Learnin' Golf ... Countin' Strokes ... and Willie's Crystal Ball ....

L-R: Glada Webb, Altus Michie, Jo Harp, Gladys McConnell (Johnny's mother), Edna Smith, Jean Hassell, "Sis" McClendon (Max's mother), Louie Harp (Jennifer's grandmother) and Mildred Brown at the Country Club, August 1973.

This today from our friend Mike Spradley (see the picture of Mike and his granddaughter Taylor, added under "The Way We Are"):

Jenn…..your golf picture made me think of this story…….maybe you can post it for me……thx….sprad

Seeing the pictures of Jennifer’s grandmother playing golf…….I remember all those ladies so very very very well as I grew up. They were truly the Matriarchs of Childress during the 50’s. I used to caddie for Gladys McConnell before “Willie” Wilcoxson actually talked me into letting him teach me how to play. (sorry Nikki…..I have never known Willie as Jim)

It’s easy to say that our family and the McConnell family were great friends from the time we moved to Childress in 1951….but then again….everybody was friends with the McConnells. It was Gladys that talked my Mother into moving next door to them during my 2nd grade year so that I could have Mzzzz. Pryor for a teacher. (the lady who taught me to love to read)

But that is not the story……this is…..

Somehow……and I don’t know why……..adults at the country club during the 50’s bestowed upon Willie the responsibility of teaching others his age to play golf. Implicit within that responsibility, as I look back, was the expectation that Willie would also teach us the rules and rules of honor……as in, “not cheating…”and “counting all your strokes”
Now then….the best two “kid” golfers were, unquestionably,” Willie Wilcoxson and Johnny McConnell. I played golf all the time with Johnny……but, for some reason, it was only Willie who was tasked with instructing. Beats me as to why but that was just the way it was….
Soooooo…enough background……….

One day Willie and I are finishing 9 holes and we are approaching the 9th green at the club house. From the club house, out walks several of those ladies in the picture, including, of course, Gladys McConnell. They are heading towards the 1st Tee.
Immediately!!!!......Willie starts telling me the future!!!!!!!!!

.........he whispers out of the corner of his mouth, “Sprad…….Gladys will ask us how you shot today………and then she will ask if we counted all your strokes”……Willie continued with…….”when she asks you if we counted all your strokes……you say, “yes….we did.”
Of course…..if we had counted all my strokes for 9 holes…..the score would always have been…..like……Spradley 112…….Wilcoxson 38 ……..so Willie always gave me the benefit of the doubt so my score would be around 50 or 60…or so….for 9 holes…..lets just say I got a lot of playing in for my money….

But somehow……Gladys was aware…..that Willie was teaching me to play golf……and it was Willie’s responsibility to teach me to play by the rules…………
So guess what………just as we get onto the 9th green….Gladys hollers………not at me……..but at Willie……with, “Willie….how did Mike shoot today?”……….Willie responds with a teacher’s proud, “Great!!!!…….he shot a 48!”
So Gladys looks at me and asked,……”That’s really good Mike……..did you count all your strokes?”
I puffed out my chest and replied…….”I sure did……….except for those I lost in the water on 2…….and those that went onto the highway on 3………and those that went into the farmer’s field on 4…….and”……that’s when I felt Willie’s elbow in my ribs…….
(I think the resulting bruise on my ribs resulted in my never being able to hit Chicken Mitchell’s fast ball.)

Anyway……Gladys went merrily off to the 1st tee…with a knowing smirk on her face
And I ….have never gotten any better at that miserable game they call golf……..but I am not bad if I get to count my own strokes………….just like Willie taught me….!