It was an enjoyable week for the Eckleberrys at Disney World, but it was hot, I mean fry an egg on your forehead kind of hot.
It’s mid-June and it’s scorching in Florida.
Who would have figured?
Anyway, as nice as it is to get away, it is always good to come home.
One note caught my eye when I returned to my desk this morning.
It was a simple news release from Highland Country club, but the news it contained was remarkable.
LaGrange’s Allen Doyle, who has a list of accomplishments as wide as Big Bird’s wing span, added another notch to his belt when he broke his own course record at Highland Country Club.
The 60-year-old Doyle, who became one of the best amateur golfers in the history of the state before turning pro in his late 40s, shot a 58.
Doyle shot a 60 in 2002 to establish the previous record.
The 58 included a 26 - yes, a 26 - on the front nine.
That’s 10-under par for nine holes.
Doyle needed just nine putts to complete a front nine that included eight birdies and an eagle on the par-5 third hole.
Doyle came home with a 32 on the back side, giving him a 14-under 58, breaking the course record by two strokes.
Playing partners Bob Gray, Jim Foster and Dan Lee witnessed the spectacular round.
Doyle, in rather understated fashion, said it was “just a good solid day of fairways and greens with putts rolling in the hole.”
On that same day, by the way, former LaGrange Granger Bo Bradford had a hole-in-one, while Jay Marston also had an ace.
Another ex-Granger, Ridge Purcell, shot a 63 that day.
I guess scoring conditions were optimal that day.
Doyle has shown repeatedly during his career that when he gets hot, he can go really, really low.
Remember in 2005 when he shot a final-round 63 to storm back and win his first of two straight U.S. Senior Open titles?
This is a man who has won more than 10 times on the Champions Tour, and he’s finished atop the leaderboard in four major championships.
Before Doyle turned pro, he won the Georgia State Amateur five times, a record that may never be broken.
Doyle’s 58 at Highland plays second fiddle to those accomplishments, but it is, nonetheless, another feather in a cap filled with them.
It also showed that, at 60, Doyle can still work his way around a golf course with the best of them.
Hopefully Doyle will stay hot through the U.S. Senior Open in late July where he’ll be going for a third Open title.
WAY TO GO, DADS: A happy belated Father’s Day to all the dads out there.
I know what an important role this dad plays in the Eckleberry household.
Who provides the after-school sweet treats for Rachel?
Your’s truly.
Who makes the gross jokes about…well, use your imagination?
Again, that’s me.
Who makes sure that around 9 p.m. or so when Rachel should be drifting off to dreamland that instead she’s as wired as a college student after inhaling a couple of bottles of Red Bull?
You guess it. It’s me.
So way to go dads. Life is certainly more interesting with us around.
TOURNEY TIME: The Dixie Youth Baseball tournament season is about to get started, and that brings back some terrific memories from last summer’s World Series here at the Harris Baseball Complex.
Both of our local teams did themselves proud, including the 9-10 all-star team that made it to the championship game.
The 11-12 team also secured a couple of victories against the multi-state field.
The Troup 13-year-old all-star team also made it to the World Series in South Carolina after winning the state tournament.
Our local teams will get their tournament journeys started this week when district play begins.
After district it’s on to state, and the state winners advance to the World Series.
There will be no automatic invitations for two Troup County teams, as was the case a year ago since the World Series was held here.
That doesn’t mean the local teams will be left out of the World Series party, though.
Troup County is always well-represented at the district and state level, and that won’t change this year.
Don’t be a bit surprised if one or more of the Troup teams ends up making it to the World Series.
Best of luck to all of the local all-star teams.
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