Almost Famous

Posted under How I See It

I made the trip to the public golf course near my in-laws to get in a round of golf about ten years ago.  It was a Monday morning and the course wasn’t crowded.  Being a single I was hoping to get in with a group.  Upon arriving and giving my name in at the starter I went over to the range to hit a bucket of balls.

 

My name was called a few minutes later and I proceeded to the first tee.  As I approached the tee box I saw that there were two guys standing there and I figured that we’d be going off as a group of three.  Introductions were made and it was decided that since I was the out of town guest I would have honors and tee off first.

 

As I teed up my ball a shout came out in the distance.  A golf cart approach us with a single “older” gentleman aboard.  As he approached I saw that it was someone from my past.  A person I grew up with.  He was on television everyday.  Someone my mother watched and participated with every morning.

 

Jack Lalane was rounding out our foursome.  The guru of fitness, the herculean muscle man, the god of the juicer, the man who seemed to come from Mount Olympia itself.  He was there to play golf with me, and a couple of other guys.

 

He introduced himself and told us he was there because his regular course was closed on Mondays.  I was going to play with Jack.  This was going to be fun.

 

Jack rode the cart while the three of us walked the course.  He joked with us about the game of golf, about living in the Central Coast of California.  He reminisced about the old days and the stars that he knew.  I heard stories of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., all the brat pack crew.  His playing golf with Bing Crosby, and Bob Hope.

 

The round of golf was over long before I was ready to finish.  Jack who had to be in his eighties outshot us youngsters.  He never crushed the ball but kept it straight and on the fairways.  A finesse player who knew he didn’t or couldn’t power the ball.    

 

I’m a native Southern Californian and have met my share of celebrities.  I’ve been introduced to stars, directors, professional athletes and have never been once star struck.  You can’t swing a dead cat where I live without hitting someone famous.

 

But my time with Jack was truly memorable.  It was time spent getting to know a man who has lived a lifetime.  I hope to run into him again on the golf course.