The Casey Country Club, located in eastern Illinois, has long been a favorite venue for Terre Haute divot diggers for more than five decades.
After Gene Verostko, with a 6 under par 29 on one nine, won the first Casey Open in 1951, the tourney routinely has attracted at least 25 to 30 players from Terre Haute each year and sometimes more.
Three Terre Haute professionals, Red Wiley, Bill Holloway and Virgil Morey, respectively served stints as Casey Country Club professionals through the years.
A unique format for the 18 hole tournament allows golfers to play their rounds on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. A total entry of more than 300 players has not been uncommon. With home cooked food in the clubhouse along with liquid refreshments, a good time always has been enjoyed by all participants, male and female.
The nine-hole course consistently has been in pristine condition, and the layout was transformed from an easy nine holes to a much sterner test a few years back. An example would be that 64 was good only for a tie for first place in 1962 whereas a 69 would qualify for a two-stroke win in 1992.
Much of the history surrounding Casey Country Club involves Don Fairfield, a friend of several Terre Haute players. Don took the professional’s job at Casey in 1954. That same year he drove to California and played the winter tour without much luck.
Back in Casey the following year, he won the Lawrenceville Open and finished runner-up in the Vincennes Open. Both tournaments were favorites of many Terre Haute golfers.
In 1955 Fairfield advanced to the quarterfinals of the National PGA Championship, which gave him a year’s exemption on tour along with an invitation to The Masters.
After resigning as C.C.C. pro, in October 1955, Don tied for first in the West Palm Beach Open, but lost to Al Besselink in a playoff.
During the next nine years, Fairfield won the 1956 Pensacola Open, 1960 St. Paul Open and 1963 Oklahoma City Open. He had second place finishes in the Los Angeles Open, Phoenix Open, St. Petersburg Open, Pensacola Open, Orange County Open, Kansas City Open, West Palm Beach and Tournament of Champions. He also garnered a host of third place finishes.
Among his accomplishments are course records of 65 at the rugged Firestone course in Akron, Ohio, and another 65 at the Buick Open. Don’s record 31 on the front side at Firestone stood for 20 years.
In July 1962 he played the original front nine at Casey C. C. with a two on the first hole and then eight successive threes for a nine under par 26.
In 1964 Don moved his family to Palm Desert, California where he accepted the head professional’s position at Elderado Country Club. He retired in June of 1997. Don and his wife, Iris, are parents of two sons, Jim and Jeff. Both are Class PGA Professionals. Jeff was the 1992 Southern California PGA Champion.
We remember Don Fairfield as a dedicated, consummate pro who certainly demonstrated what it took to be successful not only as a club professional, but also as a touring professional.
Gene Verostko who played an exhibition with Fairfield recalls Don was an outstanding player with a great iron game. He was very successful on the professional circuit.
While at Casey, Don hired Roger Van Dyke as an assistant. Van Dyke would go on to play for Eastern Illinois University’s golf team. He also placed third in Terre Haute’s 1961 City tournament.
Later, as a professional, Roger made a hole-in-one while playing in the Buick Open, which earned him a new Buick as his prize. Van Dyke earned his PGA Master Professional certificate in 1988. Along the way he was named Golf Professional of the Year by the Michigan PGA.
The city of Casey as well as the Casey Country Club are indeed fortunate to have had a pair of golf professionals who demonstrated such superior qualities of leadership, knowledge and skill pertaining to their chosen professions.
Casey Open set for June 26-28
The Casey Open will be held on July 26, 27, and 28 this year. Call Casey Country Club (217) 932-2030 for tee times and further information.
Valley golfers breath sigh of relief
Golfers at the former Elks Club breathed collective sighs of relief when they heard that the northside course would not be sold to someone who wanted to construct a housing development on the golf course.
General Manager, Jim Jenkins, has some big plans for the Landing at Fort Harrison.
Tim Clements wasted no time in recording a first at the newly named Landing at Fort Harrison when he sent his second shot, a three wood, directly into the cup for a double eagle on the par 5 first hole. In a round preceding that feat, Clements had scored 68 from regulation tees. Playing partner, Herb McConnell, quipped, “Double eagle and all, I can still beat him sometimes.”
Watch out for Chris Cassell in men’s city
Hats off to South golf coach, Chris Cassell for that superb 71 at Wolf Run in the Indiana Amateur. Wolf Run is one of the most difficult tracks in the U.S. and a 71 is truly spectacular.
Cassell has been firing sub par rounds consistently at Hulman Links according to usually reliable sources. It would appear that he will be a factor in the Terre Haute City Tournament.
It was a lonesome looking three wood with a note attached leaning up against a tree on the seventh hole at The Landing.
The note read, “Sorry things didn’t turn out the way I thought they would. You need to find a new home!”
The unknown, former owner had to be a genteel golfer since many clubs such as this one finish up at the bottom of a pond or in many piece safter a high speed collision with a tree.
Tip of the week
If you want to hit a straight shot, make sure your feet, hips and shoulders are all aligned in the same direction; all parallel to the line of flight you want your shot to follow.
Take special care to see that your shoulders aren’t positioned across your line of flight; an easy position to take at address since your right hand (for right handed players) is lower on the grip than your left. This causes you to cut across the ball and a slice results.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
Rub of the Green: A storied course in Casey, Illinois
- Rub of the Green
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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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