MMichael was one of the celebrity contestants in the 33rd Annual Los Angeles Police-Celebrity Golf Tournament this May, held at the Rancho Park Golf Course in Los Angeles. Hosted by Kelsey Grammer (Frazier) the event also featured Joe Pesci, Richard Kind (Spin City/Mad About You), Alan Rosenberg (L.A. Law/Cybill), and many other well known celebrities. The competition was based on a popular playing format for celebrity tournaments called The Texas Scramble. Contestants form four player teams, playing four balls. Each team member tees off on each hole and they choose the best drive to play their next shot from. All four players then play their next shot from that spot. The best of the second shot is then selected to play their third shots and so on until the ball is holed. As there were so many competitors, the teams were divided into four leagues.

It was the perfect day for a game of golf - warm and sunny with a light breeze. After breakfast, kindly donated by Krispy Kreme, Michael joined his team mates which consisted of his cousin Pat Weir, Pat's business partner Steve Smith and LAPD Sergeant Steve Estrada and headed for the first tee, which was actually hole number 3.

Michael's team followed behind Joe Pesci and before they could tee off the paparazzi took advantage of a photo opportunity. It soon became obvious that we had an excellent team with Michael and Pat being the best drivers (that's the long shots) and the two Steve's, the putting experts! That doesn't mean it was all plain sailing! There were quite a few lost balls and several nervous squirrels scurrying across the course at a high rate of knots but in general everyone played well and the team spirit was high.

The competition was well attended by enthusiastic autograph hunters and Michael's team mates waited patiently and with only minor teasing, while he fulfilled requests for photos, autographs and kisses! Several of the tees were set up so that the crowd could get a better

Photo by R Karnbad

view of the players and the celebrity and police contestants were officially introduced. It also gave the paparazzi another shot at getting some photos and the contestants a breather from the heat and a few moments to relax.

Michael discovered that his cousin Pat had recently purchased a new golf club. After practicing a few swings with it he tried it out on one of the holes and discovered that it significantly improved his

driving skills and decided to adopt it as his own for the day! On the whole the club didn't let him down and his drive shot's helped the team keep to par on many of the holes. However, there were also times when his concentration eluded him and the ball seemed rather reluctant to travel more than a few yards from it's starting position. No one on our team scored a hole in one but on the second to last hole (hole #1), Michael redeemed himself in front of the crowd and found the hole in two shots!

When the competition ended all the contestants gathered together for the dinner

(provided by The Outback Steakhouse) and charity auction. Kelsey Grammer opened the proceedings and the winning teams in each league were presented with their prize. Much to our surprise we discovered that thanks to some excellent teamwork, not to mention golfing skills, Michael's team had come equal first with two other teams. After a short delay, Michael's team were awarded second place as they had used more of their Mulligans than the team given first place. (A Mulligan is a term used in friendly golf games where the player is allowed a second shot when the first shot was hideously miss-hit.The second shot isn't counted in the score).

It had been a fun day and helped raise money for a worthy cause. Who knows, maybe next year Michael's team will come first!