5 comments/ 16996 views/ 5 favorites Coming From Behind Ch. 07-08 By: coaster2 Chapter 7 A Whole New Ballgame We walked into the office of Valley Investments precisely at ten on Monday morning, noticing that Norman Fears' secretary was still out on an errand. He appeared almost immediately. "Good morning, Mr. Monahan. I'm pleased to see you are on time. I assume you have a proposal to put forward this morning?" he said, completely ignoring Catherine. "Yes, as promised, I have a proposal," I confirmed as we sat in front of his desk. I handed him a binder with several pages in it and he quickly opened it, flicking through pages, obviously looking for the number I was offering. When he found it his face darkened and I could see anger forming. "This is unacceptable, Mr. Monahan. You've wasted my time and I'm not pleased," he bluffed. "Well, if you review the material, you'll see my rationale for that offer, Mr. Fears. First of all, its only value is as either a golf course or farm land. You will find an independent appraisal of the property as potential farm land and it indicates a maximum price of forty-five-hundred per acre. That would equate to a little less than four hundred thousand for the eighty-eight acres. That is the maximum value and I'm prepared to offer that to you here and now." "It's worth more than that as a golf club," he spat, now quite agitated. "Perhaps, but not in the condition that Bending Willows is in right now. It's going to take several million dollars to put it into the shape it needs to be in to make it viable. My offer is unconditional and is in cash. You won't be taking any paper in exchange." He looked up at that, clearly not having read the proposal in any detail yet. He sat back in his chair and rubbed his chin, probably trying to think of a way to save face. I didn't need to rub it in any more. It was his decision to make. "I'd like some time to study this offer and discuss it with my partners. I have to tell you that it's very disappointing but I will at least do you the courtesy of looking it over carefully. I should be able to get back to you today," he said, with a crestfallen look. His little dreams had been shattered and he knew it. "Fine. I can give you that. I have all my other components in place so a yes or a no from you will complete our discussions." He stood, but again didn't offer his hand. "Thank you for your patience, Mr. Fears. I'll look forward to hearing from you." With that, we left the office. "Did that go the way you expected?" Catherine asked. "Not quite, but close enough. His mythical partners are probably one Mr. John Fortrand who will no doubt encourage him to accept my offer. Unbeknownst to Norman, I have sent Mr. Fortrand a copy of the real estate appraisal so he knows what we believe the disposal price is. That should speed up the process." "You've thought of everything haven't you," she said seriously. "I hope so," I sighed. "This has become important to me. Every day I'm thinking about what kind of golf course I want and how I will market it to the people of the Portland area. I've been making notes about buildings and contractors and golf course architects. I will have to make all kinds of decisions, even down to how we will mow the grass and tend the greens. I've got a whole lot more questions than I have answers." "Well, for what it's worth, I hope he sells to you. I can see how much this means to you." "That's worth a lot to me, Catherine. I want you to be as happy and as confident of the future of Bending Willows as I am." "Do you think there is a place for Scotty in this plan?" she asked. "There very well could be. Why don't we go out there and talk to him. Let's see how he feels about it." Catherine agreed and we drove over to the old course, arriving just before eleven. There were only three cars in the parking lot when we arrived. "Doesn't look like there'd be much of a wait to tee off," I joked. Catherine just shook her head. She didn't see anything humorous in the situation at all. I think she was more concerned with her friend. I would keep that in mind when we talked. When we found him, Scotty was dusting the pro shop inventory, such as it was. A few dozen golf balls, a handful of gloves, some used clubs and a couple of pairs of odd-sized shoes. Other than that the shelves were barren. "Hi, Scotty," Catherine said as we entered the shop. "Hello, Catherine. How are ye today, Lass?" he said in his thick brogue. "I see ye still have the Irish lad in tow." "I'm fine, Scotty. I don't know if you heard but I won the Open yesterday," she said proudly. "Aye, Lass, I heard. Congratulations. I suppose that means ye will be back on the tour soon." He didn't say it as if he was happy about that possibility. "I don't think so," she said. "I have a new job ... executive assistant to the president of Bending Willows Golf Club. So I won't be able to just drop my duties and take off on tour." The look on Scotty's face was priceless. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, especially not from Catherine. "Is it true, Lad?" he asked, turning to me. "It will be in a few hours. That's why we're here. We'd like to talk to you about the future of the course and where you might fit in with our new company. Can you spare some time for us?" "Look about ye, Lad. Does it look like I'm buried in tasks?" I nodded with a smile. For the next hour, I detailed some of my thinking and some of the questions I had about what made the most sense. It was there that Walter Ferguson showed his true worth. He knew the business and he knew what worked and what didn't and explained why. It wasn't just opinion, it was years of experience in both Scotland and here. By the time our discussion had wound down, I knew he was ideal for our company. I wasn't sure what role he should play but I wanted that know-how and knew that it was worth quite a bit. If Scotty knew the business, he also knew where to find things and people who could do some of the tasks that needed to be done. But it was Catherine who came up with another gem as the conversation progressed. We had been talking about golf course architecture and we were wondering where we could find someone who wasn't trying to create a super-course and could work with the landscape we had. When we went over the basic layout, it was good for the most part. There were no quirky holes or strange transitions between holes, save between the ninth green and tenth tee. Apparently there had been a large clubhouse at that location, but it was knocked down and never replaced. When we looked at the size of the area, a minor rearrangement of the existing holes would make a much better transition and would also lengthen a couple of short par fours. All the while Catherine was making notes, although I hadn't asked her to. I have a good memory and didn't think I would miss anything but she was already getting involved. When the issue of an architect came up, she had a suggestion. "I met a young guy who had studied landscape architecture at Portland State. He was a bit of a golf nut and wanted to get into course design. He had his résumé out, but all the known architects had shown no interest. I wonder if he wouldn't be a good place to start. We can give him some guidance, let him know what we're trying to do and see what he can come up with. I'm sure he'd be a lot less costly than the big firms." "That's a hell of an idea, Catherine," I said. "Do you know how to get in touch with him?" "No ... but I can probably find him through the college. I can look after that if you want." "Great. As soon as we sign up with Norman you can contact him. He's certainly worth a try." "These are grand plans, Laddie," Scotty said with narrowed eyes. "It's nay too far for ye now, is it?" "No, Scotty. I've got access to all the funds I'll need, I'm sure. It's really a matter of spending wisely and getting the best result for our efforts." He nodded his agreement. "Wise words, Lad. I'll be happy to gie ye my hand. There's nay more I'd like than seeing this place alive agin." "I'm counting on that Scotty. As soon as the deed is transferred, I'll be hiring you as permanent consultant and operating officer ... that is if you're willing." "Aye ... that's a grand fancy title for an auld man, but I'd be pleased to be aboard," he said with a smile. As we drove toward the city I asked Catherine, "So where should we go to await Mr. Fears' phone call. We could have lunch at someplace fairly quiet or pick up some deli items and find a park with a bench. What suits you?" "I like the deli idea. It's a nice day and I know where we can find both a deli counter and a lovely little park. I'll show you the way." Her directions were simple and ten minutes later we were in a modern medium-sized grocery store that had the biggest wine selection I had seen in a long time. On top of that the deli was just as complete. It was hard not to overindulge with all the great looking items. We finally settled for some German coleslaw, a couple of fresh baked buns, a small variety pack of cheeses with another small variety tray of sausage meats. Along with some ice tea, we had our lunch material, and headed for the park Catherine had chosen. We talked as we ate, enjoying the warm sunshine and the quiet of the park. "Sorry we had to leave Scotty behind but someone needed to look after the place. Does he live there?" "Yes. That small trailer you can see off to the side of the pro shop is his home for now. He's got a power, water and septic hookup. That's where the old clubhouse was located." "How long has he been there?" I asked. "At least two years. His wife died several years ago. Cancer, I think. Anyway, he left his job in Dundee and came over here to live with his son. Then his son was transferred to Asia and Scotty was left alone again. He had his card so he's legal, but he needs a sponsor for his citizenship application. I've volunteered, but a good job and a special title might help pave the way," she smiled. "Well, he's a hell of a resource for us. I know some people who specialize in immigration law and I can contact them and see what we can do. As long as he's here legally we should be all right. In the meantime, he needs a better place to live, not to mention a better place to work. Is that old pickup truck I saw his?" She nodded. "Well, there's another thing. We'll probably lease a new truck and get the course name on the side of it. As long as he takes care of it, it's his to use. It will make the name a little more prominent." "What should we do about his living quarters?" she asked. I was about to answer when my phone rang. I looked at the name and was a bit surprised. "Is that Norman?" she asked. "No ... it's John Fortrand. I better take this. Good afternoon, Mr. Fortrand. How are you today?" "Fine, Mr. Monahan, but please, I think we know each other well enough for first names. Please call me John." "Very well, John, and it's Terry. What can I do for you?" "Well, I think it's already done, Terry. Mr. Norman Fells will be accepting your offer ... albeit reluctantly. I've made it plain to him that since it's the only offer he's seen in many months that if he turns it down I will be forced to foreclose and then he'll suffer even more. I believe he's seen the light and will be calling you shortly ... or as soon as he can gather his wits about him." I laughed. "You've no doubt noticed that my offer is exactly what the appraised value of the property is as potential farm land. I have a certified check made out to him for exactly that amount. I would hope that you don't have any difficulty in receiving that amount promptly from Mr. Fears. Perhaps I should send you a copy of the check via e-mail so that there is no chance of any hanky-panky on his part." "I hope it isn't necessary but I do appreciate the gesture, Terry. You've been very helpful in the whole process and I'm grateful. I'll look forward to doing more business with you." "I should be in to set up our accounts this week, John. I'm sure Bending Willows will be well looked after." We signed off and I no sooner put the phone in my pocket than it rang again. I looked at Catherine and grinned. "I believe this will be Mr. Fears," I said, taking the phone out of my pocket once more and opening it. "Good afternoon, Mr. Fears. I trust you've come to a decision?" "Yes," he said in a defeated voice. "I'm reluctantly going to accept your offer, Mr. Monahan. I think it's highway robbery but my partners have outvoted me. I agree to sell the property for your stated proposal." "Excellent. I'll have a certified check for the full amount in your hands this afternoon. I assume you can sign over the title to me at that time?" "Yes, I have the authority to do that." His voice lacked any enthusiasm whatsoever. "Very well, we should meet at the bank," I said in a spur-of-the-moment decision. "I will have a suitable witness to verify the transaction. Shall we say four o'clock." "Four o'clock, then. I'll be there. Good afternoon," he said, hanging up. "It's all over but the formalities, Cat. By this time tomorrow we'll have the business registered and you will formally become our first employee." She had a big smile on her face. Her doubts seemed to be gone and her eyes were bright with anticipation. "Now, since you aren't yet an employee and we aren't related, you can act as witness when we sign the agreement of sale. We have plenty of time to get to the bank by four so we don't have to hurry. I'd like to enjoy my last day of unemployment as much as possible before I throw myself into this project." "Did you have to borrow for the purchase?" she asked. "No, I had cash on hand. The borrowing will come when we start doing the big stuff. In the meantime, let's forget about this for a while. It's all I've been thinking about for the last week so I should follow my own advice and take a break, even if it's only for a few hours." "It's exciting, Terry. I'd like to call Scotty if it's okay with you." "Sure. I hope he's as up for it as you are. He's going to be busy too." "I think you're going to make him young again with this news," she smiled as she dialed the familiar number. We spent the rest of the afternoon walking in the park and killing time until we were due at the bank. I wasn't really able to put the purchase and my plans out of my mind but I didn't verbalize them with Catherine. Somehow, I was going to have to learn to find time where business wasn't my only reason for being. I had to make that change no matter how fascinating this project was. I had vowed not to repeat my mistakes and I planned to keep that vow this time. We entered the bank just before four o'clock and asked for John Fortrand. He came out quickly and extended his hand to both of us in greeting. "Congratulations, Terry. I hope this turns out as well as you expect. It will be a big improvement over the situation as it is now. It was a shame to see the course deteriorate like that. My wife and I used to enjoy playing there but we haven't even bothered in the past three years." "Ah hah, another golfer. Well, when we're done, I'm sure you'll be happy with what we create. Your family will be our guest for the first month, hoping that the experience will permit you to speak well of our efforts. Word of mouth, kind words of course, are very important to the new Bending Willows." "That's very generous. Thank you. In the meantime, if I can be of any other service, let me know." "Actually, I wanted to open a couple of accounts here, John. A personal account and a business account. I'll have quite a large amount to transfer into both so if you can assist in setting those up I'd be grateful. Once that's established, I'd like to discuss a line of credit as well. Can you direct me to the right people?" "You're talking to him," he smiled. "This is a small bank and I do want our new accounts well taken care of. Just bring your requests to me and I'll handle them." "Wonderful. One stop shopping. Very convenient. I should be in on Wednesday but I'll phone for an appointment." Norman Fears arrived then, looking ten years older than this morning if that was possible. It took less than ten minutes for the transaction to be done, signed and witnessed and he was gone back to wherever he came from. My check never stayed in his possession. He simply countersigned it over to the bank and his role was complete. When we walked back to the car I didn't have the sense of elation that I expected. I had won my game of brinkmanship and got the property for the lowest possible price. Norman Fears had been called at his own game and his dreams of development and even escaping with some pride and money were snuffed. He was a sad figure as he left the office, having spoken no more than a couple of words the whole time. I wondered what would become of him. "You're very quiet considering you've got what you wanted, Terry," Catherine observed. "Yeah ... I guess some of my values are changing. I loved playing the game with Norman but, in the end he was left with nothing. It's not that he deserved to be rewarded for his actions but just the same, we all have to live. I have no idea if he has a wife and family and if he does, what does he tell them. I'm sure he thinks I'm the lowest of the low but he chose the game and he just wasn't up to the competition." "I was there, Terry. You didn't do anything wrong or underhanded. You figured him out and saw he was trying to trick you. You just stopped that from happening. Nothing to be ashamed of in my opinion." "Thanks, Catherine. I guess I'm starting to think about things a little differently. It's a bit late for Norman but I'll try not to be too hard on people when they attempt to make the best deal they can." "Let's find a place and have a drink to celebrate the rebirth of Bending Willows," she said brightly. "Good idea. You know the territory so lead the way." We ended up in a nice lounge attached to what appeared to be a good restaurant. We had one drink and then asked the bartender if we could see a menu. Catherine and I scanned the list and agreed it looked quite good and we decided to have dinner here. "It's my turn to buy, Terry. I've got that big pile of prize money and a hot new job. That's cause for celebration too." "You talked me into it. Let's go," I said as we left the lounge and headed for the restaurant side. We had a leisurely meal in uncrowded surroundings, talking about a number of things, most of which were not related to Bending Willows. "You surprised me, Catherine. You said something I didn't expect." "Oh ... what was that?" "You told Scotty that you had no intention of going back on tour. I didn't know you'd made up your mind." "I guess I didn't know either until Scotty suggested it and I knew right away that I wouldn't go back. I remember you telling me that you knew when you'd had enough at your job and it was time to go. I realized that I had taken my turn on the pro tour and it was time to go. These local tournaments are more than enough for me. Far less frequent and much less stressful. My income and my sponsors aren't dependent on my results." "That's very mature. From a selfish point of view, I'm pleased with your decision. It means I'll have you around to work with at the club. But ... I do like the idea of you entering the odd tournament locally, especially if you are representing our club. It would also give me an opportunity to get away for a few days and caddy for you. I really enjoyed that experience. That is ... if you would want me to," I tested. "I wouldn't have anyone else. And I like the idea of the odd regional tournament ... say ... no more than a day's drive from Portland. Seattle, Klamath Falls, Coeur d'Alene, that sort of thing. I think that would be fun." Coming From Behind Ch. 07-08 "Then let's plan on it. Can you get a listing of upcoming events that we can look at?" "Yes ... no problem. I'll do that. But are we going to have the time to do this and the club too?" "We'll make the time. That's my commitment to you. No more of the 'buried in work Terry.' That's in the past ... I swear." "We're going to need someone we can leave in charge when we're gone, you know." "How confident would you be with Scotty as the ramrod in our absence?" "I was hoping you'd suggest him. He'd be ideal. He's tough enough and you can't put anything by him. I don't think you'll find anyone more dedicated to making this club go than him." "Great. Then we have employee number two. "Here we are," she laughed, "back on the same old topic. It's hard to avoid, isn't it? By the way, I'm going to have to notify Pumpkin Ridge that I'm leaving. I don't think they'll be too heartbroken. I really haven't brought them much glory." "Even after this past weekend?" "Just doesn't carry the gloss that a tour win does. However, I'm really looking forward to my new career." "I'm really hyped, Catherine. I'm so sure it's something I want to do and do well. With you and Scotty, I've got the nucleus of a great team. It's just a matter of building on that." "I'm excited too. It's almost impossible to believe I'm going to be in on the ground floor of something this big. I'm worried I might let you down." "Don't worry about that at all. I'm going to be with you to help you along the way. You're going to get a four year course in business in a little more than a year. High compression learning, I'd call it. But I already know you well enough to be confident you can handle it." "Well, you're more confident in me than I am, that's for sure. But ... I've made my decision. Getting on board with you might be risky but that's what I've decided." "I'll do my best to keep the risk to a minimum, I promise." Chapter 8 It Had to Happen Sometime By Wednesday afternoon we had registered the business and I officially hired Catherine Walston and Walter Ferguson as my first two employees. I filed the appropriate papers with the state, showing Catherine what was required. I would pay both Catherine and Scotty the same salary for the time being, since there wouldn't be a lot going on in the very beginning. Scotty would be the busiest as I looked for various suppliers and contractors. We both wanted to interview the candidates to make sure they were suitable for our plans. Catherine tracked down the young graduate student architect and brought him out to the club. We took him around in a cart to survey the course and give him my thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses. He was very attentive and a good listener, which always counted for a lot with me. He also came prepared. It turned out that Google Earth had a high resolution satellite photo of the district and he had enlarged and printed out the area of the golf course as a reference. It made our discussions so much easier. I liked Brett Milbank almost immediately. He didn't have preconceived notions of what was needed and he asked pertinent questions. Did we want to look at an "environmentally friendly" option? What kind of a budget did we have to work with? Was the layout fixed in our minds the way it was? Was there an adequate water supply for the course? How difficult did we want to make it? We spent several hours with the young man and when we were finished I told him he was hired and we would work out the details of the new design as a group. I agreed to his fee, recognizing that it was considerably less than if we had hired an established firm. Nonetheless, I was confident we wouldn't be shortchanged. We were lucky that water wasn't a problem. There was an underground spring on the property and, with some irrigation work, we could supply the course with all the water it needed. That was a real break. The spring had been there all along but no one had thought to use it as the source of water for both the hazards and the course maintenance. Perhaps they didn't have the money to install the irrigation and drainage systems to take advantage of it. Brett brought in a proposed layout featuring the changes we had discussed and presented it to us in Power Point format. He had separated each hole and listed the changes beside the image of the hole. He had downloaded the Google Earth image and isolated each hole, then enhanced it to reflect the proposed changes in a different color. It was an excellent way to compare the 'now' with the future. Scotty, Catherine and I agreed that it was a great presentation and congratulated him. His name would be prominent as the development's architect when we reopened. Oh, yes. We closed the course, notifying everyone we could think of that it was under construction and not scheduled to open until mid 2011. Scotty thought that was optimistic but I would do whatever was necessary to try and stick to that time frame. Once the course layout was confirmed, we hired a contractor to begin the physical changes with Brett and Scotty on the site, making sure they did things the way we wanted. Scotty was in his element. Catherine was right. He was enthused and grew younger by the day as we began the tedious work of rebuilding the course. I think Catherine and I must have walked the course at least three or four times a week just to see what was going on. Ponds had been drained, cleaned and in some cases expanded, left ready for the irrigation pipe and the aeration system that would prevent algae and other problems, including mosquitoes. The traps had been either edged or expanded, waiting for sand when the time was right. Greens were aerated, sprayed with a fungicide to eliminate the blight that had attacked several of them. Three of the greens would be completely replaced. Catherine had entered a tournament in Seattle in mid July. She and I had discussed it and decided it was a good choice and would get us away from Bending Willows for a while. She had been keeping herself sharp with occasional games at Ghost Creek and other courses, but there was no substitute for competition. I had forced myself to find the time to play several games with her, again promising myself that I wouldn't let this new job consume me. We would be playing in Kent, at the Meridian Valley Club. It was a private, long-established club right in the heart of the residential area of Kent on the south edge of Seattle. It was a three hour drive from Portland so it fit our criteria. Catherine sent in her entry form and fee and waited for a confirmation. She would have almost a month to prepare. In some respects we were ahead of schedule at the course. But I had yet to decide on the buildings that would replace the missing clubhouse, the pro shop, and the other buildings for maintenance and equipment. There were several options, including modular buildings, original design or renovate existing buildings to our needs. I pretty much knew what I wanted but it would require some negotiations. I invited Delores Sandoval out to view our progress. I had a hunch she was going to be a major player in the Multnomah County Council for some time and I wanted her to be onside with what we were doing. In the back of my mind was the longer term possibility of acquiring more land and building another eighteen holes of a completely different kind. I would need to buy farm land and have it zoned for a course. I was sure that would not be easy. But that was well into the future, if at all. "I see a lot of progress, Terry. You must be excited about seeing this course becoming a real showcase." "I am, Delores. I've got some things to resolve yet but, as everyone says, make the course playable first and then look after the amenities. That's where I'm having some difficulty deciding." "I guessed there was a reason for inviting me out here today," she smiled. "Guilty. I'm trying to decide what to do about the clubhouse and pro shop. I haven't found the ideal solution yet and I need something for next spring to at least allow us to open. How upset would you be if I suggested portables for those facilities until something more permanent was built?" "I'll be honest, Terry. I hate them. They end up looking shabby and cheap. I understand your problem but I'd be reluctant to approve portables unless I had some guarantees that they would be temporary ... with a time limit." "Well, we're thinking along the same lines. What about a maximum of two years. That would allow me to get a design approved and built to replace them." "How about eighteen months," she said seriously. "They would be gone by New Years, 2012." "You drive a hard bargain, Delores. Let me talk to my people and see if it's possible to meet that deadline. If not, then we'll have to go in a different direction." "How different?" she asked. "Probably modular buildings. They wouldn't fit the surroundings as well, but they wouldn't be portables." "I'm not thrilled about that either. I understand your problem, Terry. But I want this place to be something I can show to the other council members as an example of high quality land use. It can be a cornerstone for further development as well." "Okay, I understand and I agree in principle. It's really a question of getting the building done that quickly. I'll get back to you when I've talked to my architect and a couple of builders. Thank you for coming out today." "Thank you for inviting me, Terry. I like what I see and I'm confident we can work something out that will suit both our needs." We shook hands and I walked back to the old pro shop that Catherine and I were now sharing with Scotty. "Well, what did she say?" Catherine asked as I walked in. "Pretty much what I expected. She hates portables as much as I do. She'll go along with us, but only for eighteen months. She wants them gone by the end of next year. That makes our time lines more compressed. I've told her I'd talk to you and the appropriate people and get back to her. She wants to support us but we need to get our act together on this clubhouse and pro shop pronto. Did Brett get ahold of the guy he thought could help us?" "Aye, Lad. He'll be here tomorrow. Full of piss and vinegar he is," Scotty chuckled. "Okay, let's see what we get from that. I've got a couple of contractors willing to look at the plans when they are ready. With the construction market so soft right now, I don't expect any trouble getting competitive bids for what would be a decent sized job." After hours of discussion, we decided we wanted a large clubhouse of about six thousand square feet on the main floor, with full kitchen, a large dining area, offices for ourselves, a lounge with a bar, and a storage area. Changing rooms, lockers, showers and storage would be downstairs with both an inside and outside entrance. The pro shop would be eighteen hundred square feet, with space for member club storage, excess inventory and a good display area for products to sell. Any excess storage requirements could use the lower floor of the clubhouse. Additional sheds would be required for carts, maintenance and supplies. We had laid out the areas available on a map of the property. We would have to take out four poplar trees, two on each side of the road into the property to allow a new access road and entry to new parking areas. The passage between the trees was too narrow, so we needed to build a road on each side of the trees for cars to safely pass each other. At this point, only a month and a half after my arrival in Portland, I was very surprised at just how much had happened. I'd purchased a derelict golf course, arranged financing, hired a landscape architect and contractor and I was in the middle of designing several buildings, at least conceptually. I know I was used to operating a break-neck speed in my previous life, but this was crazy considering I'd promised myself I wouldn't take up my old life again. As a team, Catherine, Scotty, Brett and I worked well together. We didn't always agree but we always found consensus at some point, each understanding the viewpoint of the others. We were moving along well and ahead of my mental time line at this stage and I was happy to let the crews have the weekend off. We weren't behind schedule and no overtime helped keep the budget in line. The budget, of course, was a moving target. There were a lot of variables to consider and we hadn't got very far in the process yet. The buildings would be a major consideration and I had no idea what they would cost because they weren't yet designed. Catherine and I had surprised Scotty with the rental of an apartment in Gresham, convincing him that an executive of a golf course couldn't be found living in a trailer. It just wasn't up to standard. He reluctantly agreed and we helped him move his things into the furnished two bedroom unit, only minutes from the course. By then he was driving the new pickup in green with our new logo and lettering in gold on each door. It was the first visible sign that Bending Willows was on its way back. Secretly, I think he was pleased as punch. His old truck was left on the site as a maintenance service vehicle when required. The trailer would be moved, cleaned and used later for a security person. I had rented a townhouse in Gresham from July 1st, and my furniture arrived from Chicago a week later. I anticipated staying in the fairly new unit for a while until I could decide what and where I wanted as a permanent residence. In the meantime, the three bedroom, two storey unit would be more than adequate for me. Some things happen in a kind of sneaky way. As close as Catherine and I had been working, I hadn't been thinking about her in any other way than as a partner and friend. I'm not sure if I was suppressing any sexual feelings for her or just not paying attention. For her part, she had become very comfortable around me and not the least bit shy. I guess I just wasn't getting the message. I'd been working on a construction time line for the clubhouse and pro shop. I had a design in mind but it was the cosmetic exterior that I wasn't sure of. I guess after a while I had leaned back to take a few minutes to relax and close my eyes. The next thing I knew, there was a pair of arms around my shoulders and a warm breath in my ear. "Oh ... I must have dozed off," I yawned. "Sorry to wake you but it's almost eleven o'clock. Don't you think you should go home now?" Catherine said softly, almost whispering. "What's the rush? I kind of like this feeling I'm getting." "Oh, what kind of feeling is that," she teased gently. "A very nice, feminine feeling from a very lovely woman." "Why, Mr. Monahan. You've just said something quite nice regarding me about something other than my golf game." "I apologize, Ms. Walston, if I have failed to mention just how beautiful you are and how much I am attracted to you." "Apology accepted. But you have a lot of catching up to do." "Oh ... and how would you suggest I should catch up?" She moved around in front of me and placed her lips on mine and kissed me gently. I looked up at her and brought her to me again and this time kissed her deeply, my tongue probing hers. She met me and we held the kiss for what seemed to be a very long time. "I hope you don't mind but I thought you'd never take the initiative," she said with smile. "Sometimes I'm a little slow. But I don't mind at all. In fact, I wish you'd done it sooner." She turned and sat in my lap, her arms around my neck, a smile on her lips and a glint in her eyes. "I wish I'd done it sooner too but I was afraid to. I didn't think I should mess with my boss this soon." "Catherine, you can mess with me any time you want. In fact, I'll look forward to it. As far as the boss thing goes ... I'm kind of hoping I don't act like a boss. More like ... just a guy." "You aren't just a guy. I wouldn't be interested in you if you were. You are someone special. You may not know it but women find you very sexy. And in case you haven't noticed, I'm a woman." "Oh, I noticed all right. Right from the beginning. In my former life, I'd have been hitting on you like crazy." "How about in this life?" "I'm thinking I might just revert to my former life when it comes to you," I said, pulling her in for another long, tongue dueling kiss. "I haven't been with a man in a long while, Terry. But I'm about three quarters ready to rape you if you don't do something about us," she said with a straight face. "I'm not in favor of rape. I believe in consenting adults. Would you consent to join me at my home?" "You might be slow but you aren't dumb. Just where did you think I was heading with this conversation?" "Why to my house, Little Red Riding Hood. You have a date with a Big Bad Wolf." "Let's go," she whispered huskily. "It's late and I don't want to miss how this turns out." We left her car at the course and drove quickly to my condo. I don't recall much about how we got to the bedroom and undressed as quickly as we did but I wasn't really trying to remember that. I had a very beautiful young woman, now naked in my arms as we lay on my bed. I turned off one of the end table lamps and left the other one on. I wanted see everything there was to see of Catherine Walston. She was flawless. Her tan was typical for a golfer, mostly arms, legs, and face. It didn't detract from the picture that she was a beautifully proportioned woman with a lovely, lithe body, yet more voluptuous than I expected. The breasts and backside were full yet not out of proportion to the rest of her body. She was a perfect playground for an aroused man ... and I was that man. We did it all that night. Oral, missionary, cowboy, and what turned out to be her first experience at my coming from behind. We weren't going to be rising very early that morning. But ... and it was a big but, this had been waiting to happen. It was a ticking time bomb with an uncertain timer. When it let go, we went with it. No holding back, no hope of escaping it, no way to resist. That night changed everything and it was transparent to anyone who knew us. We didn't seem to be able to be apart for any length of time. Rubbing shoulders or my hand on her ass, it didn't matter when we thought we were alone. I have to admit I lost my focus for a couple of days. She was on my mind and I was on hers as well. She'd gone home to get some clothes and moved in, at least for a while. If this had happened with any other woman at any other time I would have never gone for it. One night of passion and she moved in? "What the hell was I thinking?" I'd be asking myself. But that question never came up. I was so sure of this and, so it would seem, was Catherine. Whatever voices in my head that I listened to were telling me that this was exactly what I wanted and needed. And it wasn't just the sex. I was ready for another relationship, although this woman was something I didn't expect when I left Chicago. I had kept my distance even though I was very attracted to her. It had nothing to do with employer-employee relations. It had everything to do with me being sure. I wanted some emotional guarantees and Catherine was the first woman in over five years that offered them. She left me with no doubt. "You might as well give up your apartment and move in permanently, Babe. I'm not going to let you get away," I told her as we lay in bed a few nights after our first encounter. "Are you sure? It feels right to me but you've had your issues in the past. I want you to be sure about this." "I'm sure. Absolutely sure. Couldn't be more sure. I want you with me every day and night." "I'll do it, Terry, but I'm a bit nervous about where this leads." Coming From Behind Ch. 07-08 "Let me help you with that. I don't intend to have you as a short-term lover. I have longer range plans if I can convince you." "How long is longer?" "I'm not trying to scare you but what I mean is ... I'm thinking ... lifetime." "Terry, this is way too soon for that. I know I have strong feelings for you and it seems that you feel the same way about me but ... let's just see how this goes for a while ... okay?" "As long as I have you with me ... yeah ... okay." I got a deep, meaningful kiss at that point. I was almost sure she was thinking the same way I was but wasn't ready to commit herself. Perhaps she wanted me to prove myself, prove that it wasn't just a fling or a no-commitment relationship. I had no intention of any such thing but she couldn't be sure of that. I would have to go along until she was convinced. In the meantime, I had all the benefits that I could ever ask for. Brett Milbank had brought a young graduate architecture out to meet me, Catherine, and Scotty. He was interested in the design of the clubhouse and pro shop and wanted to present some sketches. His name was James Howland and he was trying to make it on his own, picking up commissions on almost anything he could find. Brett said he was impressed with his ideas, so we agreed to meet with him. The sketches were a waste. They simply didn't reflect what we thought the buildings should look like. To James' credit, he wasn't upset and wanted to talk to us about our conceptions and then have a look around the property. When he was done he admitted his designs weren't appropriate for the project but asked if he could submit some alternatives that might be more to our liking. Since he was talking about producing something in less than a week, we agreed. We were running on a tight time schedule to get this part of our rebuilding under way. It was important that we soon agreed on something we would be happy with. True to his word, James returned with some computer rendered designs that looked much more like what we had envisioned. Questions were asked about building complexities and other cost related issues and it was then that we realized James was a pragmatist. Each of his designs was essentially modular and some of the work could be prefabricated. On top of that, the outside appearance would integrate into the landscape and when I saw what he was thinking I was pretty sure Delores Sandoval would be happy. "Hi, Delores. Can you come out and meet with us to see some design concepts for the clubhouse. I think we may have found something you'll be pleased with." "Of course, Terry. I'd be happy to. Would tomorrow morning early be okay?" "Yes ... fine. I'll have the coffee on and some fresh pastries. We'll see you when you get here." Delores turned up just after eight o'clock and joined us for coffee and Danish. I fired up the laptop and showed her James' design proposals. "I like the second one, Terry. I think that would look very good on this site." "Well, great minds think alike, so they say. Scotty, Catherine and I think the same way. You can't really tell from the graphic but the outside would be rough cedar with a slate tile roof. It has a low profile but still has ten to fifteen foot ceilings, depending on where you are. Have a look at the floor plan." James had proposed a pentagon shaped building with the dining area and lounge in the point of the pentagon looking out over the ninth green and tenth tee. Delores watched as we explained what each area of the sixty-two-hundred square-foot building was used for. Within a half hour we had her full support for the design and even the exterior colors. We could go ahead and get the final drawings done and hopefully get approval to begin construction in early fall. I felt like a big load had been lifted off my back. I still had a deadline at the end of next year for removal of the portables but that seemed much more likely now. We had two other needs that had to be filled. We needed a head greenskeeper to manage the course for Scotty, and we needed a teaching pro. Catherine had already stated that it wasn't something that she felt competent or interested in. We would have to advertise for both positions, with the greenskeeper position being the more urgent. It would be some time before the presentation of what we hoped were the final plans would be made to council and construction could begin on the site. That removed any pressure on our taking the time for the Kent tournament. It was past due for all of us to take a break and I declared the middle two weeks of July an official paid holiday for our staff. Since that number was just three it wouldn't be a big burden on the budget. Catherine and I had discussed strategy for the tournament and decided to go a couple of days early and play a round together even before the practice round. That would give us a chance to see what she would be facing in the way of challenges. I would bring a notebook this time, since neither of us had played this course before. She would tell me what to record and I would find markers for yardage. When she played the practice round I could confirm my distance measurements and make sure they were correct. Catherine had a range-finder unit that I used to confirm specific distances. We were not allowed to use it in competition, however we were allowed to use it during the practice round and that would prove to be a valuable assist to us. We arrived in Seattle late on a Tuesday morning and arranged for a round mid-afternoon. The club was a large, forty-year-old fixture that had hosted the LPGA Classic for almost two decades. It wasn't spectacularly long but it was narrow with plenty of trees, traps and water to catch errant shots. This was going to be quite a challenge for any of the golfers. In the back of my mind I felt Catherine had an advantage with her ever-straight drives and her high iron shots. We had two things to learn. How hot was it likely to be and what influence would the shadows have. As it turned out, we would be playing in near ninety degree heat with little wind since the course was essentially in a valley. This would be a good test for both Catherine and me. For this first round she chose to use a pull cart while I carried my bag. I wanted to see what to expect during the tournament. It didn't take long to realize I would have to be at the top of my fitness if the temperature stayed like this. We teed off just after one that afternoon and finished at five-thirty. I guessed that the tournament round would be at least a half hour longer so I knew what to expect. I was soaked in sweat and had consumed three bottles of water just to keep hydrated. Catherine had done the same, plus a Gatorade and an energy bar. She seemed to be handling the heat better than I did which surprised me considering she was from temperate Oregon and I was from the usually steaming-hot Midwest. Fortunately, we were alone for our round and could spend a bit of time talking about how to approach each hole. Catherine would talk and I would listen. I knew almost right away that she was thinking out loud and I didn't interfere. This is where she was exceptional; preparation. Her four years on the tour had taught her just what level of dedication it took to be a pro and she hadn't forgotten nor had she discarded her habits when she left the tour. We were staying in a relatively new suites hotel, only ten minutes from the course. It wasn't far to a number of restaurants so we could choose a variety of experiences during our stay. A stop at Albertson's stocked us up on breakfast and snack foods. I was still sticking with my improved diet while Catherine had never left hers. We decided to shower back at the hotel after our game and I couldn't wait to wash the sticky sweat off me. We both shared the big unit and then lay on the bed for a brief rest before we went out for dinner. As I thought about it, we were behaving as if we were married, something that gave me a great deal of pleasure. I wondered if I'd know when Catherine was ready or would I have to ask her again ... perhaps several times. I was happy with the status quo but I knew in the end I would want more. Something that made it permanent. To Be Continued