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Par for the Course
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 The author loves getting into the holiday spirit. But in some people’s memory banks, golf and Christmas will forever be linked. “Growing up in Yorba Linda, I played a lot of golf as a kid,” said David Conforti, PGA general manager at Trump National Golf Club in Rancho Palos Verdes. “But in 1984, at the age of 14, I got my first professional set of clubs at Christmas. They were Ping Eye 2s. I think I played them for about 10 years.” It also was a Christmas memory that pointed Jimmy Han toward a career in golf. “I grew up in Redlands and loved the game, but most of my golf had been played on not-very-good municipal courses,” said Han, the general manager of Vellano Country Club in Chino Hills. “However, while in college and home for the holidays, a few of my buddies and I would sneak on for a round at Redlands Country Club, which was closed on Christmas Day.” When Han became concerned about admitting to this long-ago indiscretion, I assured him the statute of limitations had run out and he continued. “It was playing a course the quality of Redlands that made me decide to get into golf as a profession because Redlands was that kind of course I wanted to play all the time.” Mission accomplished, because Han now oversees a private club with a Greg Norman Signature layout. Golf wasn’t on the radar for North Hollywood resident Coleman Moss until Christmas 1948. “It was my uncle who introduced me to the game, giving me an unmatched set and an old carry bag. I was 16,” said Moss, 76, who rattled off the memory like it happened yesterday. “He then took me to a vacant lot and showed me how to hit the ball. I loved the game instantly.” Now that I’m a father and golf has become a passion, I’m hoping my son will have similar feelings as he gets older. My wife and I invested in Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus suits and usually make an appearance at our golf club during the holidays. After bouncing youngsters on our laps and listening to wishes, someone inevitably asks Santa to hit a ball. It’s not as easy as you think. The beard isn’t the problem, it’s the tassel on the Santa hat. When it dangles in front of my eyes, I’ve been known to whiff. GOLF GAG GIFT IDEAS The holidays also are a time when golfers often receive gifts from well-intentioned friends who haven’t a clue about the game. You know this when you get personalized golf balls with your photo on them or a take-apart putter in a cherry wood case. While those gifts might not have been given with a laugh in mind, there are plenty of jolly options for your golf buddies. Here are two: • Prank Pack gift boxes appear to contain ridiculous products. Imagine your friend’s expression when he unwraps his gift and finds a box touting the Birdie Belt inside. The “wearable GPS” device includes tee storage, golfing tools and has the ability to keep your score, give the time and monitor your heart rate. Or so it seems. Just pack your real gift inside the empty box and revel in their half-hearted glee. Visit prankpack.com. • Crooked Putter wines have holographic-style labels depicting a mini-cartoon. Tip the bottle and the image on the label changes. Each bottle sells for $14.95, and you can choose from a selection that includes Drive for Show, Putt for Dough Merlot, Crushed It Cabernet, At the Beach Again Chardonnay, and Didn’t Make it Past the Ladies Tee Blush. Visit crookedputter.com to see them. Eric Tracy is also known as The Mulligan Man. He can be reached at eric@themulliganman.com. |
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Not Your Best, Hon....but LOVE the SUIT! :0)
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