"IF YOU LIKE GOLF"
weekly online golf column
by
Stan Crawley

May 21, 2002

Last Saturday’s first round of the Cleveland Invitational might just have well been played in January. That’s how cold, wet and rainy it was. But the brutal conditions didn’t keep Bill Nelms off the Rolling Hills course—and he wasn’t even playing.

As he always does, Nelms walked the course to watch his son Josh compete. And if she hadn’t been feeling under the weather, Nelms’ wife Janice would have been there, too. She turned up with Bill on Sunday with a parka pulled over her head, still not feeling well but eager to support her son.

While other parents simply give their teen-age sons gas money and send them off to play, Bill and Janice are always ready to pile in the car and head to the course for a good walk and a chance to watch Josh challenge for championships.

"Dad is always there and mom most of the time,’’ Josh said. "Dad got me started in golf and caddies for me. A lot of kids don’t want their dad there, but we’re both pretty laid back.

"I’m an only child and probably a little spoiled. At least that’s what my girlfriend says. But I like talking to dad about my round. And he never gets mad unless I throw a club or do something stupid.’’

Bill and Janice Nelms work as teachers at Central High School. Bill coaches the boys’ basketball team, and last year gave up his duties coaching golf so he could watch Josh play his senior year at The Baylor School.

Josh said it would be appropriate to call his father his mentor. And his uncle, Creek’s Bend professional Mike Nelms, is his teacher.

"Dad is my support system,’’ Josh said. "We really don’t plan it, but when we get home we always talk about my round. He’ll make fun of me about some of my shots, but it’s always to be helpful. I’ll make fun of him, too, but I won’t say how.’’

Josh not only played on state championship golf teams at Baylor, he was also a member of the basketball team that finished second in the Division II state tournament last year.

"We try to show Josh our support,’’ Bill said. "It’s fortunate that we’re teachers because we can schedule around his tournaments. In the summer, his tournaments are our vacations, but we enjoy it. We just look up his schedule and match it up.’’

When Josh isn’t playing in a tournament, Bill joins him for a round on the golf course. And he gives a little advice at times.

"I just like for him to stay calm and in the right temperament, not get upset,’’ Bill said. "He’s got good technique because Mike does the majority of that.

"I just watch and listen to what Mike says and talk to Josh about those kinds of things when we’re on the road.’’

Next fall, Josh will be playing golf for Middle Tennessee State. He’ll play in several men’s tournaments in Chattanooga this summer, along with some out-of-town AJGA events.

"It’s going to be tough following him next fall because most of the Middle Tennessee State tournaments are in Florida, Alabama and Louisiana,’’ Bill said. "It’s going to be harder to watch him play, but we’ll try to catch all we can.’’

JENKINS TO MAKE SENIOR DEBUT: Mike Jenkins, who turned 50 in October, will make his senior debut in the Coca-Cola Open at Creek’s Bend on June 3-4.

"Those white tees are a calling,’’ Jenkins said.

He will also try to qualify for the Senior Open at Hillwood in Nashville on June 11.

HATS OFF TO ROLLING HILLS: Professional Lamar Mills and his staff did an excellent job running the second Cleveland Invitational last weekend at the Rolling Hill Golf Course.

Despite brutal weather conditions on Saturday, the tournament was well run. Nothing but praise for the course and the fine greens came from the 101 participants.

METRO ENTRY BLANKS AVAILABLE: The entry blank for the Men’s Metro at Black Creek is available on the chattanoogatpc.com web site.  Visit the "Tournament Entry Information" section to view and print.

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