by James Ross
“Welcome to your new home, J Dub,” Lew crowed.
Marcia was disgusted. “I thought you said we were going to live the country club life,” she barked to Lew. She didn’t know if she felt like puking or smacking J Dub into next week for rushing into this deal. But then again, she didn’t exactly stop him as she cursed her own naiveté.
“It needs a little work,” Lew said sheepishly.
“As in a couple of million bucks,” replied Marcia as she cursed silently to herself.
“Calm down, Honey. The golfers spend most of their time out on the course. We’ll spit-shine the place,” J Dub said as he tried to console his wife.
“Have at it. I’ll be nursing.”
“Now calm down you cute little thing,” Lew stated in as comforting of a tone as he could muster. He took the opportunity to pat her belly and flashed a devilish grin.
“Hey. Keep your hands to yourself. That’s off limits,” J Dub said as he scolded Lew.
Lew was startled that J Dub would react that way. He couldn’t blame the young husband for being protective of his very-pregnant wife. “Sorry. That was completely out of line.” He could tell the young couple was completely overwhelmed from the closing and seeing the place in shambles.
Marcia glared at him. “I’ll say it was.”
J Dub changed the tone of the first visit and said, “What kind of shape is the course in?”
“We can hop on a truck and go see,” Lew answered.
“Does the equipment work?”
“Heck if I know,” Lew replied.
“We need to check that out and see if the carts are charged.”
Lew was in love with the land deal and was ignorant to all of the other details that went into running a golf course. “Make the golfers walk,” he demanded.
J Dub was mildly offended and aggravated by the gullibility of the statement. “You can’t do that! If we open up and aren’t ready to service the public, then they’ll never be back.”
“Throw down some fertilizer and cut the grass . . . that’s all they need,” Lew said.
J Dub’s ire was on the rise. “There’s a lot more to it than that. We’ll need water and good greens mowers and cart paths.”
“That’s not to mention a new clubhouse,” chimed Marcia.
“Let’s not spend the money before we get it,” stated Lew.
“If we don’t get this place in a lot better shape, then there won’t be any money to spend,” cried J Dub. He wasn’t too concerned about the clubhouse and parking lot. What mattered most to the golfers was the layout of the golf course and the condition of the fairways and greens. He had heard that it was an enjoyable course to play.
A stray bull terrier puppy sauntered up the road and across the parking lot. The dog’s fur was matted down. It appeared that it had missed several meals. Its tongue was sticking out and the dog was panting heavily from the walk up the hill. Upon seeing J Dub, Marcia, and Lew the wag of the tail went on overload.
“ . . . Lookee there! Our first customer,” shouted J Dub. J Dub coaxed the puppy over to the group. The dog was in need of a drink of water and some serious tender, loving care. This dog is in about as good a shape as this golf course, thought J Dub as he obligingly scratched behind his ears.
Lew grabbed a blanket out of the back of the station wagon. “Let’s roll out the red carpet.”
J Dub responded, “He’s not quite par for the course. So we’ve got our first Bogey.”
With that statement, a name was born.
Marcia, J Dub, and Lew prepared a bed for Bogey in the cart barn. They poured a bowl of water for him. Bogey took to J Dub like they were long-lost friends. Bogey vigorously licked J Dub’s face. He rolled over on his back so that J Dub could scratch his distended belly.
Bogey had beautiful markings. The bridge of his snout had a patch of white. Even one eye was surrounded by light-colored fur. His shoulders were firm. His chest was solid. His paws indicated that he would be adequately able to support an above average amount of weight. It was apparent that when he filled out and reached maturity he would be a strong dog.
Marcia could see how happy her husband had become. She knew that he needed this change and offered up words of encouragement. “It looks to me like there is only one way to go . . . and that’s up. I guess the future is bright after all.”
“We’ll have this place up and running in no time,” replied J Dub. Bogey lapped at his face.
“I just hope that you two can get along. There’s going to be plenty to do,” Marcia conceded.
Chapter Fifteen
It has often been said that one of the best ways to get to know someone is to marry them. One thing was certain—J Dub and Lew were married to each other, in business anyway.
Another thing was certain. J Dub knew who he was. His intent was to take the principles of golf that his dad had taught him such as honesty, integrity, patience, respect, and apply them in business to his partner and the customers. His view of the business was long term.
Lew, on the other hand . . .
. . . Well, let’s just say that every book has a story. Lew had his story and was sticking to it.
Even though the place needed a lot of work, J Dub saw tons of potential. He was excited for the chance to be self-employed and he was up to the challenge of fixing the place up and attracting customers. Lew had told him that one of the reasons that they had gotten such a good deal on the purchase of the golf course was because of its deteriorating condition.
Of all of the personal property items that came with the course, the item that J Dub had an eye on the most was an old, Ford pickup truck. Anxious to appease his new partner, Lew instantly made the decision to give the truck to J Dub. It leaked a quart of oil every couple of days, but it was transportation that helped J Dub get from his new apartment to the course and not much else.
J Dub’s adrenalin level was overflowing, so there was no problem for him to get up at 4:45 in the morning and be at the course before daybreak. Solitude can accompany those moments right before sunrise and offer some of the most joyous and memorable minutes of the day. At that time of the morning, J Dub always had a “best friend” that was happy to see him.
The first morning on the job, J Dub pulled the battered pickup onto the lot and parked it next to the cart barn. He instinctively unlocked the cart barn and Bogey greeted him with a jump in the air and a wagging tail. It’s always healthy to know that someone loves you.
J Dub picked him up and hugged him. Bogey rolled over onto his back for J Dub. That was a clear indication that he wanted his belly scratched. The dog would constantly wag its tail and have the energy of a litter of puppies. J Dub regularly made sure that there was plenty of food and water in Bogey’s bowls. For a stray that staggered onto the parking lot, Bogey had turned himself into a country clubber.
If J Dub walked into the pro shop, then Bogey was on his heels. If J Dub pulled carts out of the barn, then Bogey was on the seat beside him. If J Dub went to the driving range to hit balls, then Bogey would accompany him and watch. Bogey might as well have been J Dub’s shadow. They fell in love with each other.
It became obvious from the first day or so that the place to be at sunrise was the pro shop. A large picture window provided a good look at twelve of the holes on the course. The clubhouse sat on a small rise above most of the course. J Dub could pretty much see all of the activity on the golf course just by looking out of the picture window.
More importantly, however, was the beautiful view to the East that the picture window provided. Looking out that window provided a gorgeous view of the expansive irrigation lake on the golf course. Behind the lake was a tree line. Every clear morning, the orange sun would peek out above the tree line and cast its beauty over the lake.
In the early morning there were long shadows. Fog would sit atop the water. The wispy clouds would quickly burn off under the heat of the sun. On most mornings Mother Nature would provide, at no charge, a priceless moment to jum
pstart the heart.
The shooting pulsations of water from the sprinklers would glisten in the morning sun. Deer would graze near the banks of the lake and could be seen through the misty haze at daybreak. Honking geese would signal their arrival and land on the water. The rabbits and squirrels would dart through the underbrush. The robins would circle for their daily meal.
Even the man-made machinery took on a beauty of its own. At that time of day the golf course maintenance people could often times be seen riding a smoke-spewing tractor as they cut the grass on the greens or manicured the fairways.
J Dub never had a problem getting his butt up and out of bed. He enjoyed the early-morning moments with Bogey as well as a cup of coffee. The orange reflection of the sun shining across the lake at sunrise was enough to energize the dead.
The entire facility needed a complete overhaul in the first few days of operation. The pro shop had a counter that doubled as a sign-in area and a bar top. Whoever worked the cash register was also responsible for serving drinks and snacks to the paying public. On the busier days two people were needed to work the counter.
The beer cooler needed to be cleaned out and recharged with Freon. The beer taps had to be sterilized and brought up to code. The refrigerator needed a thorough scrubbing. Even the hot dog roller grill required some minor service.
J Dub quickly put his personal thumbprint on the office located off to the side of the pro shop counter. He brought in quite a few boxes that contained plaques and trophies that he had won in various events as well as assorted memorabilia that had accumulated over the years. The trophies went in the bookshelves. The plaques went on the wall. Personal pictures went on his desk. There was even a framed newspaper headline that read: J. W. SCHROEDER FALLS ONE SHOT SHORT. It found its place on the wall behind his desk.
It took J Dub a few days to get everything moved into the office. Running a golf course operation wasn’t what he had dreamed of as a kid, but it wasn’t a bad thing either. He had an opportunity to remain involved in golf. Plus he had a tremendous chance to set his family up for life.
One of the first things that Lew insisted on doing was hiring a bookkeeper. They interviewed several younger ladies due to Lew’s penchant for females. Although he wasn’t necessarily the apple in every woman’s eye, Lew did like to have them around.
They settled on a gal named Julie. She was right out of junior college and from the surrounding area. Julie had recently turned twenty-one. The great thing about her was that she wasn’t over-qualified for the position. By completing two years of junior college, she had qualities that both Lew and J Dub thought were admirable. However, Julie didn’t have the full college credentials that would lead to raises and a job promotion.
Julie was quite a catch. They both felt that she would fit in very well with a predominantly male customer base. She was feisty and assertive. Her quick wit reflected her Midwestern roots. Not only would she be able to manage the books and pay the bills, but she would be able to help J Dub work the counter in the pro shop. It would be a Monday through Friday type of position which allowed for her to have her weekends free.
Lew and J Dub thought that Julie would be a perfect fit. It had been encouraging for both of them to sit down and discuss the various applicants. After talking about the pros and cons they mutually decided on Julie and she was hired.
In one of those first few days that the golf operation was open for business, Lew stopped in early. If he wasn’t eager to start the improvements, he at least feigned excitement. “Where should we start, J Dub? This looks like it could keep both of us busy for quite a while.”
“Golfers are here to golf, Lew. We need to get the course fixed up.”
“Then let’s get out there.”
“Can you handle the register, Julie?” J Dub asked.
Julie smiled. “I’m sure that I can manage, but replacing you is asking a lot. Lew speaks so highly of you,” Julie said as if she had practiced her politics. There was no doubt that she wanted to get off on the right foot with the guy that she would be working with on a daily basis, but at the same time refrain from “kissing up to him” right off the bat.
In a similar fashion, J Dub wanted to score some points with Lew. “Winners say the right things, Julie.” Lew gushed with contentment. In those first few days it sure looked like everyone was going to enjoy working with each other.
It was off to the golf course during those first days for Lew and J Dub. One of the first projects that the two of them embarked on was erecting a fence. J Dub quickly found out that Lew was an excellent supervisor. He would sit in his pickup truck, listen to country and western tunes, and make sure that the temperature control button functioned properly as J Dub worked his backside off.
J Dub got to where he could operate a post-hole digger pretty well. The two of them found out that if J Dub dug the hole, then Lew would help get the post anchored. It was going to be back breaking work for J Dub, but he was the more youthful and energetic of the pair. Together they would string the length of fence.
With work that needed to be done on the greens and the tee boxes, J Dub thought that putting up a fence was far down the priority list. After several days of digging in the hard soil and wearing out a pair of gloves J Dub turned to his partner. “Why is it so important to get this fence up right away?” he asked.
“We need to mark our territory,” Lew responded.
“It’s a golf course. All we need to do is put out-of-bounds markers up.”
“I don’t want the golfers getting into the neighbor’s crops,” Lew replied. The boundary of the golf course was surrounded on three sides by farm fields. The neighboring farmers had planted either wheat, soybeans, or corn.
“We can put up a sign telling the golfers that the farm field is private property.”
Lew was adamant about what he wanted. “I want the fence up to protect our land.”
“What do mean by that? It’s only a field of grass.”
“In case there is any dispute, we’ll be able to win in court,” Lew answered.
That’s an odd response J Dub thought. He didn’t want to jeopardize the relationship that was in its infancy. It wasn’t too long after that and the fence line was installed. After the fence was completed Lew admired the work that was completed. “We did a good job, J Dub.” Lew was quick to take credit for most of the work that J Dub did.
“Now I want you to get these in the ground too.” Lew reached into the back of the pickup truck and handed J Dub numerous signs that read: NO TRESPASSING, NO HUNTING, NO SWIMMING, NO FISHING, NO UNAUTHORIZED PEOPLE, and NO CONCEALED WEAPONS.
“And make sure that this one gets put up by the pro shop.” Lew handed J Dub a sign that read: NO BEER (unless bought in the pro shop)
“We don’t need to put all of these signs up out here. This is a golf course,” J Dub countered.
“We need the people to know that it is ours and that we make the rules,” Lew insisted.
“Do you think that we’re going to have convicted felons on a daily basis and regular turkey shoots?” J Dub thought that a facetious response might drive home a point.
“Just do as I say,” Lew stated stubbornly.
J Dub sarcastically threw out another idea. “Let’s be sure to get one more sign made.”
“Did I forget one?”
“Yeah, you did. Where is the one that says that no whizzing in the woods is allowed?”
J Dub was at a loss for what to do. He was becoming extremely frustrated with Lew and this didn’t bode well for a long and prosperous partnership. He got the signs posted around the golf course. It sure didn’t look like it was going to be a welcoming site for the golfers, however. Nor did it look like it was going to be a friendly place to visit.
Chapter Sixteen
It didn’t take J Dub very long to network out to the golfers. He got up early and shook as many hands that he could. He made a conscientious effort to be as friendly as possible to everyone that came through the do
or. In a very short period of time he had gotten a lot of players to feel comfortable. Several of the guys became regulars. Most of them were retired fellows looking for a place to hang out away from home.
On one of those early mornings a warmer-than-usual day in February signaled that spring was right around the corner. J Dub got an unexpected visitor just moments after unlocking the pro shop door and opening up for business.
“I heard that some new ownership had taken over this joint,” a gravelly voice announced the instant the door slammed shut.
“We closed on it less than a week ago,” J Dub offered. “What can I do for you?”
“My name is Earl. Me and my buddies used to play here all the time until the conditions got so bad, we had to leave.”
“We hope to change all of that,” J Dub volunteered.
“Good! We always did like the layout,” Earl chimed back.
“Do you have some guys that you normally play with?” J Dub pried. He knew that it was vital to cultivate regular business during the weekdays, especially for a public golf course operation.
“I’m sure that I can arrange to get eight or ten guys over here pretty often if you can cut us a deal or two,” Earl suggested. All of his golfing partners were on a fixed retirement income and he knew that every little bit helped.
“I’m sure that we can find some nice ways to accommodate a group like that,” J Dub countered. “Repeat business is the name of the game.”
“Good!” Earl exclaimed. “That’s the type of working relationship we’d like to establish. I can get all kinds of players to come back over here.”
“Whatever it takes, Earl. We’d love to have you.”
“Would you have a part-time job available?” Earl was on a roll and wanted to keep it going. It seemed like the new kid was genuinely sincere.
“Hey, I grew up playing golf. I know how it is. We need to have guys like you around here. And that goes for your buddies, too,” J Dub proposed.