and why is he smiling?This is Rick Peterson who, with his wife, Naomi, is the lastest refugee from Minnesota to arrive here in Saddlebooke. They are Dick and Brenda Robertson's guests. Dick and Rick both went to Bethel College together in Minnesota.
Rick and Naomi took a direct flight on Northwest to Tucson, but even so, there was lost luggage.
So why is Rick smiling? Well, it was mild here today, not in the 70s, but a respectable cloudy day in the 60s nevertheless, much better than what Rick has endured recently. He's smiling because he played a great round of golf today with an old friend, suffering only an occasional misfire and only an occasional use of words never heard on the Bethel campus.
While it is true that Rick did pay out some money at the end of the round, that is simply an old tradition that all new blood from Minnesota must abide, and certainly not a reflection on the quality of play. Rick is actually a Swede from Grantsburg, Wisconsin, where his father ran the feed mill and creamery. Rick taught school to fourth and fifth graders like our sister, Linda, does in Ft. Collins. Rick and schoolteacher Dick have played golf together since college days -- and the competition is sharp.
In fact, the foursome met after the round at Cafe del Solveig and toasted the fact that each player had shot better than his handicap, an achievement of note, if only by ourselves. Best player was Doug Mackenzie, who had just about everything working today, including his trademark chicken salad sandwiches at the turn. We each paid him two dollars. -- For his great play. Not for the sandwiches.
Rick is smiling today because he scored tickets to Friday's round of the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at the Gallery Golf Club at Dove Mountain. (Tiger tees off at 12:02 p.m. tomorrow.)Rick is smiling because he's looking forward to a nice stay, complete with hiking and every other wonderful thing Dick and Brenda will show them.
And, Rick is smiling because even though Northwest lost Naomi's luggage, Rick's golf clubs made it.
(Photo credit: Thanks to Virgil for providing the transportation to The Ranch Golf Club today. We used his car because Stan only has three seats in his Buick. The players showed their gratitude by very carefully placing their spikes on his back bumper.)
