Have you ever played the game of golf using tennis balls or putting on a green with the hole surrounded by a toilet bowl seat?
If not you missed the most unique fun-filled par 3 Fun Tournament ever staged in Sullivan County and it all took place July 19 at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club (TVGC) which transformed it's nine-hole course into an 18-hole par 3 extravaganza.
Tournament manager Ralph Kirchner (you remember Ralph on the radio years ago telling the listening audience that his car dealership in Roscoe was "worth the trip from anywhere," redesigned the nine hole TVGC course that proved to be not an easy par 54 round of golf.
Eleven foursomes (44 golfers) competed in this two-member team best ball tournament that was held to benefit the TVGC that featured mixed and men's teams including six-year-old Drew Gerber, the youngest player all the way from Tampa, Florida (Ralph's grandson).
The tournament committee also sold nulligans to golfers and this permitted golfers to take away a good shot from their opponents in their foursome......just the opposite of a mulligan which allows a golfer to shoot a replacement ball eliminating a bad shot.
Here are a few of the not routine golf shots golfers faced:
* Had to replace your golf ball with a tennis ball on hole # 4 and if you think this was easy go out and try hitting a tennis ball with a golf club.....saw a lot of high scores on this hole.
* On hole # 6 after reaching the green you had to putt with a putter provided at the green which had a hole in the middle of the putter and you placed your ball in the hole and had to putt without striking the ball with the front of the putter...go ahead and try this one.
* On hole # 8 right handed golfers had to tee off left handed using a left handed five wood and left handed golfers had tee off using a right handed five wood....some interesting shots resulted here.
* On hole # 15 you had to tee off from a sand trap.
* On hole # 16 you had to tee off a cone
* Golfers on hole # 17 had to tee off sitting on a stool.
* On hole # 18 each team had to use only one club.
And lets not forget the toilet bowl golf hole which featured the hole being surrounded by a toilet bowl seat......go ahead and figure this one out.
A fun chipping contest featuring trying to get your ball into a plastic pool some 30-yards away and a bumpy putting contest took place at the Courtyard Restaurant deck area where there was also light refreshments and drinks and at the end of the tournament a buffet with pasta, pizza, salad and drinks.
Surviving this tournament as champions were in the men's category, Ed Guthrie and Jim Sackett, mixed couple winners were Mary and Tom Knickerbocker, Ron Shulte won the putting contest and Ed Guthrie and Mary Knickerbocker won the closest to the pin contests.
Next year's event is in the planning stages.
Ed's Outlook
We compliment R & A's decision to extend Tom Watson's exemption by a year so he could compete at St. Andrew's and......perhaps.....end his career in this championship at the home of golf.
Watson thought the 2010 Open and walk across the famous Swilcan Bridge was his last. He was 60 and had another four years through this year due to his runner-up finish the year prior at Turnberry.
Watson thought his walk across the bridge would be his last and it was a less-than-satisfying sendoff since he ended up missing the cut on a day that saw a lengthy delay due to strong winds which meant his round didn't finish until nearly 10 p.m. but still light out before sparse crowds.
He recalled being "sad" at that time, knowing it was his last walk across the bridge, but that all changed for the 65-year-old who will get to play one last Open at St. Andrews in 2015.
"I appreciate the R & A more than you know," said Watson, a 5-time winner of the Claret Jug. "It's very special to be able to finish out my career," and "that's the place I want to
finish my career in the Open Championship, 40 years from the first time I played."
A fond farewell gesture.....nice things happen to nice people.
Ed Townsend is a PR consultant to the sport of golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league and tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177 or 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
The flying right elbow is one of the game's best known negative touchstones.
It occurs in the back swing when the elbow juts out behind the player so the right arm forms the letter V or L, depending on the angle from which you view it.
What's wrong with a flying right elbow? It restricts the width or arc of the back swing. It also makes it difficult to get the shaft parallel at the top of the swing with the longer clubs, a restriction that reduces power. Finally, you don't want the elbow jutting out in the downswing because this also limits power and adds inaccuracy to the mix.
So, you must drop it down and in toward your right side. This conection is an extra move that must be made in less than a second of real time. However, trying to keep the elbow in close to the body is too restrictive. It prevents a free-flowing overall swing motion and narrows the width of the back swing, both of which costs power.
The right elbow can move away from the right side in the back swing so long as it remains pointed down toward the ground and in a viable, effective position. This will generate fluidity in the swing and allow the elbow to easily and readily return to or near the right side in the downswing. You do want the elbow close to the body in the downswing because it keeps the club moving from the inside.
To put it another, more meaningful way, it prevents the club from going "over the top" and cutting across the ball from the outside to inside the target line at impact. Which is to say, with the right elbow in close to our side at impact, you are less likely to hit a slice. Indeded there is a very good chance you will get a nice little draw on the ball.
Robert Menges is the golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or by email at menges@hughes.net
The Putting Tip
By Joseph Bermel Jr.
"Keys to good consistent putting"
1. Organization of our mind.
2. Use the successful Putting Doctor System, GAP (Grip, Alignment, Ball Position, PPR (Pre Putt Routine) 100% of the time.
3. Always stay focused.
4. Use Correct Strategy for every putt.
A. Realistic 1 putt attempt or
B. Putt closest to the hole for 2 putt result.
5. Visualize shape of the putt when reading and at address.
6. Feel the speed with your eyes, mind and hands.
7. Look 5X (five times) at the distance between the ball and the hole before putting.
8. Always remain confident in your ability.
9. Finish every putting stroke.
10. Practice putting sessions-30 minute sessions 5-6 times every week.
11. Remain patient always....your 1 putt opportunities will happen.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate, organization and golf shows/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his 2014 Putting Tip calendar are available by calling 631-589-1384 at his web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdotor.com
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