The CSGA Links Volume 2 Issue 3 May, 2014 | Page 29

satchel – all manner of brochures advertising
the University of Virginia’s academic and athletic
excellence, Mr. Burns leaned toward me and said,

“Eh, Mr. Moraghan, we eh, appreciate
ye coming all the way over here to speak with
Raymond, but I just don’t know if he could really
go to school in the United States.”

I turned to Raymond, “Well, I’m not that
familiar with the system over here, Raymond.
Where are you in school right now?”

Raymond spoke quickly. “I don’t go. I quit.
I quit when I was farteen. It was interferin with
me golf. In fact, I’ve never read a boook in me
life. No wait! I’ve read one boook! I’ve read Ben
Hogan’s boook on golf!”

I couldn’t help but smile. Raymond Burns
loved golf more than anything in life and it
was written all over his face. He was a fierce
competitor who spoke with passion as we talked
about tournaments and courses and stroke play
and match play. He insisted that Royal County
Down was the best golf course in the world, a