And If You Play Golf, You're My Friend : Further Reflections of a Grown Caddie

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Chapter 1 My Son-in-Law's First LessonMy son-in-lax, Billy Powell, was captain of the University of Texas basketball team. When my daughter, Kathryn, married him, Billy's pals accused him of trying to improve his golf game.Everybody knew that was meant as humor, because Billy had never touched a golf club. Basketball was Billy's idea of a real game, not golf.After college, Billy and Kathryn served a tour in the Air Force. They were stationed at Clovis, New Mexico. Billy tried golf for the first time in Clovis. Playing with a friend who had a 2 handicap, Billy learned what a thrilling experience golf can be. He was hooked.Billy phoned me that night. He was so excited, he could hardly catch his breath."Harvey, I'm on my way to Austin to take a lesson," he said. "How soon can you fit me in?"I said, "Billy, I will send you a set of golf clubs. Play golf for six months. Then we'll talk about lessons."Six months later, Billy and I went to the practice range at Austin Country Club."I have to ask you a question," Billy said. "I've had an awful struggle for six months. Why did you make me wait so long for this first lesson?""This is the second lesson," I said. "Your first lesson was six months of struggle on your own.""But why?"I said, "Athletes like you, who have had success in other sports, need to be humbled before they can learn the game of golf."There's an old saying: The student must be ready for the teacher to appear.Teaching BillyI watched my son-in-law swing at the ball on the practice range for a while without comment. I could tell he wanted me to say something.Finally I said, "Billy, if you handled your fork the way you do that 7-iron, you would starve to death."We set the ball on a low tee."Now take a swing and just clip off that tee," I said.He hit behind it. He topped it. He hit it sideways.I said, "You're a good athlete. Learn to clip off that tee. We can go no further until you do."I left him alone on the range.He swung his 7-iron for two days before he learned to clip off the tee. Copyright copy; 1993 by Harvey Penick, Bud Shrake, and Helen Penick

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