Golf In A Parallel Universe (18 page)

Then we looked at the still shots. He turned on the slide projector which was behind us. It was one of those old style projectors with the Circle Cylinder on top with the little white slides in the slots with the pictures. He turned the machine on and it shined up on the projector screen he had on the wall. Somehow he was able to have the old swing and the new swing side by side on each slide. “I guess that’s high tech” I joked to myself. But looking at the still shots also told a major story. He had gradually changed my setup which allowed me to position my body to make a good swing. He had still shots at all angels. I could see that on my old swing my setup was different for every club. My posture looked terrible. But my new swing I had basically the exact same setup for every club. Just the position of the ball in my stance would change for different clubs. I also looked much more balanced and stable. He went over how my setup was so far out of whack before. I could not bring the club back smoothly and I could not swing through the ball. He had shots of impact and you could see how my old swing I was flipping my hands at impact. But my new swing I was driving down onto the ball properly with my irons. I am now hitting the ball just past the bottom of the Arch of my swing. So the ball is flying off the release point of the centripetal force. My woods would also show releasing just past the bottom of the arch.

So after all we went over the last few days, I can see the actual results. This was just another moment where the lightbulb turned on in my brain. I really understand the concept now.

“Well that's it," he told me. “By the way. I got copies of these videos and slides, do you want them?," he asked looking at me intently. He could see that I was squirming and thinking to myself. “Where the hell and I going to find a couple of VCR players and a slide projector?," I was asking myself.

“Don’t worry he said," smiling. “I got you covered.” He handed me a USB Memory stick. “Ronny in the pro shop put everything on this thing. He said you would probably know what to do with it," he said as he handed it to me. I laughed while I took it from his hand. “Yeah, this will work," I replied.

He got real serious for a minute. “This is very very very important. I want you to review these videos and still shots often. At least twice a week or more. I don’t want you to forget what you learned. If you go back to your old ways. Then all this that we have accomplished the last few days will be for nothing," he told me. “Absolutely," I replied. He also told me that since I live in this area he would like to see me from time to time to make sure I am staying on track. I told him I would do that for sure.

We started finishing up and we both knew that this was it. And I felt a little uncomfortable. I sensed he did he felt the same. I am wondering how I am going to say goodbye. This was not just a typical lesson from a swing coach. This may be a life-changing event in my career. And I have really become attached to this guy. Then I remembered it was time to pay him for his lessons. So that was a good way to break the ice and start talking business.

“Ok you said $75.00 a day correct?," I asked. “Yep, he replied” Ok for seven days that is $525.00. I had that in cash. Five 100’s, a 20 and a 5 all folded in half and I handed it to him. He took the cash did not look at it. He just put it in his pocket. “Thanks” he replied.

Then, I looked at him. “Gus, I feel like you have really done an incredible job of teaching me the last few days. You have transformed my swing into what a golf swing is supposed to be. Hopefully I can put all together and bring my game up to the next level. This may be a real turning point in my career. I am very grateful for what you have taught me. I want to give you this for your time," I told him sincerely.

I pulled out a check in my front pocket. It was folded in half. I unfolded it and handed to him. It was a check for $5000. He looked at that and shook his head. “Thank you very much. But I cannot accept this. This is a lot of money. I am not doing this for the money. I am doing this because I enjoy helping people. I am not hurting for money. Besides one of the biggest reasons I am doing this is because Jerry Churchill asked me to. I would do anything for Jerry. He helped me out so much when I first started out on the tour as a teacher. And when my wife got sick with cancer, he was there with us all the way. I did not have much money then. Sure we had insurance. But we had to go out of town for treatment which we could not afford. Jerry took care of us," he said and he seemed to start to tear up. “Jerry Flew us all the way to New York for the finest Cancer Center Treatment in the Nation at that time. He paid for the flights, the hotels and everything. There is no way I could have afforded that. And because of that my wife recovered. I don’t think she would have made it if it was not for Jerry’s help. So I will always help Jerry out anyway I can. By the way Jim. If you are fortunate enough to have Jerry as your friend, you are a very lucky person," he told me smiling.

As he was telling me all of this, I was trying to keep from tearing up myself. Then he went on. “As as far as that money. If you feel strong about it. Give it to a charity. I sure it would be put to good use," he told me. “Fair enough. I would be happy and honored to do that. Who’s your favorite Gus?. I would be happy to donate to your favorite charity in your name," I told him. “Ah no no no," he said waving his hand. “You do not have donate to anyone in my name. Just donate to someone," he told me in an embarrassing tone.

“Seriously Gus. I want do this. Who would you like this to go to?, I asked. He thought a few seconds. “Well, there are a lot of good charities out there that thankfully get a lot of good donations. But I can think of an organization, local here that could use some help. Have you noticed that High School just right down the road on the right side about 6 blocks from here as you are driving back to the freeway?," he asked. “Yeah, I see that every day. It has a sign that says “Home of the Fighting Lions," I replied.

He explained to me that his school is really under funded in their Athletic Department. They have a golf team and he helps the kids out sometimes with Lessons. He told me that boys and girls basketball team has old uniforms that are coming apart and their football equipment is in really bad shape. “I am sure that money would help out their Athletic program quite a bit.” My kids went to school there years ago. It is a good school” he told me proudly.

“Done Deal!," I shouted out. I can drop by there on the way out. “Great," Gus replied and her really seemed happy. He told the main office and ask for Bud Elkins, he is the athletic director. Gus told me that he saw him yesterday and he said he is busy winding down the school year he is there.

“Tell them that Gus sent you," he told me. I told him that I will be very happy to do this. I will stop by the way out of here. “Thanks. You are doing a good thing. It will really help the kids," he told me in an appreciative tone.

I made my way to the door. And I felt sad. This was goodbye. Sure I will be doing follow up lessons in the future. But this week may have been the biggest turning point of my life. I reached out and shook his hand and thanked him. I could tell that he was sad as well. It almost seemed like he was seeing his son leave and going out into the world. Sounds silly. But and that’s the way I felt. I remembered that Jerry said that he is really just an old Softy inside and I can see that now. “Ah Gus," I said laughing. And I gave a big Hug. We both laughed, and I walked away.

As I was getting in my car I felt that was a little weird. I never hugged goodbye to a golf instructor before. But I felt that he is family now. I dropped by the high school on the way out. I went into the office and asked if Bud Elkins is in. The receptionist told me to wait second and she will call and see if he is in his office. She asked me my name, and I told her my name and told her to tell him that Gus had sent me. She talked a few seconds on the phone, shaking her head and hung up. “Yeah Bud is in his office right now," she told me as she took me out in the hall. “Go right down the hall here until you get to the end. Take a right and that will take you in the Gym. Buds office is on the far left side of the Gym," she told me smiling.

I thanked her and walked towards the Gym. I walked in the Gym and it brought back old memories of my junior high and high school days. This was a very old Gym. Not like the modern ones we have now a days in the new schools. It was like walking back in time. It was clean but I could see there was a lot of wear and tear in this Old Gym. I walked back to the office and gently knocked on the open door. Only one person was in there and Bud came out into the office looking curious, but had a friendly smile. He was a pretty big guy. But fit in his late 50’s. He looked just like you what would expect a high school coach to look like. He reached out and Shook my hand with a firm handshake. “Hi Bud Elkins," he said smiling. I responded in kind and introduced myself.

“The receptionist told me your name. And I was thinking, this can’t be Jim Galloway the Masters champion. But here you are," he said in a happy tone. I just smiled and a little embarrassed. ”Yeah that's me," I replied. “So they tell me Gus sent you down here, right?," he asked. “Yep” I replied.

“We love Gus here. He has done so much for this school. We have a small golf program and he has given the kids lessons over the years. He has also helped out on our Girls Softball team. He is really a great guy. So what brings down to our little school," he asked.

I went over what I had been doing the last few days. I told him all about what I am trying to do to bring my game up to the next level and that Jerry Churchill told me about him. I explained to him that Jerry told me about the days when he was an instructor on the tour years ago. I told him that Gus was a swing coach or instructor for Jerry Churchill , Jacob Regan, Bernie Sellers and a few others. Bud listened intently. “I had no idea” he said shaking his head. “We never knew his history. We just know that he seems to be a very good teacher and is generous with his time. He helped this school out a lot over the years," he told me.

I explained that we had been doing some serious work the last few days and how I had to adapt to his personality. Bud just laughed and told me that everyone knows about his rough edge personality. But he is just an old softy inside. “Anyway I don’t know if you ever noticed that he is stuck in the 70’s," I told him smiling. Bud just laughed. “I could tell you some funny stories. Especially when he is talking to the kids about some old things like record players and Eight-Track tapes. And they are trying to tell him about Ipods, MP3 players and smartphones. It is a site to see," he said laughing. We just laughed when he told that story.

I explained why I am here. I told him that a professional Golf swing coach or instructor charges a fortune for lessons. That's one reason I have not had a swing coach the last few years. I just could not afford one. Since I won the masters now, I am much better shape now financially. I told him how I worked with Gus this week. And since Gus is stuck in the 1970’s. His rate was just $75.00 a day which is nothing now a days. Bud was listening with one hand on the elbow the other on his chin listing, shaking his head and he understood.

I explained that decided to give him a bonus to pay what his services are really worth. I feel like he is making a major change in my career and I wanted to compensate him for it. “So I gave him this check," I told him as I was pulling it out of my front shirt pocket. And he could not accept this check. He said he was doing fine with money and told me to donate it to my favorite charity. I asked him what his favorite charity is. He told me he did not have one. But he thought that your school's Athletic department could use this. So I would respectfully like to donate this in Gus’s name," I told him as I handed him the $5000.00 check. He pulled up his glasses put them on his forehead and just shook his head. “My gosh, you have no idea. I was just going over the budget today and trying to figure out how we were going to make ends meet. I don't know what to say, except thank you very much," he said all choked up. I could tell that he was truly moved, and that this means a lot. “Don’t thank me. Thank Gus," I replied. He smiled and shook my hand.

We chatted a couple of minutes as we walked to the door. He thanked me again and told me he would be following my progress on the tour. I thanked him and went on my way. As I driving home I really felt good. I have never really donated any significant money to a charity or an organization. This really felt good. I have made some small donations to charities in the past, but you really never see where the money is going. But here, I know right where it is going, and it is going to a good cause and that is gratifying.

The next few days I worked hard on my game by myself as Gus instructed. That stupid voice in my head is more thrilled than ever and starting to get on my nerves. I work on all the things that Gus has gone over. As I play on my home course I am astonished at my distance that I have now. This is a pretty long course and my drives are averaging about 305 yards. And I am three less irons than before on iron shots. So I am really amazed at my distance and I cannot wait to play on a PGA tour style course.

The next few days, I worked hard on the techniques that Gus showed me. Golf is really fun for me again. I have not felt like this in years. That voice in the back of my head is getting stronger and I am trying to ignore it. I am also continuing to have those very strong dreams of living in a small town with a family. In my dream I love being with my wife and kids. The dreams are so real. I love those dreams. Except for the part where I am an amatueur golfer and I cannot hit the ball very well. The strange thing is when I am awake, I feel like I am away from home and I should be back with my family. That is so odd since I have never been married and I have no family. Sometimes a worry about all of this and I wonder if I should go to see a psychiatrist or someone. But I am so busy lately. I just think it is some crazy psychological stress I am having from all that has gone on with me the last few weeks. Little did I know that there are two of me right now and the future is about to get interesting.