Virtual 19th Hole

On September 28, with the trees just starting to turn color, 124 golfers teed it up on a misty but mild fall morning at the annual Braemar Golf Association (BGA) Memorial Fund Scramble. By the back nine the pleasant if overcast autumn morning gave way to sunny skies, warming temperatures , and a wholesale discarding of sweaters and jackets.

An annual tradition to help the BGA raise funds for Twin Citians’ favorite golf course, the BGA over the years has funded numerous projects at Braemar— the severe weather alert system, the portable awning at the range used for lessons, clubhouse television sets, the golf shop music system and a Verticat cart for use by adaptive golfers, including at the annual Adaptive Golf Open, held most recently on September 26 and 27 at Braemar.

As in past years, participants in the Scramble ranged from low to high handicappers and included a good mix of women, men, young and not-so-young golfers. To bolster proceeds from the event and enhance opportunities for low scores, players were offered mulligans and strings for purchase. And, sure enough, the field employed those scoring aids to good advantage.

The winning team, including BMC members Brian Klass, Thaddeus Smith and Mike Bishop, carded a score of 22 under. BMC members following in their wake included the foursome of Tom Klassen, Rick Danmeier, Clay Halverson and your truly.

After golf, participants were treated to a buffet luncheon brimming with good food and good cheer and a high-spirited award ceremony hosted by BGA President and Platinum Sponsor Pacy Erck.

If you haven’t participated before in this event, you owe it to yourself to form a foursome next year and join in the fun.

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

On September 24, in Thursday League’s final round of the season, 30-year BMC member Bob Melander made his round count big-time. This was on a day when many players, despite relatively benign playing conditions, struggled and will now have long off-seasons to ponder redemption. But not Bob. He’ll simply have more time to savor a memory that will never grow stale. And, surprisingly, the memorable moment took place after six relatively forgettable holes. But then came Lucky Number 7—Braemar’s seventh hole. Which is where Bob struck the nine-iron of his life– for his first-ever hole-in-one! Unfortunately, with the pin located back right, Bob, from the N tee box, couldn’t see the ball go into the hole– but teammate Randy Krivo most certainly did. And Randy didn’t miss a beat in trumpeting the good news. Making this feat even more special was how Bob’s ace must have dispelled the understandable doubt any of us might have harbored that, after so many years, a moment like this would no longer be possible. So, by showing us that it’s never too late, Bob, whose current USGA handicap is 22, is surely an inspiration to golfers of all stripes. And while his score that day wound up as a ho-hum 94, how could that have mattered to a guy who probably floated off the 18^th green on cloud nine.

One other thing: if you’re still looking for your first ace, you might try Bob’s approach: aim right, hit it right.

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

As readers of The Virtual 19^th Hole will recall, the fourth hole played a prominent role in this year’s BMC highlights— it just wasn’t Braemar’s fourth hole. In fact, it was at Hazeltine’s fourth where eight-year member Tim Deutsch made a hole-in-one on August 16.

Strangely, it turns out, however, that Tim’s ace was not the only part played by Hazeltine’s fourth hole in the memorable golf experiences of BMC members (nor, as will come clear, not the only time that the BMC member in question was named Tim). So, let’s take a trip down memory lane— all the way back to the mid-1980s. The pertinent circumstances: a college golf tournament in which BMC member Tim Smith was in the final group. This Tim being a 14-year BMC member, a former BMC Senior Club Champion, a member of Braemar’s illustrious 8-Man A Team, a former BMC board member, and the longstanding league coordinator for Best Weekly.

As noted, Tim’s was the final group in the event; his foursome, however, was not– as would have been expected– the final group on the course that day. One last foursome surprisingly trailed his. And while there was a bit of mystery about how this group came to be on the course, one thing was clear: even at a casual glance, these were definitely not college golfers.

The mystery group, presumably out of respect for the event in front of them, waited to tee off at least 25 minutes after Tim’s foursome. But they nevertheless caught up to the field on the fourth tee, where there was a backup. That’s when it finally became clear who these guys were: Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat, Steve Carlton and Phil Nikro– the winners of over a collective 2,000 major league games!

To be sure, those four guys made for an intimidating gallery. But Tim, never one to be easily daunted, still managed to hit the green and make par. Admittedly, not as dramatic as a fourth hole ace, but memorable to be sure.

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

Again this year, as in the last several years, Braemar’s 8-Man A Team concluded their regular season with outstanding play– and wound up with a first-place finish in their division: 5 wins against a single loss. In a testament to the strength of this team, senior Braemar players had virtually no chance of seeing action this year unless their handicap was less than 4.

And, as previously reported, Braemar’s dominant regular season sent the team into the playoffs, where they faced a strong Bunker Hills squad in a home and away series. Continuing their consistently winning ways, Braemar rolled to a convincing 16-8 victory.

That win propelled the 8-Man A Team into the finals. So, once again, Braemar would face the tantalizing prospect of an 8A championship, with just one last hurdle to overcome: a formidable– and undefeated– Fox Hollow squad, a team that had displayed few, if any, vulnerabilities all year. Nevertheless, this match, while no walk in the park, looked to be winnable. But, unfortunately, victory just wasn’t in the cards. Despite strong play throughout a dramatic home and away series, Fox Hollow came out on top: 13.5-10.5.

Co-captains Jeff Roseland and Mark Paetznick have led their team to one strong season after another. Which leaves only one question: can they find a way next year to finally capture that elusive 8A championship?

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

It’s belatedly come to the attention of The Virtual 19^th Hole that there was an unfortunate omission in the earlier post on Randy Krivo’s sub-par round, prioritizing great rounds of golf based on gross scores– as opposed to great individual shots. Regrettably omitted was the outstanding 70 that Doug Pernula shot on August 13, a blistering 2-under par.

So, let’s set the record straight.

Most significantly, just as with Randy’s round, Doug’s 70 deserves special kudos both because awards are issued so seldom for low gross scores specifically, and because– let’s face it– so few of us could match a round like that.

A five-year BMC member, Doug, with a current USGA handicap of 7.5, plays regularly in Thursday League. And he holds the rare distinction of having made two holes-in-one at Braemar— both on number 7 (the hole affectionally known by The Virtual 19^th Hole as “Lucky Number 7”). Another, somewhat surprising, distinction of Doug’s: as part of Braemar’s maintenance staff, he regularly cuts the hole locations on Thursday mornings, alternating the front and back nines from week to week. So, if on a particular Thursday you believe the pin positions are too severe and want to point fingers, rest assured that he’s already heard all about it from his regular golf buddies!

Highlights of Doug’s masterpiece, played from the D tees in regular Thursday League competition, included an eagle on number 4 and a birdie on number 6, along with 15 pars– with his sole bogey coming on number 12. Sounds like a dream round, doesn’t it? Not surprisingly, Doug’s net 65 dominated the field that day in Thursday League’s first flight. But it’s that gross score of 2-under par that will ineluctably withstand the test of time.

Congrats on a great round, Doug!

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

Doug in 2023 after his 2d ace at no. 7

Have you ever wondered about how we golfers tend to celebrate individual golf shots? A hole-in-one, closest to the hole, longest putt, etc. And, at least for those of us of a certain age, shooting our age (meaningful to be sure, but as much about our ages as our scores). Check out the Unforgettable Feats page: you’ll see aces, age shooters and double eagles (a combination of two great individual shots).

But where are the tributes for simply shooting a great gross score? Eighteen consecutive holes of excellent golf, with no handicapping or netting, just a great gross score. Something that’s definitely harder to do than making a single great shot– but maybe not celebrated enough.

So, here’s to an awesome round of golf played by five-year member Randy Krivo! On September 3, Randy fired a scintillating 71, playing from the D tees in Thursday League. With his handicap hovering right around 8, that translated into a net 66, blowing away the first flight field on a net score basis. But, as impressive as that was, this tribute is about his gross score: one under par– a big deal in just about anybody’s book. By the way, Randy turns 71 in November so, as he puts it, he either missed shooting his age by one stroke or two months.

It’s true of course that many of us know (or know of) some of our traveling team players or participants in Wednesday League who can break par– and their uber low handicaps demonstrate the likelihood that they can do it.

But what about the guys just looking to break 80 and maintain a single-digit handicap? Take Randy: a solid single digit player, cards his fair share of birdies, and plays regularly in the Club Championship—but (if we could hazard a guess) probably did not wake up on September 3 contemplating a sub-par round of golf. A round that featured three birdies, two bogeys and 13 pars: 71 dream-like strokes.

Isn’t that worth celebrating every bit as much as any single shot?

Congrats, Randy, on a terrific round of golf (which of course will be murder on your handicap)!

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

On September 27, in regular Thursday League play, Dan Berend shot his age! His 80, a net 2 under, matched his age right on the number. His net 70 was also good for a first-place tie (with Clay Halverson) in Thursday League’s second flight. Highlights of the round included natural birdies on 7 and 17.

Dan also shot his age last year, just before turning 79, when he fired a 78 at Bunker Hills. But his 80 at Braemar was the first time he got it done at his home course.

A 17-year BMC member, Dan is a former member of the BMC’s board of directors and, in addition to Thursday League, participates in Four-Ball Match Play and Best Weekly.

Congrats, Dan!

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

On August 15, eight-year member Tim Deutsch, who calls both Braemar and Hazeltine home, made a hole-in-one on Hazeltine’s fourth hole– something neither Tiger Woods nor Jack Nicklaus was able to do during their illustrious careers.

Nicklaus competed at Hazeltine three times, in the 1970 and 1991 US Opens and the 2002 PGA; Tiger twice, at the 2002 and 2009 PGAs. But neither of them was able to ace number 4.

Playing at 143 yards on the day in question, the hole may have been a bit shorter than what it measured in 1970, 1991, 2002 or 2009. But there was nothing short of perfection in Tim’s solid nine-iron shot finding the bottom of the cup. Not surprisingly, there isn’t a record of what that ace wound up costing Tim at the 19^th hole, but there are certain things that money simply can’t measure. According to unofficial sources this was Tim’s second all-time hole-in-one.

An understandingly enthusiastic Tim is pictured below (and take note of one small detail as an aside: pictured on the flag itself is the silhouette of Les Bolstad, who played at Hazeltine as an honorary member– and actually walked the course—well into his nineties).

Congrats, Tim! Eat your hearts out, Jack and Tiger.

Dick Helde
Editor, The 19th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

As expected, the introduction this year of autonomous mowers throughout the course has led to some unique situations. Has a mower run over your ball? Did one of your shots hit a mower? Did one of the mowers cross your path or come straight at you as you lined up a shot?

Consider this a call to weigh in with your autonomous mowers stories!

And in the meanwhile:

• If an autonomous mower is crossing directly in front of you or is headed directly toward you, step aside and wait to hit until the coast is clear;
• If an autonomous mower runs over your ball, take a free drop, within one club length no nearer the hole; and
• If there’s an autonomous mower in the vicinity, don’t leave a club lying on the ground unless it’s in the fairway cut or on the green. The mowers are blind to anything that isn’t at least several inches above ground level.

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590

First and foremost: congrats to all the winners in this year’s BMC Club Championships, particularly Club Champion Matthew Chandler (whose 36-hole total was a sizzling 5-under), Senior Champion Rick Passolt (with a 36-hole total of even par), and all our other champions for their impressive play in both the gross and net scoring events.

At the same time, it should be no surprise that, following the Club Championships, BMC members have contributed some additional claims to fame as well.

Gene Haman does it again

As reported earlier by The Virtual 19^th Hole, Gene Haman shot his age on May 7, with an 89 just before turning 90. After his birthday, Gene came close again a couple of times, but, alas, no cigar. Then on July 23, playing in Thursday League, and once again favoring the N tees, the stars aligned and, at 90, Gene beat his age by three strokes, carding an 87. Congrats, Gene!

Six-under on one hole?

Wait… what?? OK, to clarify: the event was the annual Thursday League team event, with the format being best 3 out of 4 balls. Also, the competition was based on net scores. Still, six-under on one hole? Not too shabby.

It took place at 16 and the foursome in question consisted of myself, Rick Danmeier, Matt Filner and Ryan Dulkin.

Here’s how we did it: From the E tees, Ryan, who got two strokes on the hole based on his 22 handicap, smashed a drive down the left side and hit the green in two with a 6 iron. Two-putts later, his natural birdie translated to a net albatross. Then Matt, after launching a bomb down the fairway from the D tees, hit the green from 145 yards with a 9 iron. He also two-putted for a natural birdie, net eagle. And to cap things off, Rick, who hit the green in regulation, also two-putted for a natural par, net birdie. And there you have it: six-under on one hole!

And, of course, with plenty of golf left to play this year, who’s to say what feats or disappointments remain in store? Stay tuned.

Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19^th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590