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For Whom the
Bell Tolls
With
school back in session,
AJGA members prove they're the cream of the crop.
By
Steve Ethun
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When
the AJGA comes to Mobile, Ala., each year, it means two things.
First, it will be the worst weather the Gulf of Mexico gods
can stir up. Second, school is back in session, and the summer
golf season is coming to a close.
Going back to school can be great. No joke. Just go to Blockbuster
and it's easy to see.
When it comes to back-to-school movies, it seems like Hollywood
has this topic well covered. Some of the greatest works of cinematography
have come out of the back-to-school genre. Let's examine a few.
Animal House (1978)
This film made its debut around the same time the AJGA had its
first tournament. Is this the picture of college the AJGA wants
to paint for juniors "aspiring to earn a college golf scholarship?"
Definitely not, but still a classic.
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Dead Poets
Society (1989)
Although Robin Williams followed this performance with Mrs.
Doubtfire, it does not detract from the quality of this
back-to-school movie. "Carpe Diem" – Seize the
Day– is what this movie is all about. It's what school
is all about!
Summer School (1987)
Okay, so this has nothing to do with going back to school, actually
it's about all the kids that had to stay in school. But who
could forget the visored twenty-something Mark Harmon playing
the part of an irresponsible high school teacher forced to teach
summer school? The students are described on the back of the
movie as "malcontents and layabouts with the standard repertoire
of teenaged hangups and hostilities." Kirstie Alley also
makes an appearance in her pre-Cheers days.
Back to School (1986)
This is the one of the landmark back-to-school movies of all
time. When the wealthy Dangerfield tries to buy his way through
college, he learns money can't fix all his problems. Maybe he
figured this out when he hired Kurt Vonnegut to write an essay
about Slaughterhouse Five and the teacher marked it an
F. And the Triple Lindy will go down as one of the greatest
high dives in history.
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But when
it comes to school movies, there is really only one: Billy
Madison. Who can forget the poignant verse, "Back to
school, back to school / to prove to Dad that I'm not a fool,"?
Doesn't everyone, after all, go to school to prove to someone
they are not a fool? How sweet would it be to go back to Ms.
Lippy's first grade class and play dodge ball and prove that
O'Doyle doesn't always rule? And Adam Sandler's monologue on
the Industrial Revolution told through the story of The Puppy
Who Lost its Way by Chrissy Taylor is roll-on-the-ground
funny.
AJGA members have a much different life – to say the least.
Each member fills out a get-to-know-you type survey when membership
information is processed. Countless - meaning an amazing amount
- include information about their scholastic endeavors. A lot
of juniors' class ranks are equal to that of their spot on their
high school golf team – close to the top. Basically, they're
not the Billy Madison's of the world.
Each year the hp Scholastic All-America Team is named at the
Polo Golf Junior All-America Banquet. Boys who finished in the
top 10 at an event and girls who finished in the top five all
receive applications. The team is then chosen based on an essay,
their academic achievement, community involvement and leadership
abilities.
In the end, 99 percent of AJGA members go to college, with 75
percent landing a golf scholarship – numbers the AJGA takes
great pride in.
So while AJGA members may not have the means to start school
over again like Billy, there actually is no need – they
are doing it right the first time.
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