Clarence and Coach Knight

Tuesday November 28th 2006 was unusually warm for Ohio. I had taken two days off after the thanks giving weekend to complete some domestic stuff that I can do only on weekdays. The warm weather however prompted some Golf. Someone previously had recommended the 'Cumberland' golf course in Pataskala, Ohio. So I reached there around 10:45 in the a.m.

The club house attendent was very nice and I immediately felt welcome on the course. I paid my green fee and saddled up on the golf cart. I drove around looking for the practice putting green. I found it next to the first tee.

A threesome was already practising putts and they asked me what my tee-time was. I replied back, that I had just walked on and they should go ahead if they are ready. I was in no hurry.

So I practised a few putts, felt good about my putting and did some jumping jacks to get my blood flowing. Stiff bodies make no good swings, I reminded myself.

The road to the clubhouse ran between the clubhouse and the first tee. Suddenly from the parking lot across the road, I heard someone yell "Are you looking for someone to play with?". It took me a few seconds to realize that the question was directed at me. He was a silver haired gentleman dressed impeccably in golf attire. I yelled back, "Sure, Do you want to join me?". He took a few minutes to get his shoes and pay the green fees and joined me on the first tee. We introduced ourselves and I learned that his name was 'Claire'.

He said "I am going to play Senior's tees, if you don't mind. I am 74 years old and I cannot enjoy the game if I play from the long tees. I am not able to hit it long enough anymore." He added "My son told me........'Dad why don't you swallow your pride and play the senior's tees' and I agree with him."

I told Claire that it was my first time on this course and I would need some help from him to play it well. He took up upon him. When we drove to the tee box of every golf hole he gave me tips on where to hit the tee shot and whether there was danger right or left.

The greens were fast and my putting confidence was nearly destroyed by the time I finished the first hole. Claire warned me that in summer the putting greens were like a glass surface. They are very hard and fast. I couldn't imagine putting on those greens in summer.

Somehow the conversation turned to St. Andrews and he regaled me with his golf trip to Scotland. He had taken that trip with Bobby Knight and some other friends. He also told me he knew Coach Bobby Knight very well. Bobby Knight was fresh in my mind, since the November 13th controversy when the TV cameras caught him raising a player's chin up while he was talking to him. I also remembered the famous footage we see, when Coach Knight threw a chair across the court to protest a referee's call.

We moved along the course briskly and got to know each other. He talked about how proud he was of his son who worked for GM and how he himself worked in different positions in various schools ranging from an athletic director, to basketball coach, to a principal. "Life has been good to me" he mused.

I had started liking the guy since we met. He was very grandfatherly. He encouraged me whenever I got a par, which was not too often. He encouraged me, even when I didn't play well. He himself got one birdie and his eyes lit up. "You have been leaving those putts below all day" he told me on the 14th green. "Now get this one in, will you?" he almost ordered; but there was a certain kindness and camaraderie in that.

I opened up to him and told him about my journey so far. How I had moved to Ohio from California, what do I do for work? etc. "PhD in philosophy! That is great. That is good stuff" he exclaimed when I told him about my girl friend.

"So how's Coach Knight like, in person?" I asked him after my second par on the 12th. I almost knew the answer to this. "Oh! He's a great great guy."; and then Claire praised how the coach is approachable and doesn't smoke or drink and is just a regular guy, with the biggest heart.

As we finished up the 18th, he sincerely wished me good luck and he equally sincerely expressed that he hoped that I and my girl friend make Columbus our home. I wished him the best too.

As I drove off from the course, I saw him in my rear view mirror driving off in his cadillac in the other direction. I thought to myself, "He is a good golfer for 74 years young" and wished he doesn't break 100 when it comes to the game bigger than golf.