BLOOMINGTON —
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.
Davis admits that he can give the golf ball a lengthy ride but it has a habit of flying in a variety of directions, certainly not acceptable for a former air traffic controller at Hulman Field.
Being a competitive golfer, Darrell became interested in the Golfweek Amateur Tour which offers players of all ability levels opportunities to compete against players who are evenly matched.
Those who want to join the “Tour” must first establish an “index” by playing five rounds which will identify the flight in which they will compete. Flights include Championship, A, B, C and D. Courses used for tournament play include many of Indiana’s finest layouts which are: Otter Creek G. C., Brickyard Crossing, Prairie View G. C., Deer Creek G. C., Timbergate G. C., Plum Creek G. C., Hickory Stick G. C., The Trophy Club and Golf Club of Indiana. Entry fees range from $75 to $100 for these 18-hole tournaments.
Players receive points for top finishes in each tournament. Davis won four tourneys this season which included firsts at Prairie View, Timbergate, Deer Creek and Hickory Stick. Several runner-up finishes were also a part of Davis’s record. It appeared that Darrell was a shoo-in for an invitation to the Tour Championship which is slated for Oct. 21-23 at Hilton Head, S.C. But luck plays a part in golf and sometimes luck can be prefaced by the word “bad”. Davis stepped in a hole in the fairway a short time ago and the resultant knee injury spelled the end of his golf for the remainder of the year. The game can indeed be cruel, but one thing is certain, Davis will be working to get ready for the 2012 season on the Golfweek Amateur Tour.
• Congratulations to the Matthews Park team on their recent win in the Interclub Tournament. Kudos also go to co-medalists Ted Kaperak and Dave Brown, the only two in the field who managed to break par on a course that looks easy and yet plays so much harder.
The Interclub has been around for many years and the event never fails to remind me of something that occurred back in the early 60s. At that time each team had twelve players with only the best 10 scores of each team counting for each squad. The low 10 scores of the low gross team was awarded a small trophy which was not engraved and probably cost no more than a dollar and a half.
One player on the winning gross team could be heard yelling, “I knew it, I just knew it. I’m number 11 and I don’t get a trophy.” At that, five or six members of the low gross winners tossed their trophies toward the disconsolate golfer who then picked up the awards and threw them back saying, “I don’t want a trophy I didn’t win.”
The story should end right there but it doesn’t. The unhappy divot digger then stated, “I’ll show everybody what I think of this game, and my irons, which I hit all over the course today.” He added, “I’ll just decorate the fir trees with them.” He then grabbed a three iron, snapped the shaft across his knee and hung the two pieces of the club on a branch of the tree. He then snapped the shaft of another club. At that moment a head extended from the pro shop and a voice could be heard, “Stop breaking those clubs. You haven’t paid for them yet.” That’s golf.
•
A pat on the back for Lee Shipley who has been striving for a long time to play a round of golf with a score in the 60s. After having his hopes dashed on many occasions by late round bogies and double bogies, Shipley finally realized his objective with a 69 from regulation tee boxes at Riverbend at the Landing.
Any golfer can be proud of posting a round in the 60s, and the first one can be memorable. Congratulations Lee.
•Question for those who wonder: What hole is the most difficult in Terre Haute? Answer in the next column.
• Tip of the week— I’ve never endorsed many of golf’s instructional methods, gadgets and gizmos, but one that appears to have merit would be “A.J. Reveals the Truth About Golf.” A.J. offers a common sense approach to the game.
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Rub of the Green
RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
- Rub of the Green
-
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.”
-
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?
-
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.”
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.”
-
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.
-
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.”
-
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.
-
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.”
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
Unusual Heat Wave Bakes Alaska
Raw: Car Jumps Curb in NYC, Injures 8
Fans Cheer Dramatic Heat Comeback
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Hunt for Ex-Teamster Boss Hoffa's Remains Ends
Car Crash in NYC's East Village Injures 8
Raw: Massive Protests Fill Brazilian Streets
Ohio Woman Accuses 3 of Holding Her Captive
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: Volcano Erupts Near Mexico City
Obama Renews Call for Nuclear Reductions
Aug. Trial Set for Ohio Man in Triple Kidnapping
Time Lapse: Rebuilding Bridge Post-collapse
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Raw: Arizona Wildfire Scorches 8 Square Miles
Obama: 'Lives Have Been Saved' by NSA Programs
Failed Cuba-to-Florida Swimmer Won't Try Again
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Today in History June 19
James Gandolfini Dies at Age 51
Paula Deen Admits to Using N Word
Rihanna Hits Fan With Microphone
Men's Wearhouse Founder Fired
Miss Utah Explains Rambling Response
Exclusive: Locklear & Seymour Lock Lips
Miami Heat Wins in Overtime
Fists, chairs fly in restaurant brawl
Journalist Michael Hastings Dies in Fiery Hollywood Crash
Hairy Leg Stockings Aim to Deflect Male Attention
Inside Kim Kardashian's Premature Labor
Three Charged for Enslaving Mother and Daughter
Raw: Huge Fire Near Yosemite National Park
Spurs' Popovich has no problem with Spurs' intensity
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Paige Butcher Scorches on Hawaii Beach
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
