Dateline:  Glen Rose, TX        May 2015

The annual L'Huillier Invitational was held over the weekend in Lake Whitney and Glen Rose, TX.

We missed our buddy John - he's the reason why we all get together every year.  This was a great year for golf.  Tommy (75) and Kent (78) had person bests out on the golf course.  The fellowship was terrific, the new guys (Randy Wooley, Mike "Banjo" Middleton, Jim LaBounty and Jack Miller) somehow managed through the weekend without quitting early!

Thanks to the 13 trillion gallons of water that fell on Texas, we had to move Day 1 to Lake Whitney.  Here is a picture of the boys prior to the first tee on the new course at Lake Whitney:

 

Lt. Dan led us in prayer for Johnny - I know I was inspired by his prayer and it helped me to realize that although we all had a great time, John is engaged in the fight of his life.  Let's keep the prayers coming - John needs to come back next year and straighten out all the kinks introduced by the Jumbo Package's mismanagement of the process this year!

 

 

 

 

A funny thing happened on the way to Lake Whitney - we lost one of our soldiers - Mr. Etter was left in the crapper at Squaw Valley - that'll teach you Jeff!  Out of sight, out of mind!  Minutes from the designated tee time (after Jeff drove all over the state of TX trying to find us), I got a call asking if it was safe to cross some high water flowing over the road to the course.  I told him to go for it - after all, my F150 made it no problem - here's what it looked like from the car - what a mess!

Jeff opted to turnaround and avoid an early crisis - he was also careful to avoid being AWOL when we decided to car pool back to Glen Rose.....

I was happy to serve as the assistant to the assistant commissioner - The Captain even let me hold the clip board!  I didn't get to do much top help out the captain but I was in charge of the complaint and hugs departments.

 

 

Part of the fun of the weekend is the food.  Squaw Valley takes good care of us during and after our rounds.  Thanks to Mr. Ben George for treating the team to 12 pizzas on Friday night (Glen Rose had already closed by the time we got back to the hotel).  A few of the early arrivals drove out west of town for a GREAT BBQ dinner on Thursday night.  Thanks for the suggestion Randy!

Of course, for many of us, Saturday and Sunday mornings must start with a visit to the Big Cup for breakfast, inventory of damage done the night before, sermons from the Senator and general good bull and fellowship.  Captain - this is what the place looks like:

Matty - why the sunglasses?  Can you say "whiskey?"  Timmy, did you feel like you were in a middle seat?

The feature match of the weekend was the titanic battle between George/Smits versus Taylor/Screen.  The match was closed out 8 in 7 and I'll let you guys guess what team was on the plus side of the match...in fact, the Screener/Capt team played so bad that by hole 11, even the pole cats were running for cover!

 

Screener wanted to drive by Peppy LePew on the bridge but the Capt coached him up...."I say, I say BOY, that's a skunk BOY, A skunk I say - you know about skunks BOY, they stink BOY!!!"

The RAM was awarded to Mr. Etter after an emergency meeting of the Kangaroo Court on Friday afternoon even though Jerry Weston tom-a-hawked a club the full width of the fairway.  It was an impressive throw compared to the relatively mild toss by the Otter.  The court felt that since Mr. Weston resides in Oklahoma, it would be better to keep the RAM in TX.  I guess Jerry didn't like not getting the award because here he is moments after tossing his putter into the adjacent pond:

 The bad news is that the putter swims with the fishes, the good news is that Jerry played better after the toss AND he is going to ask Scott to mail the other RAM to Jerry as a replacement for his putter!

Sorry Jeff - you get to keep your award!

Speaking of awards ....here are the results from the Mechanic Sports Book being run out of LA:

Majors Pool – Jeff Etter hangs on thanks to Tommy’s career round. Any 4 strokes gained from Curt or Kent would have catapulted me to the top. Curt recounted many missed putts from today on the ride home. Damn it Jim! My buds screwed me!

Bracket Challenge: Sand Save Division – Tom vs Ben. Tom’s career low of 75 is all that needs to be said.

 

Par Save Division – a typical Kent-Steve matchup ends in a tie, and thanks to my personal kryptonite known as the 18^th Hole at the Lakes Course, Kent wins the tie-breaker of Par 5 scores in order played.

 

Three Putt Division. Dr. Bob didn’t enter so Lt. Dan wins the cash, and even wins the match 1 up. That 10 on #2 only cost you one hole Lt. Dan!

Fed Ex Cup: Tommy with a 3^rd, 2^nd then 1^st in order is all you need to know. And congrats to rookie Mike “Banjo” Middleton. He was picking and a-grinning his way to second with a 1^st place on Friday and a tie for 2^nd today. Kent Howard in 3^rd, but no money for it, and he was the other daily winner.

So for the $300 total pot the winners are:

Jeff Etter - $100

Tom Clark - $100

Kent Howard - $30

Dan Corley - $30

Mike Middleton - $40

Thanks to a suggestion from the Mechanic a few years ago, Sunday morning is college day.  Here are a couple of photos from warm ups Sunday morning.  We also got the bonus of a great weather day!

 

And here is the final picture of the weekend - with everyone in team colors:

 

As I said at the beginning of the blog, the boys thought and talked about Johnny all weekend long.  The Captain had another great idea (he's an idea man!).  He asked Squaw Valley for a flag and we all signed the flag for him - it is on the way to you buddy - we love you!

And finally, the weekend would not be complete without a Top 10 list from our favorite golf professional - Mathew Lassen.  Here's a picture of Matt on the way home after 90 holes.  I told Tommy that Matt WAS NOT sleeping - he was thinking up his top to list!

Mission accomplished - here it is:

• 10. Team 5 wins (Smitty, Joe, Kent and Ben). Team 3 takes second (Kevin, Bob, Paul and Curt).
• 9. The determination that we would take relief from the sand traps. After long discussions (Good call Captain!)
• 8. Eagles by the three rookies, Mike Midldleton Randy Wooley and Jim Labounty!
• 7. Career best by Tom Clark 75(and yes he beat me however I coached him the whole way!!!!) Kent Howard 78.
• 6. Jeff Etter, (no I can?t wait any longer I have to go take a dump) misses the caravan to the golf  course Friday morning.
• 5. The first tee shot on Saturday morning by Tim ?The Senator? Screener is interrupted by a blast  from the air horn (great timing Smitty!!!) (It never gets old!)
• 4. A cautious drive through water going over to the White Bluffs golf course.
• 3. We played 90 holes of golf under the flooding, wet, rainy conditions - that was amazing!!!!!
• 2. The fellowship of 24 guys together, praying for our little buddy Johnny before any golf even started!!!!!!

And number one for the weekend?????????

• 1. The fine amenities at the Comfort Inn we stayed at - NOT!!!!!!!!

To wrap it all up - I loved what Jim said about the joint commission's decision about sand traps - to my memory (and his), I don't remember playing out of one sand trap in 90 holes!

And, Matty may not have been able to soak his old bones in the Comfort Inn's hot tub but he did get THREE hugs from the assistant to the assistant commissioner!!!!  Who can beat that!

Golf is dangerous - out!