Years ago as a very young man, Tiger Woods and his foursome stepped up to the back T-Box of Bloody Point's sixth hole and gave the little white ball a whack. It is ironic that last night golf students of Hank Haney, Tiger Wood's current coach, stood on that same T-Box and also gave it a whack with probably the same amount of success as Tiger....Hooks, big time fades and yes, "tops". You see...the T-Box seems to be haunted with some sort of spiritual being and straight shots are
not what the spirit has in mind. Some say its Papy, Bloody Point Lighthouse's owner in the 30's and 40's and 50's making the ball go "hither and nither". Some say he never forgave the folks that bought his beloved home, turned it into a Pro Shop and erected aT-Box in what formally was his front yard. I was told that "belief" when I bought the Lighthouse and yes...the back T-Box in question. Needless to say I was a naysayer, until late one afternoon after playing a round of golf on Bloody Point I sat my clubs in the corner of the den. Somehow the bag fell over, my seven iron flew out into the air and slammed into the wall. Someone or some thing was trying to tell me something and I quickly turned into a "believer".
It is with this scenario in mind that I can relate why students of Tiger Woods coach were T' ing it up with me last night on the back T-Box as the setting sun cast long ominous shadows over the front nine. I was
approached a few months ago by a producer from the Golf Channel and asked if I would help with filming of a special show featuring students from the prestigious Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy. Eight segments would be produced and they wanted one to feature the kids just having "fun" in a spooky kind of way. The "sinister golf T immediately came to mind" and after considerable planning the filming was done.
The show does not stop at the T-Box , however, and as darkness falls over Bloody Point with only a finger nail moon providing illumination we made our way to Bloody Point's cemetery. With respect for the "passed" foremost in my mind I tell the story of Blood Point's historical bloody past and how many an Indian and Islander alike lost their lives in violent turmoil. Needless to say it was a "chilling experience" for me, as the kids huddled together and the assembled cadre of camera men and sound specialists so professionally captured the moment.
I will have to wait till this Fall to turn on the Golf Channel and witness for myself what film technology has captured. But even if "Spirits" somehow made images on the film disappear, I will always have implanted in my mind the "special experience" of that night. For you see, these young men and women depicted in the filming were not just some of the best "players" in the world attempting to hit a little white ball off an ill fated T-Box. They were good, well mannered educated kids just having fun, the way it should be and I was blessed to be a very small part of their life.
See Ya on the "High Tide".
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