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It looks like a brown turd with the imprint of a hiking boot on one side. Made of rubber, it would probably be hot if worn outdoors on a warm day and I guess that was a complaint of those who wore it in previous years before the rules were changed to require that you only wear it to breakfast the day following its award presentation. Fortunately it doesn't smell.
Different things motivate people and the desire to excel is a constant motivator to the golfer. Golfers are also motivated to prevent adverse consequences by playing safe and avoiding trouble. The shit hat has been a hazard that all of us Townsend Cup golfers seek to avoid at all costs. For almost three years I have avoided it although I have had some net scores in the 80's. This year after starting two rounds with double boogies and not feeling well about the way I was playing, I recovered to have my two best rounds of the tournament with gross 87 and 85. I thought I was safe - I started my last round with two quadruple bogies with out of bounds penalties on No. 10 and 11 - recovered with par on 12, bogie on 13, par on 14, bogie on 15, in the water on 16 - recovered with a wedge to the green and sunk the put for a bogie and finished the back nine with 48 - should be safe - another 48 at worse would get me a 96 for net 79. Additionally my partner for the day Rich Keilt and I were ham and egging to nine under par net for the back nine. Surely I would play better on the front and we would be in the hunt for the 2-man best ball low net for the day.
The front nine started with a bogie. Not started with a good drive, a topped 3 wood (metal) to within 120 yards of the green and a pitching wedge to the green that was actually pulled into the first trap on the left - out of that trap into the next trap, out of that trap onto the green but rolled onto the grass beyond the green. I looked at the ball, but it was not my ball, where could I have hit the wrong ball? None of us could answer the question so I finished the hole with that ball and took a two-stroke penalty for a gross 9 on the hole (one putt). I continued to play reasonably well for the next three holes but the wheels came off on the 6th hole chili-dipping the wedge second shot, long for the chip and 3 putting. No. 7 - good drive, short with my iron, wedge into the trap, over the green, chip on and two putts for a 7. No. 8 - drive into the lake, second ball also into the lake, third ball over the green into the sand trap, putt out and two putt for an 8. Finished the nine with a 57 bring the total to 105 and a net 88. Of course Rich was a little tired carrying me and we lost some strokes in the two man best ball and we finished just out of the money for the day. Additionally, I wore out Jerry Heller with his arm waving and yelling, "Ifs out of bounds". Jerry's partner John York took it all in stride and he continued his good play to win the championship.
I guess I now have to face the music. If I have to wear it I should wear it proudly; I accomplished something and should be recognized for it, the same as if I won one of the more preferred prizes.
Looking back, I think having the previous two good rounds after the bad starts made me complacent, assuming that the game would come together and I would play good once the weather warmed and I could swing freely. I don't think I took any safe shots for the day and think that contributed to the poor showing. Two out of bounds, the 2 stroke penalty for hitting the wrong ball, in the water three times and the poor contact were contributors but I think the mental aspect was the big contributor to the disaster. Years ago, when I was learning the game, when I could hit the ball hard with a big swing I would have felt that I had a good day shooting 105. I guess it's how you look at it.
Now wear it with pride. The presentation was at the final dinner and it was presented to my jointly by yesterdays winners, Don Hagen and Frank Keller. Really it wasn't that bad - I even led the hymns.
Karl Reid
1998
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