World Am 2021 – Day 3: Charlie Rymer Drops In at Barefoot Resort

Charlie Rymer:

Is this your first World Am?

George Holmes:

Yes, sir.

Charlie Rymer:

What do you think so far?

George Holmes:

It is frigging awesome. Meet some great people. Get to talk to people like you.

Charlie Rymer:

How’s your game been so far this week?

George Holmes:

Pretty bad, but it’s okay.

Charlie Rymer:

It doesn’t bother you one bit. Yeah, so how are you stacking up in the competition?

George Holmes:

Tied for 19th.

Charlie Rymer:

What are there-

George Holmes:

Not that I’m keeping track.

Charlie Rymer:

So what are there like 20 people in your flight?

George Holmes:

50.

Charlie Rymer:

Oh, 50. So you’re in the-

George Holmes:

I’m used to bringing up the tail end.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay.

George Holmes:

I was raised on the back of a bus.

Charlie Rymer:

I got you. So you’re 19th. Are you planning on making a big move here today at Barefoot?

George Holmes:

Yes, sir. Probably to the bathroom.

Charlie Rymer:

You’re a crazy bastard, you know that?

George Holmes:

Yes, sir.

Charlie Rymer:

Let’s see what’s under that hat.

George Holmes:

Hair. You think it’s a hair hat.

Charlie Rymer:

Put it back on. It looks better with a hat on. I thought it was one of those hats with the wig on it.

George Holmes:

I understand.

Charlie Rymer:

Yeah, okay. Well, George, thank you for spending some time with us and have a great time here at Barefoot today.

George Holmes:

Thanks for talking to me.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, I’m probably going to be the only one that’s actually going to talk to you today.

Charlie Rymer:

How many World Ams have you played in?

Randy Crites:

It’s my third.

Charlie Rymer:

What’s your best finish in your first three?

Randy Crites:

I finished 11th, 12th, and I’m way back this year.

Charlie Rymer:

So you’re off to a tough start.

Randy Crites:

Off to a tough start.

Charlie Rymer:

What’s wrong with your game that’s keeping you from performing at that high level?

Randy Crites:

Well, I just hit it in a couple bad spots under lips and things like that. Gave me a couple big numbers.

Charlie Rymer:

It sounds like you’re driving it like crap.

Randy Crites:

No, actually I hit drive it pretty good. It was up near the greens where I had some problems.

Charlie Rymer:

So your irons are really stinking it up?

Randy Crites:

My irons are awful.

Charlie Rymer:

You know, hitting bad irons doesn’t make you a bad person. You know that, right?

Randy Crites:

Well, I hope not. I hope not.

Charlie Rymer:

So you’re here at Barefoot, it’s the third round. Are you optimistic that you can turn things around?

Randy Crites:

I am. I played pretty good yesterday. I shot 82 yesterday with a double and a three putt. So I’m okay.

Charlie Rymer:

When you’re on, I mean really on, what are you best at?

Randy Crites:

Chipping and putting.

Charlie Rymer:

I mean, do you knock them in? I mean, do all your buddies-

Randy Crites:

Just getting up and down from everywhere.

Charlie Rymer:

All your buddies don’t like you because you’re really good at chipping and putting.

Randy Crites:

That’s right. That’s exactly right. I can flop it up there and get it close and tap it in.

Charlie Rymer:

Have you met any folks here in your experience in the World Am that you keep up with during the course of the year?

Randy Crites:

I met a guy last year and we talked a couple of times, but I haven’t seen him this year. We haven’t been in the same places.

Charlie Rymer:

Sounds like you might ought to be a little nicer out there. Maybe you can make some friends.

Randy Crites:

Maybe. Maybe. I got some friends with me.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, cool. Hope you all are having a great time and good luck here today at Barefoot.

Randy Crites:

Thank you.

Charlie Rymer:

Appreciate it. Thank you very much. Yes, sir.

Charlie Rymer:

How many World Ams have you played in now?

Greg Ballard:

One.

Charlie Rymer:

This is your first one?

Greg Ballard:

I’ve been wanting to do this for decades. Finally kind of semi-retired and here I am.

Charlie Rymer:

Where are you in from?

Greg Ballard:

We live in Myrtle Beach now. We’re from Indianapolis originally.

Charlie Rymer:

Okay. So this is the third round. How have you played the first two?

Greg Ballard:

First was not good. Second one wasn’t so bad. Hackler was a little bit easier course, so it was fine. It was fine.

Charlie Rymer:

Where do you stand in your flight?

Greg Ballard:

I have no idea because it’s certainly not the top 10, as I saw last night.

Charlie Rymer:

I understand. So Ballard is your last name. Any relation to the famous teacher, Jimmy Ballard? Rock and block guy.

Greg Ballard:

No. If I was, I’d probably be playing better. I do have a great Fuzzy Zoeller story for you.

Charlie Rymer:

Let’s hear it.

Greg Ballard:

Okay. I was the mayor of Indianapolis for eight years very recently. So Fuzzy does a charity event with us. I’m riding with Fuzzy for 18 holes. It is absolutely Rodney Dangerfield. He has the boombox going pretty loudly, 50s and 60s tune all the way through, triple vodkas all the way through.

Charlie Rymer:

He didn’t have any Fuzzy’s vodka, did he?

Greg Ballard:

I’m sure he did. We get up to the par three. It was either 16 or 17. I can’t remember which hole it was. And we’re a little bit behind. And my security is with me also. And so we’re waiting on the tee and Fuzzy goes up to the group on the tee. He says, “Listen, that guy over there has a gun. We’re going through.” And we did.

Charlie Rymer:

And there he went. Well, cool.

Greg Ballard:

He was great, by the way. He was great. He had a beautiful shot that just faded and it just dropped no matter if he hit a five iron or an eight iron. It was beautiful to watch.

Charlie Rymer:

Fuzzy’s an amazing man, big Indiana guy. No doubt about that. Well, former mayor of Indianapolis, appreciate you stopping by and welcome to the Myrtle Beach area. I hope you’re enjoying living here.

Greg Ballard:

Well, we started coming here when I was a Marine for 23 years and I was based up at Camp Lejeune, two and a half hours north of here. We started coming down to Myrtle Beach and have had a place since ’91, but finally moved down in February.

Charlie Rymer:

Well, great. And thank you for your service.

Greg Ballard:

My honor. Thank you.

Charlie Rymer:

Have a great time out at Barefoot today.

Greg Ballard:

Thanks for doing this, Charlie.

Charlie Rymer:

My pleasure.