Augusta National Golf Club Hole #6

It was January 1995, three U.S. Presidents were coming to warm up from the bitter cold around the Nation and play golf in the prestigious pro-am golf event, the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in the Palm Springs, CA., area.

Bill Clinton, H. W. Bush (41) and Gerald Ford would tee it up at Indian Wells Country Club to raise more than one million dollars for Southern California Desert charities.

Having worked for the “Hope” tournament for years in a public relations capacity, I knew the team that ran the tournament office and suggested an idea to Ed Herod, the Tournament Director. I had moved on to a job at Lynx Golf in Los Angeles,  but still was connected to the event.

I called Mr. Herod and suggested a gift from Mr. Hope to each president. He said, “not a bad idea…what did you have in mind?”

“I think we should build a custom set of clubs for each president and special golf bag…  then present it to them as a gift during the day, from Mr. Hope as a special ‘thank you!’’’

“Great,’’ was the response. “Make it happen.”

Oh boy, what have I done?

I informed the Lynx CEO Ron Drapeau of the deal, meaning we just  had a little more than one week to get the clubs built and delivered to the Desert for the event.

Next, I called around to a few media folks to inquire as to how each President played.

Clinton was strong and hit a long ball, a little reverse pivot, weak grip…. Sometimes out of bounds. But a solid player.

Bush also was solid, having grown up around the game. But his ball flight and has a swing with some flaws that showed up, particularly off the tee.

Ford was the least skilled of the bunch – with a slow swing and a club that dropped at the top – and a ball that often was out of bounds in a watery hazard or a thicket of trees.

Okay, well let me give this to the guys who build the clubs… I am afraid I wasn’t much help, but they did their research, too, and built what they thought was the best custom set of Lynx Parallax irons they could make. Now onto the bag, also customized with their names.

I made a call to Burton Bags in Alabama and spoke to a customer service representative whom I am forever grateful for who put me on the line with the president. He loved the idea and insisted on sending three Lynx bags with red, White and Blue trim with each president’s names on it and would have his custom logo department hand paint the US presidential seal on each bag. He also had the head covers designed with an embroidered presidential seal. No charge.

The day before the event began, everything came to a location in the Desert. My husband (Chris) and I  spent a cold desert evening organizing each set of irons into their respective bags. The bags were delivered to Indian Wells Country Club.

Mr. Drapeau, was cleared by the Secret Service to be a part of the short “giving’’ ceremony held in the men’s locker room after the first day of the event. I was also on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Mr. Hope was pleased to have a beautiful day for the presidents and then gave each his gift of friendship for the game they each loved.

Although no longer a great golfer, Mr. Hope’s wit was the sharpest in the world and on that afternoon he was in rare form. He had more one liners on these Presidents’ golf swing imperfections than anyone could imagine.

The reactions to the new set of irons and aspiration for an improved round of golf – possibly as soon as the next day – was seen on each President’s face.

Ford was humble, low key,kind and could only say, “Let’s hope this makes the difference for me. Thank you.”

Clinton was the most excited. After a big smile and a ‘thank you’ hug to Mr. Hope, he looked to a lead secret service staffer and said, “We are going back to the range. I am going to try these out before it gets dark!”

Bush was possibly the happiest of them all and so genuine. He profusely thanked Mr. Hope and then humbly put the golf bag on his own shoulder and began to carry them out of the club house toward his awaiting car – much to the secret services’ dismay.

And for me …the best part of the afternoon was the small wink that was sent to me like a colorful butterfly from across the room by Mr. Hope. He knew this was a successful day, he knew I had organized this special thank you and with a turn of his head and that wry smile I got the WINK of a lifetime.

Thanks for the memories Bob.