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Screensize: 640 x 480 800 x 600 1024 x 768 1280 x 1024 UserName: Password: Enter Anti SPAM Code: Click here to refresh this page Format Mode: Basic  Help  Prompt  Format: Font Andale Mono Arial Arial Black Book Antiqua Century Gothic Comic Sans MS Courier New Georgia Impact Lucida Console Script MT Bold Stencil Tahoma Times New Roman Trebuchet MS Verdana   Size 1 2 3 4 5 6   Color Black Red Yellow Pink Green Orange Purple Blue Beige Brown Teal Navy Maroon LimeGreen Message Icon:                             Message: * HTML is OFF * Forum Code is ON Smilies [quote][i]Originally posted by Scott_R[/i] [br]Well, it's in the books. This tournament that started for me over a year ago has come and gone, and I'm exhausted. I felt bad for all those sitting on planes next me to me yesterday on my trip home, because I MUST have been snoring LOUDLY.[;)] After a night at home, and 1 full day to try to catch up on all my "regular" work, I must say that I'm beginning to understand, again, why this tournament is so important not only for the memory of Moe Norman, the Graves Golf Academy, and all those in attendance, but also for me personally. You see, I don't play in the tournament, I only put it together, struggle to make the budget work (it never does), and do my level best with Todd, Tim and the rest of the staff to put on an event worthy of Moe's legacy and his gift to all of us; the gift of a new hope in the game, of reaching new heights in a game that eludes so many for so long. Every year after it's all over, I swear to myself that I won't do it again. It's too much work, too stressful, too expensive, the list goes on. Every year I go to Todd and Tim after it's all over and apologize for the extra expense to the company for hosting the tournament, and vow to never let it happen again. And every year, after a few weeks of resting and reflecting, I realize that it can't die. It simply cannot be allowed to die, it's too important. I must admit that I was VERY disappointed that this year's tournament didn't sell out. I was baffled at how we couldn't get 100 people to come to Moe's hometown, home course, and with Moe's closest friends. I blame myself in not adequately marketing the tourney, but then again, I'm still baffled. It was, without a doubt, a once in a lifetime opportunity. I'm sure as the days go by, you'll see more and more stories along that line. So after being disappointed that it didn't sell out, I accepted the fact that we were only to have 63 players, and you know, it was perfect. Couldn't have been a better experience. It was a weekend I will cherish for a long, long time. Through the exhaustion, sleepless nights, frustration, cold sores (only when I get stressed), it was worth it all. I realize now that the Moe Norman Memorial tournament is a lot like Moe was. It is a "different" kind of golf tournament, just as Moe was always labled as "different". It's not the kind of tournament everyone else does, it doesn't "conform". Neither did Moe. Honestly, from the outside, it must seem simply outrageous to spend $400 to fly to a place you don't know and get paired in a tournament with people you barely know for 2 days. When it's all said and done, what golf tournament costs somewhere around $1000, right? Most of us play local tournaments, scramble format, and will pay a couple hundred bucks to do that, but $1000, are you kidding? And just like those who watched Moe play and shunned him for his "oddities", so too do many shun the Moe Memorial as "odd", "too expensive", "too far", etc. And you know, I'm perfectly fine with that. Especially after this weekend. Here's why; For those who weren't able to attend, or just decided that this tournament was just too 'different', here's what you missed: - A group of upwards of 30 people coming in up to 3 days early just to 'catch up'. - A friendly pre-tournament tournament on Friday, more catching up, a little money changing hands. - A room scrubbed, polished, and adorned with everything Moe Norman. Pictures, plaques, course record scorecards, scrapbooks, shoes, etc. - A Friday eveing informal check that was scheduled for 1 1/2 hours but lasted 3, over a few cold beverages. And then flowed over to a dinner that lasted another 2. - A weekend of absolutely perfect weather. Moe blessed us all with the first tournament with NO rain, and oh my were we blessed. Low 70's, few clouds and light winds. - A municipal golf course that was in better shape than many courses I've seen. A golf course staff who loved, appreciated, and shared their Moe memories, and treated us as a special group of golfers. - A write up in the local paper, all about those coming to honor Moe. - A on camera interview for the local news about the tournament honoring Moe. - A round table discussion where we heard Moe stories never published, rarely told, and never televised. - An update about the Moe Norman movie from the writer and producer himself. Along with why Moe's story has become a passion of his. By the way, this is the same guy who wrote Bill, Bill on his Own, and a movie you may have seen called Rain Man. This is an amazing man with a true passion for people society labels as 'different', and in speaking with him in public and in private conversation, he will touch your heart. - A special visit from Gus and Audre Maue, the couple who befriended and took care of Moe for many, many years. These people are no doubt angels, and it was an absolute honor and privelege to meet them in person. - And much, much, more. So what makes this tournament special for me? I'll tell you. It's meeting the people I call friends in a far away place, from many different backgrounds, and being bound by the common strand of playing our best golf. It's no longer a coridal handshake or a backslap when you see them, it's a hug and a sincere "How have you been?" It's standing back and watching 60+ people take in the history, the nostalgia, and their being able to walk in the tracks of a true legend. It's seeing a guy play to a personal best score on the course, and asking to attest his card for authenticity. It's seeing Kevin Hughes, who came to a camp this spring and was struggling so mighitly with his swing, come out and win his flight. It's getting a call from Rob Kinney of Friday morning that he'd lost his passport, couldn't catch a flight, but had went home and grabbed his birth certificate and was driving from New Jersey and would be there before 5pm. Or seeing Jerry Shirk, who's in the painting and on our trailer, come out and win his flight, or Wells Martin, who has worked so hard at his game, place 3rd in his flight. Or Kirk Miller, who attended the school in Chicago the weekend before and was so excited about coming to the tournament with his wife, win his flight. And putting Dan Bassett and Tim Norman together. I could hear that group all over the course. And hearing the yells after Steve Bedell holes out from the fairway for an eagle. Or watching 4 men put their drivers away after Janet Miller boomed a drive right down the middle for the team. And the memory of getting on the tour bus after it had concluded back at Rockway and hearing grown men and women talk about what they had seen, and how special it was. Oh yeah, and my annual unintentional mistreatment of Ron "Ton" Hicinbothem. Let's see, last year I misspelled his name, this year I forgot to put him in the pairings all together. Sorry again, Ton, I mean Ron. [:D] So all in all, I'm glad it's over, but I miss it. I'm worn out, went way over budget, didn't sleep and forgot to eat, but I miss it already. I miss it because I realize that just like it's namesake, it will prevail. It may never be accepted and embraced just as Moe wasn't, but I know it will prevail. Many are already asking about the 4th annaul Moe Norman Memorial, and I don't have a good answer right now, but I can tell you that this tournament will not die. What will change about the tournament in the future for me is this: - Volunteers (this means you) to help spread the work load. - Sponsorships (our ultimate dream is to make a large donation to a favorite charity of Moe's from the tournament - and a few other things. For all those who were there, thanks for the memories and being a part of one of my favorites. For those that weren't, I'm sorry, you just missed out, and we'll do out best to share the memories with you. Thanks for listening, I'll be in Colorado in the mountains growing a beard and NOT answering the phone next week! Scott [/quote]   Check here to include your profile signature.