FREDDY COUPLES, BOOM BOOM & KAPALUA

In the early 90s, I worked at the Kapalua's Bay Golf Course bag room, washing carts, shoes, and helping wealthy guests have a good time on the course. Back in the day Mark Rolfing created that after regular season golf tournament, at one time it was the Isuzu, then the Ping, and for a while it was the Lincoln Mercury Tournament, it helped benefit some local charities. So this one year, I had a gig. "Ron get your ass in the mini van and go to OGG (Kahului airport), and pick up Fred Couples!" I'm like standing there going "Hah?" "Ron a volunteer forgot to pick him up, go get him!"

This was the Lincoln Mercury Tournament, a volunteer forgot to pick up Couples, so I'm like freeking nuts happy, Freddy Couples was one of my favorite golfers, his smooth casual swing, Jack was getting old, I needed a new golf hero, and Freddy fit the bill. I was picking up Freddy Couples.

So I drive up, I'm holding up that stupid sign with his name on it. Suddenly this disheveled dude with stubbles on his face, and a grunge looking outfit on, (Pearl Jam and Nirvana) was in at the time, walks up to me, "Hey man you my ride to Kapalua?" I'm like, "Yes sir Mr. Couples." He's like "Fuck it, call me Fred." Hmmm, fuck it it is, Fred it is too. I like Fred, he's cool.

So long story short, he's talking sports, mostly NCAA hoops to be exact, and since the Lincoln was in November, college hoops was out of first gear. My job was to take him to this welcoming party at the Ritz Carlton. But Freddy had other plans, he wanted to go to the Bar & Grill, have some pupus, a brew and watch hoops. "Ah Freddy...my boss said to take you to the Ritz man, I'm gonna get in trouble." Fred is playing with his stubble as he chews on an old toothpick. "Ah no you're not Ron, if your bosses say shit, I'll back you up, and here, take this as a tip for you man." In my hand is some cash, let's say it was good cash. Hey, I am not going to the Ritz, I'm going to the Grill & Bar. I dropped him off at the restaurant, gave him a hand shake, and I'm back to the volunteer tent.

"Ron you what?!!! says the transportation boss. "Are you deaf? I said to make sure you drop Mr. Couples off at the Ritz!" Me, "Yeah but that's Freddy Couples, and if he tells me to drop him off that the Bar & Grill to watch hoops, his word supersedes yours. So there!" So I didn't lose my job, and I guess they sent someone else to explain to Freddy that he really should be at the Ritz for the party. 

Ron Sambrano
Golf Blogger