A round and about

George Kimball - Columnist with The Boston Herald and The Irish Times

Earliest golfing memory? River Road Country Club, Louisville, Ky. I might have been 9 or 10, and was caddying for my father. He hit a long, screaming draw off the tee, and just as he cranked his drive, a fellow playing another hole came strolling out of the woods on the left side of the fairway. Everyone in our group was yelling "Fore!" but the guy never heard us. It was like watching a heat-seeking missile hone in on its target, and the guy went down like he'd been shot.

First victory? Probably the first time I took money off my father, but I imagine I was getting a bunch of shots.

First time to break 90? Summer of 1964, on the Officers' Club course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Last bit of equipment? I picked up a 19-degree TaylorMade Rescue Dual last summer, and I love it.

Last time you took a cart and why? Probably the last time I played. I'm 62 years old with a bad back and two bad knees, so I use one whenever I can.

Last time you muttered an obscenity on a course and why? The last time I played - my third shot to the par five 18th at South Shore Country Club in Massachusetts. From 110 yards out I shanked a wedge, and hit it almost sideways. I didn't "mutter" an obscenity, I fairly bellowed it.

Which of the Majors would you like to attend and why? Year in and year out the British Open has always been my favourite.

Ideal fourball: who and where? Michael Jordan, Oscar De La Hoya, and Charles Barkley. My favourite opponents have always been guys with lots of money and ego-driven handicaps they can't begin to play to. I'd take them to the European Club, where I'd have the home-course advantage as well.

One last round on earth: where would it be? My "other" home course, the Old Course at St Andrews.

Ralph Lauren or Lyle & Scott? That's easy: Sandy can still play a bit and I like Adam's game. What do Ralph and Lauren play off, anyway?

Is the Titleist ProV1 worth the extra expense? Only if you can keep it in play.

Best club food? Breakfast at the Atlantic City Country Club in New Jersey.

One-hundred-and-forty yards out from green. Flat. Calm. What's in your hand? Eight-iron.

Favourite club in times of trouble? I usually carry an old, dimple-faced two-iron Finbar Furey gave me years ago. I use it when I'm facing the prospect of wrapping my club around a tree or breaking it on rocks and don't want to mess up one of my Ping irons.

Parkland or Links? Links, any day.

Must see golfing holiday destination? A week or two in the Scottish Highlands, while based at the Golf Hotel at Royal Dornoch.

Hidden gem? The Machrie, on the isle of Islay.

One mulligan in life? After Callaway sent me a new driver a few years ago I traded in my old Biggest Big Bertha. Within a week I knew I'd made a mistake.