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President's Letter |
Golfer's Latest Ace Especially Sweet
"I've faced a lot of obstacles in my 55 years," he said, "but none like this one. When I learned I had cancer in my colon, lungs, and liver, I thought about all of the things I enjoyed doing and figured they had all ended." Hughes, whose family moved to Battle Creek from Mississippi when he was two years old, has worked at Kellogg Company for 32 years in the purchasing, customer service and logistics departments. Work at Kellogg has been rewarding, but his real passion is golf. Every chance he gets he plays a round or two, something he has loved doing for more than three decades. Without ever taking a lesson, his handicap has hovered around zero. Twice named Player of the Year in the Calhoun County Golf Association, Hughes has won a number of tourneys, most recently last July when he notched his third Senior Club Championship at Battle Creek Country Club. Soon afterward, on August 2, he registered his fifth career ace on a 143-yard par three at the BCCC. "I've lost some weight as a result of my cancer treatments so I picked a little longer club than I usually use," Hughes said. "It seemed to hang there in mid-air and then it dropped about three yards in front of the cup, rolled toward the hole, rattled the flag pole and then dropped. Then it struck me, if I can still make a shot like and still occasionally break par, I can beat this cancer." Hughes and his wife, who is a pharmacist at Battle Creek Health System, began playing golf together at Ferris when they were dating. "We've always enjoyed golfing," said Hughes. "This disease isn't going to change that for us." The Hughes' son and their daughter-in-law are expecting their first child in September. "My cancer is not yet in remission, but I'm determined to beat this disease," says Hughes. "That's why I continue to pursue my golf game it's part of my therapy." In addition to his love of the game, Hughes credits his treatment from the Cancer Care Center at BCHS for keeping him on the course. Hughes now has a more philosophical outlook on his name, and on life. "Now when I tee off, I have an entirely new appreciation for the upcoming 18 holes," says Hughes. "I play them one at a time savoring every stroke no matter where the ball ends up whether in the rough or the fairway. Today the greens are greener than I remember them, the sand traps not nearly as intimidating, and those with whom I play golf are more treasured." |
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