The wisdom of Harvey Penick…

In 1995, Ben Crenshaw, PGA Tour player, sank a putt on the last hole of a golf tournament for a one-shot victory. A er his putt dropped in the hole, he buried his face in his hands and cried like a baby while in the arms of his caddie. I remember the scene like it was yesterday. And yes, I also shed a few tears because Ben’s great friend, mentor and teacher, Harvey Penick had passed away almost exactly one week before. Oh, by the way, the tournament he won was the Masters. It was almost as if Crenshaw was telling every golfer and every lover of the game that this was his memorial…his legacy…to Mr. Penick and he was giving thanks to, “the greatest golf teacher of all time”.

Harvey Penick’s life in golf began when he started caddying at the Austin Country Club in Austin, Texas at the tender age of eight. Over the next 80 plus years, he delighted the members of the club with his “insights, into golf and life”. In 1992, at the age of eighty-seven, he decided to write a book about his insights. He called it, Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book. He wrote a total of six books, all “Best Sellers” and lled with his thoughts, stories, and golf advise that has stood the test of time. e Wisdom of Harvey Penick, his last book, contains a treasure of personal photos from the “most beloved teacher in all of golf”.

“ is book is written not only to help all golfers with their own games but to help club pros and teachers with their teaching”….

Harvey Penick, Austin Country Club, Austin,Texas, 1992

Following is a series of excerpts from his book: My Little Red Book… An old pro told me that originality does not consist of saying what has never been said before; it consists of saying what you have to say that you know to be the truth. Golf Medicine… When I ask you to take an aspirin, please don’t take the whole bottle. In the golf swing a tiny change can make a huge di erence. e natural inclination is to begin to overdo the tiny change that had brought success, so you exaggerate in an e ort to improve even more, and soon you are lost and confused again. Lessons are not to take the place of practice but to make practice worthwhile.

Looking Up… Looking up is the biggest alibi invented to explain a terrible shot. By the time you look up, you’ve already made the mistake that caused the bad shot. When I tell a student to keep their eye on the ball, it is usually to give them something to think about that won’t do any harm. Hand Position… I like to see the hands toward the inside of your le thigh (for right handed golfers) on every shot except the driver. With the driver, I like to see your hands at your zipper. If this moves them slightly behind the ball at address, that is ne. It encourages hitting on the upswing. e Sexes… No pretty women can miss a single shot without a man giving her some poor advice. A husband should never try to teach his wife how to play golf or drive a car. A wife should never try to teach her husband how to play bridge. e Basic Shot…Learn one basic shot that you can hit under pressure and stick with it. If you have a good basic shot, you will rarely ever have to hit a fancy one.

Do You Need Help? If you play poorly one day… forget it! If you play poorly the next time out, review your grip, stance, aim, and ball position . Most mistakes are made before the club is swung.

If you play poorly for a third time in a row… go see your Golf Professional.

A Very Bad Habit… Watching the club head go back as you start your swing will probably ruin any chance of hitting a good shot. Anything you do wrong taking the club head back is not s bad as watching it. It is amazing how many golfers get into this bad habit.

Kids and Carts… In my opinion, no young player can develop their game to its highest potential if they ride around the course on a golf cart.

An Irony… In golf your strengths and weaknesses will always be there. If you could improve your weaknesses, you would improve your game. e irony is that people prefer to practice their strengths.

Children… I don’t try to teach golf to children. What they need is someone who will guide their learning. Let them play, then help them when they want you to, or when you see something that demands a teacher’s attention.

When To O er Advice To Your Spouse…

Only when they ask!

Google Harvey Penick. You will feel a wonderful connection to this truly remarkable golf teacher and life coach.

Mildred G. Tracy, 87 Loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother

Mildred “Midge” Grace (Hart) Tracy, danced into Heaven on Feb. 26, 2023, after celebrating her 87th birthday on Feb. 12. She was the daughter of Millicent and William Hart and grew up in Minoa with seven siblings; Lil, Flossie, Bessie, Vera, Son, Raymond and Pete. She was married 60 years to her beloved husband Jack, who preceded her to Heaven in 2015.

She was the best mother to Debbie, John, Jimmy (Kim), Kelly (Elizabeth) and Travis (Heather); a loving grandmother to Jared (Mattie), Jacob (Brandi), Joshua, Kristen, JP, Vanessa, Jessica, Erica, Katelyn, Karmyn, Skylar, Michael, Caleb (Shayna) and Christina; a great grandmother to nine precious great-grandchildren along, with many nieces and nephews.

As a young married couple, Jack and Midge danced their way through life, building houses and a family, settling in Skaneateles for over 60 years.

Jack and Midge shared a love for dancing, country music, Elvis, hard work and America. We have so many memories of Midge’s love, care, laughter and feistiness to cherish. She planted seeds of faith in Jesus Christ in our lives, such a special and unique role model. She loved and had a passion to create and utilized her God-given gifts; helping Jack build houses and develop their business, painting landscapes, sewing, creating beautiful indoor spaces and outdoor gardening, baking intricate wedding cakes, blue ribbon pies and sugar cookies, celebrating each and every holiday with decorating and making special dishes, Christmas a favorite.

Midge had a great love for babies, a special affinity for horses, especially Tinker and Susie. Midge never said no to a good cup of coffee with a sweet treat and loved anything the color of lavender. She enjoyed scenic riding adventures, trips to Disney, enjoying sunsets, deer and turkey on beautiful Skaneateles Lake.

We want to express a special thank you to all of mom‘s caregivers, who so lovingly cared for mom in her home; Vera, Linda, Lisa, Kathy, Regina, Jessica, Jen and Anna. A thank you to the

Wilma “Willie” C. Hullet McGlasson, of Skaneateles, NY passed away on Feb. 27, 2023.

Willie is survived by her four children: Van (Jana), Paul (Peggy), Robert (Cheryl), and Linda (Brooks), six grandchildren (Mickey, Casey, Amelia, Avery, Elizabeth, and Aidan), as well as many beloved nieces and nephews.

Willie was born Aug. 26, 1928, on a farm just outside of Avard, Oklahoma. She was the fourth of five children born to parents Cleo Elmer and Pauline Myrtle (Weems) Hullet.

She was predeceased by her siblings: Edward “Ed” (Jean, still thriving), Wilbur “Wib” (Jane), Orlo Wayne “Bob” (Donna), and Nora Jean (Corky) Hullet.

Willie lived on a farm through her growing up years until they moved to the town of Avard during her last year of high school.

These years were tough on Willie and her family – their house burned down when she was but 7 years of age, her father died when she was 11 years of age, their second home blew away in a tornado when Willie was 13, and a third home was blown away by another tornado when Willie was 17.

In spite of all these hardships, Willie graduated from Avard High School in 1946 as Valedictorian of her class.

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In the fall of 1946, Willie entered college at Northwestern University in Alva, OK; described by her late husband (who she met at college) as “a pretty, demure, bright and gracious young lady.” After two years of college, she married Robert “Bob” L. McGlasson on Aug. 30, 1948. She helped put Bob through school before they moved to Carlsbad, CA, when Bob was summoned back to active service in the Navy during the Korean War. They finally settled in Ponca City, OK, where they lived for 15 years. Dur - team at Hospice CNY also. ing that time, she gave birth to and raised her four children. Willie was a very active and dedicated mother, serving as family cook, housekeeper, laundress, baker, nurse, taxi driver, supervisor of education, church life coordinator, Boy Scout and Campfire Girls leader, and occasional short stop for the family baseball games.

In lieu of flowers, Midge would say eat something sweet, make the stop, take a moment to value family and friendships, dance like no one is watching, love Jesus and America with all your heart, make amends, never forget the importance of forgiveness and the power behind by the name of Jesus.

A donation may be made in Midge’s name to SAVES, or Skaneateles First Presbyterian Church, or Hospice CNY.

A celebration of life was held at the First Presbyterian Church of Skaneateles, 97 East Genesee Street at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 1. Private burial is in Lakeview Cemetery, Skaneateles.

A remembrance reception immediately followed the service at The Lodge (previous Welch Allyn) 4355 State Street, Skaneateles Falls 13152.

To send condolences, visit robertdgrayfuneralhome.com.

Bob’s job promotion in 1967 led to another move to Houston, TX, where they lived for 12 years. While there, she developed a lifelong passion for Houston Astros baseball. With all the children off to college, a new job within Conoco brought Willie and Bob to Oslo, Norway, for five years.

In her retirement, she spoke often and positively of those years in Norway. Retirement brought Willie and Bob to their retirement home on Claytor Lake, VA, where she lived until Bob’s death in 2003.

Willie was a loving and devoted wife (and best friend) for the 55 years they were married. Unable to keep up with the lake house after Bob’s passing, she moved a short distance to Wytheville, VA, to be closer to her loving church family at Draper’s Valley Presbyterian Church.

In her last years (beginning in 2017), Willie moved to Skaneateles, where she was cared for by her daughter and sonin-law (Linda and Brooks) as well as by compassionate, dedicated, and hardworking caregivers. These caregivers helped to make her last several years so special, a gift to a woman who centered her life around the caring for others.

Willie was a devout Christian throughout her life. She involved herself in numerous activities, including prayer groups, Bible study, Sunday school teacher, and church elder. Her other interests included quilting, reading, gardening, and cooking.

Throughout her life, Willie was loved by so many as she was herself a kind, warm-hearted and generous person –with a great sense of humor.