Copyright © Jerry King. All rights reserved. Used with permission.
What is the nastiest slice or other off-line shot you’ve ever hit? Where did the ball end up?
−The Armchair Golfer
Jerry King is an award-winning cartoonist whose credits and clients include Golf Digest, United States Golf Association and Disney. His golf cartoons are regularly featured at ARMCHAIR GOLF.
Not so much me (though I have done it) but everyone who plays at my club knows about this one house on our fifth hole that is like a slice magnet. For some reason, the developers put the houses on the right side very tight to the fairway, and this one house is like a pinball bumper when it comes to errant shots.
It can be hit 3-4 times a day in the summer and the owner finally got tired of replacing windows and put in some very expensive golf-ball-proof tempered glass over most of it, save for a French door they keep covered in plywood.
Me, last year I hit an over-swung banana-ball that *almost* missed their house. On the far corner, they had a ceramic windchime hanging and the golf ball slammed through it and shattered it into a hundred pieces. The owner was sitting outside when it happened, and I felt obliged to apologize and offer to pay for it.
They said no, that's part of living on the golf course. I asked again to make sure they were serious, but they refused any repayment.
I played out the round, but got thinking about it that night. That's when I drove over and put a check in an envelope for $40 saying that I hope that they could get another wind chime as nice as the one I broke. I added that I knew they didn't want any money but I figured it was the neighborly thing to do.
What a great tale, Charles. And a nice ending. You did a good turn. Thanks for sharing.