What on earth is going on? We’re half way through golf’s 2007 major season and the winners have not been the ones the experts have told us they would be.
Let’s face it. The Masters and the U. S. Open should have gone to a couple of players whose first name was Tiger, Jim or Phil. The present scenario takes me back to 1955 when Jack Fleck won the U. S. Open in an 18-hole playoff with Ben Hogan. Jack couldn’t break 80 in practice, in fact, Ben gave him a set of Hogan clubs to help him out.
Where do these dark horses come from? How does a long shot jump up and win a U. S. Open? Well, these guys, Zach Johnson and Angel Cabrera, may not have been household names, but you can be sure of one thing, they are superb and capable players who, when their respective times rolled around, were ready and willing to grab the golden ring.
I’ve always admired the underdog, the fighter who gets off the floor and comes back to win; the tennis player who is one point away from losing the match, but still finds it within himself or herself to struggle to a victory.
Take a look at Cabrera, an elementary school dropout who had to quit and go to work to help his family survive. A dark horse contender? No way, just an outstanding and gifted player whose time came to stand up and be counted in the U. S. Open, and stand tall is what he did.
Angel certainly deserved his win as Zach Johnson did at The Masters. Each should have all of golf’s accolades directed their way. After all, each was the best at the time it counted and it doesn’t get any better than that.
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Ray Goddard, head pro at Idle Creek, got a plaque in the mail a few days ago. It was emblematic of a National Seniors Championship he won last winter in a tournament near Los Angeles. Nothing like timeliness.
Speaking of time, it’s difficult to think of Ray as a senior. It seems that it wasn’t long ago he was grabbing rebounds and hitting jump shots for Indiana State’s basketball team. That saying, “time flies” should be changed to “time sprints”.
Goddard notes that both Lloyd Driggers and Ernie Maesch have added Idle Creek Club championships to their respective resumes. Dick Wible and Jim Roberts also have been playing well.
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All those connected with Hulman Links have nothing but praise for their new professional, Ryan Klopfenstein. Assistant pro Ed Grayless, along with restaurant manager, Ken Wooden with help from John Dierdorf and Dale Mowbray were involved with a junior tourney last week. More than 80 players, ages 6 to 16, took part in the festivities which included a pizza party at its conclusion.
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Dave Brown ran away with the Hulman Links Club Championship earlier this season with a superb 6-under-par 138 total that was good for a six-shot margin over runner-up Tom Jones.
Brown participates in weekend hunts that include Tim Mundy, Chuck Adamson, Ted Kaperak, and Jones among others. Jim Horrall’s hunt now frequents Hulman Links on Wednesdays at 8 a.m. Jim Homburg, who displays a power game of the tee as well as an excellent short game, often leads a daily morning hunt.
Abe Nasser Jr. fired a 68 at Hulman recently, a score which always draws some serious attention from opponents.
Other low handicap players at Hulman include Mark Bird, Ryan Roscoe, Dave Alumbaugh and Abe Nasser Sr. Others are Kaperak, who lit up the Elks’ course last winter with rounds of 65 and 66, Chris Keen, Troy Farris, Matt Sherertz and Travis Turpin.
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At the Country Club of Terre Haute, former city champion Jim Winning has been scoring par figures as evidenced by his one handicap which is matched by David Callahan. Other low handicaps at Allendale are possessed by Jeff Lewellyn, Dick Vining, Earl Elliott and Bob Sanders.
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Jim Stewart Sr. hasn’t been back from Florida that long, but it has been long enough for him to post a smooth 68 at Rea Park. The former city senior champ, whose two sons, Jim Jr. and Tim were outstanding players for South Vigo during their high school days, often plays in the Rea Park hunt. Other Rea competitors include Blayd Horrall, Turpin, Bob Smith, Jerry Snodgrass, John Sedwick, Ernie Tom Horrall, and Linus Haller among others.
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At Lost Creek Golf Course at the Elks, Don James knows how not only to beat his age, but also annihilate it. He recently went out for a second 18 after playing in a scramble during the morning. He then fired a 5-under-par 67 which was eight shots lower than his age.
Even at 75, James routinely hits drives that outdistance many of his flat bellied partners who are less than half his age. To top it off, Don always exhibits a great attitude, regardless of whether his round was great, fair or terrible. He definitely enjoys the game.
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Devon Klutey continues to shred par at the Lost Creek course. He recently authored a 64 and followed up with a pair of 68s. To say this long hitter is “hard to handle” would be an understatement.
Bo Lantz’s game at Lost Creek is getting into high gear with rounds of 68 and 69 in recent days. As always, Tim “Toy Cannon” Tennant can be counted on to beat par on most every trip around the north side layout. The former city champ combines 285-yard drives with a solid iron game and a deadly putter all of which add up to consistent sub-par scores.
Claude McCalister and Joe Bukavack recently had season bests of 71 and 70 respectively.
• • •
TIP OF THE WEEK: Most players get antsy and want to see their golf ball fall into the cup. Avoid this tendency by listening for the ball to drop instead of coming up and out of your position before the follow through is completed. Stay down on the putt.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
Rub of the Green: Majors turn up some serious surprises
- Rub of the Green
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
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Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
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Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
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Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
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Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
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BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
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RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
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RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
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Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
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Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
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