Zoos, doctors, and tee time entrepreneurs

By Joe McAdory

One thing I’ve learned on the golf course has nothing to do with improving my game, for that hasn’t happened. It’s the people, complete strangers, I’m paired with.

Over the last month, I’ve been paired with the president of the Milwaukee Zoological Society who discussed concerns over funding, a hand surgeon in Atlanta who noted that operating on a hand was much more meticulous than operating on a leg since the hand has many more small bones, and an Atlanta man who makes a living selling tee times for Hawaiian golf courses.

I will never be president of a zoo. I will never be a hand surgeon, or doctor of anything else for that matter. But hmm, I can sell tee times. This sounds like a pretty good gig. His job is to manage a Web site, which is his only overhead, purchase tee times from courses and sell them to prospective players for a higher rate than what he paid. Still, this rate is far below the rack rate, so it’s a good deal for everyone.

Check out the Web site, http://www.parhawaii.com, if you’re heading to Maui anytime soon. This dude will hook you up. But he needs to work on his slice.

This seems like a pretty easy way to make money, but I’m sure there are hang-ups. Still, it’s worth considering

Lions for Lambs will make you think

By Joe McAdory

If you’ve been following the War on Terror pretty hot and heavy, you might enjoy the movie Lions for Lambs. I got a chance to see the flick the other night and I came away quite impressed.

First, let me say that it amazed me how dialogue in limited places could carry a movie. A majority of the movie takes place either in a Senator’s office, where the politician Tom Cruise is interviewed by a reporter, played by Meryl Streep, or a college professor’s office where the instructor Robert Redford tries to inspire a promising student. Sure, there was some ‘action’ as a movie about the War on Terror will have, but most of the action is purely token. Dialogue, good dialogue, carries the movie. It’s the only Cruise movie I’ve ever seen where the actor spends his duration of the movie in one room.

The film doesn’t advocate the war (the fight in Afghanistan, not Iraq), nor does it seems to support a ‘bring the troops home’ message. It pretty much lays out the facts, as much as it can anyway, and tries to inspire those who watch to think for themselves. The overriding message is if you care strongly enough one way or another about the war, do something about it instead of sit back and complain.

Opelika track was a dynasty

By Joe McAdory

Opelika’s bid for the Class 6A state baseball championship is truly an accomplishment and all associated with the program should be proud of everything this group has done on and off the field.

I remember the days back in the 1990s when Opelika baseball was guided by Thad Burgess and Jamey DuBose. Those guys fielded some competitive teams too, and games against Auburn High and Central were always memorable. State championships weren’t always on the line, but those games were played with the same intensity.

But we also should remember the incredible run Opelika’s boys track and field team made from 1998 through 2007. During that stretch, OHS captured seven state championships. That was indeed a dynasty.

Best of luck to all local athletes. Win or lose, those representing our area from any local high school make us proud.

Should columnists be allowed to write letters to the editor?

By Joe McAdory

A reader asked why Opelika-Auburn News columnists were also allowed to write letters to the editor. I replied, “They’re a citizen just like anyone else. Just because they write a column should not disqualify them from writing a letter.“

But is it fair that a person who is given, say 600 words per week, be given extra space through a letters to the editor format? I’m beginning to wonder. This is something I, along with management at the newspaper, will discuss in the near future.

Playing through

By Joe McAdory

Golf is full of etiquette, a gentleman’s game. There are rules about fashion, because of course we all must look classy on the links. There are rules regarding players’ turns, repairing your fairway divots, raking the sand traps and repairing your ball marks on the green.

But the USGA rule book says nothing about weddings. Weddings? That’s right, weddings. What if you’re walking up the 18th fairway at Moore’s Mill Golf Club and realize a large, high-society wedding is happening just yards away from the green? You know, one of those fancy ones with violins, tuxedos and a preacher. Groomsmen wore black, while the bridesmaids wore green dresses with pink. But why am I talking about that?

And there I was, a hundred yards away in sweaty shorts and hat. Not exactly wedding attire. I would have worn a green and pink dress if it had helped my score.

I faced a dilemma. Do I go for the green, because that’s what I’m supposed to do? Or do I stand here and wait for the ceremony to conclude, knowing full well that anything I hit will not come anywhere near the desired target?

I can see it now, the bride and groom, who I’m told is spending the honeymoon in the Turks and Caicos Islands, are exchanging vows, and from the distance, an idiot in a bright red shirt is yelling, “Fore!“ Everyone duck and cover. Joe’s misguided Top Flite is about to separate this couple before they tie the knot. Pre-wedding jitters focused on the threat of rain. Except now, the forecast called for a mild threat of hail stone-sized golf balls.

My playing partner, political afficionado and part-time Annika Sorenstam Jennifer Foster, recommended I wait until the wedding was over. We wouldn’t want to interrupt the blessed event. She was right, I guess. But I couldn’t have hit the wedding if I tried. The bad thing is I wouldn’t have tried—thus, increasing the chances for a nuptial bogey.

Then the preacher said something like: I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Robert Randolph Ruddy IV, you may kiss your bride.

Good. I may hit my golf ball. I’m not going to tell you where it went.