Tee Time
By Jim Anderson
Now that Tiger has re-established beyond a reasonable doubt that no one is close to his talent level, we have two more events to savour this fall. The first is the Canadian Open, which is no big deal to most of the PGA Tour elite, but is big to Canadians so we can hear about Pat Fletcher's victory in 1954. We all enjoy that. The really big show to the aforesaid PGA Tour elite is the Ryder Cup from Dublin's K. Club, where Americans play Europeans for pride, country, apple pie, and about a $20 million profit to the respective tours. Team America's captain is Tom Lehman, a man of deep religious convictions, who was quoted in the September Golf Digest as saying “If I have a gift that God has given me one of them is that I'm willing to be open enough about who I am so that I can get in touch with other folks.” When I read that it nearly brought a little tear to my eye.

Then I recalled a few years ago at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am, a friend and I were at the Poppy Hills course, one of the venues, when the skies opened up and fans and players alike dashed to the rather smallish clubhouse to avoid a drenching. It was standing room only and players were passing by to a room reserved for them alone. Who should walk by but the Ryder Cup captain, when a middle-aged fan, approaching him in the hallway exclaimed “Tom Lehman” in a voice dripping with shock, awe, wonder, and adulation. Lehman walked by him without a nod, a wink, a smile, a tip of the hat, or any indicator whatsoever that this obviously adoring fan even existed. So I'm thinking the “folks” that Mr. Lehman gets in touch with do not include the common folk. WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) Tom? Run to the free buffet?

Ledgeviews - Nick Taylor is the National Junior Champion and made the quarter finals in the Canadian Amateur, proving once again that Ledgeview is a great training ground. If you can play there, you can play anywhere. Jim Pearce is the new Senior Club Champion and Brad Morelli, definitely not a senior, is the Men's Club Champion. Ladies Club Champion for the year is Val Haslam. Congratulations to all!