HEARTFELT THANKS You can only guess and only come close to understand- ing why and how much it meant to me to be so hon- ored on my 90th birthday in the magazine you have made such a winner for the NCGA. To give the honor its ultimate impact on me, you arranged for Jaime Diaz to write the piece. Not only do I like, admire and respect Jaime, he is the stand-alone best there is in the golf writing business. Sandy Tatum


Letters to the Editor NCGA G LF


weeks ago, I witnessed a man, while on a cell phone, step on the accelerator of the cart and drive into the curb. The cart was jarred so violently the passenger in the cart injured his back and was unable to continue his round. Charlie Delahay


CELL PHONE USAGE I just read with interest the arguments for and against the use of cell phones on the golf course. The arguments for cell phone use I believe to be really lame. To me, one of the best things about playing golf is the peace and quiet that exists on the golf course. The game requires complete concentration. While on the course I’m thinking of nothing other than hitting the ball and getting it into


the hole. It takes my mind off everyday work and/or personal problems and actu- ally relaxes me. Hearing a cell phone ring or listening to one half of an unwanted phone conversation really distracts from the peace, quiet and the game. There is also a hazard to


cell phone use concerning driving the golf cart. Two


12 / NCGA.ORG / FALL 2010


IRRESPONSIBLE GOLF I read with horror the letter to the editor from reader Bernie Herlihy, in the Summer 2010 Edition about hitting golf balls in Antarctica, Machu Pic- chu and the Galapagos Islands. Golfers do not have a good reputation as being responsible stewards of our planet/environment—and his letter just reminds me as to why the reputation is so bad. How could he even think it was responsible to hit a golf ball in those places that have such value either because they are places of natural beauty or of archeo- logical signifi cance? Did he go and pick up his ball as to not leave it as trash in those places? It was bad enough he did this in Antarctica and Machu Picchu, but to even think about hitting a golf ball on the Galapagos Islands where he could have easily injured or killed one of the many special species that inhabit those islands is beyond me. I’m embarrassed to say I


play golf when I read about people like this. I’m also very disappointed that you would print his letter, which only gives other golfers the same idea. Shame on them and


shame on you. S.C. Mullen WHAT YOU DIDN’T SEE DURING U.S. OPEN WEEK VOLUME 30 | NUMBER 3 | SUMMER 2010 | PEBBLE BEACH, CALIFORNIA | $ 3.95


BANDON’S FOURTH COURSE


GUY FIERI Q&A


PLANNING A ST. ANDREWS TRIP


POPPY HILLS


spectable 84. That evening I did another fi rst—celebrat- ing with single malt Scotch at the Jigger Inn. Thanks for reviving my memory with the article.


Marty Wolf TRIBUTE TO


MEMORABLE ROUND AT ST. ANDREWS Your recent article on St. Andrews revived a 25-year- old memory of my fi rst game on the Old Course. On a two-couple trip, we promised our wives we wouldn’t take clubs (but took our shoes!). Upon ar- rival Friday, I brazenly asked about playing Saturday. Somewhat amused, the starter said the course was closed for a tournament, but they would let a few groups off around 6 a.m. We rented clubs and


showed up at 5:30; a line had already formed. My buddy and I got on with a gentleman from St. An- drews and his guest from Riviera in L.A. My fi rst few holes were awful in getting use to the clubs; eight over in four holes!


Then I settled down. We


got to the 8th hole (double green); I hit a nice 5-iron over the bunker. As we walked up, a Scottish mar- shal was standing in back of the green and the Marshal yelled: “Hey, Laddie, the son of a b----h went in!” A hole in one at St. Andrews! I went on to card a re-


JOHN RHODENBAUGH Thank you so much for sending me the NCGA Golf with the article about John. I treasure the tributes that have been bestowed on him. He took great pride in Poppy Hills and all the opportunities it offered to amateur golf. We have received many


cards from people who attended the memorial at Poppy Hills. They were so impressed by the setting and the outstanding food. It was always a treat when John and I had luncheon dates at Porters Grill. I look forward to bringing friends. Rosemary Rhodenbaugh


Responses to best tip to get out of the sand:


Aim left of target, open the club face, hit three inches behind the ball and swing fl at, not steep. Buried lies are a little different. Practice, practice, practice. Andrew Luey


Visualize that the ball is sitting on a dollar bill. Take the amount of the sand that the dollar covers when you hit out. Ryan Miller


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