CHAPTER 1 FORE Thirteen-year old Ben Malone groaned He emerged from his bed like a zombie pulling itself from the grave Rise and shine his dad said Ben’s eyes were gritty with sleep He looked out the bedroom window It’s still dark outside he croaked
Yep His dad sipped coffee from his mug Ben sat up He patted his shaggy brown hair back into place What am I getting myself into he asked His dad laughed You were the one who asked to go to work with me this morning pal So get dressed Let’s go Gary Malone was a new employee of Strongwood Country Club the nicest golf course in town Ben had never played there Even though his dad was the head groundskeeper his family couldn’t afford a discount membership So Ben golfed at
Valley View a nine-hole public course The sky brightened as Ben climbed into his dad’s rusty dented pick-up and they drove When they pulled up next to Strongwood’s maintenance shed Ben got out and zipped up his hoodie The morning was chilly Ben’s dad drove a riding lawnmower out of the shed Hop on kiddo he said Time to maintain the fairways and greens Ben jumped on and sat on a small back seat The mower rumbled and dew glistened off the trimmed fairway Wet grass stuck to the side of the mower as they cruised along
Together Ben and his dad patched large divots in the tee boxes They artfully raked the sand in each bunker
