NATO GOLF

By Doug Rehberg CONTRIBUTOR

Billy Casper staged one of the greatest comebacks in sports history in 1966 when he beat Arnold Palmer at the Olympic Club in San Francisco to win the U.S. Open. The same year Jack Nicklaus won his third green jacket and pocketed $20,000. But for me, 1966 has a far greater golf story line. It was the year my father introduced me to the Game.

Whether he knew it or not, he did it exactly the right way. To my knowledge my father never spent a moment on a practice tee. No, to him, golf was a social activity. As long as there were others enjoying the fairways and greens with him, he was happy.

Five decades later, a friend and I were playing in Western Pennsylvania with a couple from a golf course community in Florida. In this case, the woman was a far superior player. It was obvious from their first few shots. Off the tee, she’d hit it straight down the middle every time. Him, not so much.

Then it happened. After hitting his second shot to the second green, he threw down another ball, then another, and hit the same shot. After watching this a few times, my typically taciturn friend turned and asked, “What are you doing?” The reply was instant, “Oh, we play NATO golf.” “What’s that?” my friend asked. The man chortled, “Not Attached To Outcome.”

Now I can assure you my father never ever played NATO golf. He’d count every stroke or tried to. While he’d roll the ball over wherever he’d find it, he’d never cavalierly throw down another ball or two. There was an alternative outcome that drove him, the fellowship of others.

As I now reflect on nearly 60 years of teeing it up, that alternative outcome has rubbed off on me. It has caused me to cherish a multitude of memorable rounds. None dominated by swing thoughts, ball striking, or quantity of birdies, or eagles, but by cherished time spent with friends, old and new. Those are the stories that live deep inside me. Tales of walking or riding with friends, chasing a ball, and touching the soul.

Adapted from God, Golf, and Grace by best-selling author Douglas A. Rehberg. Copies may be ordered from The Bluffton Sun.

Fresh Peach Pie

Put your produce stand haul to good use with this easy and delicious summer recipe.

Prep time: 8 min. Chill time: 1 hr. Quantity: 6-8 servings

• ¼ cup butter, softened 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

• 1 tablespoon brandy

• 1 - 9-inch pie shell, baked and cooled as directed

• 6 large ripe peaches, peeled and sliced

• 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

• ¼ cup sugar

• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar for garnish

• In a medium bowl, beat butter until creamy, about 1 minute.

• Add powdered sugar and brandy to butter; mix well. Spread in bottom of pie shell; chill for 20 minutes.

In a medium bowl, combine peaches, lemon juice and ¼ cup sugar; toss gently. Arrange on top of creamed mixture in pie shell; chill for 1 hour. Top with blueberries and serve with vanilla ice cream - or as is!