Golfer Band: Tom Shaughnessy, Dave Cox, Rowdy Jones, Wes Morgan and Marco Tocco
Dave Shogren’s band, Benbow City Shuffle has a gig on May 5, 2023 at Cloverleaf Golf Course in Alton, Illinois. It seems like an ideal time to
get the “band” back together. Magnolia
Marine Transport is incredible corporate
sponsor of the event. It is a Friday that feels like a holiday and it includes Dave (the
Benbow City Shuffle base player with lovely roadie-wife Linda) and another Dave (Rowdy Golfer). I have been
fortunate with a number of friends named Dave in my episodic life. Dave
the base player and incoming American Marketing Association Saint Louis chapter
president and Dave the founder of Sandbox Creative are part of this day’s
amazing confluence of events.
The “band” of golfers is Rowdy Jones, Tom Shaughnessy, Dave Cox and Wes Morgan. This metaphorical band of brothers share a bond that dates back decades to Rowdy Golf Weekends at the
Lake of the Ozarks (beginning circa 2001). Our foursome recalls old memories while we manufacture a batch of new ones. This time, we’ve invited “studio
musician” a la Billy Preston - Marco Tocco. A couple of
marketing professors from the University of Missouri-Saint Louis were slated to
join us too. (The UMSL team couldn’t
make it due to some academic politics, however, called for their leadership and
attention. Perry Drake PhD and Michael Elliott – you were missed.)
Michael Elliott, UMSL Marketing professor warned me that this course had small greens and tight lies. He was right. But the two-man scramble format with Marco Tocco as 50/50 bonus player assured that both of our teams amounted to above par play and exceptional camaraderie. I wish Dr. Drake could have been there to compare stories of broken bones and surgery endurance and recovery with with Marco.
The forecast was 90% chance
of rain. I am somehow blessed this year, however, as rain was not a factor in
Alton, Illinois this day. The sun even came out as our shotgun start on #14 meant that
we finished with a smiles and multiple shot attempts to make the par 3 to a short
120 yard island green. It
wasn’t Sawgrass but it felt like we were all gunning for spots on the PGA or maybe
the LIV tour.
Generous portions of sides
and crawfish alternatives were served as families, girlfriends and kids joined
in the picnic atmosphere in the sunshine. At about 4:00 Benbow City Shuffle
entertained on the patio with breaks for two raffles – one for kids (toys and
games) and the second for adults (electronics, 55” TV sets, and more).
Benbow City Shuffle with guest harmonica player from Magnolia Marine play on patio at Cloverleaf Golf Course in Alton, Illinois. That's Dave Shogren on base, Rich Stewart on keyboards, golden throated Al Funk on harmonice and, for this performance, Paul Jarvis on the drums.
I continue to live a
life of good fortune, amazing friends and some sort of divine intervention.
God, I am grateful!
