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