When we reach our second shots on the par five, Slater whips out his Rangefinder binoculars, a birthday gift from his girlfriend, former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson. After his ineffectual protest, Bob keeps quiet. After nine holes we go pound balls on the range with Willem, whose name turns out to be Bill or Billy, but who does resemble the actor Willem Dafoe. I whisper to Slater. I asked him, but I forget.
Slater begins hitting five irons, producing one gorgeous shot after another.
Just like I can watch a wave and surf it in my mind, know precisely how it feels. He breaks off, laughing. I don't even like to think about it. He'd seen Slater's fresh, unjaded face in a surf magazine ad and offered to take him out for a power dinner at a Sizzler steakhouse. Taylor became Slater's manager, and for years, when Slater was in Los Angeles, he would stay at Taylor's house in Coldwater Canyon.