Every year my Dad, brothers and about 90 of our neighbors take a day to golf from sun up to sun down at Glen Eagle Golf Course in Syracuse, Utah. And every year I find and excuse to miss the festivities. It almost happened again this year. Sometimes it's like I'm too responsible.

Last spring I promised Dad that if he told me the date at least two months in advance that I'd put it on my calendar and make sure I was there. A few days later he called. August 19th was the date. I put it on my calendar and faithfully guarded it. Just one week before the 19th I heard through the family grapevine that the date had been changed to September 9th.

I was scheduled for training all this week and could have found a way to miss the all-day golf. I made arrangements to make up the training day.

At 6:45 AM, today, I was in the Glen Eagle parking lot. When I arrived there were only three other cars. Within 15 minutes the lot was half full. Eight of us showed up in our little group and we formed two foursomes. Among the larger group we all decided to split up and have a shotgun start. By 7:15 my group was on the third tee and we were playing golf.

I teed off first. A great drive about 240 yards long and just left of center. A 3 iron later and my ball was on the green 8 feet below the hole. A smooth put and, boom, I started the day with an eagle. (Okay, it was only a 450 yard par 5, but at the least I birdied a 450 yard par 4 hole.) At any rate, it was a good start.

I played 48 holes. Ran began to fall just after 3:30 and by 4:00 we were driven off the course. Most of the group quit during the rain. After a 15 minute wait my Dad, Jeremy (my youngest brother) and I were back at the first tee. I played 5 more holes in the rain. Dad and Jeremy played another eleven holes. I had a 7:00 PM commitment, requiring me to leave before dark. They played on in the rain.

It was one of those great, memorable golf days. My swing felt good. I had only one distraction all day, an 8:00 conference that I had arranged. We all played well. And we all kept going through most of the day. after 25 holes we started a competition between the two foursomes. At the end of the first 9 holes we were tied. At the end of the second nine we were rained out.

Glen Eagle is a very nice course. I didn't expect it to be as good as it was. Many of the holes were memorable. All of them were fair. Glen Eagle has five sets of tees, so it can be as challenging or as easy as you want to make it. I don't know what the normal greens fees are, but we paid $20.00 for a cart and as many holes as we could go.

I stopped by the clubhouse to say thanks. It was a great day on a very nice golf course. I wanted the guys running the place to know that I appreciated the opportunity and enjoyed experience.

I left my Dad and brother to finish the 48th hole. My route took me past the next hole so I teed off one more time. Right down the middle. I got to my ball and hit a 7 iron from 160 yards to a back pin placement. The shot stopped about 20 feet to the left and a little past the hole. I turned and waived to Dad. Then I got in my cart and drove to the clubhouse. I left the ball on the green. But isn't that the way life should be. Play hard all day and when you go leave some things unfinished..........

For tee times contact Glen Eagle at (801) 773-4653.

Go. You'll like the course.
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