VA vs. SC Matches - August 23-25, 2005

Yesterday's post focused on a single issue, the "scorer" for an event or informal tournament. Today I'll report - at least briefly - on the event itself. Not so much the score, although the SC squad amazingly defeated the VA group by 1 point - 1 POINT! - over a three day competition. No, this is a bigger, more emotional look at these matches.

I don't know how this event originated, whose brainchild it was, or even who did most of the work pulling these eight guys together. But I know I was fortunate to have been included, not only because they are all great guys and we played very good golf courses and it was a formal, organized, formatted competition. In fact, it was all those things that made these VA vs. SC team matches an absolute joy.

As with most successful golf outings, I made several new friends, and I have golf to thank for it. You get to know someone so quickly, so well, on the golf course. You peer into their head, get a glimpse into their hearts, learn a lot about their character. You learn to laugh with them. You get to know and (vicariously) meet their families. You learn what's important to them, what isn't. You see how they respond to pressure, what it does to them, how much better - or worse - an individual they are when something's on the line (even if, sometimes, it's only pride).

The first day we played Secession, two groups of better ball. Three of the VA guys had no luggage, no golf clubs, so they played with rentals and spanked us. Out of a possible 36 points, they had 19.5, and after one day a 3 point lead.

(Each hole represents 1 point. If you halve, each team receives 1/2 point. If you win, you receive the full point. If you lose, you receive nada.)

On Day 2 we traveled just down the road to Spring Island's Old Tabby Links. The morning round was another better ball session; the afternoon was alternate shot. For the day there were 72 points in play, and we clawed closer. After two days only one point separated us: VA had 54.5 points; SC had 53.5 points.

Today, Day 3, was singles day: four individual matches, each worth 18 points, a total of 72 points for the day. The first and second matches were in one group; the third and fourth in the next group.

Match #1 yielded SC 10.5 points, or +3. Match #2 yielded SC only 8.5 points, or -1. So after the first two matches, SC had gone from being one point behind to one point ahead overall.

Match #3 yielded SC 10.5 again, or +3. But Match #4 - the two captains going mano a mano - SC lost by 3, capturing only 7.5, or -3.

If you're not totally confused, that means SC won overall by one point - 1 POINT! After three days, out of a possible 180 points, and two teams of four golfers each, only one point separated the two teams. 90.5 to 89.5.

The score was close, strangers became friends, good friends became better friends; the golf was good at times, not so good at others... But, my friends, these three days represent the best the game has to offer. If you don't do anything like this, put it together, do it now and do it often.

Thanks, fellas!