Crooked Beginnings
Welcome to Bent Flags! I’m so glad you stopped by to check things out.
My name’s Ricky Champagne. I’m a husband, father, moderately proficient golfer, and lover of all things silly. I started this Substack as a sandbox, a place to mess around, share offbeat tales, and put a voice to the funny absurdity of life.
I recently finished a book called Bluecut Rills, a heartfelt comedic golf novel in the spirit of Caddyshack and Tin Cup. I grew up working on golf courses, which seem to be a magnet for characters, oddballs, and legends. A few of them wandered straight into my novel. The book’s in editing now, and I’ll share updates here as it gets closer to release—along with other ridiculous notes and stray detours.
A little more about me. I live for nonsense. I find it, it finds me, and I turn it into something to share. It’s my favorite thing.
Dream jobs? Writer, truck driver, carney and professional wrestler. One down, three to go. Application pending on the log flume.
Favorite foods? Ground beef. People usually look uncomfortable when I say that. Second choice is chicken patties, a closet pick, though I suspect one that draws a few secret agreements. Third, chicken parm but only if I’m surrounded by too many adults.
I named this Bent Flags as a nod to life not being meant to stand perfectly straight. If you’re into crooked stories and a little nonsense, you’re in the right place. I’ll be posting something new every couple weeks. Hope you’ll stick around.