GOLF

Phil Canders is on a “golf run” that is pretty special.

Last week, I reported his Hole-in-One with a solid 7-iron. This week, it is the main theme again.

Canders took his 22-year-old granddaughter to Bay Hill to watch the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla. He got tickets to this year’s event from his daughter, Stephanie Weatherman.

“It was an awesome Christmas gift and I have been looking forward to this trip with Maggie for a couple of months,” exclaimed the wide smiling guy his granddaughter calls “Grandpa”.

“Golf is an opportunity for us to spend quality time together. I started watching her play recreation league sports when she was 5 years old. Our first golf tournament together was the Masters when she was 11 years old. We have been back many times.”

Our first non-Masters event was watching Wesley (Bryan) play in the Web.com event in Greenville. We have also been to a practice round of the PGA championship in Charlotte, N.C., the Wyndham PGA Tour event in Greensboro, N.C., ”The Players Championship” in Jacksonville, Fla. and now the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, Fla.

Maggie Leatherman is a golf enthusiast. When asked about her weekend highlights, she had this to say.

“We saw Francesco’s birdie on 18,” the 2018 Columbia College graduate said. “I love driving to the events and watching golf with Grandpa. He lets me do most of the diving.”

Incidentally, 2018 British Open champion Francisco Mollinari won the Arnold Palmer Bayhill Invitational with a final round score of 64 this past Sunday. At the time, the birdie on the last hole insured the victory.

When asked about playing the game herself, Leather-man, a 4-year starter who lettered each year while also earning All-Conference academic and athletic honors during her collegiate career had this to say.

“There is no time now,” she said. “I work two jobs, part time jobs, one with the Richland County Sheriffs Department and the other at Public’s. I work all the time and love my jobs.”

When asked about the best part of working so much, this was Leather-man’s answer.

“I love the people I work with and when I get more time, I will be playing golf with Grandpa,” she said.

The Masters is just a few weeks away and, quite frankly, listening to Canders and Leatherman brought back memories. My daughter, Mary Chandler and I attended The Masters together annually for many years and, while listening to this granddaughter golf story, it did two things - brings back great memories while giving me a new topic.

The temperatures are climbing and spring is almost here. The days are longer and the grass is turning green. Make your golf plans now.

Here are reminders on local upcoming golf events:

LinRick is hosting “The Inaugural Golf Classic” Friday, April 26. For more go to www.richlandcountyrecreation.com . It’s a 9 am shotgun start with an awards banquet immediately following. Call Lisa Lewis Hutcherson at 803-741-7272 (Ext. 102) for questions.

If you are looking to introduce your child to golf, check out the Irmo-Chapin Recreation Commission’s Summer Golf Camps. The dates are July 22-24 and July 29-31 from 9 am to noon for ages 6-15 and all skill levels. Call ICRC at (803) 345-6168 or (803) 772-3336 for more information and to register.