FLORIDA GOLF, DEEP SEA FISHING, AND POLITICS
I occasionally
socialize and play golf with some fellow Granite State legislators who are part
of the “Beer Caucus.” (Motto: “We have fun and we get things done!”)
While
recently discussing weekend golf options, one of these fun-loving solons
suggested playing in Florida, as opposed to New Hampshire.
“It’s
flat and warm and there’s no poison ivy,” this brilliant lawmaker pointed out.
So
being men of action we booked flights to Fort Lauderdale, rented a BnB, and
made reservations for a tee-time at the world-class Trump National Doral Golf
Resort.
(“We
have fun and we get things done.”)
We
viewed the weekend trip as a good-will, fact-finding mission.
Trump
Doral was opulent, palatial and jaw-dropping. It actually consisted of several
courses. We opted for the Silver Course—which was most affordable. It meant a
long, long drive in our golf carts to get out to the first tee, but the weather
was fine and spirits were high.
“Do
you think there will be a beer cart?” asked one thoughtful legislator.
“Fingers
crossed,” replied the chairman of the House Committee on Environment and
Agriculture.
The
Silver Course indeed had a traveling beer cart, capably managed by Carol, who
was advised to regularly find and check-in with our foursome. The libation cost
was quite high—perhaps an insight as to why the club owner became a
billionaire.
But undaunted
and with spirits soaring, we teed off.
We
soon discovered that while Trump Doral was flat and warm that there was water everywhere!
Some of us soon had to borrow golf balls from the one good golfer amongst us—the
former Assistant Minority Floor Leader.
After
finishing the front nine, we tallied our scores. Not pretty.
“We’ll
do better on the back nine now that we’re warmed up.”
But it
was not clear where the tenth tee was.
“I’m a
trained land navigator,” explained the Vice-Chair of the House Committee on
State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs. “I think it’s over that way.”
But
ten minutes later we were still driving around searching.
“Where
the heck is Carol when we need her?”
We
emerged from the wooded golf cart path only to find we were on the 16th
fairway.
“Let’s
ask those golfers for directions.”
“No. They’ll
think we’re idiots.”
“I
don’t care.”
But when
we explained our predicament the golfers on the 16th tee said they
too had gotten lost after nine holes. It took them 30 minutes to find the tenth
tee. They pointed us in the right direction and we soon found the tenth tee—where
Carol was waiting.
The back
nine was fun, although the scoring didn’t improve. Fortunately, we found a few
balls while foraging in the rough so we could finish the round.
Despite
everything, we had fun, lots of laughs, and were better and wiser for the
experience.
“I
wish I could vote for you guys,” said Carol.
“Sorry,
but out-of-staters can’t vote in New Hampshire.”
“Yeah.
Sure.”
We
then had to decide what to do the next day before flying north.
“How
about deep-sea fishing?” suggested the chair of the House Committee on Fish and
Game and Marine Resources.
We
agreed that such an excursion would align with our fact-finding good-will
mission. We signed on to a fishing boat out of Miami, figuring that having
deposited so many golf balls into the water, we might as well
take some fish out of the water.
Unfortunately,
while the three-hour tour was fun, we returned to shore with only sunburns. But
we were better and wiser for the experience.
While
we spent plenty of money in Florida, we were enriched by meeting and sharing
notes and business cards with interesting people. Networking is important. And
the synergy we developed during our public policy discussions yielded some
ideas as to good things we might do back in New Hampshire. We all fell asleep
on the return flight.
But ….
(“We have fun and we get things done!”)
Tim Lang, Mike Moffett, Reed Panasiti, and Howard Pearl
