I started playing golf again about 8 years ago. I had not played since I was on the High School Golf team. My clubs were a little outdated and I didn't really know too many people that golfed in Lafayette as I just graduated. I started playing golf with a guy known as "The Round Man". He was famous for his famous colorful pants and his incredible shots on the course. When I first golfed with him, I expected him to be some hack like the majority of us.... BOY WAS I WRONG!! I have never seen anyone pull some of the shots off from the locations that he would find himself. I remember a shot at Angel Hills in Rossville and right before he hit the shot, he said "People come all around from Carrol County to watch me hit this shot". Sure enough, he stuck it within 6 inches of the hole. Other comments would be "This looks like a job for the Samurai", "If your ball is near mine, you are in good shape", "Ain't these purdy?", and "Long and strong may work off the teebox, but short and consitent works for me!".
He immediately noticed problems with my swing with the clubs that I was using. So he took me to Golf Galaxy in Greenwood, IN. He found me a set of clubs and even worked on the sales guy to get me a great deal. Gary began to work with me on my swing. He was amazed at how far I could hit the ball, but concerned with my short game.
Gary started taking me to little "Gem" courses that weren't that popular. Gary always looked for courses that were challenging in all aspects of the game, not just the Links style courses. We went to Deer Track, Moss Creek, Logansport, and many others. I will never forget his statement after I would shank a ball in the water: "Goddammit Michael, get another ball. I'll show you what you did wrong." On the very next ball, he would have corrected my problem. And the next words out of his mouth were always "The next one is gonna cost you!!" Trust me, this guy got his share of money from me playing Bingo Bango Bongo. Playing against Gary in golf was like playing roulette! You were almost guaranteed never to win. After a year or so, I beat "The Round Man" in a game by ONE STROKE! He told me "You'd better frame that because it's not gonna happen again". And sure enough, I did, and I never beat him on the course again. I still have the frame of "The Round" with the Round Man.
I am extremely proud to call Gary a friend, and feel blessed that he was in our life! He is in a better place where the golf balls play true and don't bounce like hitting concrete on the greens at Oak Grove.
We Love You Gary and we will miss you!!!