Having a great time with Charlie Epps in the Member’s Grill at the Golf Club of Houston.
While the headline for today is playing a world-class golf course the real highlight of the day was meeting Charlie Epps, the prominent Golf Doctor in Houston. A remarkable guy who grew up in Argentina, Charlie loves life and loves golf and is the consummate PGA of America Golf Professional. His heart is in both Houston and Argentina and he is the long time coach of two-time Major Champion Argentinean Angel Cabrera.
Meeting new people and connecting with them to enhance our lives, isn’t that what golf is all about?
As you can see in the above video, Charlie not only introduced me to the Golf Club of Houston (Redstone at the time), he introduced me to The Spirit International, an Olympic-like biannual competition for male and female collegiate golfers. His childhood idol was and still is Roberto De Vicenzo, the only current World Golf Hall of Fame member south of the Mexico-USA border. In my opinion, that will certainly change one day soon with the addition of Cabrera and Lorena Ochoa.
With Alvaro Canessa playing the Cantegril CC in Punta del Estes, Uruguay on New Year’s Day 2014.
Later on in my journey, Charlie would connect me with Roberto De Vicenzo who I met and interviewed at his home club of Ranelagh in Buenes Aires and the Angel Cabrera Foundation. I would travel out to Córdoba in Argentina and play Cordoba Golf Club, his and fellow Argentinean Eduardo Romero home club. Though I missed ‘El Plato’ (Angel) there, I met and interviewed ‘El Gato’ (Eduardo), a 5-time winner on the Champions Tour, including two majors. I also visited their Cordoba Golf Academy.
On this day in Houston Charlie introduced me to Uruguay’s Alvaro Canessa and young protege Franco Martinfelli. I would see Alvaro again on New Year’s Day in Punta del Estes, Uruguay where he hosted me and we played the Cantegril CC.
My fortune was good on the ‘Journey to Olympic Golf’ to meet all these wonderful 1people and gain great insight into the history, tradition and spirit of the game of golf. As you have seen in my visit to Atlanta and St. Louis and as you will see in the visit to Mexico City, I was also blessed to meet great people that gave me insight into the Olympic Spirit. Like the Blues Brothers, I feel like I am on a mission from God to define the ‘Olympic Spirit of Golf.’ As you will see, Torch and I ran into some interesting challenges as we made our way to Rio.
Me and the Shell on the 18th tee at the Golf Club of Houston.
The golf, the golf, the golf… at the Golf Club of Houston is, as you see on television, exceptional! The Tournament Course was especially designed by famed golf course architect Rees Jones to host Houston’s only PGA TOUR stop, the Shell Houston Open, and has done so since 2003. You know it as the week-before warm-up event to The Masters Tournament. Hosted by Shell Oil Company and the Houston Golf Association, the Shell Hosuton Open is one of the tour’s best events.
I shot a birdie-less 84 on the Tournament Course from the blue Club tees (6,659 yards, 71.7 Rating, 137 slope), going 2-over for a series of 10 holes (Nos. 7-16). No birdies again but definitely in the zone enjoying golf and life on the ‘Journey to olympic Golf.’
I remember back in 2007 when I lived in San Antonio my buddy Doc and I drove over to see the tournament and the golf course. That year I attended all four of the Texas PGA TOUR events including the Shell, the Texas Open, the Byron Nelson and Colonial. I guess that was the prelude to following the tour and participating in one way or another in nearly 150 PGA TOUR, LPGA, Champions, Web.com events since I came to Florida in early 2008.
A father and a daughter having fun putting at the David Shindeldecker First Tee Campus.
The David Shindeldecker Campus of The First Tee of Greater Houston which is right next door to the Golf Club of Houston. David Shindeldecker was a lifelong businessman and philanthropist and the Chairman, President & CEO of The Redstone Companies. He loved the sport of golf both as a player and his involvement with the Houston Golf Association. He was instrumental in helping to establish The First Tee Houston. He died young, in his sleep, at age 59. His spirit lives on as I saw a father and daughter putting and having fun late in the evening at a place named for him.
Harmon Hall in the Clubhouse at the Golf Club of Houston.
Dick Harmon’s spirit is present and recognized in the Clubhouse section called Harmon Hall. Dick was a close friend of Charlie never closer than at the time of his unexpected death in February 2006 at the age of 58. In addition to all the memorabilia in Harmon Hall there is one of his two Houston-based Dick Harmon Learning Centers on property at the Golf Club of Houston.
TROML baby, life is short, follow your dreams starting today if you aren’t already.
Some more stories in the pictures below…
I am looking for 100 new friends in the next 100 days to make a $100 donation (or any amount that you are able to make) to The First Tee. Each day I will be reliving the original “Journey to Olympic Golf” and hope to find a new friend in golf. Is that you? Please join me in giving back to the game we all love.
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Thank You!
Golf Course Architect Rees Jones Locker No. 100.
Charlie Epps and his buddies on their road trip down to South America in 1967.
Charlie Epps, a pro’s pro and just a great guy to know!
