PhoeNAMenal Days: WWO X has a winner

For those of you not familiar with this 'tradition like no other,' the Dad and a host of life-long friends went away this past week for the 10th anniversary WWO trip - (World Wide Open). it's supposed to be about a golf competition and we think it's been held for about 10 years, but there is considerable debate about whether it's either. (Here is the link).

For sure, i can say it IS about:

-Friendship - not much to worry about with fellas who've known you upwards of 25 years (pre marriage, jobs, kids and the rest of the trappings from adult life)
-Letting the 'hair down,' since most of us are losing hair, this is easy (imagine a reasonably cleaned up version of Andrew Dice Clay, post-conversion)...
-Trying to do something darn near impossible for middle-aged men who've seen their best days behind them (at least athletically).. that is.. to make a 3-foot putt when the only thing at stake is an ugly red jacket and a name on a plaque that will be landfill as soon as we're done this thing for good... and sometimes, the impossible does happen - like the best player actually winning the WWO (congrats to Scotland!)
-Good food - the resort food was barely passable, but Surf and Turf is generally on the menu.
-Trying to catch up on a personal level with friends who might live in the same town, attend the same church, but rarely get to "visit" with friends given their responsibilities.

-finally, the 10 years has been special, but this year it's been:

-Airline ticket, lodging and meals - $1000
-Taylor-made Super Quad driver (sold new at retail for $400) purchased on ebay: $70
-Used Irons to improve the game - $150
-Posting an all-time low score in front of all your buddies who are used to seeing you barely break a 100: Priceless
-Taking your eldest daughter back to MD to attend a lifelong friend's baptism: eternally priceless.

Thanks to all my boys at the WWO for making X happen and to our friends back in MD - we miss you.