This article has been like a quasi famous Cheap Trick song title – A Long Time Coming.
The concept of this column was to highlight the coming of age of one Tim “Lumpy” Herron. I had the pleasure to witness his first round on the PGA Champions TOUR at the Chubb classic in Naples, FL this February. I went through several titles like Lumpy Turns Gray to Lumpy’s Rebirth On The PGA TOUR Champions.

Since then a few things have happened! 

My nephew Stephen and Anna had a baby! OK that might be the happiest thing that’s happened I thought I’d start light.

My normal winter schedule includes the PGA Merchandise Show in January (highlighted in my last article), moving to PGA TOUR Champions events and two to three PGA TOUR events including Doral, The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill followed by The Players before I make my drive home. Everything changed. Oh my how things changed.

The environment after the announcement by Jay Monahan, PGA commissioner, of the cancellation of the final rounds at the Players Championship was eerie. You could see the fear in some of the players on whether or not they would even be able to fly home, some to foreign countries – Australia, Europe and Asia. To say it was very 911 like would be an understatement. Sure, it’s just sports… but we were dealing with people’s lives, pregnant wives, vulnerable mothers and fathers of players not to mention spectators who may or may not have been incubated into a disease that we knew little about. My personal fear… have I been infected? Am I a carrier with no symptoms or asymptomatic? Do I rush home to be with my family, especially my 80 year-old mother? Safety said no! I was ordered to self quarantine after a mild allergy included asthma issues – thus “at risk.”  

Suddenly a crazy world!!  

I kept thinking back to happier times when I was walking at a Naples golf course and ran across the “infamous” Carson Herron watching his 50-year-old son. I yelled out walking down the first fairway after Tim, hit his drive right down the middle. I recognize two people from Minnesota walking from behind – one of them is the infamous Dick Blooston and the other is “Carsony.” Carson hesitantly turned around and said, “Who are you? Do I know you? I’m sorry but I have early stage Alzheimer’s.” OMG I felt so bad.

However, I fell for his line, hook line and sinker!!! I said, “I am Joe Stansberry from Minnesota, I went to University of New Mexico, same as your son, you set up Brad Schmierer and I at a U.S. Open qualifier in Owatonna many years ago. Brad and I somehow got paired with your son when he was making a decision on what college to go to. Funny thing was Brad and I were the only two in the state of Minnesota that went to UNM. The college YOU WANTED HIM TO GO TO… hmmm!?”    

He turned around, biting his bottom lip, saying, “Oh wait did you caddie for me!?” I’m sure I looked perplexed, but then proceeded to tell him the story when we were playing at Brad Schmierer’s famous three-man fall scramble at Hastings GC. I was paired with Don Howe and the late great Larry Nelson of Hiawatha, Rich Acres and Braemar teaching fame. Carson was paired with Dick Blooston (Bluebird) and Tim Gonsior a.k.a. Gonz. On the 14^th hole, they hit two shots on the extremely difficult green. Bluebird and Gonz decided to take an uphill putt, “Carsony” said we have to make it and decided to take a downhill part. (Completely against the rules.) Well Donny, Larry and I stood aside laughing hysterically watching these three stooges. Gonz proceeded to miss an uphill 30 footer and Carson made the impossible 25 foot downhill big breaker. Now what!?  

Just then as I am walking with this supposed Alzheimer’s… Carson finished my story! Saying, “Do what you want. I’ve got a meeting!” He had me!  

A few years ago the PGA TOUR sent out a blind questionnaire – no names were required. Questions range from who is the biggest cheater (take a guess) to if you were in a bar fight whom would you want on your side. But one of the best questions was who is the funniest? The answer was… Tim Herron. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Golf is open again, but what now? As Byron Nelson so eloquently said, “Stop and smell the flowers!” Now, more than ever! Maybe the insanity of golf will help us all stay a little more sane. Courses are packed – golf is the perfect fit for this crazy world.

The 3M Open will occur, albeit without spectators. I wonder if the players will still tip their hat when they make a birdie far away to a fictitious crowd? Ha ha.

Let’s all keep this in perspective and remember why we are on this world. Whether you believe or not. I found in the last few months that people to be are a lot more kind, thoughtful and keeping their distance. Let’s be humble and modest and do the right thing!

Golf is an outdoor sport that allows us a brief interlude from our trials and tribulations. Let’s keep laughing and smelling the roses.