The Grand Old Game

I was asked to give a toast during our white-tie closing banquet during the recent Parmasters' Franchise Owners' Conference. The following was well received.

On the first day,
Pastures became areas of play,
Holes and fairways were there and here,
Stones rolled askew, never true.
And as the day faded,
Players looked at what they had made,
And it was good.

On the second day,
Land was crafted and shaped,
The numbers 9 and 18 sprang forth,
On the way out, or in, an addiction was born.
And as the day faded,
Players looked at what they had made,
And it was good.

On the third day,
Tools, implements were crated and shaped,
Feather-ies were made to fly anew,
Bold careers, showmen at times, came to be.
And as the day faded,
Golfers looked at what they had made,
And it was good.

On the fourth day,
Feathers were for birds, Balls for golfers,
Knowledge grew, The game was no longer merely play,
A metaphor for life, lessons taught, relationships created.
And as the day faded,
Golfers looked at what they had made,
And it was good.

On the fifth day,
Amongst so many others, Vardon, Hogan, Snead, Nelson, Jones, Palmer, Nicklaus, Woods,
Addiction becomes epi- and then pan-demic,
And yet for many, fun turns to affliction, frustration, anger, a nice walk spoiled.
And as the day faded,
Golfers looked at what they had made,
And it was not so good.

On the sixth day,
People named Scott, Tom, Andrew, John, Michael begat Parmasters Golf,
Regionals, Area Developers built upon the foundation,
Members, clients, teams, suppliers brought More profits and More life.
And as the day faded,
Golfers looked at what they had made,
And it was good.

On the seventh day,
A day of rest, Straight-Line Golf, Better Golf,
Shoulder to shoulder, tee to green, More Fun,
Pandemic is positive, frustration turns to fulfillment, Guaranteed.
And as the day faded,
Golfers looked at what they had made,
And it was truly, truly good.

Above all else,
Beyond any person, plan, ego or system,
Beyond those here or those that will follow,
Beyond our members, clients and teams,
Beyond and above all else,
We owe our thanks and gratitude to
The Grand Old Game.

So please raise your glasses and help me honour,
The Grand Old Game.