Golfers occasionally hit a shot so pure and perfect that it sends shivers down the spine. The sound of the club hitting the ball, the trajectory, all perfect. The better you play, the more frequently you may have that experience. Sitting around the Club House last week, a few of us batted that ball around the bases. Glen Beck responded with, “Yes. It’s like entering Nirvana.” Nirvana is a state of bliss, a state of perfect peace and happiness. “Then you hit your next shot. The best scenario would be that you hit that perfect shot on hole 18, then you could take that feeling home.” Phill Dunn, a very good golfer, said, “Oh yes, it’s a great feeling.” Kathy Shepley, the Pro Shop manager, and Dave Jones, who worked at the Pro Shop, both chimed in with yes. What a wonderful feeling it was to hit that shot. Bill Gibney, another good golfer, said he used to hit ‘those’ shots more often in the past than he does now.

Then Bill shared this story: “My dad was a golfer. He had some health issues. He was in his early 70s, playing the course back in 1979. My dad’s name was Marvin Gibney, but everyone back in those days had a nickname. His was ‘Shotgun.’ Shotgun Gibney. He was teeing off to the eighth hole, playing with Dave DeSilva, and sailed his ball out onto the first fairway.” Not an unusual thing to do. “Back in those days, the trees separating the first fairway from the eighth hole were not as tall. My dad hit his next shot perfectly over the trees and onto the eighth green, not far from the hole. Then he fell to the fairway and died. His last shot. When he left the house that morning, he told my mother he didn’t feel that great. She said, well, why not stay home? He said he would rather die on the golf course than at home.” Thanks for sharing that story, Bill.

Last Friday, October 25th, there was a nice turnout for the Stableford game. Eight players had nothing better to do that day, and, for some, it paid off. Scoring 40 points, Jim Corsar won first place, with Phill Dunn and Paul Dutcher tying for second place, with 39 Stableford points each. Jim Corsar stayed in the winner’s circle for first place partners drawing Chuck Allegrini. The two racked up a combined 38 points. Drawing each other for second place partners winner, with 75 points, was Paul Dutcher and Scott Deitz. Invest your winnings wisely.

Paul Dutcher recently played the best round of golf in his career. Paul shot an 84, and he used the same ball the whole round. That’s right. He did not lose a single ball.  Paul was hitting a yellow Venture golf ball. A three-ball package of these balls was given to all the Rotary Tournament players playing in the recent Rotary tournament played on the Little River Course. Nice round, Paul. Mmm, I think I may try those Ventures.