MGS Newbie

[TerryG]

Hi, folks!  It's great to be a part of this great web site.  I'm trying to figure out how I didn't know about it until now.  I'm really looking forward to tapping into the wealth of knowledge I've already seen and exchanging thoughts and ideas with the rest of you.

 

 

I may be new to MGS but I'm hardly new to golf.  I've been playing about 55 years which means I'm just about to the point where I have a pretty good idea of what I don't know about the game.  I grew up in the NY metropolitan area - Mamaroneck to be exact.  And I suspect many of you know what that town is famous for in the golfing world.  Winged Foot Golf Club (NOT Country Club mind you) with Quaker Ridge just across the street albeit in Scarsdale - both designed by Albert Warren Tilinghast along with Bethpage Black - all courses I got to play in my youth.  I caddied at Winged Foot from the age of 11 thru 20 when I joined the Navy and got to see the best the Far East has to offer.

 

 

During my stint at Winged Foot, Claude Harmon was the head pro having just relieved Craig Wood who stayed at the course as a honorary member.  I caddied for both of them many, many times and watched Mr. Harmon give lessons more times than I could count.  One of the many highlights of growing up at Winged Foot occurred one summer when Gene Hayden, the caddie master with whom I had a constant love/hate relationship for 9 years, out of the kindness of his heart, allowed me to caddie for THE Tommy Armour for virtually an entire summer.  Mr. Armour always preferred the East Course at Winged Foot and would play the front 10 with his brother Sandy ever day at 1pm after and before several games of gin up in the men's locker room in a room that overlooked the 18th hole West.  You know the hole.  It's the one Phil Mickelson would like to forget.  Well into his seventies, Mr. Armour could still shoot close to par - even after too many G&T's.  If he liked you, at the end of the round he'd give you the 3 Tommy Armour golf balls and the glove he used, which had to be custom made because I could fit 3 of my hands in it.

 

 

Then there was the privilege of caddying for Mr. Harmon who was on the Wilson design staff at the time.  Late in the day I would watch Mr. Harmon work with Moe, the club room attendant, modifying clubs.  I learned how to re-grip clubs and even to apply a little lead hear and there.  Of course I had no idea what I was doing with the lead. Toward the end of unforgettable time at Winged Foot, the story was that the King of Morocco had requested that Tommy Armour travel to Morocco to teach the king how to play.  A course had recently been build adjacent to the palace.  Being well into his 70s at the time and not in the best of health, Mr. Armour convinced the king that what he really needed was Claude Harmon.  So off went Mr. Harmon to teach the king the game he loved so much and, as it turned out, to witness first hand a coup attempt on the king.  Mr. Harmon was in the room as bullets were flying as I recall he said during his presentation to the Winged Foot membership in the grill shortly after his return.  I had gotten a job as bar boy in the grill that Fall while I was waiting to be inducted into the Navy and got to see the entire slide show so well narrated by Mr. Harmon.

 

 

And then there was the time when the All American golf team came to the club and I got to caddie for one of them.  To this day, I can't remember the name of the golfer I caddied for.  But I remember that Bob Murphy was in my foursome along with Fred Cochran.  And then there was the annual Anderson Memorial amateur tourney which I passionately looked forward to every year.  One year, the guy I caddied for (his name was McNeil from Long Island) made it to the quarter finals.  His partner was Gene Francis a scratch golfer with a swing that made Jim Furyk look conventional.  I vividly remember saying to myself on numerous occasions, "and I get paid to do this?". I have vivid memories of watching Bob Gardner and Ken Gordon, pipe in hand, tee off on the 1st West (yes, Mr. Gordon  put his pipe down for most but not all shots).  And then there was Ralph Bogart and his partner Bob Brownell from Chevy Chase.  And Dean Beamon, the Hyndmans, etc., etc.  Unfortunately, the year Craig and Butch Harmon won the tournament - 1968 - I was getting the see parts of the Far East up and close.  Having watched them grow from fine, polite young men, and observed their interaction with their Dad, I would have loved to see the expression on their Dad's face when they won.

 

 

To give you an idea of the class of the people who belonged to Winged Foot, let me tell you about the annual Caddie's Feast.  On one day, in August, the caddies had full use of both the East and West courses with refreshments served throughout the day.  And that night there was dinner on the proverbial veranda served by no less than members of the club.  And no one went home without a gift of some kind.  My brother, Larry (who became friends with Dave Marr and was invited to his wedding), and another caddy named Willy Carter used to fight for the low score most of the years I was there.

 

 

So why am I boring you with all this personal history?  Well for one, I'm not getting any younger myself and people my age tend to like to relive the best parts of their youth.  But I'm also telling you this so when you read what I might say sometime in the future, you will understand where I've been and what my frame of reference is when it comes to the sacred game of golf.  I've been totally blessed to see the best the game of golf has to offer.  It means a lot to me and please understand that my two most important goals, when it comes to golf, are to share it with as many people as I can and to protect and preserve its integrity for all who follow.  I've participated in all the sports popular in my youth including baseball, basketball and football.  But to me none of them compared to golf for its honor and integrity.

 

 

Sorry if I've bored some (most?) of you.  I've lived a privileged life, not in having the resources to belong to Winged Foot - my parents were Irish Immigrants who came to this country  in the late 20s with nothing but their faith and a work ethic that allowed them to raise six kids in Westchester County, NY - but rather being given the opportunity to meet and listen to for countless hours some of the kindest, classiest people you'd ever want to know, people who have unwittingly had a large impact on the person I became.

 

 

So there's my introduction, the tome that it is, and now I will look forward to reading what you folks have to say and hopefully contributing something once in a while.

 

 

v/r

 

Terry Garvey

Rhode Island

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

Hi Terry - welcome!

 

Wow, what a narrative - thanks for sharing.   You're going to be a great addition to our little community, I can tell!

 

Where do you play in Rhode Island?  I work for a Cranston-based company and travel back frequently - usually play with my boss at Rhode Island CC, where he's a member.  Have also played Triggs and a few other area courses.  Have you ever played Blackstone National?

[JBones]

Welcome, Terry. Glad you joined our community, look forward to your contribution.

[TerryG]

Hi Terry - welcome!

 

Wow, what a narrative - thanks for sharing.   You're going to be a great addition to our little community, I can tell!

 

Where do you play in Rhode Island?  I work for a Cranston-based company and travel back frequently - usually play with my boss at Rhode Island CC, where he's a member.  Have also played Triggs and a few other area courses.  Have you ever played Blackstone National?

Hi, GolfSpy Barbajo!

 

Thanks for the welcome.  I play Triggs most often (ca. 10 rounds this year)  because I like Ross courses but I like to move around:  Acushnet River, Green Valley, Newport National (I'm president of our golf league there);  Middlebrook (one of my favorites and grossly underrated), Swansea, Rehoboth.  Whaling City is a Ross course too in New Bedbord but no one knows how much of the original design is left.  It underwent significant modification several years ago.  It has one of the best risk/reward par 5's I've ever played.  I played Pinehills (Nicklaus) a month ago for the first time and was totally impressed - very intelligently laid out facility.  And the course has great structure, especially on the back side.  I like to hit courses on the Cape too but haven't done so in a few years.  I've not played Blackstone National but my daughter has and she likes it. I've gotten to play Quidnessett the last couple of years; my friend is a member. Eighty percent of the time, I show up as a single.  At this point in my life, I really enjoy meeting people on the golf course. And I've really met some great people the past several years. 

 

Perhaps we can meet somewhere when the weather is a little more friendly.

 

Terry

[Kenny B]

Welcome ritpg!

 

What an impressive introduction!  I am looking forward to hearing many more stories about your golf experiences.  I wish we were closer, I would enjoy a round of golf with you sir!

 

Glad to have you aboard!

[westy]

Welcome to you - as for brevity? Don't fret about that, we like a bit of detail round here!

[revkev]

Welcome ritpg - I live in Florida now but am a native New Englander.  Learned my golf caddying at a track in Fairfield County so we were neighbors at one time so to speak.  How long were you in the Navy?  I'm a proud Dad of a sailor. 

[TerryG]

Welcome ritpg - I live in Florida now but am a native New Englander.  Learned my golf caddying at a track in Fairfield County so we were neighbors at one time so to speak.  How long were you in the Navy?  I'm a proud Dad of a sailor. 

You should be very proud of your son.  I was in the Navy from '68 thru '71.  The highlights were a WESTPAC cruise in '68 and spending the last year home ported in Naples, Italy.  I'm very familiar with Fairfield County.  My brother lives in Stamford.  There are some great courses there.  I've played Sterling Farms with my brother.

[TerryG]

Welcome ritpg!

 

What an impressive introduction!  I am looking forward to hearing many more stories about your golf experiences.  I wish we were closer, I would enjoy a round of golf with you sir!

 

Glad to have you aboard!

Thanks, Kenny.  I'm glad to be on board.

[TerryG]

Welcome to you - as for brevity? Don't fret about that, we like a bit of detail round here!

Thanks, Westy.

[TerryG]

Welcome, Terry. Glad you joined our community, look forward to your contribution.

Thanks, Bones.

[GolfSpy Barbajo]

 

Perhaps we can meet somewhere when the weather is a little more friendly.

 

Terry

 

That would be great!  I get back there at least once a month during the warm weather...

[BIG STU]

Welcome Terry it is good to have another 'elder statesman" like myself. Very interesting introduction keep the stories coming!! BTW I am a Navy vet also

[Mr_Theoo]

Welcome! Glad to have you!