To many of us “up on the rooftop” may conjure up images of Christmas and Santa Claus. But what about longstanding BMC member Mike Kavanaugh? Here’s guessing that, to Mike, that phrase brings back memories of a remarkable shot he hit on Braemar’s 10th hole.
Mike reigns as the gross score champion from the BMC’s Over-65 Super Seniors Club Championship, held August 2d and 3d. And not only did Mike win but, after firing a blistering 68 on the first day, he essentially transformed the Super Seniors Championship into a battle for second place. But did his virtually insurmountable lead drain all remaining excitement from that division? Not by a long shot– or, more specifically, by a pitch shot.
It turned out that on the second day of the tournament Mike faced an unusual challenge beyond the super-slick greens and distressingly deep lies in the rough. He also had to deal, surprisingly, with the brick utility shed to the left of the 10th green.
Here’s what happened: after driving into the right rough, Mike’s second shot veered left, due to the thick grass shutting the face of his club. Yet he got enough club on the ball to send it soaring directly over said utility shed. In fact, the ball appeared headed well into the woods on the hillside behind the shed– but that’s where things got interesting. Unbeknownst to many Braemar golfers, there’s a tall, thin pole of indeterminate function situated just past and to the left of the shed. The pole’s diameter only slightly exceeds that of a golf ball. Somehow, Mike’s second shot wound up hitting that pole squarely– and the ball bounced right back onto the roof of the shed.
Undaunted, Mike clambered up on top of the shed where he discovered he had a pretty good lie on the rooftop— certainly better than the one he had in the right rough. Wedge in hand, he pitched the ball to seven feet and two-putted for a routine bogey.
Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590