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The ‘Greatest’ inspiration
By JON MOFFETT
Cortland
What happened to Tom Kellogg earlier this summer can only be explained as unexplainable.
Or, maybe even divine.
Kellogg’s father and longtime golfing partner, Gordon, died on Father’s Day after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. The next Friday, Kellogg went to the one place he knew he could find solace: the golf course.
There Kellogg, 48, played in the same Friday night league he had for almost 30 years — and that his father had been in for more than 40. Kellogg said he knew his father would’ve wanted him to play.
So he lined up his shot on the No. 13 hole at Tamer Win Golf Course. He drove the ball on the 93-yard par three, and just hoped he had gotten enough for something respectable. He watched as the ball went straight into the cup.
It was his first hole-in-one.
“Most of the time I would’ve been so excited, but the first thing that popped in my mind was my dad,” Kellogg said. “It’s a short hole, but I still wasn’t sure the ball was in there, so one of the guys ran down to make sure. And once he did, I just kind of broke down.”
Kellogg said he’s certain his father had something — or everything — to do with the shot.
“I think it was his way of saying he’s OK, and letting me know that I’m OK,” Kellogg said. “Just to do it as soon as he had passed away was just too cool.
“It was just his way of telling me he’s OK up there in heaven, and giving me a little hand. It’s like I’ve got an angel up in heaven.”
It’s hardly a surprise such a sign came on the golf course. It’s where Kellogg and his father spent much of their time together.
“It was just something that he and I could do together all the time,” Kellogg said. “He got me started really young, got me some lessons and got me growing up in some golf leagues he had been in for many years. It was just a normal father-and-son thing to do.”
Now Kellogg hopes for a little bit more help from his dad.
Kellogg entered the scratch division for the “Greatest Golfer of the Valley” tournament this month.
The tournament is hosted by The Vindicator and Farmers National Bank and will feature a two-day, 36-hole qualifying weekend this Friday and Saturday at Mill Creek Golf Course and Trumbull Country Club.
Leaders in each of the seven divisions will advance to a championship round at the Lake Club on Sept. 18.
Kellogg said he is dedicating the tournament to his father, but just wants to have fun golfing.
“You have a chance to play two great courses at least, so who can turn that down. And it’s nice to compete against some of the better golfers in the area.,” he said. “I just want to do the best that I can. I don’t know how many people are going to be in it, but i know there are a lot of good golfers in this area.”
Kellogg knows not all eyes will be on him during the tournament.
But he’s confident at least one pair will be looking down on him.