The Refuge: An Inspirational Story of Golf, Cancer, and Parenthood

Joe Crist admired each shot as it left the club, all the way until it landed. The swing was smooth, the impact was crisp. The hot Las Vegas sun was nothing compared to this blistering 7-iron. This was the therapy he needed - and he wasn’t the one swinging the club.

Instead, it was his daughter Joanna, barely 5, who was putting on her own stripe show. Joe smiled with understandable pride as he watched her conduct her own ball-striking clinic. But this moment was about so much more than golf.

Nearly 20 years ago, the turn of the century brought new opportunities for Joe. There was a new job at BankOne Financial, a new home in Nevada, and most importantly, a new love.

Jolene Bushnell was beautiful. About 5’4” with unforgettable strawberry blonde hair.

She graduated from the University of Kansas with a 4.0 GPA, all while paying her way through college working 40 hours a week at a steakhouse.

Her hard work allowed her to secure a job at BankOne, serving in a leadership role over a good friend of Joe.

A Type-A personality that was all business in the workplace, she would often scold Joe for socializing too long during work hours.

In turn, Joe asked her to drinks. Three years later, they were married. Roughly half a decade later, they brought home Joanna.

“We were so excited to have our first child together,” said Joe. “It was so much fun bringing home a newborn baby.”

However, not six months into changing diapers, disaster struck.

Stomach troubles, as well as pain both near Joline’s shoulders and her c-section led to a doctor’s visit and ultrasound.

“I saw the look on the technician’s face,” recalls Joe. “She said ‘I’ll be right back.’”

The news: 13 tumors in Jolene’s pancreas and liver. It was a rare form of cancer called neuroendocrine tumors.

Normally slow-growing and more treatable, the tumors, in this case, had grown quickly.

Doctors told Joline that the chances were living were slim, and treatment would likely only extend her life to spend time with Joanna.

In her weakened state, Joline wasn’t able to do much physically with Joanna, so reading became a staple for the duo.

Joline even occasionally found the strength to challenge Joanna to a game of ‘Just Dance’ on the Nintendo Wii.

However, three years after her diagnosis, the dance parties ended. Joline passed away in 2011.

So hence, the refuge.

Joe, just looking for some serenity, made the trek across the street to this shaded range. Here, there was only one disturbance, and it was a welcome one.

In those years where it was impossible for Joline to, it was Joe who had changed most of the diapers, supplied most of the bottles, and rocked their daughter to sleep.

Now, almost naturally, Joanna wanted to be around dad. And just like with her dad, the golf bug hit hard.

Her first bucket of balls came around the age of three and a half. Holding the club like a hockey stick, she hit the balls downrange into the scorching desert sky.

“Sweat was running down her face and I said, ‘Okay, are you ready to go?’ She stomped her foot down and she said, ‘I want another bucket!’” Joe recalls laughingly.

He happily obliged. She’s been hooked ever since.

As Joanna’s game has continued to develop, Joe has been there for every step of the way, serving as both coach and caddie.

“We get to spend a lot of time together,” said Joanna gleefully. “I can talk to him about stuff that I can't talk to a regular coach (about)...(Plus) he pushes the cart for me which is like 50 pounds and I couldn't do it if I wanted to.”

And he hasn’t just been pushing that cart to the driving range. These two have seen their share of success out on the golf course.

They’ve had multiple wins in U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour events, and have qualified for prestigious events such as the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst N.C.

Last year, Joanna made her first appearance in the World Championship, posting scores of 82 and 78 on her way to a 33rd-place finish.

However, Joanna’s biggest moment on the golf course wasn’t on the prestigious grounds of Pinehurst, but instead a humble municipal golf course in Indio, California.

On the short par 3 10th, she laced an iron shot right at the pin.

“I swung back and I hit it and it went in the hole,” exclaimed Joanna. “Me and my dad looked at each other and screamed. And we were so happy and we hugged each other so hard.”

In one of the greatest moments a golfer can have, Joanna reached down to retrieve her hole in one ball.

Emblazoned on the side of the pink golf ball, was a cancer awareness ribbon.

“I told her, ‘I don't know if you believe in divine intervention but I think Mama Joline might have something to do with that," said Joe.

Now, with her mother serving as an inspiration, and her father by her side, Joanna has crafted lofty long-term goals for her golf game.

All you have to do is listen to her voicemail greeting. “Hi, This is Joanna, future LPGA. I can't get to the phone right now but you can give me a callback."

This week, Joanna has set her sights on a more immediate target, the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.

Although a goal of a top-25 finish has come into focus after another year of experience, Joanna still keeps the bigger picture in mind.

“My goals are to go out there and obviously have fun and spend time with my dad.”

It seems like that has worked out just fine for them so far.