Och aye, gather ‘round, lads and lassies — for here’s a grand tale o’ youth,
family, and a wee white ball that found its way home on a day meant for
celebration!
It was the 27th of May, 1961, at the grand ol’ Fort Hays Country Club in
Hays, Kansas — built on the very grounds where soldiers once marched
just after the Civil War. The wind was soft from the prairie, whisperin’
secrets across the fairway as young RJ “Big Sam” Smiley, fresh from his
high school graduation, stood on the tee o’ the fifth hole — a sturdy 175
yards to the flag.
There he stood, lad of promise, playin’ alongside his da, Big John, and his
grandpa, NotieJ, both beam’n with pride. It was no ordinary round, mind ye
— it was a family celebration, three generations swingin’ together before
RJ stepped into manhood.
With a Wilson Staff 5-iron in hand and a Spaulding Dot golf ball restin’
proud upon the tee, Big Sam gave it a smooth, easy strike — the kind that
makes a golfer’s soul hum. The ball took off wi’ a bonnie wee draw, floatin’
gentle into the light Kansas breeze.
But here’s the twist — the green was blind! No one saw where it landed.
They just walked up the fairway, chatterin’ about good swings and proud
dads. As they neared the green, they saw somethin’ strange — a single
ball track mark across the sand green, straight as an arrow to the cup.
Och, could it be?
They peered over, and there she was — the ball, sittin’ snug in the hole like
it had always belonged there! The cheers rang out across old Fort Hays, a
joyful racket of laughter and pride. RJ’s da and grandpa went a wee bit
mad — their lad had just joined the club o’ legends!
That night, the celebration carried on at RJ’s graduation party — tales
flowin’ as freely as the punch, and his teammates and Coach Bob Blazer
raisin’ toasts to the young champion. The local newspaper even printed his
story, markin’ the day a proper milestone in Kansas golf lore.
Now, Big Sam’s had a few more aces since — three to be sure — but that
first one? Ah, it was the start of a lifetime love affair wi’ the game. “I was too
young to understand the magic then,” he says, “but now I know — that day
was destiny.”
So here’s to RJ Smiley, the lad who graduated into legend — wi’ one
perfect swing on a blind hole at Fort Hays!
