BlackHorse 68

Wow it’s been a while since my last post.  We are still here waiting for the house to sell.  It appears that the market has slowed down.  We have had several interested lookers but for none serious enough to take the plunge.  Hope it picks up soon.

Well, it’s official.  Our home is finally on the market.  We signed the realtor contract this past Friday.  Although we have thoroughly enjoyed being back home in Hawaii for the past seven years, we have decided to move back to Florida to be closer to our children and grand children.  We made a decision to go with an old friend of mine, Ed Baumgartner,  who started his own realestate agency, www.Tropical-Lightnening.com,” a couple of years ago.   Ed is a retired Army Sergeant Major.  We were both stationed together at Ft. McClellan, AL way back in the early to mid ’80s.  He seems pretty confident that he can get the house sold in about 45 days.  That would be great since we have a grandaughter graduating from High School in June.  That, plus the fact that my son Matt, daughter-in-law Melissa, and our two oldest grandaughters, Michaela and Serena, are going on Asian tour sponsored my Matt’s employer in July.  We also need to be there to baby sit our youngest grandaughter Leilani who is too young to travel with them.

Paula Creamer Wins Again

THE FIELDS OPEN, Kapolei, HI, February 21-23

Paula Creamer came from behind to win The Fields Open at the Ko Olina Golf Course in Kapolei, Hawaii on February 23rd.  Starting the final day, she was at -10, two shots back of Jeong Jang at -12.  By days end, she was at -16, giving her a final round score of -6 to steal the Championship from Jang.  Annika Sorenstam, last weeks winner at the SBS on the North Shore of Oahu finished with -12 and a final round score of -4.  Holding the microphone for the Golf Channel again this week, I followed Nancy Scranton who finished with a -10, Kelli Kuehne at -5 and Laura Diaz at -4.  It was an exciting week and I enjoyed every moment.  Sadly, this is the last professional golf tournament for the year here in Hawaii.

During the Volunteer Banquet following the tournament, Paula was gracious enough to show up for a few minutes to express her appreciation to all the volunteers and sign a few autographs.

                         Turtle Bay Resort, Kahuku, HI, February 14 - 16

After a winless 2007 season, Annika Sorenstam captured her 60th career victory on her first appearance at the SBS Open at the Turtle Bay Resort, Palmer Course on the North Shore of Oahu.  I was once again fortunate to be a part of the three day event as an On-The-Ground Microphone Operator for the Golf Channel.  I had the privilege of walking along side Laura Diaz and Jane Park who both posted 8 under (tied for 2nd), and Cristie Kerr not far behind with 5 under (tied for 8th) for the tournament.  As with the other golf tournaments I have volunteered for, it was truly an enjoyable experience.  All the the golfers were courteous and really enjoyed themselves on and off the golf course.  Why wouldn’t they, this is Hawaii.

Today during our own weekly club play at the Army’s Schofield Barracks, Leilehua Golf Course, a few of the LPGA women came out to join us in a round of golf.  I had the distinct pleasure of playing along side Kate Golden and Amy Read.  Two of the greatest women golfers (personally and professionally) I have ever had the pleasure of playing with.  I did not post a very good round, but it didn’t matter, I was just happy to have had this opportunity.  They are truly great supporters of the Military and have been participating in golf events with the Military every year that the LPGA comes to Hawaii.  Mahalo (thank you) from all the men and women of the Armed Services stationed in Hawaii.

F Troop, 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment

January of 2008 marked 40 years since having been assigned to the 11th ACR which at the time was based out of Xuan Loc, Vietnam.  It seems like a lifetime has passed and yet still very vivid in my mind.  I was just a 19 year old kid at the time and yet here I am about to turn 60.  Even though, at times I tried to erase some of the memories of being there, it’s the names and faces of my fellow F Troopers that keeps me grounded.  Guys like Dave Embrey (KIA), Gale Deering (KIA), Don Stevens (whom I just recently had the pleasure of reuniting with), Jim Stewart (WIA), CPT Morris, LT Rodgers, PSG Dawson and the countless others that I’m sure I would remember if it wasn’t for these frequent senior moments.  Guys, it was an honor serving with you!

                         The Turtle Bay Championship

 After a long absence as a Tour Champion due to injuries, Alabama’s Jerry Pate captured a well deserved victory at the Turtle Bay Championship on the North Shore of Oahu.  He did so with winds gusting up to 30 mph that saw almost the entire field carding an above par round.  And as a Tournament Volunteer Microphone Operator for the Golf Channel, I was very fortunate to be alongside his threesome, which included Scott Simpson and Fulton Allem, to capture all of the sounds throughout their round.  How’s that for excitment?  In an interview after completing his round, Pate informed the media that all of his medical rehabilitation was done at a hospital in Birmingham, AL.  And as coincidence may have it, this is the same hospital that my wife worked at for several years as a Head Nurse when we lived in Alabama. 

My daughter-in-law Melissa has created a website that is solely dedicated to Purple Heart recipients:  www.ourpreciousgift.com.  It has only been in existance for only a few weeks and already it has gained media attention in Tampa, FL.  She was interviewed by Tampa Bay’s Channel 10 on the 18th of Jan.  If you go to the above website, you can view the televised interview.  Thanks to the publicity, her website is growing in terms of getting Purple Heart recipients registered on the site.  If you are a Purple Heart recipient or know of one, please go to the website and register. 

Such a deal.  I spent the past four days “hob nobbing” with some of the top Professional Golfers in the world as a volunteer at the PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Honolulu.   Was very fortunate to walk along side the likes of Fred Funk, Steve Stricker, Chad Campbell, Kevin Na, Mark Wilson, Brent Snedecker, Robert Gamez, Boo Weekly and J.B. Holmes along with other not so famous Pros such as Alejandro Canizares, Brad Adamonis, Chez Reavie and Doug LaBelle II.  Talk about getting free golf lessons from some of the best.  I learned so much I’m excited to see if it will improve my game.  What’s even better is that I get to do it all over again in a couple of weeks at the Champion’s Tour Turtle Bay Championship. These are the seniors-50+.     

The Sony Open

Thanks to one of our members in my Saturday Golf Club, I have been invited to volunteer for the PGA Tour’s Sony Open at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu beginning Thursday, Jan. 10th through Sunday, Jan. 13th. I will be working with the Television Crew and will up close and personal with the players during their rounds.  Who knows, there may even be some face time on national television.  I am so excited and can’t wait.  This is not the first,  several years ago, while living in Florida, I was fortunate enough to be a volunteer for the PGA Champion’s Tour for three years. 

How wonderful it is to spend time with family over the holiday season, especially when Hawaii and Florida are separated by five time zones.  The problem is that time seems to fly by so quickly when your there and before you know it you are home again.  These quality reunions only happens once a year if we are lucky and it is really depressing not being there to spend time with our children or watch our grandchildren grow.  Although I know she will adamantly deny it, our daughter-in-law is putting up a convincing front for us to move back to Florida.  Even though for the past seven years, we have enjoyed being home again in Hawaii, my wife and I aren’t getting any younger and spending time with our kids and grand-kids is our number one priority.  So, back to Florida we are heading whenever we can figure out the most opportune time to make the move.