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Pat Shingleton: "Bombing the Golf Course and Tarzan"

6 years 10 months 2 weeks ago Wednesday, June 07 2017 Jun 7, 2017 June 07, 2017 4:10 AM June 07, 2017 in Pat Shingleton Column
By: Pat Shingleton:

A final column related to D-Day and the invasion of Europe during WorldWar II noting shots from the air and on a golf course.  Nazi aircraft were constantlyattacking northern England and their flight path sent them over an area where numerous gol fcourses were located. The Luftwaffe would load the barrels of their guns with wax which wasa proven method of preventing the barrels from being clogged with ice.  As they crossed thecoast they would purposely “clear their guns” by firing a rounds at golf courses. The constant strafing prompted precautionary actions from those on-the-ground attempting a few "shots"of their own. The Richmond Golf Club alerted their players with revised rules that includedthe following: “Players should collect Shrapnel splinters that damage the Mowing machines.During Gunfire or while Bombs are falling, players may take cover without penalty for ceasingplay. The position of delayed action bombs are marked by red flags. A ball moved by enemyaction may be replaced. A ball in a crater may be lifted. If a bomb explosion affects a playerand another ball is played-1 stroke penalty. One club length for bomb splinters and Shrapnel.”Another anniversary found memories of Mom and Dad packing us into the Ford station wagon, heading to Spotlight 88 with two shopping bags of buttered popcorn and thermoses of Kool-Aid. The feature that night starred Johnny Weissmuller in one of his Tarzan flicks. Back then, the audio for the movie originated from a speaker, attached to a post that hung on your window. On this particular evening, off and on showers occurred upon our arrival, intervals of heavier showers continued until a tremendous thunderstorm ensued. The movie continued with static erupting from the window speaker as wipers were swishing away the rain. Expecting only a temporary shower, we watched the movie and enjoyed aa brilliant lightning display. Just as Tarzan was swinging through the jungle, with Chita at his side, it happened... he went off the screen and we looked to the right. Thinking, as kids do, that he landed in an adjacent field, Dad said, "We're leaving!" The strong storm toppled the huge, outdoor screen. Dad peeled-out-of-the-lot, homeward bound. The next morning our brother, Denis, discovered the previously referenced "audio" speaker still attached to the car window.

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