My drive off the first three tees were so bad, they probably hit someone fishing on nearby Lake of the Woods. I was playing in the annual Celebrity Golf Tournament in Warroad, Minnesota, on the Canadian border, where Marvin Windows and Christian Brothers hockey sticks are made.

When I signed in at the registration desk, I was given a listing of the foursomes and on what tee they started in this shotgun/bestball tournament. I started at the 18th tee and worked my way up. Couldn’t find my name, although the lady at the desk exclaimed she recognized me as “the man from Maine who had come all this way to play in our tournament.”

Then, there it was. On the first tee. With Gordie Howe. I had signed up for the tournament almost a full year earlier because it had been announced Howe would be one of the celebrities playing. I came to Warroad to play in the same tournament with Howe. And here I was in the same foursome.

Also in our group was our single-handicapper, the president of Ford Motor Co.-Canada (who gave me a tip about a good hockey player for Colby – his son. I did pass it on), and a gentleman who was a member of the tournament committee.

Recognizing my nervousness, Howe came over to me as we walked off the third green, put his arm around my shoulder and indicated I should just relax.

After that, I played so far over my head you would never guess I had a 26 handicap at Natanis. I actually looked like a real golfer. The gentleman from Canada came to me at the evening banquet and thanked me.

That was 23 years ago. I still haven’t come down. RIP Gordie. And thank you.

Bob Woodbury

Winslow