I’m always glad when I can report something that is happening in the golf world that is really wonderful and beneficial to many. In this case that item is called “Patriot Golf Day 2008.” Patriot Day begins Aug. 29, and goes through Sept. 1. During that time, golfers nationwide will be asked to donate a minimum of $1 in support of Patriot Day at participating golf courses. All proceeds go to the Folds of Honor Foundation to provide educational scholarships to families of disabled or and soldiers who died fighting for their country. More than $1 million dollars was raised through the 3,200 golf facilities in 2007.
The Folds of Honor Foundation was founded by PGA Professional Day Rooney, who also happens to be an F-16 fighter pilot in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He was deeply affected one day when he was the passenger on a flight that had carried home a fallen soldier from Iraq. As the pilot landed that plane, he made this announcement: “We have the remains of Corporal Brock Bucklin on board, and his brother Corporal Brad Bucklin has accompanied him home from Iraq. As a sign of respect, please remain seated while we honor Corporal Bucklin and his sacrifice.”
Major Rooney watched through the plane window as the flag-covered casket was removed from the rear cargo hold. He saw the family meet the procession with tears streaming down their cheeks, and he choked back emotion when he saw the fallen soldier’s young son clutching his mother’s leg. Major Rooney had served two tours in Iraq, and had seen the harshness of war on the frontlines, but this was the first time he had experienced the devastating reality back home. Turning away from the window and back to the plane, he noticed that half of the passengers had ignored the pilot’s request and had already disembarked. That moment changed Major Rooney’s life. He made a vow to make a difference. Though he couldn’t change the fate of a fallen soldier, he could do something to help the future of the grieving widow or a fatherless child. He set out to prove to America’s heroes — our military personnel — that their sacrifices would never go unappreciated. He founded Folds of Honor to ensure that families of the fallen must never endure alone. He felt that education was the key to a brighter future, so the main goal of the foundation is to offer scholarships to spouses and dependents to attend the university or institution of their choice.
Many courses throughout Indiana will be participating, but Hulman Links Golf Course is the only local course on the list. To see the full list of participating courses go to www.playgolfamerica.com, and click on the link for Patriot Golf Day.
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A couple of weeks ago my son Phillip was invited to play in a special event for the Indiana Junior Golf Program called the Indiana/Kentucky Challenge Cup. This event pitted 12 boys each from Indiana and Kentucky, and eight girls from each state battled in match-play and stroke formats. The event was held this year at Rock Hollow Golf Course in Peru. Each year the location rotates from state to state.
The event takes place all in one day, with a morning and an afternoon session. In the morning, teams of two went against each other in a four-ball format. They all played 18 holes though, where the total number of strokes counted toward the team score, unlike Ryder Cup matches. In the afternoon, the teams of two played an alternate shot format called “Pinehurst.” It’s where both players hit tee balls, then they each hit their partner’s tee ball, then they make a choice of which ball to finish out with.
The teams from Indiana swept the competition, which could be a reflection of the strong junior program in Indiana. The Indiana Junior Golf Program was formed in 1987 with 10 events and about 200 players, and has grown to become three tours, 75 events and 1,500 kids. The Indiana program is widely regarded as one of the top junior golf programs in the country.
The Indiana Junior Golf Program has been a great experience for Phillip. It was really cool when he started playing high school matches because he’d often get paired with boys that he had played with before in summer tournaments. The Indiana/Kentucky Challenge Cup was another great event, and he knows that when he plays in Indiana Golf Association events in the future, he’ll be likely to see these boys there.
For more information on the IGA or the Indiana Junior Golf Program, visit www.indianagolf.org.
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Upcoming events — The inaugural Hoosier Junior Championship is Oct. 18-19 at Otter Creek Golf Course in Columbus. This event is open to any junior golfer between the ages of 14-18 as of Oct. 19, 2008. Registration is available online at www.indianagolf.org.
Also, the Terre Haute Women’s Golf Association will have a four-person scramble at Hulman Links on Sept. 27. For more information or to register go to www.terrehautewomensgolf.com.
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Quote of the Day — “This hole right here can have a par of anything you want it to be. Yesterday it was a par 47 — and I birdied the sucker.” — Willie Nelson.
First Financial Bank Rea Park Ladies Monday 9-hole — Standings: Shepard’s Gas 354, VFW No. 2 348, Bratt Hospital 346, VFW No. 1 326, Baesler’s Market 307, Tabco 209. Low gross: Marge Kintz 46. Low net: Kintz 33. Birdie: Kintz (14). Play of the day: Levon Garrison.
Landing Mini Tournament 9-hole Ladies — First flight: Darby Gugliemetti (first), Lucy James (second), Cathy Pusich (third). Low putt: Gugliemetti. Second flight: Georgette Arnold (first), Betty McKee (second), Carolyn Sweeting and Frances Curley (tie third). Low putts: Curley. Third flight: Molly Ellingsworth (first), Roxie Price (second), Ginny Shawler (third). Low putts: Ellingsworth. Chip-in: McKee.
Paitson’s Roofing Eastside Ladies — Standings: Daphne’s Beauty Salon 602, Baesler’s Market 570, Turner Coaches 534, Sandy’s Touch of Magic 512, Deckmasters 498, Coaches Corner 496, Advanced Chiropractic 479, Page’s Market 469. Low gross: Sandie Siegelin 35. Low net: Donna Sumansky 24. Birdies: Barb Kelly (7). Chip-ins: Anne Sanders (2), Sandye Hicks (8). Play of the day: Judy Dick.
Rea Park Wednesday Evening Ladies 9-hole — Standings: Newton-Petty 31, Padgett-Snow 29, Pair-Bedwell 26, Meyer-Clements 26, Swalls-Mozley 25, Mann-Rusk 24, Cannon-Atterson 21, Lanke-Johnson 20, Honselman-Hiatt 19, Hamilton-Harden 19, Horrall-Mahalek 18, Durand-Hyde 18, Bocard-Luttrell 17, McCord-Ugo 15. Low gross: Eileen Mann 34. Low net: Mann 27. Chip-ins: Mann, Kathleen Atterson, Josie Swalls, Mary Jean Petty, Stacy Bocard.
Rea Park Women’s Tuesday 18-hole — Low gross: Sharon Horrall 74. Low net: Lorri Ugo 62. Birdies: Sandy Stabler (1), Ugo (1), Shawn Durand (4), Beth Lowe (4, 13), Horrall (8), Carolyn Hyde (10, 11), Sharon Hamilton (13, 17), Linda Pair (16). Chip-ins: Lowe (4, 13), Pair (10, 16), Hyde (10), Terry Mahalek (10), Mary Jean Petty (12), Virginia Anderson (8, 15).
Mark’s Par Three Men’s Senior — Standings: Midwest Gas 256, Vigo Bowl 240, Tabco 236, Old National Trust 219, Dew Drop Inn 215, Mattingly Collision 213, Sycamore Chevrolet 206, Fuson Cadillac 178. Low gross: Bill Turner 35. Low net: Don Sublett 26. Closest to pin: Doc Stephens (7). Longest drive: Al Newman (2). Longest putt: Kenny Tilford (1).
Terre Haute Savings Bank Men’s Senior — National Division standings: Complete Kitchen and Bath 154, Page’s Market 143, Paitson Bros. 141, SMC 138, Lough Bros. 132, Pizza Hut 113, Fore Seasons Golf Complex 113, T.H. Savings Bank 110. Low gross: Larry Pair 36. Low net: Dave Laycock 30. American Division standings: Spring Clean Car Wash 146, Callahan Funeral Home 139, Poplar Flower Shop 138, VFW No. 972 133, Page’s Market 112, Pabst Painting 111, Salt of the Earth 104. Low gross: Jim Senff and Dave Thomas 39. Low net: Alex Maxwell 31.
Idle Creek Home Builders — (Aug. 12) Low gross: Charlie Smith 37. Low net (tie): Jack Simpson and Lenny Isles 30. Longest putt: Dave Earley (5). Closest to pin: Earley (3, 7). (Aug 4) Low gross: Mark Tarrh 40. Low net (tie): Jack Keidel, Terry Day 33. Longest putt: Lenny Isles (14). Longest putt: Fred Lamb (15). Closest to pin: Charlie Smith (12). (July 29) Low gross: Richard Booe 38. Low net: Mitch Lankaar 30. Longest drive: Brian Cottom (2). Longest putt: Booe (5). Closest to pin: Lankaar (3).
Idle Creek Terminal Sports and Spirits Wednesday Evening — (Aug. 13) First place team: Mike Nuckols and John Love 35. Closest to pin: Nuckols (12). (Aug. 6) First place team: Mitch Love and Dan Conley 29. Second place team: John Love, Nate Tompkins no score. Longest drive: Love (5). Longest putt: Love (7). Closest to pin: Mike Nuckols (9). (July 30) First place team: Mitch Love, Fred Lamb and Matt Love 32. Second place team: Denise Rowlett, Zach Wilhoyte and Nate Tompkins 32. Longest drive: Love (15). Longest putt: Nuckols (14). Closest to pin: Love (12).
Idle Creek Ladies Tuesday Morning Scramble — (Aug. 12) First place team: Denise Rowlett, Katy Drummy, Breanna Moore and Mary Cahill 37. Second place team: Cathy Brannen, Mary Brannen and Candy Lovvron 41. Longest putt: Mary Cahill (18). Closest to pin: Moore (12). (July 29) First place team: Denise Rowlett and Breanna Moore 35. Second place team: Katy Drummy, Mary Brannen and Candy Lovvron 37. Closest to pin: Rowlett (9).
On & Off the Course
On and Off the Course: We can honor fallen heroes on Patriot Golf Day
- On & Off the Course
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Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
• Gary R. Wright
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Donna Lynn Strahla Bown
Donna Lynn Strahla Bown passed away early Friday morning, Jan. 25, 2013, with her children by her side.
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‘The Match’ pitting amateurs vs. pros recalled 62 years later
Quote of the Day: “I play golf with friends sometimes, but there are never friendly games.” — Ben Hogan.
Bubba Watson has had a busy fall. Not only did he play all the way to the final round of the FedEx Championships, and in the Ryder Cup, he also played in an event commemorating a very famous match played at Cypress Point in 1956, pitting two of the greatest golf pros at the time against two of the best amateurs.
Come to think of it, all four were some of the best golfers of all time. This year’s event was celebrating The First Tee’s exceeding $100 million in pledges to reach 10 million new young people. It wasn’t televised and kept very quiet; only 225 people were in the gallery.
One of the people in the gallery was Mark Frost, the author of a book titled “The Match,” which is about that match played 62 years ago that was re-enacted in modern terms last week. The pros in 1956 were Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson and the amateurs were Ken Venturi and Harvie Ward. It was supposed to have been a private affair, built around a wager by two millionaires, George Coleman and Eddie Lowery. -
ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf from the wrong side of the brain
Imagine this scenario: a woman, small in stature (possibly freckled), walks into a hospital emergency room and says, “I have an emergency, I need a doctor quickly!” The admitting nurse, ever trying to be helpful, asks what the emergency is.
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Farmers looking at widely varying yields
Combines will roll through fields this weekend, bringing in the harvest from a summer with nearly no rain.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf debut in London would have been nice
As the Olympics get underway in London this weekend, I was thinking it’s too bad that the Olympic committee decided too late to add golf as one of the sports for this event; instead it will be added to the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Getting to Hoosier country’s best golfing venue part of the fun
If you are looking for Indiana’s premier golfing destination, then you should look no further than French Lick.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Indiana's Pete Dye courses worth the drive
You’ve probably heard of the Robert Trent Jones Golf trail throughout Alabama, but you might not be aware that Indiana has its own “Pete Dye Golf Trail” comprised of seven courses.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fathers typically a big influence on golfing sons
Some events fall naturally into place around holidays. The Fourth of July always falls somewhere during Wimbledon, giving all of the Yanks in attendance something to be boisterous about, to the chagrin of their hosts; The Masters often, but not always, ends on Easter Sunday, which is fitting since golfers find it such a reverent occasion.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Memorial just one of many visions of Jack Nicklaus
When Jack Nicklaus was a young man, the golfer he most admired was Bob Jones.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: With some tricky rules, golf is not a walk in the park
Golf is not a casual sport, even though it has a term called “casual water.”
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On and off the course: Sycamores seeded sixth heading into MVC golf tourney
It wasn’t too long ago that Indiana State University didn’t even have a women’s golf team.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: A hard ticket to come by
This is the weekend of the Masters Tournament, the first of the four major tournaments.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Some things on golf course are worse than steep putts
It’s not often that anything gets more scary on a golf course than a steep downhill putt, but on some courses around the world, things a little more on the supernatural side might give you a bigger fright!
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The shot heard round the world
I don’t know if the Golf Channel will show a “Best Shots of 2011” highlight reel, much like ESPN does for baseball or football.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Red, White and Blue visits the Isle of Green
In 2006, the Ryder Cup was held in Ireland at The K Club in County Kildare.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Fall may be coming but golf season is far from over
Once the major tournaments are over with, what’s there to look forward to in the world of golf?
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Golf… simplified!
Golf is not a simple game. A golf course is made up of 18 holes, all different. There are par-3s, par-4s and par-5s; they all vary in length and elevation, and each has its own challenges. There can be water hazards, trees, sand bunkers, tall grass, hills, valleys — and then, if that’s not enough, there’s probably wind too.
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On and Off the Course: Northern Ireland builds on golf history
Northern Ireland is only about 5,452 square miles in area and has a population about the same as West Virginia, which is about 1,880,344.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Women’s Open at the Broadmoor
This is the weekend of the U.S. Women’s Open, and this year it’s being played at The Broadmoor, East Course, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: The Fort Golf Course: A Walk in the Park…
Indiana has some pretty spectacular state parks, but one of them gives you the ability to “spoil a good walk” by chasing a little white ball.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Father’s Day is a good day for golfers
Most people consider the time around Christmas to be the gift-buying season.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Playing with lead a difficult task
As exciting as last week’s Masters was, with six players being tied for the lead at one point on Sunday, it was very difficult watching Rory McIlroy fall apart to shoot an 80.
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ON AND OFF THE COURSE: Masters a rite of spring
This is Masters weekend, the grand kickoff to the golf season for a lot of golfers. Sure, there have been tournaments on TV, because the professionals have been playing in Hawaii, California, Texas, Dubai, and other areas not so affected by winter as we are here in the Midwest, but to me, watching The Masters is a rite of spring.
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ON THE OFF THE COURSE: Some history on the Ryder Cup
I fell asleep in way too many history classes to ever qualify as a history buff. However, since I have grown up a bit (not much), I enjoy learning about all kinds of history. I often have questions about how something began, or how something came to be.
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On and Off the Course: Purdue's Kampen Course a gem in Indiana's rough
About a month ago, Indiana was still heavily mired in heat and humidity, making outdoor activities such as golf less appealing than usual. At that time it felt like the repressive heat would never go away, it would never rain again, and all of the grass was just going to continue to wither and die. And the month prior to that we kept getting rained out of golf events!
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On and Off the Course: Successful golfers know ... focus is the key
I have a good friend who coached his daughter’s basketball team for a number of years, and told me that his theme with the girls was always “focus”, until it was ingrained in their brains. Now when they play high school ball, if they hear “focus” yelled from the stands, they know the source.
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On and Off the Course: Technology adds even more fun to the course
You’ve hit a drive into some brush in an area marked as a hazard, but you can’t find the ball to prove it is there. And no one actually witnessed it go in the hazard. You just think that’s where it probably is. What is the rule for this situation?
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On and Off the Course: Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic a worthwhile charity event
On Monday, I worked as a volunteer for the Anthony Gonzalez First Tee Classic, Golf Tournament and Auction at Eagle Creek Golf Course in Indianapolis. It was an absolutely beautiful day, with clear blue skies, just a few wispy clouds here and there and a high temperature of about 76 degrees.
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On and Off the Course: Trends show golf in decline
You don’t have to watch the news or read the paper to understand that America is struggling on the economic front. The evidence can be witnessed at the local golf course.
- More On & Off the Course Headlines
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Death Notice: Feb. 7, 2013
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A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
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AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
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Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
