- April 25, 2024
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No one named me King of Golf, but if I was Alan Howell’s dad, I would lead the parade down Main Street. Al (Albert) Howell was a three-time club champion at their old home course of West Orange Country Club, in Winter Garden, and now plays his terrific game in Apopka.
The younger Howell is club manager and director of golf at the Grand Club here. There is not a nicer person to lead and do things the right way than him. Even though I kid myself about being the king, I’ve not played golf with the younger Howell, but those who have tell me he is as good at the game as he is in the leadership role. In a nutshell, employees and fellow workers love him. You spot it immediately when he is able to leave his desk and stroll through the restaurant area. That alone should have his dad beaming with pride.
The younger Howell told me:
“An incident that speaks to his character as a competitor — and I still get emotional as I recall it — was playing in the course championship. He was a good three handicap and, to this day, has a better short game than mine. He was a three-time club champion, and I still remember one of the years I qualified for the championship flight and ended up getting paired against him after we both advanced to the quarterfinals. His advice to me on the first tee was ‘You’d better not let up.’
"That day we were competitors, not father/son, and he expected me to play as fiercely as I could. I played well that day and was several under par when I closed out our match. I did end up advancing to the finals and won my first of two consecutive championships at the club.”
Al Howell was more than a good golfer. He was a great father and his son, Alan, clearly depicts that on and off the golf course today.
Even though I’m King Pretender, my wish is to have done better as the dad of my four wonderful children: Sally, Wendy, Scott and Mary Beth.
Although I tried to bring all into the golf game, only Mary Beth, now a top business personality in California, chose to play. She comes to Palm Coast occasionally and we run a round or two — me with head down for being soundly trounced.
Though I’m grateful for occasional “Thanks” as a Purple Heart combat veteran, I’d rather “thanks” for being a good dad, just like the magnificent team of Al and Alan Howell, of Apopka and Palm Coast.
So, on June 19, here’s a very special Happy Father’s Day to all you wonderful dad’s in this terrific city called Palm Coast!
Palm Coast’s helpful
Ty Capps, the Palm Coaster via Nebraska University, had his best day yet in the weekly fight to become eligible at some point for play with the PGA.
Currently on the Adams Tour with other terrific golfers playing lights out to reach the same accomplishment, Capps shot a blazing round this past weekend and now is listed in the top three on the money list.
Capps wrote: “Right now, I have a big smile on my face. On the last round of the Adams Golf Pro Tour event, at Bay Oaks in Houston, Texas, I started at six under par and in a tie for 12th place. I began the round with a solid birdie on the second hole but followed it up with a three-putt from 25 feet on the fifth hole. I proceeded to par the next two holes just narrowly missing a 5-foot birdie putt.”
Then the fun began!
“On the sixth hole”, Capps said, “I made a good birdie and followed that up with birdies on holes seven, eight and nine, an eagle on the 11th, and a birdie on the par-three 12th. Add that up and it was 6 birdies and an eagle in 7 holes. After the birdie on number 12, I made pars all the way in to card an incredible eight-under par, 64, my lowest round of the week.”
Capps is currently tied for 2nd on the yearlong Adams Tour Player of the Year Award.
His next test on the way up is in Beaumont, Texas, for another Adams Golf Pro Tour event.
Cypress Men’s Golf Association
George Pollio, the immensely well-liked Flagler County pharmacist, continues to roll whatever course he plays as skilled as any golfer here.
In the latest outing, Pollio wrapped up the tough Cypress Golf Course with a sparkling round of 80 and knocked off second-place finisher, Dan Malloy, with ease.
Pollio, who is also one of the most avid Red Sox fans of all in New England, is a favorite wherever he goes. On the golf course, he rents a car like everybody else, but has his partner drive while he walks — all 18 holes every time he plays.
Eugene Dunn surprised Art Wight to win the Orange Flight. Dunn shot 93 but his best nine selection was better than Wight, who came in at 87. Joe Merz held off Frank Sabatino to win the Gold Flight by a single point.
