It's In The Air

April 15, 2008

When we were young and still in high school, we would run on the sides of the snowplowed roads during the frigid winter months in the Berkshire mountains of western Massachusetts in order to train for the spring athletic season. There would always come a day, usually in late March, when the first of spring's gold would show itself: a tulip pushing up from the ground, a forsythia bud emerging from a branch, or just a ray of sunshine on your neck bringing with it a bit of nature's warmth through the icy air.

My teammate and I would look at each other, sniff the air, smile, and together recite, "Smells like lacrosse." To us, it was the defining moment when we knew the lacrosse season was upon us.

I no longer run around on playing fields as I once did, but this past weekend, I had a similar defining moment while viewing television. Watching the Masters, the first of the four annual "majors" and one of the

crown jewels of professional golf, it signaled to me that the real golf season has begun. The special appearances are over, the off-season tourneys are finished, and all the big boys are now out on the tour ready to play.

The four majors are special. The world's best players competing at the world's best venues. It's like having four Super Bowls held at different intervals during the season. More than any other tour events, these grand tournaments have underpinned the growth and popularity of the sport of golf over the past fifty years.

For us flawed golfing mortals, we are usually happy just to watch the skills of talented professionals displayed on the large stage of a major. Thus inspired, we can't wait to get out on the links to imitate the latest wearer of the green jacket. Of course when we actually tee it up, we are reminded yet again that we are still flawed golfing mortals (FGMs).

After all the practice though, there is nothing like a tough challenge. And I have to say that playing a few competitive rounds on a top-rated track in a tournament format sure gets the juices flowing. It's great fun too.

Next September 27-29, Georgetown will host for the first time a new golf event open to alums, parents and friends of the University. It will be staged at one of the premier courses in North America: TPC at Sawgrass. It has been dubbed " The Major." There is some good news however. No one has to qualify. It's an opportunity for FGMs to play for two days at a major-quality venue together with similar golf-minded fellow Hoyas. Details on this event can be found at this link.

Having watched the conclusion of the Masters yesterday, I walked outside thinking about the remaining majors still to be played in the coming months: the US Open, the British Open, and the PGA. Right then and there, I made a resolution to play in Georgetown's "Major" next September in Florida. Then I drew a deep breath and smiled.

Smells like golf.

Former Hoya golf team captain Gerry Kenny '71 with golf coach and director of "The Major" Tom Hunter

PJM - View From The Hilltop

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