Breamar 3rd Green

Virtual 19th Hole

  • Drew Cripps Bridges the Gap

    In 2023, longstanding BMC member Richard Black may have assumed that his one-in-a-million shot on 16 would stand the test of time for deploying a Braemar bridge to maximum advantage.  As reported at the time by The Virtual 19th Hole, Richard’s shanked/ topped approach shot to the green squirted off to the right toward the walking bridge—and rolled right over the bridge and up to the edge of the green.  From there, Richard, whose Tuesday League opponent was understandably shell-shocked,  tied the hole and went on to win the match.

    Who would have thought there could ever be a bridge shot to rival that one? 

    Fast forward to June 12, 2025, and picture longstanding member Drew Cripps at the second hole, standing on the D tee box, and eyeing his standard bunt driver tee shot. Taking his time over the ball and employing a laser focus, Drew hit his desired low trajectory drive down the right side– but the ball started drifting a bit too much to the right until no one in the foursome could tell if it stayed in the rough or rolled into the hazard.  Or… could Drew have pulled off a Richard Black miracle and rolled the ball safely over the bridge, right over the creek?

    As the foursome headed down the fairway toward the bridge, there was still no trace of the ball, so Drew wandered into the rough to continue his search.  Suddenly, the ball came into view– and no one could believe where it wound up. 

    Check out the photos below– seeing is believing!  Drew took his drop and finished the hole with a ho-hum bogey.

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

  • Induction of BMC Age Shooters

    Two months into the official 2025 season, The Age Shooters of the BMC is proud to announce the induction of several members, including three new members and two repeat members.

    The new members are:

    • John Miller, who, on June 24, at age 76, shot his age on the number from Braemar’s D tees, playing in a 4 Man Over-70 match against Fox Hollow;
    • Dan Berend, who, on May 23, at age 78, shot his age on the number, playing at Bunker Hills in a Metro Seniors match against Bunker; and
    • Joe O’Neill, who, on July 23, 2024, at age 67, shot a 66 at Dwan (par 68), in a Senior 8 Man match against Dwan. Apologies to Joe for the late reporting of this outstanding round of two under!

    The returning members are:

    • Bill Angel, who shot his three times this year, including a 74 (at age 74, just before his birthday in June), on May 27, from Braemar’s D tees; a 72 (at age 74) on June 10, at Francis Gross’s combination tees; and a 72 (at age 75, just after his birthday) on June 24 from Braemar’s D tees.  All three rounds came in 4 Man competitions and contributed to Braemar victories against Emerald Greens, Gross and Fox Hollow.
    • Jim Peterson, who, at 83, shot an 80 on April 23 from Braemar’s N tees. Jim hit the fairways all day and couldn’t miss a putt from inside 10 feet.  He also shot his age in 2023, when, at age 81, Jim fired an 80 from Braemar’s N tees.

    Congrats to these 2025 additions to the Age Shooters of the BMC!

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

  • 70 is the New 50

    BMC golfing highlights mark each season—although some more than others.  Take the banner year of 2023, when:

    • Two BMC members, Taylor Smith and Drew Cripps, made double eagles at Braemar (each on number 4);
    • John Miller and Bill Angel made back-to-back aces on consecutive shots, playing the 12th hole at Bunker Hills’ West Course; and
    • Mike Wangen and Cutter Tyllia both qualified to play in the MGA Players Championship and Mike made the semi-finals in the MGA Mid-Players Championship.

    But then every year BMC members shoot their age, make holes-in-one and inspire awe in their wives and children.

    So, what about 2025? Based on the three golfers highlighted below, 2025 is fast becoming the year of the Stellar Super Seniors (senior status, of course, being conferred at 55, super senior status at 70).

    Consider:

    Bill Angel

    Bill, who just turned 75 this month, has already shot his age three times this year. Talk about a Stellar Super Senior! So, less than two months into the official 2025 season, Bill has shot 74 at Braemar (from the D tees), on May 27; shot 72 at Francis Gross (from the combination tees), on June 10; and shot 72 at Braemar (from the D tees), on June 24.  All three rounds were instrumental in victories logged by our 4 Man Over-70 traveling team. And, by the way, Bill, at 75, also plays on one of Braemar’s 8 Man Over-55 teams.  His game is a perfect example of what’s possible when you drive the ball well, hit great irons and make putts.

    Mike Kavanaugh

    Mike turned 70 last year to the delight of the rest of our 4 Man Over-70 Team.  But annihilating opponents in their 70s apparently didn’t quench Mike’s competitive thirst, so he also plays on each of our 8 Man Over-55 traveling teams, giving up 10-15 years on those “junior seniors.”  A consistent contributor on each of those teams, Mike, with a USGA index of 5.1, still plays Braemar’s E tees comfortably, posting a solid 74 from there on May 28. However, he’s been particularly integral to the success of our 4 Man team. On June 10, at Gross, Mike shot 76 from the combination tees in a Braemar victory and on June 24, at Braemar, Mike shot 74 from the D tees to help bring home a win against Fox Hollow.

    John Miller

    Another member of Braemar’s 4 Man Over-70 Team, as well as of one of Braemar’s 8 Man Over-55 teams, John, at 76, made two remarkable contributions to Braemar’s 4 Man victory on June 24. He shot his age, with a sparkling 76 from Braemar’s D tees, and he punctuated his round with a hole-in-one on number 17.  As a testament to John’s persistence, consider that, in two recent rounds, he had makeable putts on the 18th hole to shoot his age.  But after missing a 6-footer on June 17 and a 4-footer on June 19, he had to settle each time for a 77.   As the old saying goes, John was due.

    Congrats to each of these impressive athletes! At least for these guys, 70 is the new 50 at the BMC.


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

  • Second Quiz Results Are In!

    The results of the second-ever BMC quiz are now in— and here are the takeaways:

    • Not surprisingly, most guys prefer questions on course knowledge over those tackling the (admittedly somewhat stuffy) rules of golf.
    • But at the same time BMC members (or at least those taking the quiz) know the rules and understand how to follow them.

    It was probably apparent that several of the questions in the quiz illustrate how, at times, following the rules can seem like adding insult to injury (eg, having to hit out of a divot or a footprint in a bunker).  Yet, BMC members (or at least those taking the quiz) seem to overcome those disappointments and do the right thing.

    A word on the topic of divots and footprints: for guys who don’t fix them and rake them, please bear in mind that rule-following golfers get stuck playing out of your divots and footprints! And as for golfers who struggle physically to rake a trap themselves, how about finding a volunteer in your group who’s willing to rake traps for you?

    The quiz results overall were excellent, but there were a couple of questions that caused some guys to stub their toes. One of them addressed the embedded ball rules.  To clarify: due to a relatively recent rules change, you now get a free drop from either the fairway or the rough if your ball is embedded in its pitch mark (as opposed to becoming embedded on a bounce). Although the rules allow courses to adopt local rules restricting free drops to fairways, Braemar and most other courses have not done that.

    Some guys also struggled over the rule on accidentally kicking your ball on the green.  Again, a relatively recent rule change clarifies that, if you accidentally move your ball on the green, no penalty is incurred. You simply replace the ball in its original position.

    Lastly, no one was fooled by the question about hitting the wrong ball.  But few respondents appreciated that, in match play, the penalty is loss of hole, not two strokes. Nevertheless, the question was simply whether there’s a penalty for hitting the wrong ball– it didn’t ask you to specify what the penalty actually is. So, no one got demerits for miscuing on loss of hole.

    With all that said, it’s time to announce the winners. First, special kudos go to the three BMC members who scored 100% on the quiz: Tom Klassen, Drew Cripps and Mike Longman. Great work, guys! And Mike Funck’s only misstep was on embedded balls because he cited the former rule, but, to his credit, Mike also recalled that the general rule can be overridden by a local rule, so he gets an honorable mention.

    Tom Klassen (our champion from the first quiz) was the first one to ace the second quiz, so Tom is again our champion. Congrats, Tom!  And thanks to each of you who took part.

  • Second 2025 Member Quiz

    Earlier this year BMC members responded enthusiastically to an opportunity to flaunt their home course knowledge by taking the inaugural BMC member quiz sponsored by The Virtual 19th Hole.  Which suggests that a follow-up quiz on course knowledge should probably be in the offing. But that’s for another day. Instead, today’s focus is on an altogether different topic: the Rules of Golf. And, yes, let’s face it—this is probably the least favorite subject of many golfers… But look at it this way: here’s a great opportunity to show up your golf buddies (and possibly call them on an infraction or two?)!

    Below are several situations that come up routinely on the golf course.  To take the quiz, simply determine which, if any, of these violates the Rules of Golf.  This is an “open book test,” so feel free to research your answers.  But bear in mind that whoever gets the best score first will be the winner.

    OK, here goes: which, if any, of the following actions constitutes a rules violation?

    1.  You pound a tee shot right down the middle and are exasperated to discover that your ball is right in the middle of a divot.  You roll your ball out of the divot to the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, and proceed to hit your next shot without penalty.
    2. Your well-struck approach shot misses the green by mere inches and yet, somehow, the ball takes a bad bounce right into a greenside bunker.  What’s worse, it comes to rest in a footprint.  Feeling confident that you know how most guys would handle a situation like this, you move the ball slightly out of the footprint and place it at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, staying of course within the bunker. You wind up with virtually the identical bunker shot you would have had if your ball hadn’t been in the footprint. You proceed without penalty.
    3. Same facts as in the second question, except that, instead of placing the ball in the bunker, you drop, again no nearer the hole, and staying within the bunker. You then proceed without penalty.
    4. Your drive bounces into the rough and comes to rest against a small branch or stick. Because the stick is a movable obstruction, as defined by the rules, you carefully remove it. But because your ball moves slightly in the process of removing the stick, you replace it back in the original spot where it had come to rest.  You proceed without penalty.
    5. You hit a beautiful approach shot and the ball lands on the green, coming to rest only four feet from the hole.  You appear to have a straight putt, but you decide to inch toward the hole to take a closer look– just to be sure.  In doing so, you accidentally kick the ball, and it rolls several feet away. You replace the ball back into its original position and proceed without penalty.
    6. Your regularly scheduled round comes shortly after a hard rain and the course is soft.  You hit a particularly high tee shot into the rough and it embeds. Although the ball is clearly in the rough, you go ahead and take a drop within the relief area, no nearer the hole, and proceed without penalty.
    7. Your drive is off line and the ball comes to rest on the cart path. You take a free drop in the relief area no nearer the hole. Unfortunately, the ball rolls into a divot, so you take another drop, again in the relief area and no nearer the hole, and this time the ball misses the divot.  You then proceed without penalty.
    8. Same facts as in question 7, except that there’s a steep slope adjacent to where the ball originally came to rest on the cart path. A careless drop could result in the ball rolling all the way down the slope and out of bounds. You drop the ball as close to the slope as possible without risking it rolling down the hill. The ball winds up no more than a few inches closer to the hole.  You proceed to hit your next shot from there without penalty.
    9. In match play, you and your opponent hit similar drives and both balls wind up close together on the fairway.  You accidentally hit your opponent’s ball. You realize the error almost immediately as your opponent observes that the other ball is yours.  Your opponent takes a drop where his drive originally came to rest and you go ahead and play the correct ball without penalty.
    10. In general: following the frequently hyper technical rules of golf is fine for guys with low handicaps. But most golfers can’t be expected to master every last rule and exception, so they should be cut some slack. Golf is difficult enough as it is.

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

  • Jeff Mold Receives Distinguished Service Award

    Jeff Mold, Braemar Golf Course Superintendent

    The Braemar Golf Association has announced that Jeff Mold, Braemar’s Golf Course Superintendent, has received Braemar’s Distinguished Service Award. Due in no small part because of Jeff’s extensive course management expertise and leadership skills, Braemar has become one of the premier public golf destinations in the metro area and beyond.

    Jeff’s career path began with his employment at a golf course under construction near his hometown in Rush City, Minnesota. He enjoyed the work so much he enrolled at Anoka Technical College in their Golf and Grounds Management program. After graduation, Jeff worked at several courses, eventually serving as Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Edina Country Club. Jeff accepted the job as Braemar’s Golf Course Superintendent during the course redesign/rebuild.

    Since the reopening of the “new” Braemar, Jeff and his crew have maintained our golf facilities at the highest standards. As a result, the superb condition of the tee boxes, fairways and greens on the championship course excel those at all but the area’s top country clubs. And the work never stops, starting each day at dawn and continuing until dusk. Supervising a full-time staff of four assistants and approximately 24 seasonal employees, Jeff’s contributions to Braemar have been immeasurable.

    Jeff’s hard work and dedication to the excellence of Braemar golf have made him the latest recipient of Braemar’s Distinguished Service Award. Congratulations, Jeff! Braemar is fortunate to have you here as our Golf Course Superintendent.

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

  • Quiz Results Are In!

    The results of the first-ever BMC quiz are now in, and we have a winner!

    If you follow The Virtual 19th Hole, you’ll recall that BMC members were asked if they could identify the place on the course that was depicted in a photo displaying some rather innocuous shallow water littered with golf balls– balls that had clearly missed their mark. A challenging test of Braemar course knowledge to be sure. And the volume of responses confirmed that members enjoyed taking up the challenge.

    In total, nine members correctly identified number 2 as the hole shown in the photo. Of those, three specifically described the photo as having been taken, as described by photographer Greg Wright, from the riding/ walking bridge looking back toward the tee box, to the north/east.  Several respondents correctly identified the creek on number 2 but judged the photo to have been taken nearer to the narrower walking bridge.  Other contestants who took a shot but fell short took a swing at 16 and, in one case, number 18.

    As described, the lesson to be learned was thrown in just for fun since two of the suggested answers were obviously in jest.  Nevertheless, extra credit goes to Vince Bradford, who overcame the inherent limitations of multiple choice and posited that the lesson was to avoid thinking too much!

    Congrats to the members whose impressive course knowledge enabled them to zero in on hole 2: Rick Ites, Rick Windham, Vince Bradford, John Hasper, Chuck Wait, Drew Cripps, Tim Smith, Rolf Sonnesyn and Tom Klassen.  The three respondents who specifically identified the correct portion of the creek were Tim Smith, Rolf Sonnesyn and Tom Klassen.

    Because Tom’s response came in at lightning speed after only 16 minutes, Tom took the top spot in the competition. Silver goes to Rolf, who needed a few extra hours to get it right, and bronze goes to Tim Smith who, after taking several days to respond, also nailed it–perhaps after completing an inaugural 2025 round and making some careful observations along the way?

    Course Knowledge Champion Tom Klassen

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

  • 2025 Member Quiz

    For every BMC member who loves playing golf at Braemar, here’s an excellent opportunity to show off your course knowledge! Simply take a careful look at the photo above and answer the questions below.  Then submit your answers to The Virtual 19th Hole. Winners will be included in a drawing at the end of the season for Honorable Mention as The 2025 BMC Champion Golfer of the Year.

    Questions

    1.  On what hole was the photo taken?
    2. Where exactly on that hole?
    3. Which of the following best summarizes the lesson to be learned from this photo:
      • For the bombers: big mistake trying to drive over the penalty area.
      • For the rest of us: big mistake topping your approach shot to the green.
      • Stop rinsing your balls here or the resulting rise in water level will quickly overflow the banks and turn this area into a massive lake.
      • With a decent pair of water shoes a guy could easily get himself a year’s supply of golf balls here.

    Submit your answers simply by replying to the cover email, or to:

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

  • The Wild West Shootout

    From left to right: “Mystery Man” Mike Lutz, John Miller, Bob Peterson, Mike Kavanaugh, John Flynn, Bill Angel and Dave Draxler

    Each year BMC members find many ways to spend Minnesota’s interminable off-season. Among others: heading to the Dome, traveling south, and, of course, moaning and complaining.

    But few of us commit to an off-season golf tradition as adamantine as the Wild West Shootout, contested each March in San Diego.  These golfers have been taking this trip for over 25 years.

     Their goal: to win the coveted Wild West Shootout Trophy.  And while casual observers may assume that the rather ungainly appearance of the cup itself (check out the photo below) suggests a less-than-serious competition, they’d be well off the mark.  Because the outward appearance of the trophy belies the elevated status of each year’s winner– at least in the eyes of his fellow competitors.

    Just ask this year’s champion, Bob Peterson. Known affectionately by some as “Doc,” Mr. Peterson, captain of the BMC’s 4-Man Traveling Team, bested such BMC stalwarts as Mike Kavanaugh, another key member of the 4-Man Team and a member of our 8-Man Traveling Team; Bill Angel, a past WWS champion, a BMC Age Shooter, and the only BMC member ever to shoot a hole-in-one right before an immediately succeeding ace made by John Miller; Mr. Miller himself; John Flynn; and Dave Draxler. Typically a regular, Tim Smith, a past WWS champion, a two-time BMC Senior Champion, and our reigning Ed Shootout Champion, was unavailable for this year’s Wild West Shootout.

    By the way, observe in the photo below the high-quality surgical tape used to inscribe the identity of each year’s champion on the trophy — a less than auspicious nod to future generations, but a revered tradition nevertheless.  Also note Mr. Peterson’s determined facial expression. Could he be attempting to warn off any competitors who might be tempted to repeat last year’s mysterious (although temporary) disappearance of the coveted cup?

    Finally, no matter how assiduously you study the BMC Member Roster on our website, you won’t find an entry for Mike Lutz, at the far left in the photo above— raising the perplexing question, who is this mystery man?  Perhaps the swing coach for John Miller, sitting immediately to his left? A prospective BMC member? Or, more concernedly, a clandestine spy for another club? A tantalizing mystery….

    Bob Peterson, The 2025 Wild West Shootout Champion

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

  • 2024 BMC Champion Golfer of the Year

    Can you feel it? That growing sense of anticipation? With Tuesday League’s finals coming up and the rest of the BMC golf season over, it’s that time again.  Time for The Virtual 19th Hole to announce its selection of the 2024 BMC Champion Golfer of the Year. Yes, for the third consecutive year, this tradition continues.

    If you’re new to the BMC, or new to The Virtual 19th Hole, bear in mind that this award, while inspired by the famous tradition originated at the Open Championship in Britain, takes its own approach. And that’s not only because golfing skills at the highest professional level are not required.  It’s also because only one path can lead to becoming Champion Golfer of the Year– winning the Open Championship. In contrast, becoming the BMC Champion Golfer of the Year requires multiple elements: having at least one notable golfing achievement, such as winning a BMC championship; having played consistently solid golf throughout the season; and having participated actively in BMC-sponsored leagues and competitions.

    Each year many BMC members accomplish their own unique combinations of those benchmarks and so, once again, we have several nominees this year and some honorable mentions as well.  Here they are:

    Honorable Mentions

    Greg Baron is a 33-year BMC member who, based on his participation in BMC leagues and events, qualified yet again for the Ed White Shootout. He also came in first in Best Weekly’s D Flight and first in this year’s Individual Match Play League. Greg, with a current USGA handicap of 16.9, also serves as coordinator for our Metro Seniors Team and the BMC’s Individual Match Play League.

    Steve Tanner is a 29-year member who came in first this year in Ed White Shootout points.  Steve, with a current USGA handicap of 16.1, came in second this year in Individual Match Play and came in third in Best Weekly’s D Flight. Steve is also coordinator for the Ed White Shootout.

    2024 Nominees

    Nick Neudigate:  Nick, a fourth-year BMC member, is the BMC’s 2024 Club Champion.  Over the two days of the Club Championship, playing from Braemar’s championship tees, Nick shot an even par total of 144, beating second-place finisher Drew Gumlia in a sudden-death playoff. Nick, with a current USGA handicap of 1.9, plays on our accomplished 16-Man Traveling Team and is a member of Wednesday League.

    Rick Passolt:  Rick is a first-year BMC member who has made his presence felt quickly.  Among other highlights, he came in second in the Senior Club Championship, shooting a two-day total of 143, one-under. With a current USGA handicap of 1.4, Rick plays in Saturday Stroke Play and is a regular on our talented 8-Man Senior Team.  Rick also qualified this year for the MPGA’s Senior Amateur Championship and made the cut, finishing tied for forty-first place.

    Mark Paetznick:  Mark is another first-year BMC member who made an immediate splash this year.  Among other highlights, Mark tied for third in the Senior Club Championship, shooting a one-over total of 145.  Carrying a current USGA handicap of 3.9, Mark plays in Best Weekly and is a member of our 8-Man Senior Team.  In an 8-Man match this summer Mark helped Braemar take down Baker National by shooting a 68 at Braemar.  Like Rick Passolt and only four other BMC members, Mark qualified this year for the MPGA’s Senior Am.

    Drew Gumlia:  Drew is a second-year BMC member who shot even par in the Club Championship and took eventual champion Nick Neudigate into a sudden-death playoff, winding up in second place. Drew plays on our 16-Man Team and is a member of the Individual Match Play League, Four Ball League and Best Weekly. He sports a current USGA handicap of plus 0.9.

    Mike Kavanaugh:  Mike is a 27-year BMC member. He plays in Wednesday League, Saturday Stroke Play and Best Weekly. Mike competes regularly on our 8-Man Senior Team and led the way all season on our 4-Man Over-70 Super Senior Squad.  Mike also came in third this year in Best Weekly’s A Flight.  With his 2.7 USGA handicap, Mike is living proof that experience and patience can vanquish youth and vigor.

    Tim Smith:  This yearTim became a repeat Ed White Shootout Champion, narrowly beating long-time member Dennis Russell by draining a challenging 6-footer on the final hole. A 12-year BMC member, Tim is also a two-time Senior Champion.  With a current USGA handicap of 4.2, he plays on our 8-Man Senior Team and in Wednesday League.  For many years Tim served on the BMC board, including a stint as Secretary, and has served for years as the League Coordinator for Best Weekly.

                Jeff Roseland:  Jeff is our 2024 Senior Club Champion, having mowed down a slew of skilled opponents with a blistering 7-under total of 137 in the Senior Club Championship (second place finisher Rick Passolt, with a one-under score of 143, might well have had the winning score any other year, but unbelievably wound up six strokes back).  A second-year BMC member, Jeff, like Drew Gumlia, holds a sporting plus USGA handicap, in Jeff’s case a +0.5.  He plays regularly on our outstanding 8-Man Team and is a member of our Metro Seniors and 16-Man Teams as well. He came in second in Best Weekly’s A Flight behind first place winner Steve Bloomquist.  Like Rick Passolt, Jeff qualified for the MPGA’s Senior Am and wound up having the best finish of the six BMC members who qualified, making the cut and tying for 38th.  Finally, Jeff, who normally plays the E tees, has the distinction of holding Braemar’s course record from the I Tees, a 5-under 67.

    BMC Champion Golfer of the Year

    Taking into account all of the foregoing, The Virtual 19th Hole is pleased to announce its selection of the 2024 BMC Golfer of the Year: Jeff Roseland.  Jeff’s 7-under score in the Senior Club Championship, together with his consistently solid play all year, including his success in high caliber non-BMC competitions, and combined with his active participation in BMC golf activities, make him a worthy champion.

    Congrats, Jeff— well deserved! And congrats to all the 2024 nominees and honorable mentions for the impressive seasons they had!

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

Braemar Mens Club

Registration is now open!