News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Sports

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
June 23, 2012

Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today

Bob Arnett Special to the Tribune-Star

TERRE HAUTE — I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.

He owned his own tank truck and delivered petroleum products such as White Rose gasoline and fuel oil to service stations, farms and grocery stores.

He brought home each evening a number of ration stamps, which I glued to specific sheets that indicated what product was sold and to whom. This was during World War II and gasoline, like most things, was rationed.

My dad enjoyed sports, with baseball being his favorite. He had played first base for several semi-pro teams when he was younger.

I can recall the many evenings we spent when he hit “flies and grounders” to me in the street in front of our house until darkness ended our practice session.

I once got a job tossing balls that were hit foul on top of the stadium roof back to the infield. The activity paid $1 per game. One unseasonably cold May Sunday, I was perched on top the roof and the ice-cold wind was blowing and I thought I was going to freeze to death when I spotted my father coming to my aid with a big wool blanket, large enough to keep both of us warm.

My father’s love of baseball carried over to softball as well. Terre Haute back in the 1930s and 1940s boasted some great facilities for day or night softball.

One night, we were making our way up the steps to our seats at Parson’s Field when a batter hit a towering foul ball that came over the screen. I ducked, but my dad reached out and caught the ball with one hand. He must have known the announcer because the next words over the PA system were, “Nice catch, Bob!” I was so proud of my dad and I wanted to someday make him proud of me, although I thought there was little chance of that happening.

About 1940, Dad suggested we play golf. We borrowed some clubs and away we went. All I remember is chasing my sliced drives across Locust Street to the railroad tracks that seemed to want to hide my golf ball every time I mishit it, which was often.

As I recall, Dad didn’t fare much better than I. We believed that we had better stick to softball. We also shot some baskets in the driveway of one of his friends.

What I would give to play one round of golf with my father. It would be magic. It is easy to envy golfers on the PGA Tour whose dads are still living and the players are giving it all to win for their fathers.

In spite of the fact that Robert Erwin Arnett died in 1945, I’ve always felt his presence or perhaps his spirit when I played competitive golf.

My average during my sophomore year at Gerstmeyer Tech was 99 — not good enough to beat hardly anyone. After I hit my wedge into the cup on the 18th hole, just a few weeks after working as hard as I could to break 100, I had a vision of my father standing at the side of the 18th green at Rea Park when I won the City Junior.

Somewhere along the line, I decided golf had to be my game. I won medalist honors playing for the Indiana State Sycamores in five of the tournaments in which I competed. Playing third man’s position as a freshman, I held the No. 1 man’s spot during my sophomore, junior and senior seasons, I was awarded the Alumni I Men’s Blanket for 1953-54 that was emblematic of ISU’s Most Outstanding Athlete. The team finished the season 14-1.

Bob Arnett would go on to win golf tourneys in six different decades. Highlights include eight club championships, four at Rea Park, three at Elks Fort Harrison C.C. and one at Hulman Links.

Other wins for which I could thank my dad for introducing me to sports include three Casey Amateur titles, two holes-in-one, the Clinton Amateur (later called the Spaghetti Open), the Terre Haute Senior title and Terre Haute Match Play along with other awards too numerous for an old golfer to remember.

This along with teaching beginning golf for students in grades four to eight and incidentally coaching boys and girls high school golf teams for a total of 43 seasons. Anything and everything I have accomplished in golf, I owe to Robert Erwin Arnett, my dad.

I I I

The Brazil Open is slated for Saturday, June 30, and Sunday, July 1, at Forest Park. Tee times can be requested, starting at 8 a.m. and every 10 minutes thereafter. For further information and to sign up, call (812) 442-5681.

Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.



Bob Arnett can be reached by e-mail at subob@aol.com.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Sports
softballsecs.jpg

Softball sectionals

  • Softball sectionals up for grabs

    All three Vigo County high schools and Northview appear to have a realistic chance of winning sectional championships in softball this week.

    May 20, 2013 1 Photo

  • Rose to send 5 to national finals

    Five Rose-Hulman athletes have qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships later this week at Wisconsin-LaCrosse.

    May 20, 2013

  • IndyCar Indy 500 Auto_Morg.jpg 500 field fills up quickly on Bump Day

    In just over an hour, the field for the 2013 Indianapolis 500 was complete on Bump Day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Sunday.

    May 20, 2013 2 Photos

  • SPT 043013 ACE HUNT TROPHY.jpg ISU's athletic treasure trove

    Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.

    May 19, 2013 9 Photos 2 Links

  • Vikings win in extra innings at Rockville

    West Vigo scored six runs in its first two innings Saturday, then needed a ninth-inning single by Lucas Fagg to escape with a 7-6 extra-inning win in nonconference high school baseball at Rockville.

    May 19, 2013

  • SPT 051813 LANNOOS PROPS.jpg TH South beats Northview in Big Four makeup baseball game

    Terre Haute South wrapped up a share of the MIC baseball title and finished up the Big Four Classic with an 8-1 victory over Northview in less than 24 hours on Saturday morning.

    May 19, 2013 4 Photos

  • Shooters compete to fight cancer

    A team of employees at Taghleef, formally A.E.T, would like to give a personal invite for you to join in on a lot of fun while helping save lives.
    Cindy and Mark Wilguess are the inspiration behind the Taghleef Team. Cindy herself fought this battle with cancer and won. Last year she led her team to be the No. 1 fundraisers in the Relay for Life.

    May 19, 2013

  • Carpenter arrives as Indy 500 threat

    And the crowd went wild.
    Not only did Ed Carpenter win the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500, he is the hometown son. Carpenter, the stepson of Tony George, completed his rookie orientation in 2004 and has spent the last several years, proving he deserved to be the IZOD IndyCar Series. There is no questioning his credentials now.

    May 19, 2013

  • Carpenter wins Indy 500 pole

     Ed Carpenter is on the pole for the 97th running of the Indianapolis 500.
    The native of Marshall, Ill., earned the No. 1 spot for the May 26 race with a strong run in the Fast Nine competition at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on Saturday. He is the first American driver on the pole since 2006.

    May 19, 2013

  • Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win

    Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.

    May 19, 2013

Local Interest
softballsecs.jpg

Softball sectionals

High School
College
SPT 043013 ACE HUNT TROPHY.jpg

Trophies: Ace Hunt rummages through several boxes loaded with sports trophies from days gone by Tuesday afternoon in the basement of the ISU Athletic offices building.

  • ISU's athletic treasure trove

    Think of every championship that Indiana State has won in each of its sports, past and present. Think of every tournament — postseason or regular season — which the Sycamores have claimed as their own.

    May 19, 2013 9 Photos 2 Links

  • Ort sets ISU RBI record in 16-7 win

    Robby Ort celebrated his Indiana State baseball Senior Day on Saturday by becoming the Sycamores’ all-time leader in RBIs as ISU ended its regular season with a 16-7 win over Bradley at Bob Warn Field.

    May 19, 2013

  • Bradley ends 16-game MVC losing streak against ISU

    Momentum was the only thing riding on Indiana State’s baseball game against Bradley on Friday. With a five-game winning streak going, ISU wanted to keep the good vibes going into next week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
    ISU couldn’t do it.

    May 18, 2013

  • SPT0511613manaea4.jpg Behind 16 hits and Manaea's pitching, ISU beats Bradley

    Indiana State’s baseball team rode a wild ride of emotion on Thursday.
    First came the public announcement that Bob Warn Field would host the 2014 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. Later, Sean Manaea’s availability to pitch ISU’s series opener against Bradley was in doubt.

    May 17, 2013 1 Photo

  • Indiana State women add five transfers, including experienced D-I point guard

    Indiana State coach Teri Moren believes the addition of five more newcomers to the program — in addition to the five who had already joined the program earlier this calendar year — will provide her coaching staff the athleticism and depth it needs to play a successful, up-tempo brand of basketball next season.

    May 17, 2013

Sports Columns
Pro Sports
Terre Haute Rex
SPT 071512 DORSETT FILE.jpg

Consultation: Rex manager Brian Dorsett talks with his pitcher and players during a time-out Sunday, July 15, at Sycamore Field. (Tribune-Star file/Bob Poynter)

Colts
Auto Racing
Latest News
Multimedia

Like us on Facebook!
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
Front page
AP Video
Redskins looking to find edge at the tight end position Galiardi: 'We think we're the better team' Kevin Dupont discusses Bruins-Rangers Game 2 Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem Padres honor Marines Nolan Arenado Fitting Right In With The Rockies Preakness Day 2013 WQAM Audio: Lamar Miller's goal? 1,500 rushing yards Red Wings beat Blackhawks 4-1 in game 2 of Western Conference Semifinals Orb heads Preakness field Betting at the Preakness Amico: Grizzlies/Spurs series preview Three and Out: Knick's Bench
NDN Video
RAW: Russian dash cam catches car 20 feet in the air Singer Miguel Accidentally Lands on Fan At Billboard Music Awards Who is $600M Powerball winner in Fla.? Justin Bieber Gets Booed After Winning at the Billboard Awards Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem Top 5 Plays of the Day Sailor Surprises His Mom At Her CU Denver Graduation Ceremony Twiggy, the Waterskiing Squirrel Official: ‘Amazing’ No One Was Killed In CT Train Crash Raw: Tornadoes Spotted in Kansas Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country Coffee Stop Leads To Arrest Of YouTube Sensation Wanted For Murder Bearded Dragon Reunited With Owner Marine Reunited with Warzone Companion Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool Beyonce Is Pregnant! SF baseball player overpaid $500,000 RETURNS money -- and team says KEEP IT $1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest Dad returns from Afghanistan, surprises family during Rays' first pitch
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity