My Quest for a Pro-Am

I love golf. This is not news to anyone that knows me. And as a non-professional golfer, I am a fairly decent player. I hit the ball a long way off the tee, my long irons are iffy, and my putting is getting better. When I am not playing golf, I am usually watching it on television. The Golf Channel is on more that my wife would prefer, but what can she do? She is married to a golf nut.

Until this weekend, as much as I love the game, there is one thing that I had never had the priviledge of doing, and that is attend a live PGA Tour event. My daughter and I were fortunate enough to get a couple free passes to the practice round and Junior Golf Day at the Memorial yesterday. It was amazing to witness these golfers we had seen on TV for years up close and personal. We purchased a flag, and even got a few autographs. (My daughter was speechless when Rory McIlroy walked up to her and signed her flag.) I stood and watched one of my all-time favorites, Ernie Els, practice putting for about 20 minutes. A fascinating process. I am also going back on Saturday and am really looking forward to these guys actually hit in competition.

As we walked the grounds and watched the players a few things stood out. One, these guys really do hit the ball a LONG way. Even guys we had never heard of could bomb the ball 350 yards right down the middle. Next, most of the players are very nice and personable. They take time to talk with the fans, sign autographs, and show they care. I really appreciated that. Finally, the course is amazingly beautiful, but television really does not really do justice to the elevation changes and the undulations in the greens. They try with their computer graphics and charts, but until you actually walk the course, you have no idea how hilly it is. Plus, having played mostly public courses, I have never hit off of fairways that tight or pristine, and the tee boxes were like most of the greens I play. Which leads me to the point of this posting.

On Wednesday at most professional golf tourneys there is a Pro-Am tournament going on. This was no exception yesterday at the Memorial. There were 3 amatuer players paired with a professional player, and at the Memorial, they were top name players. Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Rory McIlroy, Hunter Mahan, Rickie Fowler, Bubba Watson, among others. As I watched some of these poor guys hack it around with their pros, I wondered what it must be like to be inside the ropes with a tour pro, if only for just 18 holes. The amatuers even had caddies with their names on the back of the bibs  How cool is that!?!!? So, yesterday, it became my mission to find out. #1 on my "bucket list" is now to play in a pro-am!

I am not sure how one gets to enter a pro-am tournament, but I have heard that it involves a very large entry fee, sometimes up to $15,000 or more, which of course goes to charity. That's great, except that I work for a charity; a small, non-profit, homeless shelter and $15K is almost half of my annual salary. I also have a daughter with special needs which tends to place an extra burden on the family budget. Thus, I just don't believe my "financial advisor" would allow me to spend than we paid for my car on one round of golf. I payed $75 once at a really nice course I had been wanting to play for some time and she griped for weeks.

So, here is my quandry. How does an average guy, who loves golf, and is just trying to make the world around him a better place, get into a pro-am tournament? I can't afford to join a country club, and usually play budget golf. I have a discount book that I use at local courses, frequent GolfNow.com and other discount sites, and hate paying more than $30 for a round. I dream of one day playing Pebble Beach, Whistling Straights, Torrey Pines, and Pinehurst #2 is #1 on my list, but have never played any of the top 100 courses in the United States. One of those may happen someday, but dropping $10,000 on a pro am will not. There must be a way for budget conscience golfer to get invited and participate in a pro-am.

I have seen contests where entrants win a spot in a pro-am, and I always enter, but my history in winning things like that is typically "Thanks for entering! You will be notified if you are a winner." I am never notified. I do win the occassional golf club or hat, but never anything beyond that. Another option is to quit my awesome job at the shelter for homeless families and become a professional golfer. I could be the "Pro" in the pro-am. I have actually discussed this plan with my "financial advisor" and while I cannot repeat her response word for word, her demise and pigs sprouting wings on the same day were mentioned.

Perhaps my best chance may be to find one of those wealthy corporate sponsors that needs a 4th to complete their team, and hope they pick me based on my game. I am a 7 handicap after all, I could help a pro-am team. While there are certain professional golfers that I would prefer to play a round with, I am not picky as long as I am in a pro-am. Thus, if you have a team and are in need of a 4th, please email me. I am a really nice guy, don't drink beer, love a good joke, and play well under pressure.

You never know, this just might work.

Hit 'em straight!

Golf Marathon May 11, 2012

On May 11, 2012, I will be participating in my first golf marathon. This is a fundraiser for Family Promise of Northern Kentucky, the organziation for whom I work. Family Promise is the only homeless shelter in Northern Kentucky that keeps the entire family together during the crisis of temporary homelessness. I have never played 100 holes in one day, to the challenge should be extreme.

Yet, this is a fundraiser. So, if you are reading this and have the means, please consider sponsoring me for this worthy cause. Your tax deductible donation will go to supporting children and their families who are homeless in Northern Kentucky.

Also, follow me on Twitter, @bhobstetter, for updates throughout the day on May 11 on how I am playing, how I feel, weather and anything else interesting I can think. Will probably include several pictures as well.

If you would like more information, or would like to sponsor me in my efforts (please!), go to www.nkyihngolf.org.

Thanks!

This is not the basketball I know

I grew up watching college basketball and playing basketball. Then, for the past few years, I lost interest, mostly because my teams were not very good. This year, Ohio State and Kentucky both have good teams, so I have become more interested and started watching again. As I have watched, it seems to me that the game has changed from a game of grace and finesse to a game of power and contact. I have also noticed that officiating across the board is terrible. Maybe the game has sped up to the point where the officials are unable to keep pace with the players and just cannot see all the fouls. Or perhaps, the college game has gone to a more NBA approach, but whatever the case, I do not like this version of basketball.

In particular it seems the better the player, the fewer foul calls he gets. The two examples I see are Anthony Davis of Kentucky and Jared Sullinger of Ohio State. These guys are constantly being hacked, bumped, pushed, and pounded in the paint, with few calls. But should they breathe in the direction of another player, they are called for a foul. I am a firm believer that if it is a foul for one player, it should be a foul for all players, no matter who they are. Sullinger has been showing some frustration on the court lately, as he should. The man is being mugged almost every trip down the court, and the refs are not protecting him.

It is not just against Kentucky and Ohio State that officiating is lax. I was watching a game between two other Big 10 teams the other night, with similar results; poor and inconsistent officiating. I could argue that in some cases, the inconsistent officiating has affected the outcome of the game. It almost cost Ohio State last night at Northwestern, when a missed foul call allowed the other team to get the ball and tie the game.

My other BIG peeve with basketball officiating is not calling a foul in the last 10 seconds of the game. I believe that if it is a foul in the first 10 seconds of the game, it should be a foul in the last 10 seconds of the game. How many times have we seen a player get hacked on a 3 point attempt or in the paint at the end of the game with no call. Why do the refs suddenly swallow their whistle when the game is on the line. If it is a foul, call it

At least the madness will be over soon. I am really just using basketball to kill time until baseball season finally begins. Go Reds!

The dream that is Camargo...

I read a blog the other day written by this guy who has played 98 of the top 100 golf courses in the world. My first thought was, "Wow! I'd love to do that!" My next thought was, "Wow! I'd love to have that much money!" My third thought was, "How in the world did he get on to those courses?" Of the top 100 courses in the world, I have had the good fortune of playing exactly zero. I dream to one day play Pebble Beach, Whistling Straights, and Pinehurst No. 2. I have some golf buddies that have played those courses and I hear fabulous things. I have played a couple courses that were at one time ranked in the top 100 public courses in the US, Otter Creek and Shaker Run. I hope to soon get over to the east side of Ohio to play Longaberger, which is currently ranked #56 in the US. But my dream of crossing off that first top 100 course still lingers.

There is one small hope, however. You see, I live in the beautiful city of Cincinnati, OH. When one thinks of the top golf courses in the would, Cincinnati does not exactly jump to the forefront of one's mind. Yet, do not be fooled there are some fine golf courses in and around the greater Cincinnati area, and many of them are public. Courses such as Lassing Pointe, Legendary Run, The Vineyard, Sharon Woods, Stonelick Hills, and Shaker Run, just to name a few.

There are also some fabulous private courses in Cincinnati, and not too far away from where I work and play lies one that is also one of the top 100 courses in the world, a Seth Raynor design known as Camargo Club (currently ranked #39 by Golf Magazine; I don't know what Golf Digest's problem is!) The problem is Camargo is private. VERY private. You can't just call up and make a tee time. You have to have a member play with you. This would not be a problem if I knew any members, which I do not. I am a decent golfer, current handicap is 7, and hit the ball a long way. So, if any members of Camargo read this and need a partner for a Member/Guest tourney, or other event, just send me an email and I will get right with you. Otherwise, I will have to sit and dream of playing that beautiful course right in my back yard.

Oh well, I'm off to play Augusta National again...on the Wii.

Hit them down the middle!

Where have all the cool dads gone?

My post the other day about the "I love my wife" t-shirt got me thinking about television and how dads are portrayed these days. When I was a small lad growing up in the beautiful metropolis of Portsmouth, OH, I remember watching sitcoms where the dads were cool. They were role models. They were men that you wanted emulate when you became a father. Today's TV dads are buffoons and often the butt of the joke. What happened? When did dad go from being king of the castle to the court jester? As I said before, I blame the Simpsons.

I used to watch shows like Bonanza, Father Knows Best, The Cosby Show, Leave It to Beaver, the Brady Bunch, the Courtship of Eddie's Father, Good Times, My Three Sons, Andy Griffith, Happy Days, and others. Most had men that were in charge and not seen as idiots. The dads were cool, they knew their children and were interested in their lives. And when the child got out of line or broke the rules, the dad would step in and take care of the situation.

Now, men are often portrayed as incompetent, and ignorant of what is going on around them. Rarely do we see fathers disciplining their children on tv anymore. If we do, the whole episode revolves around the father's inability to effectively discipline his children. Don't get me wrong, I like a good sitcom as much as the next guy. I just wonder what happened to all the cool dads. Sadly, the only father currently on television I know of that has a grasp on his children's lives is (gulp) Robbie Ray Stewart (portrayed by Billy Ray Cyrus) on Hannah Montana. (If you know of another one, PLEASE send me a note!)

Seriously, though, were there any "cooler" fathers on TV than Andy Taylor or Heathcliff Huxtable? These shows were also open and honest in their character portrayal. We frequently saw the angst of Andy as he disciplined his son. When one of the Huxables knew they had messed up and did not want to tell their parents because they were afraid of disappointing them. Yet, when Heathcliff and Claire found out, yes, they disciplined their children, but they also did it with love and respect.

Where are these fathers on TV today? When did Hollywood lose touch with reality? I know many men and fathers who are very strong fathers and the head of their household. Yes, there are some dads that have lost touch with their wives and children. However, not all fathers are the idiots that we see on TV and in movies. I believe it is time for Hollywood to get a clue and bring back the role models.

The word of God encourages fathers to be the best they can be. Colossians 3:21 says,"Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged." And Ephesians 6:4 adds, "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." Men, be the best father and husband you can be. Your God demands it.

3 years and still pain free

I wrote this blog in 2007 on the first anniversary of being pain free. Two years later I am still pain free and wanted to share it again. I have updated the timeframe to make it current, but other than that, the blog is in tact and still tells the story very well. I still experience some numbness and tingling in the side of my head once in a while, but that is just a gentle reminder of where I was before the surgery. God is good!

Yesterday marked the three year anniversary of one of the best/worst days of my life. On December 18, 2007, I had a surgical procedure performed in my brain called Microvascular Decompression at University Hospital in Cincinnati. My doctor, Dr. John Tew, is one of the best in the country at this procedure, so I was in good hands. For those of you who may not know, I was suffering from a condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia, and had been from over 2 1/2 years.

If you have never heard of Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), it is one of the most painful conditions known to man. Imagine sticking a taser to your face 20-30 times a day and leaving it there for about 20 seconds each time. That is what I was going through. The condition was getting worse by the day, there were no medications that I could take to alleviate my pain. Brain surgery was my only hope. I was not looking forward to having a hole drilled in the back of my skull, but I could not live with the pain any longer either. While TN is not considered a "life-threatening" illness, I believe in many ways it is worse because my quality of life was so poor. I couldn't eat, talk, or sleep without pain. I couldn't kiss my wonderful wife or amazing children without pain. The medications I took to help try to control the pain made me a zombie, (and in one case almost DID kill me). My job was being affected, my marriage, was being affected, my relationship with my children was being affected, and most importantly, my spiritual walk was being challenged.

I will never forget the first time I experienced what they call "acute" Trigeminal Neuralgia pain. I was actually taking a drink to swallow a new medicine the doctor had prescribed. When the glass touched my lip every nerve on the left side of my face fired at the same time. From my temple to my jawbone, every nerve was burning. This lasted for about 20 seconds, and I am not kidding when I tell you that had there been a gun on the kitchen counter, I would have shot myself to end the pain. The same thing happened during a meeting a work about 4 hours later, and I couldn't talk or explain what was happening, so they thought I was having a seizure or something and it freaked everyone out.

When the surgery was over, I was on some pretty good pain killers and other drugs, but I remember Dr. Tew telling me that this surgery was the only thing that would have eased my pain. There was an artery and a blood vessel fused to the trigeminal nerve in my brain by scar tissue. Dr. Tew removed the scar tissue and wrapped Teflon padding around the nerve. When I woke up, I could tell immediately that something was different; the pain was gone. My life would be restored. The moment would have been more complete had they not given me Percocet, which I had never taken and did not know would cause me to be vomitous for about 8 hours. The Dr. eventually switched me to Morphine and all was well.

Thus, three years ago today, that I stepped out of University Hospital a new man. I have not had one flash of pain since. There is a chance the pain could return someday, and there have been other side effects from the surgery. I had mild case of Bell's palsy, some numbness on my skull, and a small dent in the back of my head. I will take all of those for they remind me that life is so precious and there are so many things we take for granted. I thank God for Dr. Tew and the knowledge and skill that he has. I thank God for another day to share with my family and friends. I thank God that I have lived pain free for the past three years, and sincerely ask that be a trend that continues for a long time.

i love my wife and have the t-shirt to prove it

A few months ago, I was browsing in the Family Christian store and came across a t-shirt that said simply, "i love my wife." The shirt immediately caught my attention for several reasons. 1) it was black, and I love black t-shirts, 2) it was on sale 50% off, i love a good sale, and 3) it truly stated the way I feel, I love my wife. (Note: lest I get comments, I love my wife WAY more than I love black t-shirts or a good sale.) Thus, the purchase of said shirt became imminent and I took it home. Honestly, I did not purchase this shirt to earn "brownie" points with my bride, nor did I buy it because I was in her dog house and wanted to get out. I purchased the shirt because I love my wife, and I am not afraid to let anyone know.

However, whenever I wear this shirt in public, I find that I will get the most peculiar comments, mostly from women. Things such as, "You must have been in the dog house", or, "did your wife make you wear that?" My usual tongue-in-cheek response is, "No, it was on sale." However, I think it is a sad commentary on our society today, that a man cannot wear a shirt that openly confesses his love for his spouse without others thinking there is an ulterior motive or coercion involved.

One of my biggest pet peeves is the men are portrayed as clueless, ignorant jerks on TV, in movies, and ESPECIALLY commercials. Beer commercials are the worst. There is one that has a man coming home from work and his wife or girlfriend is waiting, wearing very little, and all he cares about is the beer. Really? Are men that dumb? No, we are not. I don't know where this stereotype was born, but I blame the Simpsons.

I do love my wife and I find nothing wrong with letting others know, starting with my kids. One of our favorite sounds is when we are caught kissing by the children in the kitchen or living room, and they say, "Ewww! Gross!" Audrey has recently taken to just saying, "Hey! Kids in the room!" to which we keep on kissing. I believe it important to model romance and appropriate affection for your children. That doesn't mean we make-out in front of them, but we are not afraid to hug, snuggle, and share a small smooch once in a while.

A t-shirt does not define nor confirm my love for my wife and I do not wear it to gain her favor. I only hope that when you see me in my favorite black shirt you will smile softly and remember that not all men are clueless jerks.