Happily Living a Country Song
By Cow Chip
The sun shone brightly on this lively and unusually boisterous post-round affair. The boys, after all, had plenty to celebrate. The course and the greens were responding nicely to the work of our new Captain of the Grounds, Tim Powers. The club championship was on the near horizon, spirits were high. The stories and the wine flowed. All the PCGC greats were here working on their games and oral histories. Over in the corner, the Blues, Lou and Retainer, were busy dissecting the virtues of vitamin V and beer’s undeniable contributions to society. Cabo Nick, Randy G. Ray Yo and the rest of the band were singing to the choir. They sang songs of woeful short games, bad luck, and what could have, nay, should have been.
It was at this moment, I noticed two western looking fellows with large belt buckles and amused expressions approaching me. They said they were songwriters from Nashville and long-time readers of the column. I instantly recognized them of men of good taste, despite some questionable footwear decisions. The red-headed one with the braided ponytail said, we had to see this place for ourselves and find out where you get your material. This place is gold, far better than hanging out at the Greyhound station in Memphis, or some honky tonk in a one-horse town, drinking cheap beer, listening for stories. Hell, Chip, these guys are real, all we have to do to get back on the charts is add a little southern twang to their tales.
Kris, his buddy said, your guys are experts on everything from third world politics to the inner game of tennis. How is it possible that y’all* are living out a country song without the aid or benefit of a train, shotgun, or a guitar? I’ll bet none of you can ride a horse? Kris, things have changed since you lived here, but the simple answer is golf. With that, they both nodded and shook my hand. We bellied up to the bar for shots and beers and toasted the Duke.
Manny Castillo yelled out, Hey Willie, you can’t smoke that stuff in here!
* The Gene Autry Cowboy Dictionary had no meaning for this word