By TIM TROWER
There have been acts of sportsmanship all over the Rogue Valley Country Club golf course(s) in the past week. They call it a gentlemen’s game for a reason. You won’t hear about most of them, but you will about this one.
I and my opponent, Ron Harvey, were on the 14th hole on the outside course in the junior-senior fourth flight. We both hit tee shots into the left rough. As my caddie drove our cart into the area, we both saw a ball at about the same time and announced it. The one I was looking at turned out to be mine, and the cart was heading right for it. My caddie had spotted Ron’s ball a few feet from mine and didn’t see mine sitting down in the grass.
Before we could stop, we ran over my ball, moving it.
In the back of my mind and only fleetingly, I wondered if it was a penalty. We played out the hole and halved it with bogeys. On the next tee, we discussed the incident with a spectating golf pro, who was certain it was a penalty on me, thereby giving Ron the hole. After confirming via phone with head pro Jim Wise, we told Ron it was his hole. He didn’t want the win that way and protested, but a rule is a rule, and that put him 3 up with four holes to play.
On the next green, I had a 20-foot, left-to-right or right-to-left bogey putt — I had no clue — to halve the hole and keep the match going. I’ve seen me putt. The odds were very good the match was going to end right there.
Ron walked up to me, asked if it was for bogey, which is what he made, then said, ”It’s good, pick it up” and walked off toward the next tee box. I was very much dumbfounded and very much impressed by the gesture. I told him so on the next tee as I shook his hand. He said no biggie, that he didn’t want to win a hole on that technicality and this simply made us even.
We played on. I managed to par the next two holes for wins, then we both parred 18, giving Ron the 1-up victory he so deserved.
At this writing, I don’t know if he made it to Monday’s championship match. He had a semifinal Sunday morning. If karma has anything to do with it, I’m guessing he’ll be playing for a pickle dish — what the crystal trophies for first and second are often referred to.
One other note: Ron has been coaching girls basketball for years. This year he has the North Medford junior varsity. You think those kids will learn anything about sportsmanship, class and grace from their coach? Me too.
