Tee Times Magazine’s Characters and Critters
Tee Times Magazine’s Characters and Critters, is a fun collection of articles covering individuals and our wildlife friends that inhabit our area golf courses. These are stories that will either bring and smile to your face or a tear to your eye. Please take some time to read and enjoy this wide diversity of interesting stories.
Baby Painted Turtles
As they got off their golf carts and walked toward the 12th green at Pebble Lake Golf Course Jake stopped. He spread his arms, palms spread backwards, in a halt fashion.
Bud Chapman
It is hard to believe that it has been four years since my friend Loyal “Bud” Chapman died. Bud was brought to mind recently when I saw a two-year-old video created to help sell a painting that Bud created after the 1997 Indianapolis 500.
Roller Pigeon Save The Round
Just like every other morning, Willie drove his golf cart up the cart path toward the 1st tee just as the sun was rising. Since retirement, these best friends tee off almost every morning at first light.
Brian Harman
The more you watch him you better you like him. Brian Harman has moved into my top five golfers that I want to watch. Three play on LIV.
Gulf Coast Box Turtles
The Black Box Turtle is loved and hated to this day depending on who you were betting on.
Betsy Aldrich, Owner and Founder of Tap-In Tours, “Where Golf Vacations Are Gimmies”
I hooked up with Betsy Aldrich at the bar in the Rosen Plaza Hotel during the recent PGA Golf Show in Orlando. Betsy has been hosting exotic golf trips, primarily for women, for the past 20 years.
Crab Hole Battle
Hank was the top salesman at Cowboy Bob’s Auto Mart until the day that Sven showed-up. Both men were great salesmen and competitive by nature, they were the leading salesmen at Cowboy Bob’s month after month.
Kevin Unterreiner, Superman of Minnesota Golf
“I enjoy working with both sides of the golf businesses. Helping courses with marketing and consulting. And helping golfers play more golf, tee it up in fun events and discover new courses.”
BEAR SCAT
The Member/Guest weekend had finally arrived for the annual Pine View Golf Club. Organizers of the highly anticipated event chose the weekend nearest the summer solstice, longest day of the year, to host the event.
Merrill “Dutch” Cragun, Jr.
During a recent interview with 91-year-old Dutch Cragun, I was entertained for three hours as he re-lived his fairytale life. Each new chapter came with colorful word pictures as only Dutch can paint them.
The Worlds Wildest Golf Course
After reading a recent story about a giraffe encounter during a women’s professional tournament in South Africa, I began researching giraffe encounters on the golf course. We have never done a story about giraffes.
Tiger’s Dominance!
The 2023 Masters proved to be no different – Tiger once again dominated. Tiger proved that you do not have to win to dominate. He dominated the attention of the patrons young and old.
Bobcats At Vasari Country Club
Remember those hot fudge sundaes when you were a kid? When the soda fountain clerk presented that special treat, did you pluck the beautiful maraschino cherry on top and eat it first? Or did you save that delicious cherry for the last exciting bite?
Tommy Brantley
With a wide smile, welcoming eyes and a handshake that says, “great to meet you” people are immediately drawn to Tommy Brantley, one of my favorite Florida golf buddies.
Rabbits On The Golf Course
To say that I am an expert on rabbits would make me sound like a politician. These days, nobody wants to sound like a politician – not even politicians!
Unusual Hole-In-Ones
Most golfers know the odds of making a hole-in-one are 12,000 to 1.
