South Texas Golf

WINNERS OF THE BEST MEDIA AWARD BY THE TEXAS PGA

A SPECIAL VAMOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

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ON THE ROAD GOLF SERIES

Presented by Interstate Batteries of the Rio Grande Valley 3URFHHGV WR EHQH多W VAMOS WHEN Saturday, April 30 WHERE Briggs Ranch (The Golf Club of Texas) in San Antonio FORMAT Two-player teams 6 holes - Low Ball 6 holes - Best Ball 6 holes - Alternate Shots

$250 PER PLAYER; $500 PER TEAM 1ST GROSS & 1ST NET: $300 PER PLAYER 2ND GROSS & 2ND NET: $200 PER PLAYER 3RD GROSS & 3RD NET: $100 PER PLAYER (CASH AND PRIZES)

SPECIAL PUTTING CONTEST GUARANTEED WINNER Choice of: 5 Day/4 Night Cancun package, a 5 Day Carnival Cruise or a 3 Day/2 Night Las Vegas Package (including airfare for two with the Vegas package only).

Travel provided by RGV Tours.

Food and drinks provided. Awards reception follows tournament at Briggs Ranch

LIMITED TO THE FIRST 100 GOLFERS 5:30 a.m. - Depart McAllen 11:30 a.m. - Shotgun Start 6:30 p.m. - Depart Briggs Ranch 10 p.m. - Arrive in McAllen Call Jaime at (956) 225-6005 to register your team today!

20 YEARS OF IMPACT On behalf of the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS), it's my distinct honor to welcome you to the VAMOS 20th anniversary Golf Cup Tournament, Presented by Doctors Hospital at Renaissance.

Education is at the forefront of critical issues facing our nation and our community. In the Rio Grande Valley, many local organizations have committed to improving the standards of education to secure a brighter future for our students.

Now is the time to come together and make a bigger difference in our area. Join VAMOS as we continue to impact our Valley youth through scholarships and mentoring assistance.

Since 1996, Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships has provided four-year scholarships of up to $20,000 to graduating high school seniors of the RGV. Our scholars attend universities across the nation and graduate ZLWK GHJUHHV LQ YDULRXV ÀHOGV RI VWXG\ 2XU SURJUDP LV XQLTXH EHFDXVH LW SURYLGHV mentoring to its students; a vital component to student success. VAMOS also ZRUNV FORVHO\ ZLWK XQLYHUVLWLHV DUHD KLJK VFKRROV DQG RWKHU QRQSURÀWV WR SURPRWH early college awareness.

In celebration of our 20th Anniversary, VAMOS invites all our community to come together and reinforce the RGV's commitment to education. VAMOS encourages you to be part of our organization as a member, sponsor, mentor or advocate of post-secondary education. Your support enables us to continue offering Valley youth the opportunities to achieve post-secondary education and make a difference in our communities.

Thank you for your time and support. Help us reach our goal of raising $1 Million. Your contributions make a difference and we look forward to your partnership.

Dr. Armando Moncada VAMOS Golf Committee Chairman Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarship

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VAMOS

WINNERS OF THE BEST MEDIA AWARD BY THE TEXAS PGA

MORE THAN JUST MONEY FOR SCHOOL I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the past year interacting with kids – whether it’s through youth group at church, being a guest speaker for a local school’s career day or coaching my daughter’s Henry Miller is Publisher of South (incredibly successful) volleyball team.

Texas Golf. He has nearly 30 years of Whenever there’s an opportunity I like publishing experience, has written sports for more than 150 newspapers, to tell them a little about myself and covered the Olympics, NASCAR, Major growing up in New York. Many times, League Baseball and other sports. He especially with the youngest of the ones has been syndicated on radio in more I come across, their eyes grow big when than 70 markets and loves to golf. His they hear the words New York.

11-year-old daughter Camilla has a Their vision is of wealth, success, wicked left-handed swing and enjoys, bright lights – some may think I come volleyball, acting, playing the sax and from a better or more privileged life fashion. They live in McAllen, Texas.

– whether financially or with more opportunities - than they do. Heck, many adults think that.

They’re all wrong....very, very wrong.

I grew up in a small home that after my dad died and we sold everything, more than half the rooms didn’t have a floor, it rotted out and was covered over by some furniture. My dad worked extremely hard as a high school janitor to provide for me.

He worked overtime, cleaning lockers and bathrooms after sporting events. Meanwhile, my mom stayed at home and took care of me.

My mom had left school in the sixth grade to work for her family in the bayous of Louisiana. Her pay? However much shrimp she could bring home with her each day.

My dad left school in third grade...for reasons I’m still not sure of. Being able to read for him could’ve meant a promotion to “head custodian.” But that would never come.

Still, they encouraged me...they helped me with my schooling as much as they could. They disciplined me, kept track of my grades, didn’t get fooled by all my excuses and helped me in every way possible. But they didn’t have money. How they provided for me was more miracle than manpower – more love than learning.

South Texas Golf is proud to partner with VAMOS on this special 20th Anniversary Edition. What they do for the education of our children goes beyond anything I know.

Encouragement can do a lot for you but without the financial means, it makes reaching many goals nearly impossible. I had scholarships and loans but even after I arrived at college, it was easy to get lost and caught up in many different things and put grades to the side. My parents didn’t even get to middle school and here I was alone (only child, prodigy of my family... “the first lawyer” is what they all called me).

But there I was along and just winging it.

VAMOS does more than just provide financial means, they provide support from mentors – others who have been through similar situations. People that these latest scholars can go to and ask questions that maybe a parent can’t answer.

VAMOS is there for students who were like me. Encouragement and love mean a lot when it comes to a family....and it’s that encouragement and love that place so many South Texas young men and women in front of VAMOS. They provide them with money and mentors. They take away all fear and join with the parent or parents in encouraging, directing and loving these scholars.

VAMOS started as a dream, like so many things do. Now VAMOS is helping others not only reach their dreams, but to dream bigger and greater than ever before.

It’s been 20 wonderful years for VAMOS and their scholars. Here’s to 20-plus more years of bringing dreams and success to others.

Thank you, VAMOS, for all that you do.

A SPECIAL VAMOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION

On the cover: VAMOS scholar Anita Flores gives some putting direction to Doctors Hospital at Renaissance’s Dr. Ted E. Bear.

Photo by: Tiki Tillman (tikitillmanphotos.com)

Staff Henry Miller - Publisher henry@southtexasgolf.com (956) 607-9210 Joey Dowden - Advertising Director joey@southtexasgolf.com (956) 607-0853 Henry Miller Designers Tiki Tillman Photography Photographer

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the prior written consent of the publisher. Views and opinions expressed in this publication are strictly those of the writers, photographers and contributors, and are not necessarily those of South Texas Golf or its publisher.

Every effort has been taken to ensure the correctness and accuracy in the material published in this magazine. South Texas Golf reserves the right to edit, rewrite and refuse editorial materials and assumes no responsibility for accuracy, errors, omissions or consequence arising from it. South Texas Golf shall be held harmless and indemnified against any third-party claims. Advertisements appearing in South Texas Golf present only the viewpoint of the advertisers. South Texas Golf is printed in the U.S.A. All correspondence to the publication become the property of South Texas Golf Magazine.

South Texas Golf Magazine is published by H&J Publications. Copyright 2016. To advertise in South Texas Golf call (956) 607-0853 or email southtexasgolf@gmail.com

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, - Colossians 3:23

Henry Miller Publisher/Executive Editor South Texas Golf

20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

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20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

MENTORING OTHERS ,I \RX GHFLGH WR DFFHSW WKLV FKDOOHQJH LW ZLOO UHTXLUH much more than just leading by example The Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships (VAMOS) is celebrating 20 years of creating change in the lives of the students it serves. From its establishment VAMOS understood that funds alone were not enough to secure the success of Valley students whose dreams were to obtain a post-secondary education. It’s in its name - Valley Alliance of MENTORS for Opportunities and SCHOLARSHIPS. Mentoring is at the heart of the success of all VAMOS Scholars and the VAMOS program. For years VAMOS has incorporated the concept of providing guidance to students through continuous communication with VAMOS mentors.

These mentors have proved essential as students transition from high school to college, from college to the workforce, and so many life lessons along the way.

I had the privilege to mentor many students during my time with VAMOS. I watched them go from timid high school graduates to proud college graduates ready to take on the world. Each semester I meet with my VAMOS scholars, eager

to hear about their college experiences and just feeling so proud of their achievements. Of course, sometimes the experiences weren’t always easy. Students faced struggles, roadblocks, stress and so many emotions. As a mentor you don’t always have the answers and that’s not the expectation either, but having a listening ear, a caring heart, or a motivating word was all our VAMOS scholars needed to overcome their challenges.

One of my mentees, Bianca Lopez, continues to hear from me on a daily basis.

She graduated from UTPA, now UTRGV, in 2014 and currently works for VAMOS helping raise awareness of the VAMOS program. It’s been seven years since I ďŹ rst met Bianca. Through the years she shared her college experiences, her struggles, her triumphs, her opinions (God knows she has them), her dreams, goals and desires to help her family. She has always had that inner drive to make a better life for herself and her family and she has never let failure be an option.

Bianca uses her personal story to reach

out to current VAMOS scholars. As a mentor she, and other VAMOS alumni, take the role of helping the next generation of VAMOS students succeed and make their educational goals a reality. That’s exactly what this program does; it creates a cycle of successful young citizens that want to give back and help other Valley students achieve success. The ripple effect of the VAMOS mentor program really has no limits and the leaders that began VAMOS knew the importance of this one element.

Twenty years is only the tip of the iceberg for VAMOS. The impact of these scholarships on our students and their families reects in the growth of our communities. The Rio Grande Valley is changing and VAMOS is making sure that its future leaders are prepared to show the world how to achieve a higher standard of living through education and partnerships.

Let’s bring on the next 20 years!!

-- Maritza Rodriguez VAMOS Executive Director 2009-2016

VAMOS understood that funds alone were not enough to secure the success of Valley students whose dreams were to obtain a post-secondary education.

LEFT PHOTO Bianca Lopez (left), a VAMOS scholar, and her mentor and VAMOS Executive Director Maritza Rodriguez.

RIGHT PHOTO Bianca at the Edinburg College Fair with 2015 VAMOS Scholar Caitlin Alaniz.

20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

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20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

THROUGHOUT THE YEARS PHOTOS ONTHE FOLLOWING PAGES PROVIDED BY VAMOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

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20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

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CONGRATULATIONS VAMOS ON 20

YEARS. HERE’S TO 20-PLUS MORE

VAMOS SCHOLARS SAY THANK YOU Dear VAMOS Donors, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity in funding the VAMOS scholarship. I am honored to be the recipient of this award.

I am a Criminal Justice major and a specialization in Chicano Latinos Studies, who plans to attend Law School. I am currently a freshman attending Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. This scholarship has helped me and my family to pay for my tuition at Michigan State University.

By awarding me the VAMOS scholarship, I am able to concentrate on what is important to me - education. Your generosity has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal and has inspired me to help others by giving back to the community. I hope one day I will be able to help other students achieve their goal, just as you have helped me.

Alejandra Bonilla

Howdy!

My name is Karla Davila and I am a VAMOS Scholar. I am studying International Studies with a focus in International Commerce. Toward the end of my college career I will also graduate with minors in Spanish and Business. This past year I was blessed with the opportunity to study at Texas A&M University, one that would not have been possible without the support of the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships. This program is such a privilege to lower income students NZWU \PM :QW /ZIVLM >ITTMa TQSM Ua[MTN 6W\ WVTa LW _M JMVMÅ\ NZWU I [KPWTIZ[PQX \W IQL ][ ÅVIVKQITTa J]\ _M IT[W ZMKMQ^M I priceless support system.

With the support of VAMOS, I have been able to challenge myself to further become a contributing member of society. For instance, this spring I was selected to travel abroad to France and today I understand and appreciate their culture. My paradigm of the world has expanded and I comprehend and admire that although it may seem strange to us, people are different and do unique things for certain reasons.

The road to pursue a Texas A&M degree hasn’t been easy.

Throughout this year, I have learned the value of a good mentor.

I have also learned that paying it forward is essential, because other people, like you that “pay it forward,” have helped me get to where I am today and I am extremely grateful. To express my gratitude I have applied and have been accepted to become a mentor for a number of students of the freshmen Class of 2018 at Texas A&M University. I am incredibly excited for this experience because most of my future mentees are minorities from low-income homes and the thought of helping others succeed and pass on my knowledge brings me great joy.

To the Valley Alliance of Mentors for Opportunities and Scholarships and to all of our sponsors that contribute donations and support, thank you for being a great role model and believing in us. I want you to know that your contribution has made a difference in my life, and your contributions continue to make a difference in many students’ lives every year. I genuinely cannot thank you enough for your generosity.

Karla Davila

VAMOS PROFILE: SONIA FALCON Lender by trade with a passion for education Sonia Falcon has been a part of VAMOS since its inception.

Twenty years later, however, she sounds like an awestruck newcomer as she recalls marvelous stories of love and success that VAMOS has played a part not only in scholars' lives but in entire families' lives.

Falcon, a Senior Vice President at Lone Star National Bank, and Board President is a self-proclaimed “lender by trade, but education is my passion” who has seen amazing transformations as scholars begin their quest for a college education and blossom into hard-working, successful, community and family leaders.

“We want to make a difference in not just the lives of the students, but the family,” Falcon said. “We want it to be a full circle.”

One scholar was attending a VAMOS press conference at Doctors Hospital at Renaissance where current Pharr Mayor, Dr. Ambrosio Hernandez was the guest speaker and was about to tell his story.

The scholar leaned over before the pre-

sentation started and told Falcon that he knew Hernandez.

“He said 'I don't know if he remembers me. He operated on my mom when I was a little boy,” Falcon recalled. “He took on my mother's case and my mother's alive today because of him.”

The story still sends chills through Falcon's body.

The mother previously had brain surgery in San Antonio and was back in the emergency room to have her gall bladder removed.

“None of the doctors wanted to do the surgery because she was such a high risk patient. My mom was on life or death,” Falcon re-tells the story. “Now that boy is going to medical school. You could see the impact his mom had on him and he said he still has her because of Dr. Ambrosio.

He said now he wants to save people's lives because Dr. Ambrosio saved her life.”

“I thought 'wow,' it has come full circle,” Falcon said. “We have story after story about these kids. So much of it has to do with the mentoring program. Kids need

people around who will talk to them, tell them what they should do, tell them they can't give up. Our scholars are accountable to VAMOS and we are accountable to them. It works that way.”

The Valley Alliance for Mentors, Opportunities and Scholars (notice “Mentors” is first on that list) last year gave away 75 renewable scholarships to Valley students. The money for these kids puts them on the starting path of their journey to achieve their dreams. However, it's the mentor portion of the program that keeps them on the correct path and is a major factor in its astounding success rate.

“We did a lot of research on why Hispanic students don't get a post-secondary education. We thought the number one reason was financial,” said Falcon, a migrant student herself growing up. “But it turns out that kids didn't have a mentor in the community that could show them what could happen and where they could go.

A lot of our students are the first ones in their family to go to college and they need someone, they need mentors, to give them

REAL LEADERSHIP. REAL RESULTS.

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direction – to tell them everything's going to be ok.”

Falcon could rattle off story after story of mentors helping students and students giving back to the community. One in particular stood out.

“We had one young man from Edcouch-Elsa who had never left the Valley,” Falcon said. “Well, he was accepted to Columbia University in New York. He was about to go away for the very first time and we paired him up with author David Rice.

“David told him what subway to take, where to go to buy the cheapest clothes, where to go wash clothes – he was loaded with knowledge that money can't buy.

When the young man got to campus for the first time, he felt like he had already been there.”

Oh yeah, and that boy who never left the Valley? He graduated from Columbia in just three years.

Falcon said that the best things these scholars have in their favor are loving families – sometimes that’s also the least thing in their favor.

“Our culture is to stay together as a family,” said Falcon, who graduated high school from McAllen High. “I can remember my mom crying for an hour the first day I was leaving for school. I told her ‘mom this is what you wanted me to do.

Why are you crying?’ She would even bless the car – and I was only commuting back

“Things have changed over the years, our world has changed – but a text will never replace a hug.”

-- Sonia Falcon VAMOS Board President

and for from Pan Am (now UT-RGV). But that’s what our culture is like – ‘mija, your grandmother is sick, you need to come home.’”

Once families see how well the program works though, they become believers.

One dad was having the most difficult time letting his daughter go to college in San Antonio because it was too far.

“I asked him to please lend her to me for four years and I promise to give her back – the time will pass real quick,” Falcon said. “He finally said ok and she graduated and came back and began her career here.

“After that he came back and said ‘ok,

I’ve got three more I can lend you. That is just beautiful – it changed the whole family.”

Falcon talked about the program for more than an hour... but very little of it was about the money. It was about the love.

“VAMOS is successful because we have a lot of people with big hearts and big wallets,” she said. “The heart is the most important things at VAMOS. We can give away money, but if people don’t care about our kids then we don’t have a program.

“Things have changed over the years, our world has changed – but a text will never replace a hug.”

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For the second consecutive year Doctors Hospital at Renaissance is the presenting sponsor for the VAMOS Cup.

20TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION

The South Texas Luxury Experience committed to a 3-year endorsement as the tournament’s Title Auto Sponsor.

In their second year participating with the tournament, South Texas Luxury Experience is proud to contribute to the organization’s efforts of raising $1 million in scholarship funds. As the Title Auto Sponsors, South Texas Luxury Experience will be the tournament’s official Hole in One sponsor and the Grand Prize Drawing will consist of one of their luxury vehicle options.

Tournament players will have an opportunity to win a Hole in One vehicle at each of the par 3’s from one of the four South Texas Luxury Experience dealerships.

Find VAMOS on Facebook at vamosrgv. For more information on the San Juan Luxury Auto Group, visit www. mbsanjuantx.com, www.audisanjuan.com, or www.jlrofsj. com.

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Golf tips involving golf equipment Blaming your moves, shots and swings for your golf mishits and mishaps? Well, no matter how much time and effort you have been spending over practicing your moves to perfect your game, you still won't achieve your goal if you use unsuitable or ill fitting golf equipment.

Now is high time for you to consider the following golf tips that involve checking on your equipment's quality.

If you plan to choose used golfclubs as beginner's tools, scrutinizing before purchasing is a must. The clubheads, the shafts, and the grips are golfclub parts that should pass inspection first before landing a decent spot in your golf equipment cabinet. Another excellent golf tip that will get you through the game is making sure that the set of used golfclubs you're eyeing have set consistency. It will also help a lot if you check first the price of new clubs vs. used.

A golf tip for a golfer that plans to regrip his clubs: Be cautious. This is because the grips are the only contact points one can access to affect the shot. Before carrying out the regripping, know your hands grip size. In determining your hands grip, the available size grips are regular, mid-size, oversize and jumbo. Use only the best re-gripping materials that will provide optimum performance for your golf clubs.

Another golf tip or advice is that using ill-fitted clubs will be an obstacle to your golf playing WIZARD’S WORD success. A golfer must consider his or her body type in choosing the best-fitting equipment to support and deliver his swings efficiently. Too steep angles in carrying Bill Hayter - Golf Headout backquarters owner, has been swings may be helping RGV Golfers avoided if one improve their game and their equipment for more selects the than 37 years. Golf Head- perfect fitting equipment quarters is recognized as one ot the top 100 club available.

Custom fitters in the United State golfclub

by Golf Digest fitting makes a better option than just buying new golf clubs. Getting custom-fit clubs is a golf tip that translates to a very worthy investment. The uniqueness of each person is attributed to the need of this way of buying

new golf clubs. A custom fitting produces golfclubs that specifically suit the height, strength, swing characteristics and clubhead speed of the golfer.

The type of club shaft also helps in predicting whether you'll do good in a game or you won't. There's a choice between a steel club shaft and a graphite-made club shaft. This golf tip aims to make you realize which type of golfclub shaft will benefit your game. Observations tell that the steel club shafts are more preferred by professional golfers while graphite shafts become more popular with women, senior players and beginners. Steel shafts are less expensive than graphite shafts, though more durable.

One more golf tip that could help you is that the golf clubs that must be the main content of your bag must suit your skill level. Since various skill levels need various golf clubs, it won't be wise to just use or bring a golf club that is just lying around. Aside from your skill level contemplation, your mastery of a certain golfclub and your being comfortable with using it must also be put into consideration in deciding which golfclub to hit.

A good combination of the right moves and good choice of equipment will better arm you to become the best golfer you could ever be.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Peace begins with a smile..â&#x20AC;?

- Mother Teresa

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By HENRY MILLER henry@southtexasgolf.com It's late morning during the middle of the week and I'm at Golf Headquarters on 10th St. in McAllen. There's a slow stream of customers walking in. At some point during their visit, whether for custom clubs, shoes, balls or the latest driver, they'll stop for a moment to shoot the breeze with Ruben Gonzalez.

As I watched him work, minutes before we began our interview I conclude that here's a man at peace with himself. You can see it in his smile. It's that smile and the character behind the man that have led many to believe he is the face of Golf Headquarters. It's something he, however, will never admit. (â&#x20AC;&#x153;I'm not exciting,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I'm really just a boring guy.â&#x20AC;?)

Ruben has worked for Bill Hayter and Golf Headquarters for more than 32 years. He's mild-mannered, soft-spoken, quick to laugh and often carries a welcoming smile underneath his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Santa Whiteâ&#x20AC;? extra thick mustache and beard. Maybe that's why he's been at Golf Headquarters for more than 32 years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it's home and plans to be there â&#x20AC;&#x153;forever.â&#x20AC;?

Ruben was a student at UTPA (now UTRGV) and working in downtown McAllen at Pro Sports. The store carried just about everything for all sports â&#x20AC;&#x201C; except golf.

Ruben would send those customers to Golf Headquarters. Six or seven months later he walked into the store looking for a new set of clubs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Bill) told me 'so you're the one sending me customers.'â&#x20AC;? Ruben said. A friendship was formed and not much longer down the road Ruben found himself working for Bill at Golf Headquarters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really knew nothing about golf,â&#x20AC;? Ruben said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was working for a buddy but saw the writing on the wall with the business he was in and the peso devaluation and Bill offered me a job.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We became friends and we played ďŹ&#x201A;ag football together and softball against each other,â&#x20AC;? Ruben said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;His business was growing and he needed someone who spoke Spanish so he came looking for me in 1983.â&#x20AC;?

Sports has been part of Ruben's life since his childhood days. His dad coached his older brothers in baseball â&#x20AC;&#x153;and I just followed along,â&#x20AC;? he said. He played football, basketball and baseball. He was a tight end during his high school football days at McAllen High School

(“We ran the ball a lot. I caught maybe six or seven passes my whole career”), a forward in basketball and a first baseman and outfielder in baseball, which was his favorite sport.

His golf game emerged during his early years at Golf Headquarters and would shoot consistently between 74-78. But if you press Ruben on how good he was he's quick to divert any attention to fellow workers, claiming “now he could really play.”

On the personal side, Ruben and his wife Rachel have two boys. The youngest is 25 and was athletic until bum knees sidelined him. Both Gonzalez boys, however, found a love in playing the drums.

“I don't know anything about music. I have no musical talent and don't know where they got it from,” Ruben said. “I know it was very loud at the house. We have tile floors so the sound would just ring through the house. They had to quit at 9 o'clock for our sake – and for our neighbors.”

“We built a separate soundproof room for them – but there really is no such thing.”

The older of the two played in local bands and currently plays in a praise and worship band in church.

Like in all things over a long period of time, golf has changed tremendously. Ruben recalls starting at Golf Headquarters and wood clubs were still the “in-fashion” clubs.

“The place was half of what it is now, especially with all the new companies – back then it was There are a lot more just Wilson, MacGregor, Titleist choices when it comes and Ping,” Ruben said. “Then to clubs, balls, shoes Callaway brought in the Titanium Big Bertha – it changed the - you name it -than when Ruben started at whole game. The Big Bertha was a home run and the Great Big Golf Headquarters 32 Bertha was a grand slam.” years ago.

Ruben said technology is helping golfers hit the ball farther and a little straighter. The best scores, however, especially on the pro circuits, are pretty much remaining the same. Ruben's theory on that is straightforward.

“Until they make a putter to make putts, the lowest scores are going to remain,” he said. “People walk into our putting area and accuse us of sloping the greens but we don't do that. The reason a guy walks in here and makes 10-12 in a row is that there's no pressure, no competition here. Take that putter and that stroke to the golf course. It's hard to do.”

Ruben was a big fan of the way Jose Maria Olazabul played and now follows Jordan Spieth. But in truth, Ruben enjoys watching the LPGA as much – or more – than the PGA. “The guys on the tour hit it so far I can't really relate to that,” said Ruben, a left-handed athlete in all sports, by the way. “Guys are hitting wedges 190 yards. I can't even fathom that. The women hit it to where I can relate to their game on the course. But I enjoy watching both.”

When Ruben isn't golfing, or working, he likes spending time outside at home, working in the garden or playing with his dogs.

His day from beginning to end emulates his personality – peaceful and joyful.

“Hey,” he said, speaking as if he was ducking behind his beard and mustache as we finished the interview. “Don't make me sound too interesting. I don't want to ruin my reputation.”

RIO GRANDE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL GOLF SCHEDULE DATE 3/4-5 3/8 3/11-12 3/22 3/24 3/24 3/28

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31 5A DISTRICT 32 5A DISTRICT 30 6A DISTRICT 31 6A DISTRICT 32 6A DISTRICT

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REGION IV 6A REGION IV 5 REGION IV 6A REGION IV 5A STATE MEET

SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO SAN ANTONIO TBA

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