THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Let’s hear it for the dads — from their kids

Monday night was a key night around our house when I was in my teens. 

And it wasn’t because of Monday Night Football, which was a big deal back then — and not because my dad usually cooked hamburgers for us. 

It was the time of the week when I would ask, “Dad, where do you want to play on Sunday?” 

That was back in the day when you actually had to call the golf course to make a tee time. 

No app, no internet, nothing like that. 

And if I remember correctly, the Spokane-area courses didn’t start taking tee times for the weekend until early Tuesday morning of that week. 

That was my “job” — get up early on Tuesdays, call the course and get a tee time. 

FOR YEARS the three of us — my dad, myself and my older brother Steve, who has been in the golf business since the Carter Administration, and head pro at The Course Formerly Known as Hangman Valley for more than three decades — played golf together on Sunday mornings. 

First it was in Salem, Ore., at places like Battle Creek. 

Then in Salt Lake City, at Meadow Brook and Rose Park and others. 

In Spokane, it was often at Wandermere, not too far from our house, but also at Esmeralda and at Sun Dance. 

We always walked, and dad had a pull cart. 

Often we would play on Father’s Day, and I remember walking up the 18th fairway at Ezzy one year, envisioning being on my way to winning the U.S. Open, and how much that would mean to win such an important tournament, and especially one which finishes on Father’s Day. 

Never mind that, in reality, I probably needed a par on the final hole to break 90. 

Anyway, the last round the three of us played together was in late September back in 1980, at Sun Dance on a late Sunday afternoon. 

I don’t remember much else about the round, other than I’ll never forget that my dad parred the par-4 18th hole — the final hole he would ever play. 

My dad passed away some two weeks later. 

DO YOU have a favorite memory, or story, about your dad? 

If you’re an athlete, or a former athlete, I’m sure you have similar memories of your dad at a game, or memories in general of what your dad meant (or means) to your sporting career.  

I’d love to hear, and share, those stories.   

Email me a few thoughts on your dad, along with a photo of you and dad and the story behind the photo, to mnelke@cdapress.com

Last month, in this space, thanks to their kids, we were able to share several stories of wonderful moms. 

So this week, with Father’s Day approaching next Sunday, let’s hear about your dad. 

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @CdAPressSports.