NEWS
Fairway Skins Co., maker of women's golf gloves, reports brisk Mother's Day sales.
Fairway & Greene enlarges its In Stock Program by 60 percent for 2006-07.
FEATURE
Lucky Clothes Hold Memories
By Bill Giering
GPA Fashion Correspondent
Every golf club has its own society, its own pecking order and status symbols. Your club is no different, trust me. Often our status shifts, just as our golf scores, employment and marital status changes over the years.
One group, though, is constant in every club — their names change, but their clothes don't. They are R.O.B. (Rich Old Boys) at my club, maybe super seniors at yours. They have their own forward tees and play midweek in the morning. You know these guys, always smiling, having fun.
And they have one distinct characteristic: They dress really bad and they don't care.
What is it with these guys, with the striped shirts and plaid shorts? Clothes that went out of style when Hogan was still playing.
They cannot all be colorblind, they have to notice how poorly they dress. Most of them have more money than Hogan ever had, so that's no excuse. Are all their mirrors broken? How can their wives or girlfriends let them out the door in the morning? Yes, you thought it, but I am saying it.
Well, my fine-fashioned friends, I have the answer.
It has taken me almost 20 years of wonder with a dumbfounded look on my face as I peered at them, 20 years of talking behind their backs and making fun of them to my more sophisticated friends. Yes, I have the answer, but only after I cleverly infiltrated their ranks, and finally became one of them.
The solution unfolded slowly over the years, first with waves from nearby fairways. Then by sending over a drink here and there and then finally sitting with them, turning on the charm.
After years of flirting and courting did it happen. They asked if I wanted to play. Perfect -- now if I could only gain their trust.
On a bright sunny day, as we were waiting on the par-3, 11th tee for the green to clear, after two years of being on my best behavior, I felt it was time to strike.
"Jimmy, where did you get that shirt?" I asked.
Then there was silence as Jimmy looked at his two more trusted friends, then down at his faded blue shirt, almost gray from the sun.
I saw the look in his eyes, their eyes. An unspoken agreement was reached and I was in. The floodgates were opening.
Jimmy replied: "Do you remember Doc Bentley, he past away about 25 years ago? Well, I was out playing some twilight golf about a year after that and caught up with his widow. Do you remember her? Good looking woman."
His two trusted friends agreed.
"We got to 14 up on the hill, she had a small chip shot, and I asked her whether she wanted me to hold the flagstick or take it out? Well some sly smiles started and before you know it ... up there just behind the 15th tee, I got luckier than I ever have before or after on a golf course."
After the cackles subsided from his pals, I had to ask: "What does that have to do with your shirt?"
Jimmy replied: "Hell, this is the same shirt I wore that night, it's my lucky shirt. Do you think I would wear this worn out thing if it wasn't lucky?"
For the next seven holes I heard wonderful stories of romance and game-winning shots and long putts that fell to win important tournaments. And the clothes, the lucky clothes that they wore when those events happened.
Stories of needlepoint golf belts and socks that were given to them by departed friends and family. Stories that brought those worn shirts alive with treasure, anew with color; the wonderful stories of their lives, loves and glory days.
Stories that could only be told to the trusted, those who have earned the right to wear lucky clothes.
LOOSE THREADS
Jamie McWilliams, creator of the first "Best and Worst Dressed" list for the pro golf tours, will stage and host a fashion show at the International Network of Golf's Spring Conference in Pinehurst, N.C. ... Brad Bryant wins the Champions Tour's Regions Bank Classic wearing Divots Golf Apparel's new mercerized shirt.
|
