Dec 22 2009 08:30 AM
Re: Frenchy growing on me
Francoeur takes his father on "trip of a lifetime"
Jeff Francoeur is an open, accommodating guy. He's lived in Atlanta's public eye since the 11th grade. It's not like he has a lot of secrets. But he managed to keep a whopper for more than a year, even from his father David, the master at reading his son's intentions. The former Brave and Parkview High School standout, Francoeur surprised his father and six other pals and relatives with an all-expenses paid trip to Scotland to play some of the finest golf courses in the world. They went in late October, which means he had all baseball season to anticipate the trip. It gave Francoeur a constant at a time when so much around him was changing, with his trade to the New York Mets. "All these guys have been so supportive," Francoeur said of the group that includes his brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and two family friends. Growing up, baseball may have been Francoeur's first love, but golf was his passion. He, his brother and his father watched tournaments on TV together. The British Open was special because it started in the morning and they could watch all day. Annual golf trips provided a way for Francoeur to stay connected to the men in his family, away from everything else. As his baseball life became more hectic, he cherished the trips even more. It didn't hurt that he also had more means and connections to pull them off. Flying home over the 2008 All-Star break, Francoeur met a man who had played famous courses in Scotland through an international travel company. That planted the seed. They could play the Old Course at St. Andrews, Muirfield and Carnoustie -- or "Carnasty" as they learned the locals call it. For a back story, Francoeur fed the guys a tale that they were going back to Bandon Dunes, an Oregon course with a Scottish links feel, where Francour had surprised them with a trip in 2006. Then they'd go to Chambers Bay in Washington and on up to play in Canada. That way they'd pack warm clothes and a passport. The only people Francoeur told the real destination were the wives, his mom and some employees at a local PGA Superstore. Francoeur was there almost every day leading up to the trip. Francoeur's wife Catie helped put together backpacks for everybody. Mizuno, his baseball glove supplier, sent eight rain suits. Francoeur bought golf balls with each guy's favorite college logo, so there would be "no cheating," he said. Even the Mets gave Francoeur the OK to put off surgery on his thumb (torn ligament) this winter until after the trip. All the while, his father never found out. David Francoeur had spoiled the Bandon Dunes surprise in 2006 when he saw the down payment on Jeff's credit card statement. This time he bumped into Catie's uncle and thought he reacted strangely when David told him they heading out west to golf. But Francoeur quelled his father's suspicions by having his banker call to tell him their credit cards were good to go for Canada. David Francoeur even bought a pair of knickers to wear as a joke, not knowing how fitting they'd actually be. The night before they left, the gang gathered for a cookout at Jeff and Catie's house. Francoeur put on a video Catie had made to break the news before the airport ticket agent could give it away. To Kenny Chesney's "I Go Back," a slideshow began with shots of Bandon Dunes and Chambers Bay. Then it showed a golfer walking in the snow, with the words "Canadian winter golf, eh?" Then it said, "So ..." followed by, "I decided to change our trip." The screen then went black. That's when Francoeur stood up to tell them they were actually going to Scotland. The video started again to the sound of bagpipes. As they watched shots of the Swilcan Bridge at St. Andrews, the lighthouse at Turnberry and Stewart Cink kissing the Claret Jug, the surprise started sinking in and two in the group started to cry. David Francoeur sat stunned. "I was at a loss for words," he said. "When I heard Scotland, I said ‘Oh my gosh, what a treat.' But then when he started to say the courses we were playing, that's when it really hit me." About 36 hours later, running on adrenaline and an energy drink that Francoeur had packed, they teed off at the seventh oldest golf course in the world – Balcomie Links in Fife. The wind was whipping at 45 mph. The North Sea beckoned just off the fairway to the right. Francoeur asked his caddie where he should hit. "You have to the North Sea to the right and Scotland to the left," the caddie said. "So I'd aim bloody left." On cue, Francoeur sent his first ball into the North Sea. But that's what mulligans are for – jet lag and the North Sea. They played six courses in six days, traveling in a 20-passenger van fitted with card tables and coolers. It was driven by a likeable Scottish smart aleck named Andy, who told Francoeur he didn't know a thing about baseball. "He said ‘All I care about is football,' " Francoeur said. "I'm like ‘Hey dude, it's soccer. We have football.' " They didn't talk baseball, which was fine by Francoeur. The first three games of the World Series came and went without their notice. Nobody other than a few caddies who moonlighted in Florida knew Francoeur's story, about his rise with the Braves, the Sports Illustrated cover, his minor league demotion and his trade to the Mets. They just wanted to see his approach shot at No. 18 on the Old Course. Some 60 tourists watched Francoeur and his father come in that second day at St. Andrews. Francoeur sliced his tee shot out of bounds to the right. His caddie told him not to feel bad; Ernie Els had hit it there two weeks earlier. His father laughed. Then he hooked his tee shot out of bounds to the left. Both were feeling too good that day to be bothered. Walking up the first fairway hours earlier, David Francoeur, decked out in his knickers, had put his arm around his son. "He said ‘When I'm on my death bed, I want you to remember this day because this is one of the greatest days of my life,' " Francoeur said. "My dad is not a very emotional guy. He's pretty tough. To hear that from him was really cool." They played two three-day tournaments, each named after one of Francoeur's grandfathers who both passed away in 2006: the Conrad Cup for his father's father and Mel's Match for his mother's father. Francoeur's dad and uncle bought him flags from each of the six courses. He's framing them to go on his wall. "For me it was a trip of a lifetime," Francoeur said. "The best part for me was seeing their faces the night we made the surprise." Not that he'll ever be able to top it, but Francoeur has another trip in mind for next year: Italy. This time, it's Catie's turn. |
