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Father’s Day

Posted June 17, 2012 in Dad's Day

Re -Posted with permission from Best In Golf Blog  June 17, 2006

My friend and partner, Blair Leburn, has one of the truly great dad’s in golf…his mom and the rest of the family are two-under also but it is Father’s Day after all.
 Blair, Dad, and brother Kevin are pictured here, credit to Mark Burris.
In 1960 “Lord” Leburn began a group at his home club, Royal Troon, that he dubbed the Pink Elephants.
He described it to me once as “You know the guy who finally gets into the club after years on the waiting list and is somewhat of a dolt? He can’t ever find a game because he’s just not very smart, pleasant, funny, or a good golfer?”
“Yes”, I replied, I know what you mean.
“Well”, Mr. Leburn continued, “we make him a Pink Elephant”. Ah, I get it.

I also had one of the great dads in golf, and I’ve missed him every day in the 20 years he’s been gone. I don’t always behave correctly as my friends will attest but when a big life decision needs to be made I simply think of what my dad would do…he was a man who never intentionally hurt anyone and treated people the same no matter who they were…superb guy.

Back to John Leburn. He has a silly way about him…boylike in so many ways. The way he pretends to hide from the press at the British Open because he’s afraid he’ll be recognized, to the way he says after every driver swing (with ball still in mid-air) “Oh No! Oh No!, Oh, it’s perfect!!”

He will “shush” you if you describe a match you’ve won…he says gentlemen never talk about the opponents they’ve beaten…he has a sheepish smile on his face when he says this but if you pay attention, you just might learn something important.

Blair knows how lucky he is to have the family he does, we talk about it often…so as a representative dad on Father’s Day, let’s agree that Mr. Leburn is a Best In Golf.
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New Stuff From Tin Cup

Posted May 22, 2012 in Dad's Day, Gear, Just Cool

We’ve written about these cool cats before...they’re a GSWL fav.

Above is part of the college collection, a natural product line for golf ball marking for sure.  These guys must be smart as in the collection are such bastions of higher learning as William & Mary, Brown, and Columbia.

I have to admit I wouldn’t be able to pick out a single one of those if my tailgate depended on it but they’re neat nonetheless…message to TC.

Where’s Clemson?

Buy them here

Comments { 1 }

Moe & Me

Posted April 14, 2012 in Art, Dad's Day, Golf People, Scribblers

The fact that Lorne Rubenstein has a new book out is good enough for us.  His A Season In Dornoch  is one of the best books ever on the subject and should be must reading for anyone heading to Scotland or who is just having a mid-life wanderlust.

Several years ago I was at a demo day where Moe Norman was giving a demonstration for Titleist.  He hit about 20 drivers on a rope that all landed within a yard or two of each other.  The coolest part though is that the tee never moved…he picked it off clean as can be time after time.

Then he asked for a volunteer.  The brave hacker from the crowd took Moe’s club and cranked one pretty good…the peg went flying out on the range.  Moe looked at the shot, then at the golfer and said in a low, fast mumble, “loved that tee, had it seven years.”

I for one am going to buy this book.  It’s about one of the great characters in a game of great characters.

Buy it here

 

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Father’s Day Revisited (Final)

Posted June 19, 2011 in Dad's Day

In honor of Father’s Day, the following was published on The Best In Golf Blog in June 2007.  It is titled “What Does It Mean To Be A Father?”

Today we celebrate Fathers. I had a great one and I hope you did too. But I wanted to talk a little about the role.

So what do Dads do? They cajole, encourage, discipline, get up at 4:00 to take their offspring to some activity, sleep in the dirt on camp outs…all to spend a little precious time with the ones they love.
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This past week reminded me of just exactly what a Father is for .
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My partner Ed Butler is a man of many talents. Businessman, athlete, outdoorsman, and this one will surprise a few…a very fine watercolor artist…but most importantly, he’s a Father.
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His “little girl” Kendall is an impressive person in her own right. She earned a scholarship to UCLA with her profound gift as a swimmer.
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A chip-ette off the old block, so to speak, as Ed was a standout tight end at Auburn in the ’70s.

She graduated a couple years ago and started working in LA. But the tug of her hometown must have been strong because this week she decided to move back to Atlanta…a decision supported by her parents.

The high fives and dancing didn’t stop at the Butler house for several hours after Jan and Ed heard of this new development.
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Their baby was coming home.
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Here’s what else Fathers do…they fly out to California and drive 2,181 miles in a 10-year old Jeep back to Atlanta…they go get their kid and bring her home.

The Grand Canyon, the great plains, Oklahoma City, Memphis, Alabama, and after a week on the road, they palmed it into Atlanta Friday night.

Kendall and her Dad must have a thousand stories from their recently completed cross-country journey.
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Inside jokes that just a look or a word will cause laughter and tears for the rest of time…and only for them…can’t wait to see the pictures.

Happy Fathers Day Eddie…you’re one of the greats…right Kendall?

 

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Father’s Day Revisited II

Posted June 18, 2011 in Dad's Day

In honor of Father’s Day,  the following was previously published on The Best In Golf Blog in June 2006.  It is titled “Father’s Day”

We’ll be back to our snarky selves first thing Monday

My friend and partner, Blair Leburn, has one of the truly great dad’s in golf…his mom and the rest of the family are two-under also but it is Father’s Day after all.

In 1960 “Lord” Leburn began a group at his home club, Royal Troon, that he dubbed the Pink Elephants.
He described it to me once as “You know the guy who finally gets into the club after years on the waiting list and is somewhat of a dolt? He can’t ever find a game because he’s just not very smart, pleasant, funny, or a good golfer?”
.
“Yes”, I replied, I know what you mean.  “Well”, Mr. Leburn continued, “we make him a Pink Elephant”.
.
Ah, I get it. I also had one of the great dads in golf, and I’ve missed him every day in the 20 years he’s been gone. I don’t always behave correctly as my friends will attest but when a big life decision needs to be made I simply think of what my dad would do…he was a man who never intentionally hurt anyone and treated people the same no matter who they were…superb guy. Now back to John Leburn.
.
He has a silly way about him…boylike in so many ways. The way he pretends to hide from the press at the British Open because he’s afraid he’ll be recognized, to the way he says after every driver swing (with ball still in mid-air) “Oh No! Oh No!, Oh, it’s perfect!!”
.
He will “shush” you if you describe a match you’ve won…he says gentlemen never talk about the opponents they’ve beaten…he has a sheepish smile on his face when he says this but if you pay attention, you just might learn something important.
.
Blair knows how lucky he is to have the family he does, we talk about it often…so as a representative dad on Father’s Day, let’s agree that Mr. Leburn is a Best In Golf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments { 0 }

Father’s Day Revisted

Posted June 18, 2011 in Dad's Day

In honor of Father’s Day, the following  was previously published on The Best In Golf Blog in June 2008.  It is titled “Early Father’s Day”

We’ll be back to our snarky selves first thing Monday

 

In every year but this one, Father’s Day means playing golf unencumbered by church or brunch afterward.

It means an afternoon on the couch in front of the HDwatching the Open unfold, missing maybe three swings and a putt over seven hours.
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This year though it turned out much better. My wife and her three sisters take a family reunion vacation together every summer.
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Over the last 20 years or so it has usually revolved around the beach, but this year it came early and high in the Rocky Mountains.
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So while it’s 95 degrees across most of the east, I find myself back in winter (at least southern winter) for a few days of nature, family time, and best of all, fly-fishing.
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I know this isn’t about golf but in a way it is. My dad and I were bonded by golf and baseball. As  Kevin Costner put it so well in Field of Dreams, and I paraphrase, “baseball was the only thing my  dad and I could talk about without killing each other”.

It’s not like that with my kids…in fact I don’t think teenagers are anywhere near as difficult or  prone to bad or dangerous behavior than my generation.

Maybe I’m naive, but I don’t think so.

We hiked a mile and a half uphill that felt more like 36 lugging your own to a true mountain stream. Our trusty Sherpas Joe, Ben, and Connor were nice enough to wait for the old man as he huffed his way up the hill.Joe, a school teacher in real life, said the trail was a little steep for the first half and then leveled out. What this meant is the trail was straight up for the first half and then only up for the second…of course Joe and his boys were in the kind of shape that makes this easy…I claim the altitude got me…but it was the extra rings around my trunk to be truthful. 

We were chasing the Greenback Cutthroat Trout, a species thought to be extinct just a few years ago. This fish runs between 6 and 10 inches long so, needless to say, you aren’there for the fight or the food.
It would take 20 of these little buggers to make a decent sandwich…Rodney Dangerfield might say “I’ve seen Anchovies bigger than that.”
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No you are here to look at a sky so blue it doesn’t seem real and to wade in water just slightly warmer than a good martini.
But, most importantly, you’re here to watch your kids experience something new and unique, and just maybe life altering…before they get away from you forever.
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Yes, this was the best Father’s Day ever…and it’s not even here yet.

 

 

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Gentleman Jack Customized Bottle

Posted June 16, 2011 in Dad's Day, Liquid


 

Don’t get the impression that GSWL would ever encourage drinking (cough) but this is a really cool gift for Dad.

Go on their Facebook Page here and customize a bottle of Old Number 7 for the guy who has hid more than a few secrets from your Mother…time to step up laddie.

 

Comments { 1 }

Club Champ Kooler Drink Dispenser

Posted June 15, 2011 in Dad's Day, Gear, Gizmos, Uncategorized

 

Never one to miss a Caddyshack reference or a wierd gift for the golfer who has everything (meaning buys everything for himself) behold the Club Champ Kooler Drink Dispenser ($50).

I just love it when they use a K instead of a C don’t you?  Now that’s marketing!!!

Buy it here

Comments { 0 }

Father’s Day at Pinehurst

Posted June 11, 2011 in Dad's Day, Play It!

 

OK, you can thank me later for saving you from another Father’s Day of last minute shopping for Dad.

On Dad’s Day weekend the good folks at Pinehurst Resort have come up with the perfect gift…the gift of memories.

Three nights lodging, two rounds of golf, including the all new and absolutely perfect #2 with caddie.  Dinners, an evening with best-selling author and all around cool cat James Dodson, and maybe best of all, two runs at the Tigris and Euphrates of breakfast buffets.

Tip:  Get the biscuits and sausage gravy.

My dad’s been gone a long time and if there was a chance to take him to Pinehurst for this weekend I would do it faster than Nick Price’s backswing.

At $1590 for both of you, this deal is right on all fronts.  Get at it…and again, you can thank me later.

Book it here

 

 

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Shankopotamus

Posted June 9, 2011 in Dad's Day, Just Cool

 

Looking for a Father’s Day gift for the golf-sicko in your life who has 21 wedges, 14 putters, and an Ebay account smoking with the latest gear he bought that he hates?

Then look no further than the Shankopotomus Bobblehead ($30).  Have you ever seen anything so hideous?  That’s what makes it perfect.

But it here

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