Golf Lover Takes One Last Drive

Maurice Owen, or “Mo” as he was kindly referred to on the greens of Windyke Golf Club, loved golf. No, Mo didn’t just ‘love’ golf the way some people love their favorite E-Z chair or first car. He had a passion for the game that, after 40 years of consistent play with the same group of friends, transcended just about everything else in his life. Mo played golf for fun, for sport, charity, for business…for any reason at all.

But, unable to play 18, no longer strong enough to drive far and putt straight with his lifelong golfing buddies, had taken its toll on Mo’s psyche. He ached more from this loss than from the physical pains of his illness. Crossroads decided to take action. A few calls later, his Crossroads team had set up one last golf outing, hoping to bring Mo back up to par.

It was a foggy start to the day, but quickly burned off to reveal a bright blue sky as Mo was escorted to his beloved golf club, Windyke – the same club his daughter is a member of today. Mo, his wife and daughter all arrived in time to see his friends tee off the first hole, who rolled out the red carpet for Mo.

The Club’s original owner and personal friend of Mo’s drove them all in a golf cart, following Mo’s friends through six holes. Mo couldn’t resist giving the younger members of the golf gang some friendly criticism!

By lunchtime, Mo was dog-tired but couldn’t wait to devour his favorite steak and potato lunch that awaited him in the clubhouse. While they ate, Mo reminisced with his family and friends about his favorite golf moments and about how happy it made him to teach his daughter, Jan, to play. The two had played for the last time just six months prior. 

Mo slept like a baby that night, spirits lifted. Who knows what he dreamt of – maybe the drive of his life or nailing the perfect 10-foot putt? What his family is sure of is this: of Mo’s final days, this one was a hole in one.