Fridays with Mac: First Place Finishers

The weather outside was frightful. The Centennial State’s Front Range smothered with wet, sometimes sleety, snow. Traveling slick roads? Not wise. Two dudes named “Mac” with a strong devotion to the Colorado Golden Buffaloes, and a penchant to roam, confined to our pen. Which was not bad considering the “pen” is Bill McCartney’s comfortable patio home just off the sixth tee box of a golf course in Denver’s northwest suburbs, just down the road from Boulder.

What to do on an inclement weather day? Watch some golf. The PGA season had departed the Hawaiian Islands and returned to the mainland. We were enjoying the second round of the American Express Open from La Quinta, CA. The only coach to ever lead the Buffs to a collegiate football national championship is a big golf fan. We talked about a variety of subjects while observing the pros make wonderful shot after shot on the Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West.

It happened to be Nicklaus’ 82nd birthday. Tributes from all the world were mentioned during the Golf Channel telecast, including one from rival, and life-long friend, South African Gary Player: “Wishing a happy birthday to my dear friend Jack Nicklaus. I will always hold that you are the finest gentleman the game has seen. The game of golf is lucky to have had you and I am even luckier to call you my best friend. Here’s too many more, Laddie.”?

I couldn’t resist asking the Hall of Fame coach, born seven months after Nicklaus, thoughts about the man known as the “Golden Bear.” Without hesitation, Billy Mac from Hackensack, still full of fresh fire and fighting the good fight against Alzheimer’s, snorted, “First Place!”

McCartney, born and raised in Detroit, recognizes excellence and nobody compares to Nicklaus when it comes to winning major golf tournaments. Over more than a quarter century of PGA competition, 18 victories. Tiger Woods is second at 15. At one time it seemed Woods would surpass Nicklaus but given the latter’s age and injuries, it looks as if the Columbus, Ohio native’s record for most majors is safe. So too, as Player mentioned, Nicklaus’ reputation as golf’s greatest ambassador. An example.

I couldn’t resist telling McCartney a personal story about Nicklaus. It comes from the now defunct International golf tournament played annually from 1986-2006 at the Castle Pines Golf Club just south of Denver. The years of the unique event using the controversial (many players didn’t like it and skipped the tourney) “Stableford” scoring system runs almost concurrently with my years as a sports guy for CBS Denver. I was lucky. Other members of the station sports team were not golf enthusiasts. It allowed the station’s “Buff Guy” to spend the entire week at the exclusive club enjoying the awesome shot making, scenery, delicious milk shakes and story telling. Not a tough assignment.?

In the International’s early days, Nicklaus was a participant. My father, known as “Hacker Mac,” was a golf nut and admirer of the six-time Masters champion who starred at Ohio State before turning pro in 1961. One day after completing his round, I explained my dad’s adoration and asked the legend to sign a commemorative book the tournament issued each year. “What’s your dad’s name? Tell me about him,” Nicklaus sincerely asked. After learning a bit, the guy who also won five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens and three British Opens wrote a lengthy note inside the hardbound cover. It became a cherished memento for my father who passed in 2007 at the too young age of 76.

McCartney marinated a bit with this story before responding in his usual quick-witted style. “Nicklaus might be the only Buckeye to make it to heaven considering my Michigan roots and, Oh how I hate Ohio State!” We laughed heartily.

Bill McCartney. Jack Nicklaus. Marvin McIntosh. In my heart and soul incredible men who live, or lived, life with gusto, grace and determination. It brings to mind the saying, “To win the game is great. . . to play the game is greater. . . but to love the game is greatest of all.”?

Mac. Jack. Marv. Champions. First place finishers. #goodbetterbest