Wednesday, May 5, 2021

FLORIDA GOLF, DEEP SEA FISHING, AND POLITICS

 

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


  Arnold Palmer