Columnist Adam Candee: Time to head for the clubhouse

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2005 | 9:28 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

It's not you. It's me.

Seriously, you are such a great reader. No matter what I write -- the sad stuff, the comical stuff, even the boring notes -- you pick me up. I can't tell you how much that means to me. We have so much in common, like how we both love golf and ... um ... well, that's a lot, right?

There's never a good time to do this, obviously. I mean, you play that first drive through your mind a million times, but the time comes when you just have to step up to the tee and rip it. So here comes my swing: I can't go on in this relationship anymore.

It's harsh when you see it just laid out there bare, I know. But it's the truth and I wouldn't want to string you along any farther. We have to go our separate ways.

We've had some amazing times, though, haven't we? Remember the first time we went to the course together? Gosh, it seems like it was yesterday when we trailed David Duval around TPC at the Canyons for 18 holes at the -- oh, yeah, the old Invensys Classic -- grimacing as he gave away hole after hole with his putter. It's hard to believe that happened three years ago already. Time flies!

No, no, no -- please don't get upset. I hate to see you like this. I hope you don't think this is easy for me either. It's just that sometimes our choices are out of our hands and we have to keep the good times in mind.

Hey, what about when we took our dream trip to Augusta this year? Even as we slogged through the slippery mud that smelled something like a dirty diaper pail on a July afternoon in Las Vegas, we still went to the Masters. We saw Tiger Woods win the most prestigious golf tournament in the world in a sudden death playoff. And the delicious catfish and sweet potato pie at Hot Foods by Calvin -- not to mention a full day of meals at Chick-Fil-A -- will always be in our arteries.

Long after the crowds left on Sunday afternoon, we lingered in the 18th fairway at Pinehurst this summer and stood 50 yards from where Payne Stewart gave us one of the most lasting memories of this golfing generation in his 1999 U.S. Open win. We gawked from the cart path as a UNLV sophomore named Ryan Moore began to grow his legend from the rough at No. 17 at Karsten Creek in Oklahoma, inventing an impossible shot to the hardest green on the course to save a par no one else in the tournament could have.

That was fun, wasn't it? Right? See, we had plenty of great times. Every relationship does. And all those great people we met together!

We felt humbled by the class, grace and warmth of Dwaine Knight, an outstanding man whom everyone should be lucky enough to know. We laughed with Missy Ringler and sparred with Charlie Baron. Heck, we had just as much fun doing both, I'd say. The smile of Sunny Oh, the candor of Ryan Keeney, the help of Terri Maruca -- no one can take away the best of our memories together.

I know you'll find someone else to read, probably even someone better, so soon. A reader like you is going to find a new place to go so quickly. There are plenty of golf writers in the sea.

Right now, I just need something different, so really, it's me. Maybe someday we can be friends. No? Are you sure? Well, maybe you'll change your mind in time. Don't forget all the fun we had on the course. I know I won't.

archive