The Story Behind The Pink Flamingo (Golf Cart)

If you can't play good - look good!

 

When I as 32 years old, I  put my golf clubs in storage. Other life interests took priority.  Thirty one years later, at the urging of a friend, I retrieved my 1968 Northwestern Marty Furgol golf clubs and went to the driving range at a local golf course, Sunny Croft Country Club in Clarksburg, West Virginia. The range is way on top a hill, overlooking a beautiful course and clubhouse. I used my old persimmon wood driver, a three wood, and a few selected blade-irons. Funny thing happened: I did not embarrass myself and the competitive golf spirit was re-kindled.

Moving ahead two years: I decided to become a member of Sunny Croft. As I found out, most, if not nearly all of the members own their own carts and store them in the sheds above the clubhouse. I started to inquire about carts for sale and all roads led to Bill Boyles, a member at Sunny Croft who is not only a pretty good golfer, he also sold carts and repaired them. After talking with Bill a few days, I purchased a cart, which included a ball washer, folding front windscreen, and bag cover. The cart, a 1999 Club Car, was painted the standard Club Car light tan. Not exactly eye-catching.

Growing up, I was always attracted to the 1957 Chevy, painted a factory tropical turquoise, like the one below. It took me six months of internet searching before I could find the exact formula. Even contacting Chevrolet, which researched old codes, could not provide the original formula. Finally, I ran on to a custom body shop in California who did a computer analysis from an original 57 Chevy.

(carmitula.us)

I took a bold chance and told them what I wanted and why. To my surprise the owner said, "Sure, I will share the formula." Later that day, he sent an email with all the color calculations. I then took the formula to a local auto paint store for duplication. In the meantime, I lined up, Dave Greynolds, an experienced auto paint 'artist' to do the work. The hardest part for me was removing the entire cart body. Thankfully, Bill Boyles was there to walk me through the process. Dave does not have a fancy paint booth or garage, but he is an artist with a spray gun. The picture below is a testimonial to his work.

After I had the body back on the cart, I turned my attention to the seat covers. Being a 1999 cart, the seats were not in bad shape, but not in good shape. Again, they were the 'institutional' light tan leather-look alike. After a three month search, I fund the perfect seat covers - from a company in Florida called Suncovers, which specializes in custom form-fitted golf cart covers.  They are made of Sunbrella fabric which is perfect for a golf cart. Carrying on with my 57 Chevy theme, I added baby moon hubcaps from Buggies Unlimited. If you look closely, on the front roof frame, you can see a small bulb horn. I wanted to wire an 'aoogah' horn, but I thought against that idea. Giving the foursome ahead of me heart attacks is not really good golf etiquette.

The pink flamingo mascot goes back to my childhood. I must have been around nine.  On one of our trips to Florida, we visited Cyprus Gardens. I was thrilled with the water skiing show and the wildlife, which was everywhere. I loved the pink flamingos. Their color was magnificent. I watched them walk trough the water, never causing even as much as a ripple when seeking dinner. Their unusually shaped beak was puzzling, although later I found out it was shaped this way to allow for filter- feeding.  The picture below is actually from Cyprus Gardens.

(Winterhaven.com)

(photo fb)

When Sandra found this picture (above) of the flamingos walking through the blue water, it made me think of my golf cart.  I liked the color combination. Plus, it gave me pleasant memories of my childhood. I also remember a large flock of flamingos suddenly talking flight while in Cyprus Gardens. That was a show! Their flight, years later, reminded me of the opening credits of Miami Vice, with Don Johnson.

To some of my golfer-friends at Sunny Croft, I told them the bill of my flamingo was embedded with a specially designed GPS to help locate my golf balls, which often do not go straight. Also, if I happen to get lost in the rough or the woods surrounding our fairways, rescuers can easily find me. Playing a round of golf with me is an experience.

My golf game suits a recent quote I read from the legendary comedian Don Rickles, "Once I realized I stink at golf, I started to enjoy it." Thus, I adopted another quote from a principal-friend of Sandra's I knew in Virginia Beach, who I might add was a very good golfer and had a flair for fashion, "If you can't play good - look good." Thank you Gail.

It did not take long for me to realize my game stinks.  So, I decided I wanted to drive a pretty cart and dress nicely and appropriately for golf. Which I might add and admit, my wife Sandra puts together my shirts, and shorts, and occasionally long pants,  when I am in my Tin Cup mood. Unfortunately, I do not look like Kevin Costner, nor can I hit a golf ball the way he did in the movie. But, I do the best I can. 

Well, friends and followers, that is the story behind 'The Pink Flamingo' golf cart.

Special thanks to Bill Boyles for his help through out the years.

If you need any paint work done, contact me and I will connect you with Dave Greynolds. He has painted everything from a golf cart to a school bus converted to a camper.

Now, I leave you with this musical tribute to "The Pink Flamingo," music provided by YouTube https://youtu.be/dEjXPY9jOx8.

Until next time, this is Michael saying , "If you can't play good - look good."