I know everyone is aware with J.R.'s fascination with golf, but I must admit mine is just as strong.

When I was 10, my father got me my first membership to our local club (Mill Race Golf Course). At least once a week, from April to October, we would drive up the road and spend a few hours walking the links.

I must admit that much of my childhood with my dad is a bit of a blur until we started golfing together. It was a great time to get some excercise, talk, and just have fun.

Of course, the first few years were more about fine tuning my game so I could keep up with my old man. The next few years were focused on trying to be better than him!

I enjoyed our time golfing so much, I decided to work at our local course. By 15, I spent most of June, July, and August scrubbing carts, mowing grass, and picking up range balls so I could earn a whopping $4.25/hr and get FREE GOLF!

My Dad continued to help polish my skills to the point where I was a 7 handicap. My senior year, I won the Jr. Club Championship at our course and make it to Districts.

However, as I went to college and got married, my 4 days a week on the golf course soon widdled down to once a week, then once a month. Now, I'm lucky if I can hit the course a few times a year (and probably more like a 12-15 handicap now).

But, even with the more complicated life, I still time to do the same thing I did 21 years ago - play 18 with my dad. And you know, it's just as fun as it was back in 1988 - we play, talk and laugh.

It's been such a large part of my life, it's hard to imagine my life without it. It's brought joy (as well as frustration) through the years, and provided me with lots of exciting moments and memories.

But most importantly, it's given my dad and I a special bond that I'll charish forever.

Mark Twain once claimed golf was 'a good walk spoiled.' Apparently, he must've been golfing alone...