3 signings...2 days...all free! Part 1 of 3; Following the 13th best golfer on Earth!

I'm back with more autograph adventures!

Just a quick note about the upcoming writings; I recently went to 3 signings over 2 days, and I'm going to present them individually for your viewing pleasure...in my long-winded style! I hope you enjoy this one, and the others to follow.

Chapter one; Following the 13th best golfer on Earth!

Camilo Villegas.

Ever heard of him? Probably not.

Tiger Woods? Of course, he's arguably the most famous athlete on the planet today.

Here's the kicker. Tiger Woods is number 1, in the World Golf Rankings, Camilo Villegas is only 12 spots behind him. Trust me when I say this...he will be great.


















CV is only 27, and has won 2 PGA tournaments in the last 10 months. He won the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship tournaments...back to back, last September. Very impressive. Past winners of the Tour Championship include Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Vijay Singh, and Mike Weir...just to list some of the impressive company. The young Colombian, was also named in People's 'Hottest Bachelors" in 2006...so to say he has a following, would be an understatement.

Let's begin.

A month or so ago, I was checking a few sites, when I found out that I missed 2 autograph signings at Golf Town. Golf Town is a large golf equipment & clothing chain across Canada. I was kind of disapointed, as I've never gotten a pro-golfer's autograph before, and wanted to expand my collection into that sport. So I saved Golf Town to my internet favourties, and checked their website frequently for any events.

2 weeks ago, they updated their site...and this time, I got the news early.

Camilo Villegas was coming to Golf Town's Mississauga, Ontario location for an Q&A session, followed by an autograph signing. The drawback was it limited to only 100 people. Another drawback was the time of the signing itself. It was to start at 3pm. I live about 45 minutes, on a good day away in Guelph...and I started work on the assembly line at 5:45pm! If it went late and/or traffic was bad...I'd be late for work!

Was it worth the risk? I needed to think about it. And think about it, I did. The weekend leading into the Tuesday that the signing was on, I was still very undecided. The normal concerns went through my mind, other than the time frame issues, what to get signed? is there a limit? and, is it worth it?

That weekend, I did some investigating into CV himself. The fact he won 2 tournaments, signed by Cobra Golf, and is the 13th ranked player...all intrigued me. I went to eBay to see if his autograph was out there for viewing and for sale. Stupid me...everybody's autograph is for sale on eBay! However, I did see a few autographs, and his looked pretty cool.

So, I decided to give it a try, and go for it.

Now, what to get signed? The website mentioned that free photos would be distributed to the 100 people who made it early enough. That would be nice, but I was hoping for something a touch more different, since he would be the 1st PGA pro I've gotten an autograph from. I thought about getting a pin flag, very popular amongst golf autograph seekers. But I felt, it could be a little difficult acquiring, in my neck of the woods. I also thought of an "Cobra" hat, the company who sponsors him on the tour. But what if he made the jump to Nike, next year? Would anyone ever remember him with Cobra? It's like legendary NHL goalie Tony Esposito, anyone ever remember he won a Stanley cup with Montreal?! No, just that he played 15 years for the Chicago Blackhawks!

Like how I threw in a hockey reference?

Back to the story, after talking about it with Corinna, I decided to go with a piece of equipment, he (probably) never change...his preferred golf ball. You see golfers, are creatures of habit. Getting them to change anything, in their arsenal, is very difficult. Remember, this is their livelihood here!

CV uses the Titleist Pro V1. A ball that's available to anyone, meaning it's not just for the pros.

I figured Golf Town would have them for sale, so I banked on that...and would go to the signing EMPTY HANDED.

Tuesday morning, I got up and get ready for the signing...and for work. Time, as always, was going to be a major factor today. I was leaving home, hoping both traffic and the weather be good to me. Well...not so much. The skies were very dark, and the clouds looks incredibly saturated! However, the rain was holding off. Traffic was heavy, but moving very well. Arriving an hour early, I liked my chances of gaining the autograph. As I hopped out of my Highlander, the skies began to open. At least I got here quickly!

Entering Golf Town, I quickly walked into the registeration area for the Camilo Villegas Q&A and autograph signing. After filling out an entry contest ballot, I was given an (FREE) autograph ticket and (FREE) 8x10 of Villegas, with a Cobra logo on it. Actually the photo was pretty cool looking. Normally freebie photos are just a photocopy of a picture, in black and white...however this picture was a original print, and looked great! The ticket I was given entitled me to get an additional item signed...that would have to be purchased in store.

What a coincidence! I wanted to purchase golf balls to get signed! Anyways, I found a sleeve of the balls I wanted to purchase. By the way, a sleeve of balls is the term used for buying just '3' new balls...just a head's up! Afterwards, I walked around the massive store, killing time, checking out their sales and such. I finally made my way over to the signing area, where Golf Town had the Q&A set-up, with CV's own golfbag & clubs on display that he used in the British Open, just 2 days earlier. It made my golfbag look weak! Anyways, I heard that Golf Town was going to be giving away one of his golfbags, signed, to one lucky winner...meaning I had 1 in 99 odds! Regardless, I wasn't holding my breath.

After jumping in line for the Q&A/signing, 3pm rolled around, and Camilo Villegas came out to the area with Bob Weeks...who was to host the Q&A forum. Weeks is the editor for Score Golf magazine, a Canadian Golf publication. Weeks went through the standard questions; "How did you get into golf?", "Who was your favourite golfer growing up?", and "How did you feel winning your 1st tournament?".














The only question I enjoyed was one asked by someone in crowd, asking what is in your bag? He went on to joke that he has so many clubs, that it looks more like a LPGA bag, than he own lately! (It was a joke on the limit of clubs between the 2 pro-tours). Ii liked that he pulled out each club, knowing when he got it, what the loft was, and why he changed it to the current model he currently uses. That's knowing your craft!


















After the Q&A, Weeks & CV pulled the winner of the British Open Golf Bag....and it was...not me. In fact, I didn't win the 3 hats they drew for afterwards. Sad eh?! Just kidding! An older gentleman won the bag, and Villegas personalized the bag to him. CV autographed the 3 hats, that were drawn for afterwards.

Camilo Villegas made his way to the signing table, and proceeded to start signing autographs. I was about 35th in line as I looked at my watch, 3:45pm...leaving me exactly 2 hours to get to work, I was starting to get nervous! About 20 minutes later, it was about about to me my turn!
















I noticed a Golf Town employee beside the signing table, and I asked her to take my photo with Villegas, if she didn't mind. She said sure, no problem. So I left her with my trusted camera...which I thought was good to go.



I finally got up to the front of line, and greeted Camilo Villegas! After exchanging greetings, I handed him my 8x10 which he placed a signature on. I noticed the Golf Town girl took a photo of CV signing for me. I asked him, if he would sign my Titliest golf ball? He said sure, took it, and began to autograph it for me. While he was signing, I asked him if i could get a quick photo with him, which he agreed to.














Camilo Villegas and I smiled and posed for the camera, that the Golf Town employee was about to take.

Then she spoke.

"I'm sorry, but it says your memory card is full...it won't take a picture!"

If the Earth could of opened up at that moment, I would of jumped in!

Villegas said; "Sorry buddy!", as the next person in line approached him. Embarrassed I went to the girl, who apologized, and I said no problem, it happens! Well, it wasn't all that bad, right?! Who are we kidding?! It was great! I just got two FREE autographs, from a fantastic golfer! There was I deciding whether or not, I wanted to ask for another picture with CV, when I noticed...THE TIME! 4pm, time to move! It was rush hour!




















I decided to leave. As I went to walk outside, a flash of lightning went across the darkening skies! DAMN! I ran to the Highlander, and jumped inside! The rain was torrential! Alright, now it was to face the 401...and try to make it to work on time!

I guess, I'm dragging this out...so here's the short end of it all...traffic was okay, in fact I made it home, dropped off the autographs, kissed my wife, and went to work ON TIME! :)

Well that's it for part one of the three part series I've titled "3 signings...2 days...all free!".

I hoped you enjoyed it! Part 2 will be along in the next couple of days!

Chris

On the cover of a Rolling Stone's album!

Welcome back!

This blog was originally meant to document my "in-person" autograph adventures, and has done so...so far!

But recently, I had such an great "in the mail" autograph success, I thought I'd share it with everyone!

About 4 months ago, I was re-reading one of my back issues of "Autograph Collector" magazine. It's a great read for those who like reading about autograph successes, and historical autographs. One area of the magazine includes addresses, so you write to your favourite celebrity. AC usually has over different one hundred addresses in their magazine each month.

However this edition had an article, that included a celebrity address. A Rolling Stones fan wrote about how he had recent autograph success, with an English address, writing to the Stones' drummer, Charlie Watts. His article spoke of how he wrote to the legendary drummer 3 times over the last 2 years, with Watts responding each time, signing everything he sent! This really peaked my curiousity! Apparently, to this writer, Watts was a fantastic (personalizing) signer through the mail!

Quick note; "Personalizing" signer means, a celebrity who puts your name on the item they're signing. ie; "To Corinna, All the best or Best Wishes, Charlie Watts". Most celebrities, who personalize, do this to prevent the sale of their autographs, on eBay, craigslist, and other sale sites. Personally, I don't sell autographs. Ever.

After reading about Watts good signing habits, I thought that could be great autograph to get. Now the real question would be; What to get Charlie Watts, of the Rolling Stones, to sign?


















Recently, I was in Busters (kind of a pawn shop), and noticed they had used records. I couldn't remember if they had a used Stones album, but I thought that would be cool to get signed...a Rolling Stones album! So, after short 5 minute drive, I arrived at Busters, greeted the owner, and went to the used records area. After flipping through a few hundred records, I finally came across a Stones album! They had "Rolling Stones, Still Life; The American Concert". Awesome, a live double record! It was fairly priced...4 dollars! It was cheaper than printing off an 8x10 photo!


















Afer slapping my 4 bucks down, I left Busters to head to the Post Office to find 2 envelopes large enough to fit the record...to send to England, and back. Luckily there was bubble mailers for sale (an envelope that has an air bubble pocket to protect its contents) that were large enough for the album to fit into safely. After spending 6 bucks on the 2 large envelopes, I was heading home, to finalize the project.

When I got home, I decided to write a letter to Charlie Watts, explaining that I was a fan of his music, thanking him for continunally touring, and requesting an autograph. After writing a nice letter to the legendary drummer, I broke open the Autograph Collector mag again, to get the address. After writing Watts' address on one envelope, and my address on the other...I put the record, letter, and my SASE into the Watts' addressed envelope.

Back to the post office I went.

Once there, I went to purchase Canadian postage to the UK, and English postage to return. I was informed, they did not sell English stamps. DAMN! After taking a second to think about what to do, I decided to throw 10 dollars into the letter to Charlie, hoping it would be enough for him to pay for English postage back to Canada. After stuffing everything into the large envelope (again), I paid the 5 bucks to ship it to the UK...and mailed it.

One month went by.

Two months went by.

Three months went by.

At this point, I gave up on the autograph...since the magazine article said they got it back in about 6 weeks. Since I didn't have the proper postage to send it back to Canada, I figured the album et al, was tossed in the garbage. After thinking about all that...I gave up on the idea all together, and forgot about it.

Four months went by.

Then one day, I was checking the mail and got a key in the mailbox, to check the parcel mailbox area. When I slipped the key into the lock, it hit me what it could be! When I opened the door...sure enough...it was the return envelope from Charlie Watts! YES!

Basically, I ran back into my house telling my wife, Corinna, that I got something back from the UK! She smiled and asked if it was the record album? I said...let's see! I was glad to see that it the right envelope, addressed to me and not a "return to sender" envelope. I ripped into the package, and pulled out my album, back facing me.

When I flipped it over...there it was. CHARLIE WATTS' AUTOGRAPH! Sweet! He personalized to me and signed it underneath. "To Chris, Charlie Watts '09!" Both Corinna and I stared at it, basically trying to figuring out Watts' signature...we couldn't really make it out. Personally I think he signs his intials, in a fancy way and adds the year. Regardless, I now had the biggest band on Earth drummer's autograph! When I opened the album, just to see if he wrote a note back...I found something.














Charlie Watts didn't write an note back, he simply gave me back my 10 dollar bill, that I sent him for postage! How kind is that?! He picked up the 3 pounds postage to send the record back to Canada! That's about 7.50 Canadian. I found it really nice, that he would pay for the postage himself to send an autograph back to Canada for a fan. Really nice.














Well that's about it for this autograph adventure, thanks for reading, and sorry for a delay between stories!

Many, many, many thanks to Charlie Watts for his time and kindness!

See ya soon,
Chris

PS- Exciting news, Insider's Edge (a Canadian collectables magazine) has decided to publish my Larry Walker story in a future edition! I'm very excited, more news to follow!
Here's their website; http://www.hobbyinsider.net/