Win Free 2005 PGA Championship Tickets

[iacas]

I've got two tickets to the Saturday round of the PGA Championship at Baltusrol, courtesy of Play Golf America . The contest rules are simple:

Post here in this thread by August 7 and tell us about how you've gotten someone involved with the game of golf. The best story, as judged by me and all other Sand Trap staff, wins. The tickets will be sent priority mail on Monday.

That's it! Let's hear those stories!

[iacas]

BTW, if you can't win (i.e. you can't get to New Jersey on Saturday, August 13) but you'd still like to share your story, go ahead, but please specify that you'll be unable to attend. If you plan to give the tickets to a friend who can attend, that'd be okay as well.

[flamtap]

Ok here it goes.
My younger sister has mild depression. She did the same thing every day in the summer of 2002. She stayed home all day by herself. She had no friends. So one day i decided to bring her out to the driving range. I am a member at my local driving range and am there almost every day. I got her started and she was like any other beginner at the game. so this went on and on for about 2 months. Around that time i brought her on the course. (par 72) She suprisingly played VERY well and shot a 97. thats pretty darn good for a beginner. To this date she is at the golf course at LEAST 3 times a week. She, like me is trying out for the golf team in high school as well. To this date her average score on 18 holes is 83. She placed first in the local Sertoma Junior Golf Club, recieved a trophy, and a scholarship to play golf at The university of south florida. (USF), if she keeps up her grades and her score. I am VERY proud of what i have done. I brought her into the game of golf, but now shes my close competition on the course!!! She is a natural player. She thanks me periodically for bringing her into the sport.
And to this date she has overcome her depression, i think because of golf. She has very many friends now that play golf so her life is 100% better now.

[cireyamel]

OK, I'll bite...

My wife hated the game when we went to our first USGA event. Bored skirtless. The second one, she started asking questions. What iron from here, who's that? type of stuff. She was really curious by the time Tiger won at Pumpkin Ridge (but he already has some tickets).

Three points here:

--She has taken lessons but really has no interest at the moment of playing the game.

-- I golfed mu butt off in Sun Valley during our honeymoon...and she enjoyed it.

-- She let me (we) join a private club at a stretch of our budget and loves fiddling around on the putting green with our five-year-old daughter.

Which leads me to the ultimate conclusion: you don't have to play the game to enjoy the game (and kids love having their own putter).

[cireyamel]

I forgot to mention...I have plenty of family in NJ, but I might make a trip out myself. Or make an early Christmas gift to my cousin-in-laaw if the stars don't line up right.

[cireyamel]

I forgot to mention...I have plenty of family in NJ, but I might make a trip out myself. Or make an early Christmas gift to my cousin-in-laaw if the stars don't line up right.

Well, I couldn't make the trip myself...but my father-in-law and a cousin-in-law went.

The report from Saturday: Brutally hot. Like, wicked hot. As in people passing out hot. They parked on the first tee early in the morning, and, basically, watched everyone go off. They said it just was too hot to think about following any group. I'm sure all of you have seen details from the day, but dad said it was amazing how many players were (a) wet even before they hit their first shot and (b) couldn't hit the first fairway. eric

[Rickins]

Eric,

I couldn't believe the heat index - while watching from my air-conditioned familly room, of course.

Remember the "good old days" when they played in long-sleeved shirts and ties? Just shoot me now...

Rick

[cireyamel]

Eric,

No, I don't remember the "good old days." But my dad-in-law did say that he thought the days of not letting players wear shorts should end ASAP. They just cooked out there.

e

[cireyamel]

No, I don't remember the "good old days." But my dad-in-law did say that he thought the days of not letting players wear shorts should end ASAP. They just cooked out there.

One more tidbit...the PGA people accepted their Saturday tickets for the Monday finish. I thought that was pretty cool. I don't know if that was an "official" thing or just a case of talking their way in. But they both assured me that Monday was a much, much better experience than Saturday. cy