Breaking Par

One keepsake that Ryan held onto was a scorecard from a special round at Mariner’s Landing at Smith Mountain Lake. It’s a record of the first time that me, Ryan, my dad, and Kathryn ever played together. This would’ve been around 2004/2005. Kathryn and I having dated for a while in college and back in Lynchburg visiting. Ryan would’ve been a junior or senior in high school and really starting to sharpen his game on the golf team. Going into the round, I told them that Kathryn played on the golf team in high school, but had really only played a handful of times since then so not to expect much as she’d likely be rusty. Very first hole, Ryan and Kathryn par while I take a quadruple bogey. Uh oh, so much for my pre-game commentary. My brother and my dad got an absolute kick out of me getting crushed by my girlfriend all day and ending up at 97 while Kathryn carded an 88. My dad played his sneaky good game and finished up with an 82. That’s one reason for Ryan to keep the scorecard: As a reminder to me of where I stand in the golf pecking order within the family.

The main reason was that he had quite a day himself shooting a 71 (-1) and breaking par for the very first time in his golf career. This was an accomplishment that he’d been after for a while and it wouldn’t be his last time doing that as he became an exceptional golfer. He didn’t get to play or work on his game much at all working as an assistant pro at Ivy Hill and later as head pro/GM at North Shore in Topsail because there’s always too much work to be done at a busy golf course. Even without any practice, Ryan remained someone that you’d absolutely want on your team in match play or captain’s choice. A competitor with natural ability and muscle memory that could still outdrive and outplay most people. He was also truly one of the most fun people to play a round with because he brought such great energy to the game whether it was playing with young kids just learning, joining up with a rowdy crew looking to have fun, doing a playing lesson with the senior ladies, or playing in a serious game among low handicappers. One of the groups that took Ryan’s passing the hardest was his friends and members at North Shore Country Club. They loved him dearly and honored him so well after he passed. I’ll always be grateful for how they cared for him and for us.