bwdial

About to finish my fifth year of teaching. I am an eighth grade Social Studies teacher, and am trying to make the leap to high school. I am certified in Middle Grades Social Studies and Language Arts, as well as History, English, Geography, Political Science, Economics, and Marketing. Going to get certified in Behavioral Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, and a little Anthropology) to round out the Social Sciences and Business Education. I worked in a variety of positions in a few different industries before that, so I feel like I have valuable experience to share with high school students.

Sadly... 6-8 inches with a putter is about it.

The two courses that I cut my teeth on as a new golfer have both closed. Hall of Fame Golf Course in Tampa, Florida was rumored to be on the chopping block for decades, but it soldiered on into the early 1990s. It was no Augusta National, but it had a variety of holes to keep things interesting. Its big par fives were in the 560-plus range, but it also had one that measured less than 500 yards. It was also cheap, and usually wide open, which was really pleasant for a beginner. Sadly, the push to build a mall - roughly two miles from another mall - finally killed it off. Harry Pritchett Golf Course was the University of Alabama's golf course, and I spent many days there during college - many of which should have been spent in actual classes - learning the game. It was closed in November of 2003 because it was unable to suffer the loss of revenue from me being kicked out of school in the mid-1990s, and turned into a running course for the cross country team.

102 at Collins Hill Golf Course. First time playing there, and the first time I've hit a ball since before Christmas.

I coach my kids' soccer teams. Three six-year-olds on one, and one on the other. It's a whole lot of fun.

Sadly, my answer to the first question is a resounding no. Actually, I feel like I have regressed. I celebrated passing my Marketing certification exam for teaching it in high school by going to the golf course. It was the first time I'd hit a golf ball since before Christmas, and it showed. Horribly inconsistent. I crushed my first drive, with a slight draw, which forced me to punch out from below some trees, and it went down hill from there. Didn't hit another solid drive until the ninth hole. I'm looking into lessons. I've got to get some consistency in my swing, because I never know what's going to come off the clubface.

"Run like you stole somethin'!" Dicky Pride to his drive on his way to winning the St. Jude way back in the '90s.

I am usually yelling, "oh God... NOOOOOOOO!"

Don't some guys like a little extra weight simply for increased feel, and to keep the club "on path?"

NFL Films - Classic Battle

Football: Rudy Baseball: Eight Men Out Basketball: Hoosiers Hockey: Slap Shot Soccer: The Damned United... though Bend it Like Beckham for Keira Knightley in a sports bra Auto Racing: LeMans Bowling: The Big Lebowski Surfing: Endless Summer Golf: The Greatest Game Ever Played Boxing: Cinderella Man Other: Seabiscuit

College football is my first passion, and as an alum, with a daughter in her junior year there, the Alabama Crimson Tide has always been in my DNA. My dad was born in Alabama, and much of my family lives there, so I grew up an Alabama fan, even though I was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. Speaking of Tampa, I grew up a Bucs fan through thick and thin - mostly thin - but I have dropped them ever since they drafted Winston. Done. Now that I live in the Atlanta area, I have become a Falcons fan, but there isn't the depth of commitment and I often find myself rooting for individual players from Alabama in the NFL. In the "other" football, it's Atlanta United and West Ham in the Premier League, or the Championship, as it looks like we may be playing in next year. Also, I am passionate about the United States National teams - men and women. As I am typing this, I'm watching the World Endurance Championship from Mexico City, and I am bummed that Porsche is pulling out, although the IMSA 12 Hours of Sebring immediately followed by a 12 Hours of Sebring for the WEC is a fascinating proposition.

A buddy of mine had tickets to the Alabama/FSU game, but not just any tickets, tickets to his company's corporate suite. Great chicken and fixins, plus all the Makers Mark and Woodford Reserve I could handle.

Way to go Justin Thomas! ROLL TIDE!

I love hitting driver, and it's probably the surest stick in my bag.