Our good friend, Dan Boever (REMAX Long Drive Champ, golf entertainer and all around good guy) shares his experiences in Iraq as he takes part in “Operation: FORE the Troops”. They say it’s a trip to “visit the troops” and “entertain”, but we know the governments real motive…it’s Dan’s ability to snipe at 380 yards with a Pinnacle Gold Distance.

“Today started to the sound of machine gun fire. Yeah, just a normal day for me off in Southwest Missouri.  I have come to expect seeing a lot of things that are out of my daily norm.

As I peeked out through my curtains I could see a fog hanging over the lake and I ran out to get some pictures. It was so beautiful to see. I almost forgot for a few seconds I was 7000 miles from home.

We started our day at headquarters meeting again briefly with General Anderson and then we got to go to General Odierno’s office to get a short brief on the progress that has been made in Iraq over the past two years.  The passion in General Odierno’s words were very moving. I really just sat there dumfounded at being in his office listening to him. He ended the meeting by presenting us with a gift and few times in my life have I felt more humbled.

We then drove to meet up with two Black Hawk helicopters to start our journey for the day. It would consist of three stops Southeast of Baghdad.

I gotta tell you, it was a bit freaky seeing the gunners sitting there looking out the windows with machine guns ready. We all just sat and looked out across the city and then the countryside as we flew about 20 minutes to FOB (Forward Operating Base) Hammer.  Shortly before we got to Hammer we flew over an area that could have passed for an area right outside St Louis. I looked and saw a river and lush green fields. Corey said when they were there two years earlier they never would have flown directly over Baghdad. He said they would have had to fly way out of the way and do a bunch of zig zags. I am very glad for the change.

As we got near Hammer you could see the wall that surrounds the entire location. It is a massive complex and I can’t imagine anyone jacking with them out there. I picture it next to impossible to sneak up on that place.

When we landed at Hammer we met the leadership, ate and then headed to the driving range. The range is a big open field with some signs measuring distance every 50 yards.   At one point I was going to go out and try and film the balls landing but thought maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. I really caught myself watching where I walked on much of the trip. It is not like I was out in the dangerous areas but I wasn’t gonna take any chances.

We all hit some shots and the troops again had the chance to listen to long time greats Watson and Pavin do their thing. They are both so approachable for the troops and I have really enjoyed seeing them interact with all the men and women in uniform.

As we ended our clinic, fellow world long drive champion Bobby Wilson took a shot at hitting a ball through the driving range sign. The width of the sign wasn’t a problem but we both learned a valuable lesson in physics.  If there is a plastic cover over the wood, you probably don’t want to try and hit a ball through it. Check that, you definitely don’t.

The Black Hawks were headed back so we said our goodbyes and headed out to our next stop at Camp Carver. We would be in for one of the highlights of the trip for me.

The time we spent at this next location proved to be one of the highlights of the trip for me. I will have more to come about the studs at Camp Carver.

Thanks for following along.

Learn more about Dan at his website DanBoever.com

Our good friend, Dan Boever (REMAX Long Drive Champ, golf entertainer and all around good guy) shares his experiences in Iraq as he takes part in “Operation: FORE the Troops”. They say it’s a trip to “visit the troops” and “entertain”, but we know the governments real motive…it’s Dan’s ability to snipe at 380 yards with a Pinnacle Gold Distance.

Sunday started a bit earlier than I was hoping. After going to bed three and a half hours earlier the 3:30 wakeup call was not something I was anxious to take part in.  I know, what a baby.  We rolled out of Arifjan at 4AM and headed out for the hour and a half trip up the road to a camp I can’t remember. I just remember mean looking guards at the gate and that it was very dark.

It was there we got on a C130 to fly to Baghdad. Before we boarded the plane they told us it was time to put on our vest and helmet.  Prior to leaving on the trip I had to sign a release that said if anything bad happened I was responsible for any and all issues that may come out of being injured, or worse. Putting on the helmet and vest brought me a small step closer to the realization that something bad was a possibility. Seeing the soldiers in the back of the plane eye balling the ground looking for enemy fire as we flew didn’t make me feel much better.

I gotta tell you, any soldier who has flown more than two hours on a C130 is a hero in my book. If someone has flown over ten hours (which I know many have) then they deserve some type of medal and extra pay for life. If you are claustrophobic it is the not the place to be. Sitting sideways and not being able to look out the windows made me try and find my “happy place”. On the flight with us were fifteen or so soldiers and three senators with their thirty two aides.

During the flight I got the opportunity to go to the flight deck and hang out with the crew. There were four young men in command and all of them would be carded at any bar they tried to enter. Total age was less than 100.

It was freaky to think as we flew I was looking down over the country of Iraq. How in the world did I get to the place in my life where I would be standing in the front of a C130 looking down from the heavens at this place. It sure was a long way from where I grew up in little Remsen, IA.

We flew into Sather Air Force Base (I actually wrote the name down this time) and immediately went to a meet and greet with the troops. They were all so very kind and I even met one who lives in Le Mars, IA.  Le Mars is a mere 10 miles from that very same Remsen. Small World.

We then got into the armor plated vehicles and drove to the JVB Hotel located on Camp Victory. I understand it was actually a palace originally built for Saddam Hussein’s oldest son.  It is very impressive size wise. I imagine you could comfortably house a family of 100 in here. It would be my first of many eye openers to the lavish waste of wealth from Saddam.

We threw our bags down and fifteen minutes later we met more troops out on the back patio. This time we would do it with clubs in hand. They set up some mats and we proceeded to smash balls out into a lake that runs right up to the palace. It was a lot of fun with the guys hitting skippers and moon balls. At one point Corey Pavin jumped in to hit off my waste high tee. He hit it like the pro he is, perfect. Then Tom Watson said he wanted to try it. The results were not quite as good as Corey’s. Tom hit under it and made the ball shoot straight up off the overhanging roof. The ball ricocheted off three pillars, two soldiers and a bench before rolling into the water. The soldiers went crazy with laughter and Tom just smiled and said, “Gimme another one!”

When we finished we went to the room for six minutes and got ready for our evening plans. First would be a meeting with Multi-National Force Chief of Staff Brigadier General Joseph Anderson and then we would dine with Multi-National Task Force Commander, General Raymond Odinerno. All I can say is-VERY COOL.

Mr. Anderson was very welcoming and spoke with us about progress they have made in the last two years. As I listened to him and watched him all I could think was, this is excellence in action. And…I would not want to jack with this guy!

We were then shuttled to the home of General Odierno.  As we spoke it was mind boggling to comprehend this man I am speaking with is a very powerful four star general.  It was such an honor to be with him and to be part of the evening.  Also in attendance were numerous other generals. All of them were nothing but classy. I nearly cried as I looked around the room and pondered the years of sacrifice and service these men and their families have dedicated to our country and its citizens.

After dinner we headed to the back patio for some golf. Balls started flying into the night as we tried to hit a nearby building.  Even though these men are disciplined professionals they are still men and the thought of knocking a ball off the side of a building was more than they would stand.

Monday November 23 was officially in the books and it was indeed a good day.

Learn more about Dan at his website DanBoever.com

Our good friend, Dan Boever (REMAX Long Drive Champ, golf entertainer and all around good guy) shares his experiences in Iraq as he takes part in “Operation: FORE the Troops”. They say it’s a trip to “visit the troops” and “entertain”, but we know the governments real motive…it’s Dan’s ability to snipe at 380 yards with a Pinnacle Gold Distance.

“Today when I got up I had no idea we would be in a vehicle for six odd hours between three different Army camps. Our fearless leader Rick told us to meet and be ready to go at 9:45. Thus, he deceived me into thinking the trip would be on my normal business hours. I was excited because I knew I could be up and out by 9:45. Little did I know that would be the last of those kinds of departures for quite some time. I am finding that he is a very sneaky man and he is really only thinking of the troops. His concern for our sleep and time is way down on his priority list.  I heard him mention something about “We gotta suck it up.” I don’t like him very much.

Our first order of business was to go to command and get briefed by Mr. John Tutson, who is with the MWR.  He shared with us the history and purpose for Camp Arifjan. We sat in a big war room looked very important as we nodded.  It was also very special to meet Command Sgt. Major Don Harbin from Wynne, AR. He is a 29 year veteran and a good ole boy from my neck of the woods.  He was most gracious as he posed for pictures and answered our questions about what goes on in his world.

We then jumped in the bus and rolled to our first stop where we had a quick lunch and then moved to the range to hit some balls for a few troops. It was very spontaneous and the looks on the faces were priceless when they saw Tom Watson and Corey Pavin roll out. Imagine just hitting a few balls out into the desert and here comes a couple of Ryder Cup captains/US Open/multiple tour winning players?

Bobby, Tim and I also jumped into the action. Of course Bobby and I started hitting at objects downfield. We are not content to just hit some crappy straight drive down the middle like our tour friends. We need to see something break or at least get hit. So we zeroed in on a light pole out 200 some yards. It stood 60 feet high and was perfect for our desire to see some destruction on the driving range. Even Tom,  Corey and Tim jumped in on the action. It was blast listening to the troops go crazy as ball after ball went zipping right past the lights. It was short but very sweet time with these men.

We left and traveled to Camp Buehring for our next stop. Again we rolled in and had a commander meeting where we had the honor of meeting the leaders of this all important camp. Camp Buehring is the entrance point for a large percentage of our troops going into Iraq. They stop there for final preps before going into Iraq. Thirty seconds in the laughs started as Georgia Bulldog Tim Simpson started squaring off with Lt. Colonel Brian Naugher. It was one against fifteen and Tim was definitely outgunned. Why? They are all from the great state of Alabama. Whether Auburn or Tide fans, they were in unison about their feeling towards the SEC rival Bulldogs. In his lovely southern drawl Tim cracked them with his first words, “Hey did you hear Atlanta is going to expand their zoo? Yeah they are going to put a fence all the way around Alabama!”

We left the command center and went directly to a location where they have a humvee roll-over simulator. We all took turns flipping around upside down. Of course it was very safe. We were strapped in so tight you couldn’t move. And it was very slow, nothing compared to what a real soldier would experience. I was so claustrophobic I almost had them yank the down open before we even started. All in all it was a pretty cool experience.

We then went to meet the troops and signed autographs. I was very proud to be from Springfield, MO as I watched Tom Watson give out Bass Pro Shop Gift Cards to the troops. John Morris is the founder and owner and he donated the cards for Tom to give to the troops. There I was a million miles from home and I could see a touch of my world each time he handed them a card. I was also deeply honored to have my association with Cobra and Pinnacle as I handed out drivers and golf balls they graciously donated.

Our day ended at midnight after the hour and a half drive back to Kuwait.  Sleep would have to be quick because our wake-up call was for three-thirty AM.  Long day but a good day.

Learn more about Dan at his website DanBoever.com

Our good friend, Dan Boever (REMAX Long Drive Champ, golf entertainer and all around good guy) shares his experiences in Iraq as he takes part in “Operation: FORE the Troops”. They say it’s a trip to “visit the troops” and “entertain”, but we know the governments real motive…it’s Dan’s ability to snipe at 380 yards with a Pinnacle Gold Distance.

I am up, not because I am an early riser but because I can’t sleep and my body has no idea what time it is. I thought I had planned everything perfectly. I would go to sleep right after takeoff (which I did) sleep for 7-8 hours (which I did) and then be ready to go to sleep around midnight Kuwait time (which I did not). It was more like 3:15 AM when I finally shut out the lights.

Most of Saturday for me was effectively gone when I got onto the bus to jump through all the hoops we had to jump through upon arrival here. Fortunately Rick Kell (Our host and main man at Troops First Foundation) is very thorough and he has us all taken care of (with some special help from his wonderful daughter Lindsey). Rick is a man who has a heart for the troops and their families and I am honored to now call him my friend. He has been over some fifteen odd times so he had things worked out for us to move as quickly through all the paperwork as possible. The “Troops First Foundation” is an organization that has come to life from Rick’s early visions about helping troops and their families.

Of course I was pretty happy because the first sign I saw upon arrival inside the terminal was the McDonald’s sign. God Bless America and Ray Kroc!  Well, I passed on the opportunity but Tim Simpson made a bee line for the quarter pounder section. Both of them were gone in record time.

We then loaded into a van and headed out to our quarters for the night. As I spoke to one of the men assigned to us he said they are security detail. He said, “Did you ever see the movie “Taken?”  We are what Liam Neeson was in the movie.”  Well I have to tell you, as much as he was trying to comfort me, he didn’t.  He just made me remember that someone out there may actually want to inflict some harm. It was actually pretty cool watching our “tail” zig and zag out of traffic to make sure no one had plans on jacking with us.

Collectively can hit ball over 800 yards...who'd a thunk?

After an hour or so on the road we arrived at Camp Arifjan. It is a major support center for most of what happens in Iraq.  Our quarters for the evening are very nice. Bobby and I are sharing a living area. We each have our own room and we share a bathroom.  There is also a kitchen and fridge, which we will have little use for. We are told this is an area where the big dogs stay when they are here.  It is really nice and after Pavlet lead me to believe I would be walking 2 miles in pitch black to go to the latrine in the middle of the night, I am excited to have a bathroom nine feet away.

One thing I found interesting as we traveled out here to camp are all the tents set up in the desert. I asked about it and the guys told me the people from this area go and stay in the tents throughout the winter months. It is their way of keeping with their long tradition of living in the desert. If I explained it incorrectly I apologize. All I know is, in every direction all you see is bright lights, tents and fancy cars.

I am now officially loopy and it is time for bed. What day is it? I am more of a wimp than I ever imagined.

Learn more about Dan at his website DanBoever.com