Golfing for greater good

Playing golf with someone who is about a million times better than

you can be interesting, to say the least.

But as I missed putt after putt, shanked a couple of approach

shots and sliced my driver on the back nine like I was carving a

turkey, I reminded myself that I was playing golf for the greater

good of humanity.

And so were about 98 other patrons Thursday in the Mesa Verde

Country Club fundraiser tournament for Hurricane Katrina relief.

For $250 apiece -- all donated to the American Red Cross and

designated for Katrina victims -- community members teed off with the

utmost of good intentions. And what better way to raise money to help

our fellow Americans?

The answer is, there is none.

When it was all said and done, Mesa Verde raised about $30,500,

with donations coming from players and nonplayers.

“For the community, it’s great,” Mesa Verde General Manager Kim

Porter said. “This was obviously kind of a short-notice thing for us,

but we just tried to put something together and the members came out

in pretty good force for a private club where they can play for free.

“So, I was pretty happy with that turnout.”

The turnout was exceptional, and we all teed off at 1:30 p.m. with

a shotgun start.

Myself, not being the greatest golfer in the world, was lucky

enough to be paired with club president Tom McGreevy, who ended up

shooting the low score of the day at 3-under-par 68. I didn’t check

to see what the highest score was, but with my 93, McGreevy and I had

the spectrum pretty well covered.

But the day wasn’t about winning or losing. It was about helping,

contributing, making a dent in the billions of dollars of damage

inflicted upon the Gulf Coast region.

It was about compassion.

Of course, it was also about competition. How can you not be

competitive when you’re playing golf? That, however, is the problem

when playing with someone about a millions times better than you.

Tee shot after tee shot, McGreevy blasted long, straight and right

down in the middle of the fairway. My driver was working fairly well

until the back nine, when writer’s fatigue set in. But I don’t want

to make any excuses.

Every time I made an errant drive, though, I reminded myself this

was for the greater good.

“It was a great day,” McGreevy said. “Great weather and great

playing. We probably could have raised a little more money if we had

put it together earlier, but those things happen.”

Indeed, it was a great day, and I’m sure the money Mesa Verde

raised will help immensely. And what better way to raise money for

people in need?

The answer is, there is none.