Oxford University

by Ed Nelson

  They wanted to know how I had that much knowledge as that wouldn’t have been covered in flight school. That brought up my training by Mr. McGarry. One of the officers a Flight Lieutenant Hale had read about Mr. McGarry’s history as a Flying Tiger.

  After lunch I headed home, I think that luncheon conversation did a lot for my reputation within the RAF. At least I would be known as the pilot who sent Steed to the loo.

  Dad’s birthday was on June 5. He had recently taken up sporting clays. I called his club in Los Angeles and they gave me the measurements that had been taken for him to order a custom made shotgun. It hadn’t been ordered yet, that was in March so I had the time and ordered him a bespoke gun from Purdy. I had to pay a premium to have it made so quickly.

  The premium was more than a new T-bird but it was for Dad. I had to let Dad know that I was buying him the gun so he wouldn’t go ahead with his order. When I mentioned Purdy he was pleased as punch.

  There was a great disparity in the cost of the gifts I had bought everyone but at this money level, it was definitely the thought that counted.

  Chapter 36

  June was going to be a busy month. I was to be Mark Downing’s best man at his wedding to Sharon Bronson. The wedding would be in California. I would literally be getting off the plane and going to his bachelor party.

  The wedding was on Saturday, June 11th. So I had to leave London early Friday morning. Then I had an interview early Monday the 13th with a possible new agent that Mr. Baxter had recommended. I didn’t see why I needed an agent at all considering I wasn’t planning on any movies in the near future.

  Mr. Baxter was very insistent that I have one. I yielded to his knowledge and experience in the industry. Plus I felt like I owed him for what he had done for my family. If nothing else keeping Mary gainfully employed and out of trouble earned him a lot.

  As soon as I could I had to get to Denver on Monday after the interview to start the practice rounds for the US Open. Dad arranged a charter flight for me that would set down at a private airfield near Cherry Hills so I wouldn’t have to fight the Stapleton traffic.

  Then there was school and the fact that I would be missing a full two weeks. The only saving grace was that I was leaving at the beginning of the revision period. With my notes, I felt like I could do this on my own. After the open, I had to high tail it back to London for my Knights of the Garter investiture. That was on Monday, June 20th.

  In preparation for the KG ceremony the Palace had ordered my complete outfit and it would be waiting for me at my suite at the Plaza. I had questioned the wisdom of buying that suite but it had come in useful several times now.

  I explained my June schedule to the guys at the Dog and Crown on our first June Thursday night get to gather. I went wild that night and drank half a pint. It took that to describe the month. They agreed it was a crazy schedule and better me than them, though they saw the possibilities of a lot of birds at the US Open.

  Then I would only be able to look and not touch as I wouldn’t have time, pity. I thought they had one track mines, I hardly ever thought about girls.

  The days went by and all of a sudden I had a flight to the US the next morning. The trip would be a transpolar flight on TWA, directly London to Los Angeles. That really cut down on the flying time from when I had first started flying from the US to England.

  Packing for the trip was easy. I pointed out what I wanted to take on Saturday and Mr. Hamilton saw that it was folded and put in my suitcase. I was amazed at how nice everything looked when he was done. If I had attempted it, it would have looked like the clothes hamper on wash day.

  As they say in the RAF I flew my Cessna to London at o dark hundred on Friday. I parked the plane in rented hanger space on the private side of the field. They would wash and fuel it while I was gone.

  My luggage and I were taken to the main terminal where I checked in at the curb. Since I had tickets in hand from an earlier purchase there was no waiting in line. I went directly to the TWA Ambassador Club where I picked up my boarding pass and had my first coffee of the day. Well-earned I might add.

  I had just barely finished my first cup and it was time to board the airplane. I, along with two other people, was led through a back hallway and allowed to board immediately. I had no idea who the other people were and didn’t really care.

  As the boarding process started for the rest of the passengers I ordered more coffee and started through my revision notes. I had to be very serious about this on the trip if I were going to pass my exams.

  It was my bad luck that a chatty guy sat next to me. I was in the window seat and he seemed determined to talk across the top of the world. He interrupted my study so often I finally told him that I had to study for upcoming exams and would he please leave me alone.

  Not only couldn’t he take a hint he couldn’t take a direct request. I finally pushed the call button and explained my problem to the stewardess. There was an open seat across the aisle so she moved him over there. Now he could pester someone else.

  You could tell the jerk was complaining about me being anti-social. The man in the seat beside him rang his call button and ended up sitting beside me in blessed silence for the rest of the trip. I am so glad that you only run into people like that on a rare occasion. I shudder to think what a flight would be like if there were more like him on board. I hope Mum and Dad let me use their jet when they get it for trips like this.

  I took a three-hour nap over the North Pole. I had to sail the Artic someday so I could get the Order of the Blue Nose.

  We landed on time in LA. I felt so tired and grungy. A limo had been put on and I was taken directly to Jackson House where I showered and changed clothes. I gave Mary and Mum and a quick hug and shook hands with Dad and my brothers then got back in the limo to go to Sharon’s small town. I arrived there at eight o’clock in the evening.

  I had started my journey twenty five hours ago and even though I had a nap I was tired. Mark and his two brothers and several of his friends were waiting on me so we went to a local bar where the back room had been reserved for his party.

  I was very glad that none of those present were crazy drunks. My contribution to the party was traditional. They wheeled in a large cake with had a stripper inside. She did her act, kissed us all on the cheek and left. All in all, it was a staid party.

  The next day saw the ceremony go off without a hitch. I was glad to see that Sharon had finally reconciled with her parents. During the reception, both Mark and Sharon thanked me for the impact I had on their lives. Sharon had decided to drop out of the acting business and become a housewife.

  In private I was told that I would be invited to a Christening in about seven months. Good for them.

  The paparazzi had not found out about the wedding so it was a pleasant affair. At the reception, I danced with the maids of honor but they were all older than me and most of them married. You can’t win them all, but dang!

  When the bride and groom left for their honeymoon to parts unknown I made my own departure back to LA. I was so glad to get to bed. I was asleep by nine o’clock. Of course, I was wide awake at five o’clock which wasn’t too bad. I was able to get a good run in after doing my exercises.

  The agent candidate had agreed to meet me at the Calabasas Country Club for brunch and an interview. This was a typical Hollywood meeting. I liked the fact it was more informal and you could get a better sense of how people really were.

  My sense of Clark Miller was that he was a solid person who took his work seriously. I was upfront with him about my movie plans or lack thereof. He had a question for me.

  “Are you aware that, ‘Over the Ohio’, is being talked about as an Oscar contender even though it hasn’t been released, and that you will be nominated as the Best Actor?”

  “Oh come on, it’s a B movie.”

  “It may have started life like that but the reviewers who have watched the in house release take it as a very serious movie with a powerful message.
Your role is the key to the whole movie as it highlights the dichotomy of the day.”

  “I think the Nation as a whole is awakening to the fact that the settlement of America was more than Pilgrims and Cowboys and Indians. This movie reveals the good and bad of both sides and how the conflicts were totally unavoidable.”

  “You either have to go in hiding from all the offers you receive or hire an agent. I would like the job if at all possible. Even if you never do another movie, as your agent doors will be open for me.”

  I liked that attitude so I ask him what he was looking for as an agent. I told him since he would benefit from being associated with me he certainly would take less. After we stopped laughing we came to terms on a standard agent’s agreement. Not as good as I had with Mr. Baxter but that was a special arrangement.

  I tried to get him to accept points in lieu of five percent but he pointed out that I told him I might never make another movie. I counter with; if that is so you won’t get a commission anyway. He thought about it and decided that the points were an excellent incentive but it would be predicated on me getting points in the movie.

  I countered that it was his job as my agent to negotiate points for us. We went back and forth for over an hour. We finally ended up he would take points if he could get them, and if not his regular fee. It was fun going back and forth sitting outside on the veranda in the California sun it sure beat the English rain and a smoky pub.

  The girls wore short dresses and tennis shorts, much better than a girl in an Anorak.

  We finished up and Clark told me he would have a contract written up and provide copies to me and my lawyer. He knew my law firm through Mr. Baxter. I wasn’t sure about the whole thing but it wouldn’t cost me anything to have an agent on my behalf so why not.

  I felt good about getting him to accept points in a picture. It would be a real incentive to negotiate hard.

  After lunch, I drove home and drove over to the forestry service airfield. My chartered flight arrived right on time and I was off to Denver.

  The flight was uneventful. The plane a converted DC 3 had a pilot and copilot so there was no room for me in the cockpit but they let me watch over their shoulder after we took off. There wasn’t a flight attendant but they had a cooler with soft drinks and snacks. I ended up serving the crew. Did that make me a stewardess?

  It was a little rough going over the Rockies but these old birds were tough as nails and could handle it. I bet some would still be flying fifty years from now.

  After bouncing around a little we landed at the small airfield near the Cherry Hills golf course. Grabbing my overnight bag I walked to the little shack they called a terminal. My real luggage was being shipped separately. I hoped it made it.

  John Jacobs was waiting for me. We gave each other a guy hug and went to my hotel. It was a small operation not part of any chain but very well kept with all the modern conveniences. It even had color televisions in each room.

  It was too late in the day to play so John and I went over to the club where he showed me where my locker with my clubs and gear was. The place was a beehive of golfers. You could tell the difference between the Pros and the Amateurs, the Pros were calm and appeared at home. The Amateurs were like cats on a hot tin roof, nervously moving everywhere and looking totally lost.

  I tried to act calm and pretend I was at my home course. Having John there helped a lot because he was now very familiar with the entire club and guided me around.

  I went to the driving range and starting with my low irons worked my way up to the driver. My time in England had been well spent as I wasn’t tightened up from lack of practice. After that, it was an hour on the putting greens. It was a traffic jam out there. The end result was the most people were putting too fast trying to keep out of each others way. This wasn’t learning this was developing bad habits.

  Once John pointed out that I was starting to do the same thing I called it a day. After cleaning up and changing clothes in the clubhouse I took John and his wife Linda out to dinner. It was a fun relaxed meal at a Mexican restaurant. It was more TexMex than Mexican which was fine with me.

  It had colorful furniture and posters on the wall. The floor was a tile and they had an adobe water fountain in the lobby. Despite the kitsch look, it was a classy place and the food really good.

  John tried to get me to eat a raw jalapeno pepper but I wasn’t going to fall for that, again.

  His wife Pricilla told me they were having a great time and she could handle this life easily. They still had plans for a family but nothing was happening yet, not from trying. This was too much information.

  We did talk about what would happen if I would actually win the Open. It meant that next year I would try for the grand slam as an amateur. I had no desire to turn Professional and as John put it I probably couldn’t afford the cut in pay if I went pro.

  I let that line go, I wouldn’t take a cut in pay as I owned the company but it would take up too much time.

  We called it an evening after dinner and after taking a walk around the hotel area I went to bed for a good night’s sleep. I still had some jet lag to work off.

  Chapter 37

  Monday morning I got ready for my first practice round. The goal of this round was for John to familiarize me with the course.

  The first hole is a 346-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg left. It is possible to drive the green. I think they set it up this way to lull the players into a false sense of security.

  Number 2 is a 410 yards par 4. Trees line the entire right side of the fairway, while the left side is guarded by bunkers. A fairly flat green is that is protected by a lake on the left side of the green. It would be very easy to go from the beach to the water.

  Hole number 3 is 348 a short par 4. Most of the Open players are capable of driving the green. The tabletop green falls off in all directions with closely mown grass so it is very difficult to get a wedge to hold, let alone a driver. If you go long, Little Dry Creek comes into play.

  The fourth hole is a 426-yard par 4. With a dogleg-left, it requires a well-placed tee shot to the right side of the fairway as there are overhanging trees on the left half of the fairway which can send a ball awry. A short-iron second shot will allow some Birdies, but it is complicated by a two-tiered green.

  Hole 5 is 538 yards and a par 5. Being a short par 5 it is deceptive as it requires a very accurate tee shot if one tries for the green in two. The tee shot has a creek to the right and deep bunkers to the left and a narrow fairway of only 26 yards between the two hazards. The green has the most slope of any on the course and is unforgiving. Shots left and short will end up in a deep bunker and long shots will leave a virtually impossible chip or pitch because of the slope.

  Number 6 is 174 yards and a par 3. Being a short par 3 it gives a chance at making a Birdie. Because of bunkers surrounding the green and a small creek to the left it required an accurate short iron. A severe slope from front to back and requires one to keep the ball below the hole. Again a shot over the green will leave a near-impossible second shot putting one in Bogey territory.

  Hole 7 is 411 yards and a par 4. Most players will hit a fairway wood off the tee to avoid going through the fairway on this dogleg left. Cutting the dogleg will reduce yards but then you have to get past the large bunker complex that guards the left side of the hole. The green has a soft slope from back to front once you clear the bunker on the left there is a severe fall off to the right. So shortcutting is very high risk and only to be done if I need to make up some strokes.

  The eighth hole 233 yards par 3 is where the course starts to show its teeth. The hole requires an accurate fairway wood to avoid large bunkers both left and right of the green. Poor shots to the right bring Little Dry Creek into play. It is easy to turn this possible Birdie into a Bogey.

  On 9 which is a 430-yard uphill par 4 and one of the most difficult holes at Cherry Hills. A long and accurate tee shot is required. A crowned fairway brings the deep rough on the left into pl
ay or a large bunker on the right. You can only see the top of the flag on the second shot and there is a severely sloped green guarded by a large bunker in the front.

  The first nine holes are 3315 yards with a par of 35.

  Number 10 is a 444yard par 4. An accurate tee shot is needed to the fairway which is severely sloped from right to left and guarded by a large bunker and trees on the right side. The second shot is to a right-to-left-sloping green which has bunkers on both sides. If the pin is right-side it will be a difficult high-risk shot.

  The 11th is 563 yards and a par 5. It takes a long hit to reach this par 5 in two. I hope to use this to my advantage. The tee shot is uphill on the fairway which is guarded by a bunker on the left and out of bounds just off the right side of the fairway. A large cross bunker 110 yards short of the green is what prevents most players from going for the green in two. The large green is severely sloped from back to front. Putts from above the hole are to be avoided as you can roll right off the green.

  Number12 at 212 yards is a par 3. Shots that land’s just short of the green will roll its back into a pond guarding the front. Anything long leaves a virtually impossible pitch. The green is divided in the middle with a severe mound, so being in the right quadrant a must.

  13 is a 385-yard par 4. It is a straight-away which requires an accurate tee shot to avoid the deep grass mounds on the left and the large fairway bunker to the right. A successful drive leaves a short iron to a very small and tricky green. Anything over the green guarantees a Bogey.

  The 14th hole is a 470-yard par 4 and the toughest hole on the course. The hole has a slight dogleg left and along the widest fairway on the course. One would think this is an easy hole. The second shot is downhill with the green guarded by Little Dry Creek to the left and a large bunker to the right which is all manageable. It is a severe green and putting is a real challenge