AND NOW HE'S A LONG DRIVER

A friend of mine is in the excavation business in Chandler, Arizona. He was sharing a great story with me last night about his son who currently competes in The Long Drive competition. He recently won the Phoenix title with a drive of 380 yards.

But more interestingly was a feat he accomplished as a 14-year old. In Arizona. In August.

Just off Baseline Road in Tempe, lies Pepperwood Golf Course. A nine hole course where the feat took place.

My friend, Jim Wright dropped his son off at Pepperwood on his way to work at 5:00 AM. His son was going to play and practice and hang out at the course till his dad retrieved him after work.

Jim had a busy day working for real estate developers who wanted to see how high up a development could be built on a mountain. Sometimes he could only excavate 6 inches of dry desert soil; other times quite a bit more. He was working long and hard in stifling heat and with Summer, more light, thus more working hours in his day.

He pulled up at the golf course near 8:00 PM. His son came running, "Dad, Dad." Of course, I'm thinking the young man recorded his first hole in one.

"I gotta play one more hole." He continued in his explanation," I've played 99 holes today (walking--parenthesis mine) and they've never had anyone play 100 holes in one day."

How could Jim refuse? With the aid of a few car headlights positioned properly, he finished his day's work--100 holes of golf. He kept the scorecards for years after. And now he's hitting the white ball farther than almost anybody.