There is a feeling that you get when you see a fast ball headed for the inside corner. Your bat springs into action, and there is that exquisite moment when the bat launches the ball like a rocket past the third baseman. That feeling in your hands and brain, it feels so perfect.
It’s the same feeling when you hit a golf ball right in the middle of the club. You don’t even have to see the ball. You know it went straight with a little bend before landing softly on the green for an easy birdie. You know that feeling. It feels so good.
The fourth hole at what used-to-be the Kunia Golf Course was like that.
I can still remember Uncle Dickie hitting a perfect shot on the third while I mangled the water grass to the right of the 132 yard hole. A difficult hole for those in the water grass, but an easy hole for those who always hit it straight.
How did he always his the ball so straight? He always had an easy smile and a gentle laugh, even as I was agonizing in the waist-high grass.
Then, we would walk to the idyllic fourth. 145 yards past two monkey pod trees to an open green. Misty in the morning, and welcoming to anyone who could hit the ball to the unprotected green and leave a trail through the morning dew. The lush, wet grass and the cool morning air. . . and, a soft, self-effacing laugh from Uncle Dickie.
It was all so perfect, like hitting a line drive to left or hitting the perfect shot to a beautiful green in the morning.
Thanks for the reminiscence about our dad. I enjoyed reading it this morning.
Lani – My pleasure. There will be more! — Bill —
Ditto, Bill. Dad lived and breathed golf after he retired. The only reason he went from a rotary dial phone to a touch tone phone was so that he could hit redial when he was trying to get a tee time. Then he got one of the first ever cell phones so that he could dial two phones a once to increase his chances for a tee time. He did this every morning as soon as the lines opened. He always went full tilt at whatever he was doing.
Lei – He was remarkable to all who had he opportunity to know him! Everytime I came back for a visit, he came to see me. Wonderful memories! — Bill —