Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas
Journal Entry #18
Thursday - Wednesday
October 15 - 29, 2003
Let me take a moment to apologize. This is not going to be a short article as I have promised in the past (see What is SFG?). It will encompass over two weeks of travel and experiences. My wife asked me to keep a journal so here it is. Feel free to log off and come back if you like or just pick the sections that may interest you.
Wednesday 15 October 2003
If you have read my biography, the first article in the Archives, you know I am the secretary of the Rocky Mountain Franchise Association. The RMFA is a group of Burger King franchise owners. On Wednesday, October 15th I attended their monthly meeting at the Heather Ridge Country Club in Aurora, Colorado. Following the meeting I took off for the Deep South.
Why? As you may recall from the UCCS/PGA/PGM article in the Archives, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs launched its Professional Golf Association Professional Golf Management program this fall. With 32 students UCCS becomes the 14th college curriculum offering a program to prepare students for golf careers. These careers are for various golf management careers, not touring professionals. Anyway, I was invited to attend a University Club luncheon shortly after putting up the SeniorFriendlyGolf.com web page in March and was enamored with the program and became an ambassador at large, if you will. Since that luncheon, I have been introducing directors of golf, golf shops, and high schools to the program from Hawaii to Texas. Now I'm going south. By the way, if you or an aspiring student interested in a career in one of the many fields of professional golf management, more information can be secured through the following web site.
One other thing. Since SFG is a no profit labor of love, the trip did have financial burdens, but I have family in the south, most of which I have not seen in over 50 years. So, this trip had a three-fold purpose. First to spread the word and opportunity of the UCCS/PGA/PGM program, second to gather information to publish on the SeniorFriendlyGolf.com web site, and third to reconnect with family and secure genealogy information to hand down to my children. The latter means you are going to encounter sort of a family slide show in this article. You can just skip over the slide show or stay tuned to get to know me and my extended family more.
Thursday 16 October 2003
From Denver my plan was to go through Dallas and take Hwy 20 through Shreveport and Monroe, Louisiana to Vicksburg, Mississippi, and then down through Jackson and Hattiesburg to Semmes and Mobile, Alabama. I expected to spend my first night in Wichita Falls, Texas, but somehow missed a turn and ended up in Decater about 1:30 AM. Early the next morning, Thursday, I got itchy to get to Alabama as soon as possible.
Along the way I noticed a billboard that bragged about being "One of the eight best golf courses in Texas." The course was the Garden Valley Golf Club in Lindale, Texas, which is about 75 miles east of Dallas and 25 west of Tyler. The Director of Golf is Rob Shields and I left UCCS/PGA/PGM materials with Justin Hill, Assistant Golf Professional. When looking up the golf course on the internet the name is Dogwood at Garden Valley. This is a resort course with an open guest policy. The course was designed and built by John Sanford in 1992. 903-882-6100. Contact email: jhill@gardenvalleygolfresort.com. Probably worth stopping to play when you are on a Texas golf trip.
Deep into Mississippi, about 25 miles north west of Hattiesburg in Collins, I came across the Okatoma Golf Club, which is semi-private, but open for guests. The course designer and builder was Rich Fulkerson. The club manager is C.R. Lee. From what I could see, the course looks very interesting and challenging. 601-765-1841. You can contact the course by email: okatomagolf@megagate.com.
SEMMES, ALABAMA:
It took a total of 22 hours to reach Semmes, which is just outside of Mobile. My cousin, of whom I am her only cousin, Brenda Kimbrell Smith (Kimbrell is what the K in my name stands for) lives in Semmes. Semmes is pronounced "simms." I spent the night at her home Thursday and then went on to Mobile to spend a couple of days with her brother, Richard and his family. Brenda made me promise to come back for a seafood cookout and to meet her neighbors on Sunday. We had slow baked baby back ribs the night I arrived. Yum, yum!
Friday, 17 October 2003
MAGNOLIA GROVE GOLF COURSE: This is a beautiful Robert Trent Jones course, which is one of three offered. The course is country club quality and only costs $65 to play including cart. They didn't have a media rate, but I played the Crossings 18 hole course anyway. The LPGA Championship will be held there November 10 - 16 this year. I'll get my review up soon, so check it out. All three courses were designed and built by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1992. The Director of Golf is Paul Martino. Staff professionals include Ryan Fritz and Landon Lomax. In a conversation with Landon I learned that he once worked for Doug Wert, the Program Director for the UCCS/PGA/PGM program. Doug, Landon sends his regards.
 Ryan Fritz, Staff Professional Robin Hannah pro shop assistant |
 Landon Lomax Staff Professional |
A word about Doug Wert. Since Mississippi State University is a competing PGA/PGM institution, one might think presenting a Colorado University program down south might not be well received. In all cases it was, but I did not hasten to advise those I contacted that Doug Wert was in the first graduating class of Mississippi State's PGA/PGM program. Anyway, what I have learned in presenting the UCCS program in Colorado is that kids in Colorado do not particularly want to stay in Colorado where they have lived and attended high school. Same goes for kids in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas.
The Magnolia Grove courses are on the west side of Mobile near Semmes. email: pmartino@rtjgolf.com llomax@rtjgolf.com web site is www.rtjgolf.com. Call 251-645-0075. I'll be looking forward to watching the LPGA Championship.
MY GOLFING BUDDY WAYNE DUGGER TEEING OFF ON CROSSINGS #5
AZALEA CITY GOLF CLUB: This course is about in the middle of Mobile. It looked like a mostly level course, but well lined with trees, so you'll have to shoot 'em straight. The Director of Golf is Sonny Delchamps and I left materials with Roy Griffin. The course was designed and built by Robert B. Harris in 1957. 334-342-4221. 1000 Gaillard Drive.
THE COUNTRY CLUB OF MOBILE: Posh, as a country club should be. It was designed and built by Donald Ross in 1928, so it's been around a while and is well groomed. The course was renovated by Ron Forse in 2001. I met Kathy Ghioto in the pro shop. I mention her because she was nice and I later met her father who works in the pro shop of the Spring Hill College Golf Course nearby. Fortunately when I was there I met the Director of Golf, Woody Woodall and he graciously gave me the time to present the UCCS/PGA/PGM program and welcomed the materials. The address of the club is 4101 Wimbledon Drive. 334-342-5138. The club has a reciprocal policy, so if you are a member of a country club, be sure to take advantage of this guest policy.
THE COUNTRY CLUB OF MOBILE
SPRING HILL COLLEGE GOLF COURSE: This course is just a short drive east from the Mobile Country Club located at 4000 Dauphin Street. 334-380-4655. The course is on the campus of the college but is open to the public. I met Teddy Ghioto who was running the pro shop. He's Kathy's daddy. The course was designed and built buy T.A. Buckhaults in 1930.
SPRING HILL COLLEGE GOLF COURSE CLUBHOUSE
HERON LAKES COUNTRY CLUB: This course is listed on USAGolf.com as Skyline Country Club. The name has changed. The club facilities are huge and the course appeared well groomed. It was build in 1962 and the architect was Chick Adams. The reciprocal guest policy applies.
HERON LAKES COUNTRY CLUB CLUBHOUSE
THE LINKSMAN COLF CLUB: This public club is on the south side of Mobile, and was designed by Ralph Sharp and build in 1972. The Director of Golf is Dick Dansereau and Justin Henley was in the pro-shop. The Head Golf Professional is Jay Spence. I didn't get a chance to take a photo because it was late and beginning to rain. Rain is something Mobile has had lots of this year. 251-661-0018. www.edwinwatts.com.
MOBILE, ALABAMA:
When you drop in on family, you can expect to fit into their activities, which is exactly what I wanted to do. Upon arrival I met Richard Kimbrell's children, Kayla and Kara. Friday evening we went to Kara's fast pitch softball game. She's 10 and can really chunk the ball. Unfortunately her team, the "At a Boy Girls," lost, but she shined. I also enjoyed meeting Richard's in-laws, Jordan and Sue Cooper. His wife, Suzanne, joined us at the game as well.
 KARA, THE PITCHER |
 SUE, JORDAN, KAYLA, SUZANNE |
Saturday 18 October, 2003:
Saturday was a sports packed day. It started with Kayla's, she's 15, game at the Saraland Girls Softball facility. The entire area, consisting of four diamonds, is exclusively for girls and all levels of girls' softball. Kayla's team, the "Ball Hunters" won two games in a row that afternoon. The Ball Hunter's jerseys are camouflage colored. Unfortunately Kayla gave it up for her team by taking a hard fast pitch to her left hand as she took a mighty swing at the ball. To add insult to injury it was the third strike and since the ball did not hit the bat she was called out.
KAYLA AWAITS TAKING ONE FOR THE TEAM
After the softball games we went to watch Kara cheerlead at the eight year old Bobcats football game. Kayla's mom is a nurse and took Kayla to see if her hand was broken. Almost a year ago to the day Kayla had broken bones in her hand playing fast pitch softball. Fortunately this time the injury was only a severe bruise.
SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2003
THE GULF PINES GOLF COURSE: This course is located on the southern edge of Mobile on the University of South Alabama campus. Frank Freel is the PGA Golf Professional and Manager. Shane Allen is the Golf Professional in the pro-shop. The course, a really flat one, was designed by Marv Ginn and built in 1970. It is right on Mobile Bay and I'll bet the wind is a challenge in the afternoon. It was designed and built by Marv Ginn in 1970.
BACK TO SEMMES:
The seafood cookout at Brenda's was great. Crab & shrimp gumbo, boiled shrimp, crab claws, hush puppies, cold slaw, yum, yum. All of Brenda's neighbors came over. I lost count at 15. What a night and what a bunch of great people. Brenda's son, Chris, missed the seafood, but he did make it home from hunting for the Texas style chili cookout for the group the next night. It took about five hours to cook. As you will find in my biography in the Archives, I owned and operated the Chilico's Chili and Otherstuffs restaurant in Arlington, Texas for five years. The Texas style, no beans, chili went over well. So well, in fact, that I am sure that is what all Brenda's neighbors will remember most from my visit. At the chili feast it was suggested that when I go through Louisiana I must get some Boudin, pronounced "boodan," sausage to take back to Colorado.
 ME AND COUSIN BRENDA |
 CHILIN' AT COOK-OUT |
 MORE CHILIN' |
 ANGEL LOVES MY LUGGAGE |
Monday 20 October 2003
LUCEDALE, MISSISSIPPI:
In an attempt to trace my ancestry in the south, I next drove to my second cousin's place outside of Lucedale, Mississippi. They live in a private community along the Pascagoula River. All of the homes in the area are up about 10 feet off the ground. Good thing because the river has overflowed three times this year due to heavy rains. The Stinsons (Red) are among the longest living relatives I have. I had brought along my father's old photo albums, which traced back in to the 1920s. Following my visit I went into Lucedale proper and visited with Red's sister, Jeannine, and then off to Lafayette to start my trip back to Colorado through Texas. I had intended on staying with old friends, Charles Jenkins, the Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana and his wife Louise, but did not give them enough notice and Louise's brother had already made arrangements to stay there while on a business trip to the Bayou City. I asked Charles what I should call him now that he is a Bishop, and he said call him Charles. He invited me back in a couple of years when my wife, Marilynn, retires from teaching at Cheyenne Mountain High School.
 RED STINSON AND WIFE MYRTLE ANN |
 THE STINSON HOME NEAR LUCEDALE |
LUCEDALE GOLF AND RECREATION CENTER: When I left Lucedale I stopped by the Lucedale Golf and Recreation Center across from the George County High School campus. The developer and owner of the course is Robert Lucas. The nine-hole course is not flat and features a challenge with water hazards. There I met Jerry Breland who was enthusiastic about the high school golf team. He believes it may well take the state golf championship this year or next. The location is just outside of Lucedale on highway 63 S. 601-947-3116. It was built in 1958 and is open to the public.
WHISPERING PINES GOLF COURSE: On my way out of town I got lost for a while and stumbled onto the Whispering Pines of Jackson County Golf Course located in Moss Point, Mississippi. I had a nice conversation with the General Manager, B.J. Curiee. She told me that high school golfers from Jackson, George, Greene, and Harrison counties play the course and may well be interested in careers in golf management. Location is 16900 Hwy 613, Pascagoula, Mississippi. 228-588-6111.
LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA:
I arrived in Lafayette at sunset and chose to stay at Motel 6 because they are the ones who "leave the light on for you." I asked where I could get some good Cajun cuisine and was referred to Prejean's Restaurant. Prejean's is a popular place and has won many awards for its menu items. It's on highway 49 north of Interstate 10. There was even a zeiderzee band. I know I probably spelled that wrong, but the music was knee slapping. I ordered a crawfish enchilada just because it seemed unusual. I should have gone with a more Cajun dish. It was good, but the cheddar cheese and sauce detracted from the crawfish taste. Of course, crawfish are not in season, so that might have been the problem. Fresh is always better.
Tuesday 21 October 2003
JAY AND LIONEL HERBERT MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE: The next morning I played the Lafayette City Park Golf Course, which is actually named the Jay and Lionel Herbert Municipal Golf Course. The course location is 1121 Mudd Avenue. It was built in 1925 and is flat, flat, flat. However, there is adequate water hiding for the first timer to knock a ball into. The first nine I played with retired Monsignor Harry Benefiel age 83, Charles Patin age 75, and Roland Dartez age 76. They referred to me as the "young un," since I am only 67. The back nine I played with Lee Nunley, age 54, whom I referred to as "young un." The most amusing thing about my round there is that upon approaching number 18 I ended up on number nine while Lee played out on number 18 like he should have. I didn't know where the green was. I just laughed it off and said I intended to play whatever hole I wanted to. Check out Course Reviews soon for my take on this course. Michael G. Guidry is the Manager and President. 337-291-5557. Oh yes, after my round of golf I bought a link of Boudin sausage at the snack shop. Very interesting. It was steamed, which is only one way one can prepare it. Taste? Well, it was more like crab cake than any thing else I can compare it to. The place to get it is to take the Scott turn off of Interstate 10 going west and go about a mile and a half north. The place is a little country market with the name "BESTSTOP." There was a line of people at the counter buying numerous Cajun items and some had Boudin wrapped in butcher paper, as did I.
 Padre Benefiel, Charles, Roland |
 Lee Nunley |
After playing the muni, I drove on into Houston to stay with my youngest son, Eric, who is finishing up his PhD in Bioengineering at Rice University. I more or less just chilled out at his place for a couple of days. The temperature hit a record 98 on my day of arrival and Saturday the storms began to roll in that I had heard about on the radio during the week. A cold wave from Canada was on the way. We made reservations to play one of the three courses at Bear Creek on Sunday. Only one, the President course, was expected to be open when we made reservations on Saturday afternoon. I asked why only one course was open and was informed that in just half a day Saturday two of the courses had been flooded out. After our round we would go to visit with another of my cousins, Carolyn Stinson Bratos.
While in Houston I gave my son his choice of movies to take him to. KILL BILL! If you like bloody video games the show's for you. If you don't like spurting blood and flying samurai swords, don't go. If you do go, be aware that it will be a two parter and you will have to go back for the second half to find out the ending. A very silly, funny movie.
SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2003
MASTERS @ THE BEAR CREEK GOLF WORLD: This course is part of an extensive sports property in the west Houston area. Huge does not even begin to explain its size. Soccer, softball, baseball, volleyball, picnicking, yada, yada, yada. There are three 18-hole courses for whatever ability the golfer may have. The Golf World is also a Nike Golf Learning Center. Wally Marker is the teaching professional. 832-526-1012. The Golf Operations manager is David Weikman. The course is managed by the American Golf Corporation and is located 16001 Clay Road. 281-859-8188 www.americangolf.com. Fortunately all the courses had drained from the Saturday rains, so we elected to play the most challenging, the Masters course. The sun failed to shine and rain threatened but never came in. We did have to wear warm clothes, however. I will be reviewing the course soon, so be sure to come back and check it out.
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| MASTER'S AT THE BEAR CREEK WORLD OF GOLF | |
After Golf Eric and I were invited to visit another of my cousins and sister of Red Stinson, Carolyn Bratos and her husband Bebo. Bebo has retired after an interesting and adventurous career in the oil service business. Part of his career was spent in Russia as well as Alaska where he enjoyed many salmon fishing trips. He gave me several salmon filets, so now I will enjoy as well. They took us to dinner at the Guadalajara Mexican restaurant. We enjoyed our dinner as well as meeting their daughter, Leslie, and her family Mark and Matt Denney who joined us there.
 SON ERIC, CAROLYN AND BEBO |
 MARK, LESLIE, AND MATT |
MONDAY 27 OCTOBER 2003
SQUAW VALLEY GLEN ROSE, TEXAS: If you ever get to Fort Worth, Texas, try to make a trip south to the Granbury area and Glen Rose. Squaw Valley is not one golf course, but two open to the public, but of country club quality. I will be reviewing both the Apache Links and Comanche Lakes courses soon. Steve Heppler was the staff assistant on duty and Duff Cunningham is the PGA Professional Director of Golf. John Colligan was the course architect for the Comanche Lakes course built in 2001 and GolfScapes was the architect for Apache Links. The location is 2439 East Highway 67. 1-800-831-8259. Web site is www.squawvalleygolf.com. To follow are some shots of the courses:
 DUFF CUNNINGHAM, DIRECTOR OF GOLF WITH STEVE HEPPLER, STAFF PROFESSIONAL |
 COMANCHE LAKES HOLE #5 |
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| APACHE LINKS HOLES #7, 10, 15 | ||
TUESDAY 28 OCTOBER 2003
In the morning I ventured into Fort Worth to visit my cousin, Odel, who is a dentist who retired a few years ago. He and his wife Jane built a nice comfortable home that backs up to the Trinity River. There I caught up on some family history and discovered that one of my grandfathers had three brothers and five sisters back in Mississippi. I also got information on a contact, his cousin Caleb, who has an extensive genealogy for both his direct family and my grandfather's as well. I learned that Jane is an accomplished watercolor artist and enjoyed looking at her work throughout their house. Odel made us lunch, chorizos sausage, boiled potato, and chopped onion burritos. Yum, Yum.
 ODEL, THE CHEF |
 ODEL AND JANE |
That evening I went to watch my two granddaughters practice for the Friday night Granbury High School football game. No, they don't play football; they are in the marching band. The practice was for a marching "light" show. They seemed to have a lot of fun with flashlights taped to their ankles and marching around in the night. Later that night I met my son, John, for a beer and burger in town (Granbury, Texas). He works four 12-hour shifts at the Dallas Children's Hospital, where his wife, Brenda, works as well. That's the hospital where two Siamese twins were recently successfully separated at their heads.
WEDNESDAY 29 OCTOBER 2003
I continued to work on SFG stuff and took a break to watch the veterinarian work on one of John's horses. Very interesting. While the animal was given a powerful sedative, it still had to be monitored. Note from the photo below how this is done with a rope around the upper lip to help keep the head down. As the horse began to lift its head John just turned the rope a bit and the head went back down.
Wednesday was "pajama day" for seniors at Granbury High School. I got a photo of Stephanie ready to go to school. Take a look. That evening I treated everyone to dinner at Chili's.
 SON JOHN WITH HORSE UNDER REPAIR |
 STEPHANIE READY FOR PAJAMA DAY |
SON JOHN AT CHILIS
THURSDAY 30 OCTOBER 2003
I awakened this morning at 2:30 AM and after an hour of trying to go back to sleep I gave up and packed up and took off by 3:30 AM. Know how it is when you start home from a trip? You want to get there, so 13 hours later I rolled into my driveway in Colorado Springs. Along the way I took a couple of photos that interested me and might be useful for a drawing or painting if I ever get around to expressing myself through art again. I have an affinity for old shacks and buildings and the oil well pump was interesting too.
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| SNAP SHOTS ALONG THE ROAD HOME TO COLORADO FROM TEXAS | |
The entire trip took in 3,224 miles over two weeks, but it was well worth it in many ways. I started the trip focused on contacting as many golf entities as possible to promote and inform about the UCCS/PGA/PGM program as well as renew family contacts and to gather material for SFG.com articles.
As to family, I expected to be fulfilled by seeing people I had not seen in over 50 years. What occurred to me during the trip was that "they" were fulfilled equally, if not more, by just seeing me. After all for some I was age six to twelve the last time I was down south. If you want to learn something from this article it is that you not put off family connections too long. Don't wait until you are writing your obituary.
THE END