Greatness Courts Failure

Willie Nelson loves music and golf (yeah, we’re going out on a limb with this one). We’re not quite certain of the order, but those two are at the top. You’d think after at least four marriages, you could count women as one of Willie’s loves. But then again, you could also consider the marriages an act of warfare, or perhaps revenge. Anyway, we’re pretty damn sure golf beats out women and Willie’s love of golf is what gets our admiration.

There are many tales out there of Willie Nelson and his golf obsession. Turk Pipkin, the Texas writer, actor, comedian, and clown (okay, I hate clowns too but he loves golf so don’t hold it against him too much) has a great Willie story on his site, Yesterday’s Nine – the Willie Way.

Also, a lot has been made about Willie’s golf course and his on-again off-again ownership. But who among us wouldn’t want to own their own damn course? And one of the benefits of owning your own course is setting your own rules. The Pedernales Cut-N-Putt, Willie’s course in Spicewood, Texas, features some of our favorite rules, and some to keep in mind for your own home course:

Pedernales Local Rules and Etiquette

1. When another player is shooting, no player should talk, whistle, hum, clink coins, or pass gas.
2. Don’t play until the group in front is out of the way.
3. Excessive displays of affection are discouraged. Violators must replace divots and will be penalized five strokes.
4. Replace divots, smooth footprints in bunkers, brush backtrail with branches, park car under brush, and have the office tell your spouse you’re in a conference.
5. Let faster groups play through.
6. On the putting green, don’t step on another’s line.
7. “Freebies” are not recommended for players with short putts.
8. No more than twelve in your foursome.
9. Gambling is forbidden, of course, unless you’re stuck or you need a legal deduction for charitable or educational expenses.
10. All carts are not allowed within 20 ft. of traps or aprons surrounding greens.
11. No bikinis, mini-skirts, skimpy see-through, or sexually exploitative attire allowed. Except on women.
12. Please leave course in the condition in which you would like for it to be found.

Or, as Willie described them in an interview:

It’s a lot easier if you own the golf course to make up your own rules. Like no more than 12 in a foursome. No breaking wind in the tee box. If you have a bad lie, you never have to tell a bad lie. I like that one. And par is whatever you want it to be — depending on what the bet is.
(Interview by J. Freedom du Lac | January 28, 2008 | Washington Post)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 9:31 am and is filed under Music. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.