no chicks, no drugs, a little cussing but that's about it.

I feel like an old man sitting on a bench at a post office just telling stories…but seeing as how I don’t have anything to do right now...here we go again! This may as well be an "old war stories" thread....

The “tell us about Tiger” question made me think of a story about him. My old roommate Grant Masson (mentioned earlier) is 2-0 against him in playoffs. One was in a junior tourney (maybe New Orleans AJGA) and the other in college at Harbor Town. The OU media guide his senior year was a picture of him fist pumping the putt to win with Tiger standing in the background…AWESOME picture, I’ll try to find a copy. Anywho…Grant is now the head pro at the Alotian Club in Little Rock. It was founded by Warren Stephens, son of Jack – former chairman at Augusta. It is an incredible place, so I hear, and certainly one of the hardest places to play or become a member in the world. Trust me, you can’t just join. How’s this for exclusive…they have a clinic each year at I believe their member/member and it has been hosted by Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Phil and Tiger. Pretty standard clinic stuff for a private club. Grant is lucky enough to be one of the guys to go pick the players up from the airport each year and spend about 30 minutes driving them back to the course. The year he picked he picked up Tiger he went with the Director of Golf (I believe). Tiger walked off his plane and said “holy sh*t Masson you work here?” The Director says “oh you two know each other?” Tiger – “know him? He F’in owns me.” During the clinic Tiger is constantly on Grant trying to get him to play him in a playoff because Grant is the only person in the world who he can't beat. Obviously a joke, but it is cool to hear of Tiger humbling himself and going out of his way to make sure every single member at the club knew Grant was 2-0 against him.

The Palmer pick up was the best though. Grant is on the tarmac as Palmer’s plane is pulling up. Grant looked up into the cockpit and there is Palmer just smiling and giving him two huge thumbs up…it caught him off guard to just see him in the pilot’s seat flying an otherwise empty plane aside from the copilot. So it’s just Grant and Arnie in the car talking and he says Palmer is the best guy he’s ever met. Palmer is asking tons of questions about Grant and genuinely interested in the answers. So he finally asks do you have a family? “Yes sir I am married with a son.” Palmer “beautiful, what’s his name?” Grant “Palmer.” Palmer “oh, it that a family name?” Grant “no sir, I named him after you.” Palmer starts crying and says that’s the nicest compliment he has ever received. THE DAY AFTER Palmer leaves a package shows up at Alotian and it’s a framed picture of Arnie signed to Palmer Masson with a full paragraph of solid stuff.

Now I’m going to go back to relaxing on my old man park bench.

Old man Indeed.

Scott, Thanks again for the stories and even if it's not meant to be per say, advice on golf and a different perspective on life from an individual that's grounded and knows his sh*t.

Another question to you, if I may...

What do you feel was the hardest round (US open?) you've ever had to play, be it AM, College, Pro, etc?

Without question the final round at second stage in 2008. I'll expand on this later but have to leave the office for a tennis lesson now...not kidding.

Wow, two more gems of stories. The Palmer one is mint... I had also heard that he is the best guy ever. I've always thought AP >>>>> JN in terms of demeanor.

F that...Ill give you free lessons, just keep these stories coming.

Forget the golf questions...please provide step-by-step advice on how to become an electricity salesman. 2+2 at the office, then leaving for tennis lessons, having the time for Q School...sick life.

Final round at second stage 2008. after 67-71-67 I found myself in the final group with Robert Gamez and Josh Teater. Obviously since I was in the lead group I was well inside the number to move on to Finals. I don’t really remember the front nine much and I think I turned at even. I was playing at Southern Hills just north of Tampa Bay. That day a front was blowing through and while it didn’t make it cold it did switch the wind from 20 out of the south to 25 out of the north. I bogeyed 10, 11 and 12 to move closer to the number. Still a couple of shots of room but I sure as hell didn’t need to make any bogeys or god forbid a double. 10 played crosswind and 11&12 were downwind that poor tee shots led to the bogeys. Now after leaking oil for a few holes it’s time to switch and play back into the wind almost all the way back to the clubhouse. At this point I am dying…the 15th hole is a little strange. There is a bunker in the middle of the FW that you can lay up short of which I had been doing each day leaving 150 but with the different wind that would leave a fairly hard shot so I took (tried to anyway) the bunker out of play. I hooked it left and was stymied behind a bush and trees but luckily had a clear swing. I hit a great shot out short right of the green and hit a decent pitch to 6 feet. It left a downhill left to right slider with left to right wind that broke about a foot. I hit a pure putt that fell dead center! Obviously it is a little luck for a swinger like that to drop, but I did hit a good putt. 16 is a par 5 that was back into the wind and not reachable that day. I had about 60 yards which sounds easy, but at that point I know I don’t need to screw up and the pin was on a back shelf that 10 feet long was dead over and 6 feet short would come back 30 feet leaving a tough putt. 17 and 18 are very tough holes so this was most likely my last scoring chance. Factor in a strong wind (25 mph) in my face and it was a hard shot. I hit a sweet 56 to a foot which sealed the deal.

I got it to the house from there and have never felt better on a golf course than tapping in on 18 for bogey. As most of you know, I entered Q School that year as an amateur after being out of professional golf for 6 years. I asked the rules official in the scoring tent what my options were as an amateur headed to Final Stage…obviously since I was 35 at the time I didn’t look like a college kid who just took a shot at Q School as an amateur. He said he didn’t know what my options were so he called the Q School tournament director back at Tour HQ. I could only hear one side of the phone call (obviously) but the side I heard was pretty funny… “Hey, it’s Steve Rintoul (pause) We had an amateur make it through to Finals here in Tampa (pause) ummm, no he doesn’t look like he’s in college.” The obvious question during the second pause was “oh cool, what college does he play for.” That made me feel pretty good to be the old guy that pulled it off. I was told at the time that I was the first amateur to ever make it to Finals but it turns out I was the second. However, I would be surprised if my record of being the oldest amateur to make it to Finals is broken.

I entered that year obviously with the goal of making it, but considering I was a 35 year old amateur and one of only 6 people in an 1000+ person golf tournament to go through pre-Q, 1st and 2nd stages to make it to Finals it was pretty satisfying. The wife and I got in the car and complete exhaustion and stress lifted. I was pulling out and looked at her and she was crying from the whole ordeal so I figured I would join in! It was a great drive to Tampa and a great night of celebrating….details from that night are pretty foggy.

I rant on this question from time to time. I know the question is half a joke but a good life is doable. The readers of this forum (2+2) are typically pretty smart/mathy people. Math/sales/entrepreneurship is where you make THE MONEY in this world. I got very lucky and combined all 3. I know it sounds boring, but it’s not rocket science. Take care of your personal finances and spend less than what you make. Period. Debt is awful and will suffocate you. I got lucky for sure, but it was a lifetime of preparation that put me in the spot to take advantage of an opportunity. I have always been like everyone else, party, drink, have fun and screw off a ton. But, when it comes to work I will put in 1000’s of hours doing something if I like it. It was perfect timing that Texas deregulated its electricity market when I was struggling with mini-tour golf. That was luck. What wasn’t luck was that I literally worked 80 hour weeks for almost 4 years (02-05). I leveraged a lifetime of doing the “right” thing and conducting myself professionally into a business. I spent 2 months just studying electricity and contacting everyone I knew from growing up around golf. I went to the businessmen I knew and was honest. I told them sure I don’t know how this will work out, but here is how it SHOULD work out. The other electricity brokers were busy trying to confuse clients into signing with them and I tried to educate clients into feeling comfortable with the new market structure. I was honest…sure I am a golfer, but I have busted my ass to learn this business faster than the competition. It was because I was debt free and able to live lean that I was able to start a business that is all residual based. I saw an opportunity and did everything I could to make it work.

Yes, now it is on cruise control and I have been able to take shots at golf over the last few years. But my company has always been priority #1. Handle that business first, period. During a practice round at Finals in 2008 I skipped about 3 holes and just walked along with Martin Piller because I had a client that needed attention. Last year energy prices were at 4 year lows so I actually wound up having to work a fair amount early in the year. Yes I wanted to blow it off and just practice and play, but I didn’t. From 2002-2005 I made a ton of money, but I lived on 50k or less a year…a one bedroom apartment, drove a 15k car, etc. I didn’t spend it as fast as I made it and that is what allowed me to do other investments and start other companies. Sure it would have been fun to be 31 and driving a Lamborghini, but I didn’t. I saved and saved. Most people can’t do that and when business dries up they are screwed. Putting off spending those first 4 years of making money is 100% what has allowed me to do the things I have done for the last 4 years and will continue to do for the next 30 years.

Make money, don’t spend it, be honest and work hard. There is your live a good life equation.

However, I will admit that when I finally loosened up and decided I could spend a little money I bought the sweetest 3 year old ruby red twin turbo 911…damn was that car fast! But note: it was 3 years old and I bought it on eBay. Be smart.

palmer story choked me up a bit. easily one of the best things i've read in this forum.

Hahaha that just sounded wrong.

But obviously an awesome story. That feeling will be ever greater if you actually get to the big tour!
Are you planning on trying tour school again next year?

I wasn't planning on entering Q School this year until 30 minutes before the deadline....so I guess never say never, but unlikely.

I don't understand why you wouldn't. You're 14 rounds away from the PGA Tour. I mean you are essentially free rolling and at the worst, you get out of the office.

Plus, maybe (hopefully) we'll get another thread.

seriously do it for me...i play golf every chance i get, have been playing since i was 4, would gladly play mini-tours, etc. and I shoot freaking 84 all the goddamn time. I'd honestly cut off a testicle to play (competently) in Q-school.

It's hard to explain. But when you get to a certain level, if you can't win or close to it, it just seems senseless to continue. And that's not to say that ship can't compete, far from it, but once you've been there, you don't continue with the status quo.

Right now, at the age of 41, I could certainly make cuts on the mini-tours. But it kind of seems silly to fight for scraps if you can't be successful.

BO

That rule official sounds like he pwned you in a good way. Hope to see you is the US open again Ship.

If I am playing well without playing like this year I will enter. I just think the odds of that are smaller and smaller the further removed from competitive golf I get. One requirement for me to enter again would be having an exemption to use testosterone. I have slept like a baby since taking shots over the last week. I am by no means saying I would be a sure thing with treatment, but I know for a fact I can't compete without it...my insomnia is just too much to handle mentally.
If I enter you will. I will do the US Open and a few other events for sure next year and I will journal those.
Exactly.

My freshmen year roommate was leading the state mid-am by 3 entering the final round this year. We had a long conversation a day to two after he shot 78 to lose. We talked about how fun it would be to win either the state am or mid am, or the US am or mid am. Beyond WINNING those 4 events I couldn't give two sh*ts about playing amateur golf. That is the problem I found myself in the one year I tried to play amateur golf in 2008...if I couldn't win it was a complete beating to even be at the tournament, US Mid-Am included. I shot 66 and was one shot back after the first round in 2008. The guy I was playing with could not have been slower and we spent the entire second round on the clock and it frustrated me. I was running my ass off to catch up to get off the clock and he, the problem, was still taking too much time. The USGA times the group, not the player. I three putted a few times and absolutely mailed it in from there. Tim Jackson shot 6 under first round and I assumed in the middle of the second round I couldn't win the stroke play and basically quit...get me out of here and on to match play. Well, that was wrong. If I play a lick on the back 9 I win the stroke play and that would be cool as sh*t. My lack of respect (for myself, the game, the tournament and the competition) shown by just wanting to get on to the next step made me realize I can't enjoy amateur golf, not the way I want to.

The amateur level is solid. I can't just work full-time and go out and expect to win, sure top 10s are there but that really doesn't do it for me. So to be competitive to win takes time. I can't justify the opportunity cost of not working to try to win a tournament that doesn't pay $$$$....and mini-tour golf doesn't pay $$$$ either. So how can I realistically stay sharp headed into Q School next year. I can't and it showed at 2nd stage this year. Sure I shot -15 at first stage, but 12 of that was on the par 5s. The rest was pretty bad. That's really not very good....by definition!

Once you try (fail or not) to play and dream of winning the Masters, T-4 at the state mid-am seems pointless to me. I truly do believe I am in no-man's land with golf. I am better than the amateur level...not saying I would just win every week and dominate, but I know I can win there so I feel like I belong on the next level up. Well, second stage keeps telling me I don't belong on the highest level so what's left? Hooters Tour? Kill me please...if I were 22-29 I would be all over that right now. I am 37 and have a wife and kid....and she wants another kid. Bills = growing!
Me too!

split up from wife. sell all ur ****. play cdn tour. grind. make it to the show. find hotter pga tour trophy b1tch wife. employ me as ur caddy. profit. ez game obv.

Another kid?

Adopt me. I'll simply require Golf lessons 3 times a week...

etc.

Played in local qualifier twice (one-time playing next to Brett Wetterich right after he won the Nelson the day before -- lol exemptionments).

Fun to see a guy on TV and warm-up next to him the very next day though.

FWIW, never came close to making it out.

Only played local qualifier twice. Not sure why I haven't tried more. Shot 69 at Firewheel back in 2005 and was in a 7 for 4 playoff. I proceed to hit Driver, 6 iron on a par 5 to 8 feet (no way i can f**k this up now as everybody is spraying it all over the place. (Michael Connell and Matt Weibring were in playoff also). Three guys make putts outside of my putt for birdie and another guy has a tap in birdie. I hit a good putt and get a nasty lip out. So now we are down to 5 for 4. I am first up on the tee on next hole and snap hook it into the junk, lost ball, game over, I am first alternate.

Get a call from USGA about a week before they have the sectional qualifier in Maryland right after a tour stop. Brett Geiberger had pulled out because of injury and there is a spot so I get a chance to try and compete against mostly tour pros. I think there was 17 spots or something like that. Was paired with Jeff Brehaut which was pretty cool. Didn't even sniff it as I shoot 77-76 and it took 7 under to make it. Olin Browne shot 59 in second round to just barely make it and then played good in the US Open.

Only highlight (or lowlight) was getting to play a practice round with Kevin Stadler and Nick Watney. This is before Watney had made a name for himself. On the 5th hole I ask Watney if he is on the Nationwide Tour. He kinda chuckles and says he plays on the PGA Tour. Whoops. He quit a couple holes later and went to a different group, probably wondering how this out of shape dumbass made it this far in qualifying.

I apologize for the excessive name drops.

Oak you should be trying it every year...it is great and you certainly have the game to get hot the right day.

I think I will give it a go next year. Got my sights set on US Publinx at Bandon Dunes and US Mid-Am which is in Houston next year. Hoping to make a run in one of those.