Its funny how certain courses remind one of the people they have played many rounds with at said course. Bethpage Black is one of those courses for me, and the person who's memory i'm reminded of is my old friend Simon Evens aka DriverWoods. Even tho Simon was Australian, Bethpage Black was his favorite course in the whole world.
Simon was a jeweler so you know he had a steady hand which made him a mean links player. He also played RTS which made hitting fairways a tad easier for him than clicking did for me. Gems, golf, sailing, and beautiful women were Simon's 4 main passions as i remember. He married a California gal and had a jewelry shop so i know he got to the top of 2 of his 4 passions. He had goals of sailing in the America's cup and playing Bethpage Black when he came to the states.
Unfortunately cancer took Simon's life at the tender age of 55 in late 2012 after a 4 month battle and before i had the chance to find out if he ever made it to either Bethpage or had the pleasure of competing in the sailing races he loved.
Simon is only one of the too many great people this community has lost over the years, and next week when memorial day weekend arrives here in the States i will be thinking of them all.....and they will know they may be gone, but they are not forgotten.