It never fails, every time I set foot on the golf course with Austin I am left with "Oh WoW" moments.  This Wednesday morning was no different and there were several of them.  The first one was Austin's start on the opening par 5 hole when he hit Driver, 3 Wood, Sand Wedge, 2 putt and made it look "dead simple"  I have to say that for the first time I just sat and watched and what I saw was what I have to call an amazing golf swing. "Oh WoW"

Next up on hole number 2, one of the 8 year old participants is in the bunker and we're watching and waiting for him to hit so we can continue when all of the sudden he picks up his ball and puts it in his pocket.  I kindly asked, "what happened?" his response; "I accidentally grounded my club twice so the penalty put me at my 9 stroke limit." Remember, no one saw this but HIM. "Oh WoW"

Hole number 3 was Austin's "Oh WoW" moment.  Why?  Mom/Krista shows up!  That was one happy boy!

Hole 4 and 5.  Austin double bogies both holes and another kid goes birdie, birdie.  That's a 6 stroke change in two holes.  Krista sends me a text message from her golf cart.  "What's happening, Austin looks stressed?"  I sent a text back and in typical Krista style she responds: "Oh well, who cares tell him to have fun." So I did and it did no good, he wasn't happy. "uh-Oh" and "Oh-WoW."

As we walk to the par 3 number 6 Tee Box we begin to talk and I tell him, "Look, we can't change the last two holes but you can play the best you can and get one stroke back at a time."  "It's not about how you START, It's about how you FINISH."  120 yds, he pulls the 5 iron and he hits it just perfect. WAIT! It looks good, It might, it lands right in front of the pin, grazes the flag and stops next to the hole, just ALMOST his first hole in one.  Life is good again!  "Oh WoW"

By the time we get to number 9 I feel like we need birdie or par to win.  There's water on the left and water on the right and Austin just KILLS a drive about 210 right down the middle and afterward looks at me like, "Did you see THAT."  As we walk down the fairway his ball is about 50 yards further than anyone Else's.  Fellow golfers know, that just effects the mind.  He hits wedge onto the green 2 putts for par.  The result?  A gold medal and an automatic invite to the regional championship set for the first of August. "Oh WoW"  It's not how you START, It's how you FINISH!

We planned everything perfectly, then mother nature showed up.  By 10 p.m. all clubs were washed, placed on pull carts, golf balls marked, and kids in bed.  By 2 a.m. it was thundering so loud that 3 of the 4 kids were all in our bed.  Everything was fine until Aspen said "I'd like for ya'll to meet THUNDER and LIGHTNING"  she was referring to her biceps and flexed as she said it.  Now everyone was laughing, so much for a good nights rest.  Did the alarm get knocked out?

I woke up and it was 6:44 a.m. the goal was to leave for the course by 7:15 a.m. instead we depart at 7:45 and arrive at 8:00 a.m. leaving us 30 minutes to warm up and Krista to do some shopping in the pro shop (she was cold!)  Oh yeah, throughout the 15 minutes of driving my mother is complaining that I'm driving too fast (I've never had a speeding ticket but Krista has, just sayin) and that she might not get out of the car because the weather man said we MIGHT have the worst storm ever!!! LOL.  It's all good, we're heading to the first T now.  I won't make you read about every hole!

I caddy for Austin because of the over egotistical Dad's in his division.  They really think we're on tour.  One of them asks me my name every time we play together, even if it's from one day to the next.  Sure enough, we walk up and he says "tell me your name again?"  I couldn't resist, "Al Escamilla, why don't I write it down for you so you don't forget?"  I know, shame on me!

From beginning to end Austin played GREAT!  On number ONE he drove his t-shot into the water, dropped, hit his now third shot to about 6 inches, putts in for a 4. nice par.  On two holes he was inches away from great shots and got a not so generous bounce which led him to play the 2 par 3's at 3 over.  Then there was number 8.  You know the shot that keeps you coming back regardless of every other shot, yeah, that one.  200 yard par 4, Austin hits 3 wood off the Tee, the ball landed at about 180 and ROLLS up on to the green about 40 feet from the cup.  The goal here is to judge the speed, get it close, give yourself a chance for birdie.  He hit the putt and it was rolling off the putter head beautifully, wow it was looking good, wait IT GOES IN FOR EAGLE.  I witnessed one HAPPY KID.  Nothing else really mattered but he parred 9, shot 40 which was good enough for 3rd place.

While all of this was going on I could keep my eye on Krista and Aspen who were playing behind us.  All I could see was 3 girls having FUN!   The late great Harvey Penick always said, "teach kids golf from green to tee" few parents take that advice but it's so true.  Aspen probably averaged 5 putts per green so we'll start making putting fun soon.  Aspen is a worker, she's the kid you gotta watch out for because she's about to outwork you.  I'll let Krista comment on their round.

Light out!  8:17 a.m. Tee time.  Please, no thunder and lightening tonight!

Aspen and girls

Austin Escamilla

Alexandra Escamilla 2 yrs away from competition but ready!