“Resolve never to quit, never to give up, no matter what the situation.” //Jack Nicklaus
On to the first stop on our #Coles50StateBucketList The Masters in Augusta, Ga
Growing up with a dad who was a golf pro and a mom who was later an accountant for a golf course, you learn to love golf. I remember most Sundays there would be a golf tournament playing on our tv(if football wasn’t on)! While some people saw it as boring Cole and I enjoyed watching it especially the Masters. I remember dad would take us out and try to teach us how to play. He would always grow tired every time he would tell us to do something different and all we would say is “I know dad.”(hard headedness runs in the family as you can tell).
The Masters has always been a dream of ours to go watch and experience the history of Augusta National. Cole received that chance 3 years ago today, when he got to go to the final round and watch Adam Scott win the green jacket. When Cole got home that night he wouldn’t stop talking about how beautiful the course was and how cool it was to see his three favorite golfers (Mcilroy, Mickelson, and Scott) play. The most important advice he gave me was if I ever go I have to try both the egg salad sandwich and pimento cheese sandwich because quote “they are only $1.50 and they are heaven.” That’s the type of experience you want for your baby brother who has a disease like his, you want him to experience every place he wants to go and every dream he has because if you ever lose them you want to look back and say he LIVED.
So this on April 8, 2015 we got to experience our first Masters and our first stop on the Cole’s 50 State Bucket List, and let me tell you Cole wasn’t lying……Pictures do not do the course justice. There isn’t a piece of grass out of place and the rough, lets just say it looks like the retired man’s lawn that lives down the street who takes care of it every day. The trees and flowers surrounding the course are kept to perfection as well as all of the facilities. When we first walked in the gate (at 8:30 in the morning) we didn’t know where to begin, I felt like a kid on Christmas day not knowing which gift to start with. It was amazing to see all the old traditions such as the skipping of the golf balls across the pond at hole 16 and getting to see the beautiful Amen corner.
As the day went on and we had finished our walk around all 18 holes I was determined to find my FAVORITE golfer Phil Mickelson. We decided to sit on hole 3 and wait (when I say sit I mean we were sitting right behind the tee box I could reach out and touch them) , we got to see Ernie Els and a few other noticeable faces but still no Mickelson. As we were getting ready to get up and go find him, we hear the volunteer turn to the guy beside him and say “here come Rory.” Soon after he says that we see a big group of people walk towards us and see six men walking up to the tee box, one of course being my brothers favorite golfer Rory Mcilroy. Its amazing to see the #1 golfer in person but its even more amazing to see him laugh and joke around with the crowd, because that is the moment you realize they are normal people they just happen to be very good at golf. After he joked around a bit and hit an amazing tee shot we were off to find this wonderful heavenly food before we headed to the par 3 course to find a good seat.
Once we found the concession stand we waited all of 2 seconds in line to get our egg salad sandwich and pimento cheese sandwich….Let me just tell you Cole was still not lying (he is 2 for 2 for those who are keeping count) those two sandwiches were AMAZING, and yes they were only $1.50 each and taste like heaven. After our amazing experience with the cheap food we started our journey to the par 3 course. As we got close to the par 3 I had all but given up hope in seeing Phil that day, but low in behold we decided to stop at the practice putting green and there he was!!!! I had to contain myself from yelling his name I was so excited! Fast forward though 5 minutes of me staring, hitting Tyler in the arm and smiling we finally made it to a perfect spot on hole 7. As the tournament started I took in the beauty of this place that has so much history and at that moment I could feel Cole sitting right beside me.
Throughout the tournament it was amazing to see the golfers with their families and friends (who as you know are their caddies for the par 3 tournament) joking, laughing and even letting them tee off and putt. It showed me that even though this is one of the most important tournaments of their lives family still comes first and that no matter what don’t take life to seriously. Cole taught me this a long time ago and I still hold his words close to my heart every day. As we were heading home from the course we learned that Jack Nicklaus had hit a hole in one on the par 3 for the first time at Augusta National, it was a great way to end such a long and amazing day.
As I laid in bed that night I couldn’t help but wish Cole was with me to complete his dream I would give anything to have him by my side as we travel to all 50 states, but then I looked back and realized that he always will be right beside me cheering me on every step of the way. Does this make me feel any better? No but it does give me peace that I know I will never be alone. So my advice to you LIVE LIFE to the fullest and never give up on your dreams. Until our next adventure hug your loved ones and tell them you LOVE them because you never know when you will have to let them go.
1 down 49 to go!!
AC
