And the curtain comes down .....

We said good-bye to Yankee Stadium after a dismal season and we said good-bye to Shea after another 'crash and burn' month of September and we say good-bye to a Golf season that started more than 7 months ago when a few brave men - led by Ceasar - braved the cold, windy nights and the long, endless days of sleeping in the parking lot waiting for the coveted tee time that was a constant in a 'sea of change.' Major banking institutions have crumbled, a governor has fallen from grace, primaries have produced dramatic surprises, but the constant in life this season has been our tee time. A time for four 'caballeros' to gather, exchange stories and play a little golf.

A fitting ending to a long season was the pre-tee time ceremony which I was privileged to witness, as our Captain, Rich - chip it in - Iturbe earned the distinction of being the player who had garnered enough rounds of golf and earned A FREE ROUND. Rich was very humble as he accepted this honor -- one that the rest of tried to get but failed. I must admit that I got a bit teary as the ticket was given to the starter and with a brief nod of his head, he recognized Rich's accomplishment. Rich is after all our 'Cal Ripken' and we salute him.

and leave it to Rich to 'change it up.' It was the first tee and if history is an indication of the future - we would expect that Dan will lead us off the tee. But not this time -- not this last round of the season-- it was non other than our Captain - our Cal - who doffed his hat to the starter and went up first - hitting a beautiful shot off the tee. Frankly, this threw Dan for a loss - he was so confused to be hitting in the number two slot - that he forgot that the striped pole was the 150 yard marker -- he thought it as a mere directional flag. After Rich 'gently corrected him', Dan still was uncertain and went to the 'ultimate authority', the Starter, and asked about the candy striped pole, who confirmed what the Captain has said.

It was appropriate that our last round was memorable - a record pace of 4 hrs. and 10 minutes - even with a 15 minute break in the round so the ranger and the golf pro could address an emergency encountered by the foursome in front of us on the 10th hole. One of the players hit a ball into a 'hornets nest' - literally - and abandoned his golf bag, which was quickly engulfed in a haze of 'killer bees.' There was a conference - with a phone call made to a bee keeper who is kept on retainer for situations like this. The impass was broken when the player whose bag was now the new home of the queen bee, put towels over his face and shoulders - was pointed in the right direction and charged his bag - knocked the queen bee off her throne and ran like 'greased lightening' with his bag. It was right up there with the rescue at Entebbe and the foursome continued playing their round. This was another chapter in the wildlife of Saxon Woods, along with the nesting hawks, the swans, the Canadian geese, and even the rats that frequented the 3rd hole.

My last round was also memorable. Anyone who has had an experience of 'going great guns', of going beyond what you ever thought possible, of seeing 'colors' in a world of 'browns' .... to just have the lights turned out, to go flat, to have the opportunity of a lifetime be taken from you - and being helpless to make it stop .... that was my round today. I had 4 pars on the front 9, and ended with an 'honest' 42. Perhaps it was the 'Bee experience' on 10; whatever it was - I choked and hit a few 8's and 7's to end the round with a 92. Under any other circumstance, I'd be 'jumping for joy' with that score. However, I just had the feeling that this was my moment, my turn at grabbing the brass ring and breaking 90. Perhaps not as dramatic as the Mets 'swoon', but disappointing non the less.

This is not the time to look back at 'what could have been' but rather to celebrate what was. Four guys who love spending 4+ hours together, cheering each other on, giving 'quiet' looks of assurance when errant hits were struck , who looked forward to guessing what 'type' of bread Barry would be having after the 9th hole. Amazing memories of golf carts being saved from the 13th hole creek, remembering how one of our team succumb to the swamp. Philosophical discussion, world problems solved - if only in our minds - and the caring, concern and compassion demonstrated for one another will make this 2008 season a most special one.

There have been many queries whether I will be keeping this blog up during the off season. I'm going to let you, the loyal readership and let me say unequivocally, the best blog fans in the world make that decision. If you want more of BK Golf and More -- text to American Idol and press #1.

It's been an honor and privilege to record this year of Golf. I hope this brought some smiles and possibly some 'yuks' ---- it has provided me with an outlet to express my feelings and for that I thank you. We have big plans for next year -- our President of our IT division will be looking for a more user-friendly site to host the blog, our General Counsel will be working out television rights to a sitcom, book and movie deals and sponsorships at local car dealerships, and our President of Resource Development will be spending the next number of months raising capital as we develop a Foundation whose mission it is to provide funding for counseling sessions for traumatized 'doffers.'

Lesson Learned: On any given Sunday, there will be four friends who will share a round of golf, and strengthen bonds that last a lifetime. They are a most luckly group of guys!