JOHN TYSON - Digital Publishing Software | Page Turning Software

Ken GriffeyTitle/Company: President of Griffey AgencyHandicap: 14How much do you play? Not often enough butgenerally 20-25 rounds a year.Why did you take up the game? I have veryfond memories of my father taking mybrother Phil and I down to Rebsamen ParkGolf Course as boys and having the patienceto teach us the game. The “short nine” atRebsamen was our playground for years.Where do you play? Rebsamen Golf Courseis my home course although our group likesto travel and visit various “tracks” aroundthe region.What’s your best score in competition (andif you want, add your best score just playingaround)? My best round ever was a 72 atRebsamen … and I still have the ball with abig 72 written on it. I must admit that I havebeen chasing 72 ever since … sigh.Career holes in one (and where, if you wantto be specific). Sadly to say I have neverscored an ace myself but I do have a story.My father was playing at Rebsamen backin the early 1970’s in a tournament calledthe Eskimo Tournament. It was obviouslyplayed in the winter in December or Januaryif I recall. It was a four-ball format andmy father was playing with his brother Jakeagainst two other opponents.On hole No. 3 my father hit first … balllanded on the green … two hops later theball went in the hole. My Uncle Jake then hitnext and incredibly left his shot six inchesfrom the cup. The other two golfers in theirgroup scored a 3 and a 4.On one hole, in tournament play, one ofthe rarest events in golf occurred. A 1, 2, 3and a 4 were scored on the same hole in thesame group.If you had to choose one state amateur partnerin a four-ball, who would that be? That’s easy,my best golfing buddy Steve “The Hammer”Moore. Our fathers grew up togetherin Booneville, so we actually tell people thatwe knew each other before we were born.What PGA pro would you choose?In my dream foursome I wouldhave to invite Fuzzy Zoeller, BillMurray and my dad.Favorite golf movie? Caddyshack,a true classic.What’s your best golf memory?Golf has always been a great excuseto yuk it up with our buddies.We typically take a golf trip everyyear with a great cast of characters.My fondest golf memoryinvolves a trip our group took toa course just outside of Oxford,Miss. — Kirkwood National.Our group played non-stop golf,watched the Razorbacks play OleMiss, grilled out every night at ourcondo on the course.Two members of our group, John Goodeand Rob Fikes, have both recently losttheir fights with cancer. We miss themtremendously but we carry them with uson each and every trip.If you couldn’t be playing golf, you’d be . . .?On a nice beach with my wife.What type clubs do you play/prefer? Mywoods are Cobra and my irons are Adams.At 53 years old I must admit the hybrid technologyis a wonderful thing.What’s the best course you’ve played? I loveArkansas so I’m going to be a “homer” andsay Diamante. Such a beautiful course.What’s the course you’d love to play that youhaven’t? The Alotian Club … please.What’s the best hole in Arkansas? I love traditionalgolf course layouts and I have alwaysenjoyed Nos. 16, 17 and 18 at Pleasant ValleyCountry Club. What a great challenge to endyour round. I hear that No. 6 at Alotian Clubis also breathtaking and hope to experienceit someday.Who is the best business exec golfer inArkansas? It’s hard not to choose WarrenStephens. I don’t know Mr. Stephens but Iwould guess we have this in common: welove the game of golf and we enjoy gettingtogether with friends and taking golf trips.Ken Griffey’s adventures include an encounter with John Dalythat involved a $1 bill and an autograph. Photo: Mark FonvilleDo you have an interesting story thathappened playing golf? I was a member ofa golf group years back called the “ThreePutt Club” and we were playing an event atBelvedere Country Club in Hot Springs. Aswe putted out on No. 18 we notice a crowdhad gathered and saw that John Daly wasplaying in behind us.We watched with great interest as Dalyeasily birdied the hole. Following the roundI had won $1 from my playing partner andas he was handing me the dollar bill, Dalygrabbed the bill out of my hand, signed it,and then stated, “now your dollar is onlyworth a quarter.”He chuckled and walked away.Who is your golf hero? My brother Phil and Iplayed golf together throughout our entirelives. A decade ago my brother was diagnosedwith MS. The disease affected mybrother’s legs and he has never been able toplay the game again.He has faced this disease with great courageand he will always be my hero both inthe game of golf and in the game of life.2013 / ARKANSAS BUSINESS EXECUTIVE GOLFER 27