What's Left is Right: Book two of The Detective Bill Ross Crime Series by Irving Munro Page A
Authors: Irving Munro
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speed, their occupants hurrying to get to the tee on time. It was a hive of activity. Sixty-year-olds doing stretching exercises, others cleaning and marking their golf balls. There were more golfers on the putting green than shoppers at a Macy’s after-Thanksgiving sale. Wagers were being made and Bud-Lite cans were being popped. This was a typical Saturday morning at any golf course in America.
“Good morning, are you Glenn Stevens?” asked Bill as he approached the man behind the desk in the pro shop.
Glenn Stevens was in complete control of his environment as golfers checked in for the allotted tee time and checked out the latest overpriced golf equipment on offer in the store.
“Yes, I’m Glenn Steven’s, what’s your tee time?”
“I’m Bill Ross. We talked on the phone a couple of days ago. My tee time is eight forty-seven.”
“Yes, I remember the conversation, welcome to Whispering Meadows, Bill, we’re glad to have you here. Mr. Stoltz and Mr. Wilson are both checked in and on the practice green, I believe, and here comes your final partner, Mr. Rodriguez.”
Bill turned in the direction Glenn Stevens was pointing and saw Jimmy Rodriguez walking toward him, in one hand an unlit cigar and in the other a Bloody Mary. He walked straight past Bill and hollered at Glenn Stevens.
“Are we on time, Glenn, and make sure that cart girl is focused on the job at hand today! Is it the lovely Cindy on the cart this morning?”
Jimmy Rodriguez was larger than life, complete with white golf knickers, plaid socks, matching plaid sweater and white golf cap.
“Bill Ross,” said Bill, extending his hand.
“Jimmy Rodriguez, Bill. Good to meet you, hope you’re not a sandbagger out here to take our money this morning,” laughed Jimmy as he slapped Bill on the back.
Bill was certain that the comment about taking their money was no joke. This was going to be an interesting round.
~
Jimmy Rodriguez led Bill outside to meet the others who would make up their foursome. They were all about the same age, Bill thought, late fifties/early sixties. They all shook hands, swapped handicaps and headed off to the first tee. Bill got on a cart with Bob Wilson. Jimmy Rodriquez rode with Herman Stoltz. They tossed a coin to see who would tee off first.
The game Jimmy Rodriguez chose was left-and-rights, full handicap, with ten dollars a hole. Not a huge amount of money but enough to get serious.
Left-and-rights is a pretty simple game: the two tee balls that are hit right against the two that went left.
Because it’s a simple game doesn’t mean that you can’t manipulate a situation in your favor. After the first tee ball is hit, the order of play from the tee theoretically doesn’t matter. However, the person who is last to hit from the tee can see where the others have gone and then choose where best to play his ball to increase the odds of winning by trying to put his ball on the side where the best-positioned shot has landed.
As it unfolded, Jimmy Rodriguez always tried to busy himself with something on the cart or on his bag to ensure that he was last to tee off on every hole.
Golf is perhaps the only game in sport where those who play the game fairly may often call a penalty on themselves, if they did something during the course of play that was against the rules of golf. Calling a penalty on yourself would most times result in losing a hole or even losing the match. Golf is a game for gentleman. It’s said that the name came from the first letters of the saying - G entlemen O nly L adies F orbidden.
It was obvious from the off that Jimmy was no gentleman. In addition to the gamesmanship on each tee, he would improve the lie of his ball by moving it prior to a shot. On two occasions Bill saw him drop a ball out of his pocket while looking for a lost ball in the rough. Jimmy Rodriguez was a cheat. To him it was about winning at all costs.
Bill enjoyed riding in the cart with Bob Wilson.
Bob was a retired
“Good morning, are you Glenn Stevens?” asked Bill as he approached the man behind the desk in the pro shop.
Glenn Stevens was in complete control of his environment as golfers checked in for the allotted tee time and checked out the latest overpriced golf equipment on offer in the store.
“Yes, I’m Glenn Steven’s, what’s your tee time?”
“I’m Bill Ross. We talked on the phone a couple of days ago. My tee time is eight forty-seven.”
“Yes, I remember the conversation, welcome to Whispering Meadows, Bill, we’re glad to have you here. Mr. Stoltz and Mr. Wilson are both checked in and on the practice green, I believe, and here comes your final partner, Mr. Rodriguez.”
Bill turned in the direction Glenn Stevens was pointing and saw Jimmy Rodriguez walking toward him, in one hand an unlit cigar and in the other a Bloody Mary. He walked straight past Bill and hollered at Glenn Stevens.
“Are we on time, Glenn, and make sure that cart girl is focused on the job at hand today! Is it the lovely Cindy on the cart this morning?”
Jimmy Rodriguez was larger than life, complete with white golf knickers, plaid socks, matching plaid sweater and white golf cap.
“Bill Ross,” said Bill, extending his hand.
“Jimmy Rodriguez, Bill. Good to meet you, hope you’re not a sandbagger out here to take our money this morning,” laughed Jimmy as he slapped Bill on the back.
Bill was certain that the comment about taking their money was no joke. This was going to be an interesting round.
~
Jimmy Rodriguez led Bill outside to meet the others who would make up their foursome. They were all about the same age, Bill thought, late fifties/early sixties. They all shook hands, swapped handicaps and headed off to the first tee. Bill got on a cart with Bob Wilson. Jimmy Rodriquez rode with Herman Stoltz. They tossed a coin to see who would tee off first.
The game Jimmy Rodriguez chose was left-and-rights, full handicap, with ten dollars a hole. Not a huge amount of money but enough to get serious.
Left-and-rights is a pretty simple game: the two tee balls that are hit right against the two that went left.
Because it’s a simple game doesn’t mean that you can’t manipulate a situation in your favor. After the first tee ball is hit, the order of play from the tee theoretically doesn’t matter. However, the person who is last to hit from the tee can see where the others have gone and then choose where best to play his ball to increase the odds of winning by trying to put his ball on the side where the best-positioned shot has landed.
As it unfolded, Jimmy Rodriguez always tried to busy himself with something on the cart or on his bag to ensure that he was last to tee off on every hole.
Golf is perhaps the only game in sport where those who play the game fairly may often call a penalty on themselves, if they did something during the course of play that was against the rules of golf. Calling a penalty on yourself would most times result in losing a hole or even losing the match. Golf is a game for gentleman. It’s said that the name came from the first letters of the saying - G entlemen O nly L adies F orbidden.
It was obvious from the off that Jimmy was no gentleman. In addition to the gamesmanship on each tee, he would improve the lie of his ball by moving it prior to a shot. On two occasions Bill saw him drop a ball out of his pocket while looking for a lost ball in the rough. Jimmy Rodriguez was a cheat. To him it was about winning at all costs.
Bill enjoyed riding in the cart with Bob Wilson.
Bob was a retired
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