Asides

If you’ve followed Braemar’s traveling teams over the last few years, you won’t be surprised to learn that several of our teams have completed their regular seasons in style and are now headed into the playoffs.

16-Man Team

As the defending 2025 champions, Braemar’s 16-Man Team has made the playoffs again. They completed their regular season by overcoming a strong Bunker Hills squad 24.5 to 23.5 and have now moved into the playoffs against Chaska. The winner, which will be determined on August 2, will reach the finals.

8-Man A Team

The 8-Man A Team finished their regular season on July 14 with a convincing 9.5 to 2.5 win over Hiawatha, producing an overall record of 5-1. They now head into the playoffs as the top seed in their division. They’ll play home and away matches against Bunker Hills, with the concluding match on August 11, and the winner will move on to the finals. According to co-captains Jeff Roseland and Mark Paetznick, special thanks for his year’s success go to several contributors: in addition to Jeff (with a USGA handicap of plus .6) and Mark (with a USGA handicap of 2.6), others include Rick Passolt, Steve Henry, Steve Bloomquist, Mike Longman, Mike Kavanaugh, Tim Smith, Brian Kaul, Steve Devolder and Joe O’Neill. Illustrating the strength of the team, participating in a match typically requires a handicap of 4 or less.

This team has been knocking on the door for several years—could 2026 be the year they win the championship?

4-Man Team

As defending 2025 champions, Braemar’s 4-Man Team has had another good 2026 has been having another good year. With a regular season record of 4-2, Braemar now heads into the finals against a perennially tough Keller team. The 2026 championship will be determined by home and away matches concluding on August 18.

Arriving at this point entailed some serious drama in Braemar’s final regular season match against University. Playing at Braemar and starting on the back 9, captain Bob Petson and teammate John Miller started their match down two after three holes but eventually finished the front side even. Then, after losing the 10th hole they finally took the lead with a birdie on 4 and a par on five–  only to give it back on 7. But captain Peterson’s birdie on 8 sealed the deal. Meanwhile, Teammates Mike Kavanaugh and Dave Stougaard lost the first 9 and the first two holes on the back. But a Kavanaugh chip-in birdie on the third hole ignited a dramatic come-from-behind win on the back. Final score: Braemar: 3.5, University: 2.5.

Metro Seniors

Braemar’s Metro Seniors Team is having one of its best years ever. Following a resounding victory over Como on July 24, the team moved into first place (itself a first after too many years to count) and now holds a regular season record of 7 – 3. With two more matches remaining, prospects for the championship loom large. Captain Greg Baron attributes the team’s success this year to several players, including Scott Seckes, who’s undefeated, Joe O’Neill, Dave Stougaard and captain Baron, among others.

8-Man B Team

While the 8-Man B Team did not qualify for the playoffs this year, finishing regular season play with a record of 2-4, they generated plenty of excitement. With strong play from captain John Miller and several others, including Mike Kavanaugh, Bill Angel and Matt Filner, there may not have been a more dramatic match than the one played by Tim Nord and Steve Iselin against Highland. Punctuated by punches and counterpunches throughout, and featuring a slew of birdies and an eagle, the conclusion remained in doubt until the final putt was holed. If curious to learn more, don’t hesitate to ask Tim or Steve all about it; they’ll be happy to accommodate,

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

BMC members have been lighting it up during the first half of the 2026 season, including some stellar play by our traveling teams.  Stay tuned for more on our traveling teams in a follow-up story. In the meanwhile, kudos to the following guys for their notable feats so far this year:

Larry Fyten:  Larry, as usual, has shot his age numerous times already this year. But he even outdid himself on July 9 when, during regular Thursday League play, he put a sterling 76 (net 67) on the board, including a 36 on Braemar’s challenging back nine. At 87, Larry has found a friendly home on the N tees and seems to relish punishing a course that has continued to bewilder many of us. His round on July 9 included an eagle on 16 and bettered his age by a whopping 11 strokes.

Bill Angel: Billseems to have done it all so far this year—and the year is only half over. On July 2, in regular Thursday League play, he scorched Braemar’s D tees with a blistering 69 (net 68) that included an eagle on number 12 and bettered his age by seven strokes. On May 30, Bill aced Braemar’s third hole, one of only three holes-in-one made so far this year by BMC members.

Steve Kedzuf: On July 2, during regular Thursday League play, Steve also made a hole-in-one on number 3. And, to sweeten deal, it turned out that number 3 that day was a closest to the pin hole. But even though his shot was a sure winner, Steve nevertheless faced a curious dilemma: where to place the marker? Surely, not directly into the hole? Steve discreetly set it on the fringe, notating the placard with his ace.

Marty Weber. As reported earlier by The Virtual 19^th Hole, Marty, on May 30, scored his first ace ever, on Interlachen’s third hole.

Gene Haman: As also reported earlier, Gene, on May 7, shot his age on the number (89). Since turning 90, Gene has knocked on the door several times, posting a 91 and a couple of 92s.

Thursday Double Dippers: Among the staples of Thursday League competition are the skill contests, which each week feature two holes awarding longest putt and two for closest to the pin. So far this year, three players have, during the same round, completed the rare feat of winning both a long putt and a closest-to-the-pin shot: John Miller, Leigh Carlson and Guy Treanor.

Congrats to Larry, Bill, Steve, Marty, Gene, John, Leigh and Guy!

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

After decades of playing golf and 23 years as a BMC member, it finally happened for Marty Weber: on May 30 he got his first hole-in-one. It happened at Interlachen’s third hole, a 167-yard par 3. Playing into a slight breeze, Marty’s solid 7-iron shot drew in from the right side of the green toward the center pin location— and, after two bounces, the ball dropped out of sight. Turned out that a de facto gallery witnessed the moment from nearby tee boxes on four and eight; and so, when one of Marty’s playing partners speculated that the ball went in the hole, the enthusiastic cheers of the rapt onlookers overcame Marty’s initial skepticism. A memorable feat indeed! We’re left to wonder if Marty received any additional congratulations when he got home, considering that one of his playing partners was his wife.

Among several of us losing time on the course this year due to medical issues, Marty couldn’t have demonstrated a better way to make the most out of an abbreviated season.

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

After surviving golf’s ultimate hazard, Frank
Macgowan is now all smiles

What’s the most intimidating hazard you’ve ever faced on a golf course? A pond requiring a 200-yard carry? A Florida gator giving you the evil eye from just off the fairway? All child’s play, if you ask longstanding BMC member Frank Macgowan.

Picture this: Frank and his playing partner are at Oak Glen in Stillwater and his partner hits his tee shot OB left. From the tee it appears that the ball may have come to rest in someone’s back yard, and, sure enough, as they approach the yard, not only is the ball OB but posted on the neighbor’s fence is a surprisingly unfriendly No Trespassing sign.

Naturally, this was at the 13^th hole.

It was when Frank and his partner got to the No Trespassing sign that things started to get weird. Especially when Frank saw what was going on one house down. Two people were sitting on the back deck, by all appearances a husband and wife. But while the missus seemed to be sitting there nonchalantly enough, her husband was anything but. He was leveling a scoped rifle directly at Frank!

Please raise your hand if anyone has ever aimed a rifle at you while you were on a golf course.

The gun was never discharged. But you won’t be surprised to learn that experiencing his potential demise did not have a salutary effect on Frank’s game. Under the circumstances, he did well just to bogey in.

Turns out the local police department was well aware of The Rifleman, as they had received past complaints about his unneighborly disposition. So, upon hearing from an understandably aggrieved Mr. Macgowan, they decided that enough was enough. Frank is still waiting to see if he’ll be called upon by the City Attorney to serve as a witness.

Interestingly, there was also a sign posted at the next yard down from The Rifleman’s, just off the 14^th fairway– but with a strikingly contrasting tone: “Come on in and get your ball– and TAKE SOME LESSONS”!

When was a sense of humor more welcome?

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

What are the most holes you’ve ever played in one day?  36? 54?  For many of us septuagenarians (although things used to be different), completing 18 seems challenge enough.

But when you pose the question to third-year member Andrew Hooyman, you get an answer nothing short of startling: 100!  That’s right, 100 holes of golf in a single day.

How does he do it? And why?

The answer: it’s for charity—  play 100 holes and help raise funds to support brain injury survivors and their families.  The event is sponsored by Birdies4Brains, a group founded in 2011 by a golfer whose sister developed an aneurism in her brain; since then, Birdies4Brains has leveraged this unique annual golf outing into a vehicle for providing financial assistance to people like the founder’s sister and their families.  Spoiler alert: to maintain pace of play, all golfers ride and no more than two putts are allowed per hole.  Most years, golfers complete their 100 holes, the equivalent of 5 ½ rounds, by late afternoon.

Join Andrew on June 22 at Keller for a memorable day of golf and an opportunity to make a real difference to those who could use the help. It’s a full day of golf, laughs and a little swag. The field is limited to 39 golfers, so register today!

Just go to www.b4bmn.org or email Andrew at hooyman84@gmail.com.

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

Readers of The Virtual 19^th Hole will recall that two longstanding members of the BMC’s Age Shooters are Larry Fyten (who’s done it so many times, at so many courses, that not even he can keep count) and Gene Haman, who did the deed at Braemar in 2021, firing an 81 at 81 years young. So, it’s no surprise that each of them has done it again.

Both feats took place on May 7, during Thursday League’s opening day, a day of chilly temperatures and wind gusts up to 18 miles per hour.

For Larry, an 18-year member who makes 87 look like 67, it was just another ho-hummer from the N tees: 41-39, missing a score in the 70’s by a single stroke due to a 3-putt on the last hole.  As the math majors and accountants will already have calculated, Larry could have10-putted the last hole and still shot his age.  When asked afterwards about his round, Larry simply noted that he was trying to keep up with Bob Devereaux (who’s still playing regularly as he turns 100 this year!).

Similarly, for Gene, a 30-year member who turns 90 next month, the weather was neither too cold nor too windy, as he put a smooth 89 on the board, also from the N tees.  After nearly making a sandy on 13, and settling for a bogey, Gene overcame some trouble on 14 and finished strong with three straight pars.  In the words of playing partner Clay Halverson, Gene’s round was “not too bad for a guy whose favorite sport is actually pickleball.”  As far as Gene’s own reaction to his round, he conceded, in his typically dry wit, that he was just happy to come through the winter without his picture hanging in the post office.

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

Once again, the time has come! Time for The Virtual 19th Hole to announce its selection of the 2025 BMC Champion Golfer of the Year.

Now in its fourth year, the tradition of naming a single BMC Champion Golfer, when so many BMC members had outstanding seasons, has never been more challenging. So… to appreciate what a spectacular season of BMC golf looks like, read on!

But first, a refresher: there are three fundamental benchmarks for becoming the BMC Champion Golfer of the Year: (1) having at least one notable golfing achievement, such as winning a BMC championship; (2) having played consistently solid golf throughout the season; and (3) having participated actively during the year in BMC-sponsored leagues and competitions.

As noted, this year produced a strong slate of BMC members who accomplished their own unique combinations of those benchmarks. And so, without further ado, here are the nominees and some honorable mentions as well:

Honorable Mentions

Larry Fyten: Larry, at 86, has been shooting his age for years– and continued to do it this year. In fact, those who play regularly with Larry say he shoots his age almost as often as he doesn’t. With a current USGA handicap of 13.5, Larry has a solid game from tee to green and a putting stroke that seldom misses the mark. A 17-year BMC member, Larry participated this year in both Thursday League and Best Weekly.

Tim Smith: Tim was runner-up this year in both the Senior Club Championship and the Ed White Shootout. A 13-year BMC member, Tim played regularly on our Class A 8-Man Team again this year and participated in Wednesday League and Best Weekly– and he’s also the BMC’s longstanding Best Weekly league coordinator. With a current USGA handicap of 3.8, Tim is a two-time former Senior Club Champion, a two-time former Ed White Shootout Champion, and a former BMC board member and Board Secretary. Tim was one of only four BMC members who qualified this year for the MPGA’s Senior Amateur Championship and was one of only three who made the cut, finishing tied for forty-seventh place.

2024 Nominees

Drew Gumlia:  Drew is the BMC’s 2025 Club Champion—and he won the Club Championship in style. Outshining a strong field by firing a 36-hole total of 143, 1 under, Drew finished a full seven shots ahead of second place.  A third year BMC member, Drew played on our 16-Man Team this year, which won the 2025 Class A Championship, and participated in Individual Match Play and Best Weekly. He sports a current USGA handicap of plus 1.4.

Mike Kavanaugh:  Mike is the BMC’s 2025 Super Senior Club Champion, and, like Drew, his sterling play left the rest of the field in the dust. Mike shot a 36-hole total of 147, three over– and after a blistering 68 in the first round, ultimately won by eight strokes. A 28-year BMC member with a current USGA handicap of 5.0, Mike led the way this year on our 4-Man Team, which won the 2025 Class B Championship. He competed on our Class A 8-Man Team and played regularly on our Class C 8-Man Team. Mike qualified for the Ed White Shootout and participated in Wednesday League, Saturday Stroke Play and Best Weekly.

Bill Angel:  Bill, an eleven-year BMC member, turned 75 this year– and celebrated by shooting his age seven times. Those scores ranged from 70–74, not bad for a guy who understandably hasn’t felt the need yet to move up to the shorter tee boxes. His 72 and two 74s at Braemar were from the D tees and his 72 at Pioneer Creek was from just under 6300 yards. Three of his age-inappropriate rounds came in traveling team competitions, two with our 4-Man Team, which, as noted, won the 2025 Class B Championship. With a current USGA handicap of 5.9, Bill participated this year in Thursday League, Best Weekly, Individual Match Play and played in the Club Championship.

John Miller: John, a 20-year BMC member, turned 76 this year– and, like Bill Angel, found the perfect way to celebrate by also shooting his age seven times (obviously a lucky number). Like the familiar saying goes (or should go in case it actually doesn’t), guys that shoot their age together hang tight together. With a current USGA handicap of 8.0, John finished first this year in Best Weekly’s B Flight and came in third in the Super Senior Division of the Club Championship. He also captained our Class C 8-Man Team in its inaugural season, played regularly on our 2025 Class B Champion 4-Man Team, and participated in Thursday League and Best Weekly.

Jeff Roseland:  For the second consecutive year, Jeff is our Senior Club Champion– having bested formidable opponents Rick Passolt and Tim Smith in a sudden death playoff. A third-year BMC member, Jeff played regularly this year on our Class A 8-Man Team and competed on the 16-Man Team, which, as noted, won the 2025 Class A Championship. With a current USGA handicap of plus .2, Jeff also participated in Best Weekly and 4 Ball Match Play. Like Tim Smith, Jeff was one of only four BMC members to qualify for the MPGA’s Senior Am this year– and finished in eighth place, leading the way among the BMC members who qualified for the event.

Chris Eckes: Chris is our 2025 Ed White Shootout Champion, having out-dueled Tim Smith on the final hole. A fourth year BMC member, Chris carries a current USGA handicap of .1 (that’s not a one, it’s a point one). Known for his towering shots, rumor has it that one of them was once lost in a cumulonimbus cloud and came down as a hail stone. Chris played on our 2025 Champion 16-Man Team, and participated in Wednesday League, Thursday League, Saturday Stroke Play, Best Weekly and Individual Match Play.  Chris joined the BMC board this fall as its newest member and will be introduced to the secret handshake as soon as he completes the customary hazing.

BMC Champion Golfer of the Year

Needless to say, based on those kinds of seasons, the decision to name a 2025 BMC Champion Golfer was far from easy. All the candidates had spectacular seasons: one would have made a solid choice as our first-ever repeat champion and three of them, as multiple age shooters, seemingly defied the laws of aging. All the candidates have been active BMC participants.  Nevertheless, by winning the Ed White Shootout, playing consistently solid golf all year, and participating actively in virtually every type  of golf competition offered by the BMC, not to mention stepping up to serve on the BMC board, Chris Eckes is The Virtual 19^th Hole’s selection as our 2025 BMC Champion Golfer of the Year.

Congrats, Chris— well deserved! And congrats to all the 2025 nominees and honorable mentions for the impressive seasons they had!

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

How can so many guys shoot their age so many times?

This year five BMC members shot their age three or more times: Larry Fyten (86 years young), Bill Angel (75), John Miller (76), Rollie Schlichting (78) and Bob Devereaux (99!). Four of these five had shot their age in prior seasons and this year John Miller joined their ranks for the first time.

To the knowledge of The Virtual 19^th Hole, there’s never been a year when this many guys have shot their age that many times. Congrats to Larry, Bill, John, Rollie and Bob!

At Braemar Larry and Bob normally play the N tees, Rollie the I tees, and both Bill and John the Ds, with Bill also known to play the E tees from time to time.

Larry Fyten

Larry doesn’t keep close track of when he shoots his age—and who could blame him? Just since August, he’s done it over a dozen times. Two dozen-plus so far this year. It might actually be easier to count the rounds when Larry doesn’t shoot his age. Understandably, you may ask, “What’s his secret?”  But it’s really quite simple: hit fairways and greens and make a few putts.

Bill Angel

So far this year (and remember, the year isn’t over yet!), Bill has shot his age seven times. His scores:

• 74 on May 27, from Braemar’s D tees;
• 72 on June 24, from Braemar’s D tees;
• 73 on July 8, at Monticello;
• 70 on July 29, at Dwan;
• 72 on August 11, at Pioneer Creek;
• 74 on August 22, from Braemar’s D tees;
• 73 on October 6, at Bunker Hills (the North/ East courses).

Three of those rounds were in competition. Playing with each of two traveling teams, Bill helped bring home victories for Braemar’s 4 Man Team on May 27 and July 8, and for Braemar’s 8C Team on June 24. The 4 Man Team went on to win the 2025 Class B Championship and the 8C Team only missed out on the playoffs by a whisker. Also of note: Bill’s 72 at Pioneer Creek was from 6,291 yards.

John Miller

Until June of this year, John had never shot his age, although twice this spring he missed putts on the 18^th hole that would have gotten it done. Then, on June 24, just after turning 76, John made a key putt on 18 for a 76– and the flood gates opened. After that, John shot his age six more times (and of course the year is not over yet). He shot:

•  76 on July 15, from Braemar’s D tees;
• 74 on August 3, from the N tees in the club championship;
• 76 on August 12, at Keller;
• 76 on August 21, from the D tees in regular Thursday League competition;
• 74 on July 29, at Dwan; and
• 74 on October 4, from Braemar’s D tees.

That’s seven rounds of shooting his age or better. And two of them came in traveling team competition: on June 24, helping Braemar’s 4 Man Team secure a win, and on July 15, helping Braemar’s 8C Team win their final regular season match.

Rollie Schlichting

Rollie shot his age three times this year– so far. At age 78, he’s on a roll.

Playing from the I tees in regular Thursday League competition, Rollie shot:

•  77 on May 29;
• 77 on August 28; and
• 78 on September 18.

Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award

Perennially on the list of BMC Age Shooters is 99-year-old Bob Devereaux, who year after year continues to post scores that defy the inexorable march of time– and he’s done it so many times that everyone, including Bob, has lost count.

A banner year for Larry, Bill, John, Rollie and Bob

Congrats to all these Super Seniors for shooting their age again… again… and again!

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

Braemar’s top senior golfers have spent much of the 2025 season showcasing their skills in BMC leagues and events.  But several of our top seniors have also been active in competitions sponsored by the MPGA and the MGA. Among these, none provides a stiffer test than the MGA’s Senior Amateur Championship. Simply qualifying for the event confirms a player’s stature somewhere in Minnesota’s golf firmament.

It’s a feather in the BMC’s cap that four of our members qualified this year for the Senior Amateur Championship: Jeff Roseland, Tim Smith, Rick Passolt and Joe O’Neill. In addition, two non-BMC golfers from Braemar also qualified, Paul Remus and Ron Green.

Played at Brackett’s Crossing on September 9 – 11, the 54-hole event featured a cut after 36 holes and the par 71 layout provided a stern challenge. The winning score came in at 3-over par and the cutline was fifteen over.

Three of the BMC players made the cut: Jeff Roseland made the top 10 by tying for eighth place at plus-14; Rick Passolt tied for 36^th place at plus-22, and Tim Smith tied for 47^th at 26-over. Paul Remus tied for 32^nd at 20-over.

Congrats to each of the Braemar players who qualified– and especially to BMC members Jeff, Rick, Tim and Joe!

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

On October 2, under sunny summer-like skies, the inaugural BMC Ryder Cup created an indelible moment in the BMC’s 60-year history. The atmosphere, both during and after the completion of play, was electric and, despite a relatively lopsided result, many matches featured more than their fair share of golf drama.

The players ran the gamut: from 99-year-old member Bob Devereaux to  plus-handicap luminary Jeff Roseland, and, in between, golfers of almost all ages and handicaps.

The 40 players were divided into two 20-man teams. But while Red and Blue were the team colors, this event was not about either Europe or the U.S. It was about conducting an exhilarating new competitive format for BMC members and doing it at our home course—all at a comfortable price tag. The tell: when the final putt was holed, winners and losers alike gathered around the 18^th hole, exuberant about a great day on the links.

Following the completion of play, most contestants stuck around for the closing ceremony on the clubhouse balcony. Complemented by adult beverages and photo-ops, everyone, Blue and Red alike, got caught up in the buzzy aftermath. The zeal for a repeat event next year was palpable.

We’re not opening up registration for next year’s BMC President’s Cup quite yet , but can there be any doubt that the BMC has just created a lasting tradition?

For much more on the results of the competition, a photo gallery and a video montage, go to the events tab on the website’s main menu or just click here: https://bmcedina.com/events/bmc-ryder-cup/

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