I am Tiger Woods!
Well, not quite, but I do enjoy an afternoon out on the golf
course. I grew up playing basketball, football and baseball, and
frankly, I thought golf was for people who couldn't play real
sports. Boy was I wrong. Thanks to a local resident of Tuskegee,
I discovered that golf is an enjoyable sport that is relaxing, competitive and requires a lot less wear and tear on the body than
other sports.
I have also learned that golf is not just for the rich and famous,
as it can be enjoyed by most anyone. I also realized that golf is a
real sport that requires much more skill than I anticipated.
After deciding to give golf a try, I along with a few of my fellow
classmates from Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air
Force Base were invited to the Tuskegee East Driving Range
located on U.S. Highway 29 just south of Tuskegee.
The owner of the range, Mr. Lawrence McRae, spent time
teaching my friends and me how to play the game and proper
golf course etiquette (something you will need to understand if
you really want to play the game). More importantly, he ensured
that I approached the sport from the perspective of learning
technique and having fun at the same time. During the past
year while stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base, many of my
afternoons and weekends were spent on the driving range in
Tuskegee hitting buckets of balls and improving my golfing
skills.
Mr. McRae also took time to introduce me to many of the local
courses around the Montgomery area. In just a short period of
time, I have become an avid golfer and significantly improved
my golf game. I may never be a Tiger Woods, but I must admit
that I am enjoying the game of golf much more than I ever imagined. Recently, I even purchased a set of clubs for my six-year-old son. I want to personally thank Mr. McRae (Pop is the term
all of us from Air Command and Staff College affectionally call
him) for taking me under his wings and teaching me this great
game and for the outstanding work he's doing with the Macon
County Junior Golf Association. With his help, the next Tiger
Woods might just come from Tuskegee, Alabama.
Brian A. Butler
RETURN TO NEWS AND COMMENTARY
Editor, The Tuskegee News:
Hampton, Va.
LWF COMMUNICATIONS
Trotwood, Ohio