By D. A. Weibring
This past week the Champions Tour returned to the Allianz Championship at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa where I'd won two years ago. Last year they moved the tournament to a different venue and I lost in a playoff, so I was anxious to return to Glen Oaks.
But, I also had another commitment last week. My youngest daughter, Allie, who just graduated from high school, was having a recital. She is a dancer, like my older daughter Katey who is a professional dancer and also teaches dance. She's been teaching a lot the last couple of years so she could be around until Allie graduated.
Last week was final assembly at school where they honored seniors, but for Allie it was final dance recital week, as well. Allie is the only senior in her dance company of about 60 girls and recital week is special. It's the time when all of the young dancers get their chance to get out on stage for two grueling nights dancing 5 or 6 numbers each night. It is a celebration for both the parents as well as the kids who've stayed with dancing. It is a testament to what you can do if you have the heart and determination to stay with something, and it's wonderful to see that kind of commitment rewarded whether you're a dancer, or a golfer.
So, when I saw her final recital was the same week as the Allianz Championship, I decided that both events were too important to miss, so I would try to play golf and be there for her too.
In addition to playing in the tournament each week, players also have an obligation to play in at least one pro-am event, so I flew up on Tuesday night for a 7:00 AM tee-time in Wednesday's pro-am. I finished about noon, and got on the airplane to return to Dallas, so I could rehearse the Dad's Dance. Oh yes, I failed to mention that the Dads also have a recital, as well. It's called the Dad's Dance, where fathers dance with their daughters. And I've done it for 10 or 12 years now with my girls, and I wouldn't miss it for the world.
Unfortunately, I went on with no rehearsal, but Allie made me look great. As I expected, Allie had a good night; she danced 5 or 6 numbers including a solo. Part of the tradition of the recital is that a parent speaks for forty-five seconds or a minute about each dancer prior to their solo, which my wife did wonderfully. Then it was Allie's turn and she danced fantastically.
Afterwards, I walked on stage with flowers for her. The evening was made even more special when my oldest daughter danced in tribute to the great leadership that Allie's provided for the company. Allie didn't know what her sister had planned and she was already in tears when her sister took the stage. It was really neat, her older sister and her idol, a person she really looked up to, walking on stage and dancing with the other senior company girls. It was one of those nights you really don't want to miss as a parent. I'm very proud of her.
So, we finished up that night and then I got back onto an airplane the next morning about 6:30 AM for Des Moines and shot one under par even though I didn't putt very well on what were actually terrific greens. Saturday I shot two under par and putted about the same. I woke up Sunday morning and didn't feel great. And, although I played pretty well tee to green, I putted even worse. I had 36 putts the final day and shot 75. I think the back and forth cost me a little, but it was worth it to dance with my daughter.
It didn't turn out to be such a successful week of golf, but it was a spectacular success for my daughter and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. The Allianz Championship and the people of Des Moines have been very good to me and the Champions tour and I wish could have played better. I promise they'll be on my dance card next year.
So, that's been kind of my week. I left Sunday night and drove down to the TPC at Deere Run, a golf course my company designed, that opened in 2000 and hosted the John Deere Classic. I spent an hour and a half with the superintendent who's getting everything ready for the John Deere Classic coming up on the 12th. They're going to add a couple of tees and several bunkers to keep things interesting on a course we haven't touched in 6 years.
This week I'm off to Chicago to see my son Matt, who is playing in a Nationwide Tour event. After some family time, we'll fly back for the Championship at Glen View Illinois at The Glen Club. But today, I'm watching Matt play in the pro-am. I hear it is raining in Boston and I'm thinking about withdrawing. It looks like a tough weekend of weather in the northeast, which provides a perfect opportunity to stay and watch my son play in one of the top events on the Nationwide Tour.
So that's a little bit of what's been going on in my week; lots of stops, but with some good family stuff mixed in.
