Here’s a yarn worth sharing, especially for local golfers.

The late Hymie Bradford related this story to me several years ago, and it dealt with the old (as in the original) Rapides Golf Course – a 9-hole layout that is buried beneath Greenwood Cemetery in Pineville. His grandfather, Hiram F. Bradford,  founded and built the course.

Hymie’s uncle, Ray Bradford, was once described by former Town Talk sports editor Bill Carter as the best golfer Rapides Parish ever produced. He had a sweet swing on the course, and he had a reputation for playing better if he could knock down some Old Crow and Camels during his round.    

Legend has it that a young Tommy Bolt, before he went on to fame on the PGA Tour, stopped at Rapides and called his backers in his hometown of Shreveport and said, “I’ve found me a pigeon here in Pineville (for a Nassau game). Wire me some money.”

He called a second time and a third time with the same request as the round progressed.

After the third call, the person he was calling asked, “Who is the pigeon you have?’

“His name’s Ray Bradford, I think,” Bolt said.

“Ray Bradford?!” came the scream. “You get yourself home before we all go broke. Nobody beats Ray Bradford at Rapides.”