Joe Durant Quote

"The mind is a scary beast sometimes," he said. "If you haven't won in a long time, you go from tunnel vision to spray vision. When you start thinking, 'Don't hit it here, don't hit it here,' that's when you get in trouble. I was trying to be very cognizant and not think that way."

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Yardage Book/Hole Location

Update

 

8 Oct 06

 

On the wall of my garage (along with some cob webs) is the scoreboard from the Transamerica Monday qualifier, dated 8 Oct 01.  Many of you remember that I didn’t know if I was going to turn professional or not after I reached fifty.  But five years ago today, I teed it up at Silverado in Napa, CA without ANY expectations. Eighteen holes and 67 shots later a LOT had changed.   Before Napa, I had mentioned to a reporter that if I caught lightning in a bottle, that would be great, if not I would go back to the best life in the world….MINE!  Well, I caught the lightning.  And has it been a fascinating five years.

 

And this past year has certainly been the MOST interesting.  And there WERE expectations.  And those expectations were certainly unfulfilled on the golf side. Even though I worked really hard, I got NO results.  But as I look back, it is amazing how many interesting people I met through this process, how much I’ve learned and I realize that even my lousy results won’t overshadow the wonderful experience that Laurie, Ryan and I had.  All I have to do is look back to the event in Napa five years ago and realize what a journey it has been. 

 

Those of you that know me realize that shifting into ‘reverse’ requires a lot of emotional grinding.  And with Laurie’s help, that is what I’m doing right now.  I won’t get into any of the last three events of the year (12th alternate in both Texas events), so I’m back working with Prime, Inc in the trucking business and trying to get back up to speed after about 9 months off.       

 

I’m not going to the Q-School this year, since the tour has changed the format.  Where in the past, they awarded 7 spots full-time status (the past year I had one of those spots), for the 2007 season there are NO full time spots available through the school.  The Q-School will award 30 spots to allow a player in the Monday Qualifier, and then will play for 9 spots in the tournament that week (instead of the two available now).  If I don’t go to the Q-School, I will have to play in the Friday pre-qualifier to get into the Monday qualifier.  And I will select some events next year to do that.  I just have no desire to play in a Monday qualifier every week.  If they go back to the other format next year, I may try and play for a full time spot in the 2008 season. 

 

I’m not through, just going to take a deep breath and continue to enjoy the greatest life in the world………MINE!

 

I will continue to add entries to my Journal/Blog about some of the interesting experiences that I had with the different players I’ve met.  If you have any specific questions about the tour, equipment, players or anything else, I will try and answer them. 

 

Also, if I can help you with your golf outing or other event, just let me know. 

 

Your kind words and support is unbelievably flattering.  I appreciate the thoughts.