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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Some things are just meant to be. Take Bob Betley for example. He was meant to be a pro golfer — only it took him awhile to figure that out. In fact, he was 28 years old before he ever took his first swing. At the time, Bob was a policeman in Ogden, Utah. One day his brothers and a close friend showed up at his house. They told him that they were taking him golfing. Bob said OK — he'd never been, but he'd give it a shot. Bob birdied the very first hole and the rest is history.
On the second day of his first PGA tournament, Bob's caddy didn't show up. Because she was tired of watching from behind the ropes, Bob's wife asked why she couldn't caddy for him. Bob said, "All right," and Jane's been his caddy ever since. She was the first female, in fact, to caddy on the men's PGA Tour.
In the early 1970s, Bob became involved with the Bear Lake West Country Club by helping to design the course. Bob continued working there until the demands of his professional career became too much. Over the years, Bob has had the opportunity of making friends with some of the sport's greatest golfers, including Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Now, after 12 years on the PGA Tour and 13 and counting on the Senior Tour, Bob has returned to Bear Lake West to manage the club.
It's only natural that Bob has found his place again at the Bear Lake West Country Club since between tournaments he and Jane still live in the area near the golf course. Bob tells me that during the past several weeks he's had crews working extra hard grooming the course to keep it in top condition. It's a beautiful place to golf, says Bob. The course rolls along the mountains surrounding the lake and the view from the first tee gives you the feeling that you're hitting the ball straight out into the blue water. (In that case, I better pack an extra ball or two.)
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.