Jim;

How we picking partners for the golf event?  Only asking so Puetz doesn't bring in a ringer.

Lee

As of right now, we only have 12 people signed up to play golf so it may just be a pick your own foursome, but if more sign up then we'll have to make adjustments and figure it out.  Here's the 12 that are signed up as of today:

Campbell (Campbell), Rebecca
Dieger, Ritch
Fergen (Olberding), Nancy
Jones, Lee
Mahaney, Douglas
Mogren, John
Niles, Richard
Olson, Steven
Palmersheim, David
Puetz, John
Skinner, Douglas
Stabile, Jerome

Jim

If I can't bring a ringer, prohibits me from playing.  Probably one of my golf highlights is only losing to Tritz by ~ 10 strokes a couple of years ago at Green Valley.  I'm playing with either Tritz or Warden if we're playing straight up (no strokes), otherwise open to discussion.  Remember, handicaps are subjective...depends on whether your bragging or betting.

I'll take Olie cuz he is still probably better at golf than I am.  I'd also like to golf with Mahaney, but only if he is brave enough to let me drive the golf cart.  Bought new clubs, took lessons and just started breaking triple digits....

Lee

Foghorn Leghorn (Coach Sullivan's nickname for Cherokee), I don't know if I'd be posting that you broke triple digits (we all know that its for 9 holes).  For Christ sake, with all of that athletic talent you displayed on the basketball court, I would have thought you'd be breaking 60 by now.  You need to relax on the golf course, although that's probably hard if you're worried Sully will kick you out of the locker room after your round. 

Lee,

How does you, me, Mahaney, and Dieger sound?  We have to have Dieger in the group.  He's bringing the Copenhagen.  I'll bring the Skoal.

Jim,

Can you make an executive decision as it relates to tee times?  7:00 or even 8:00 am is dang early  to be drinking and chewing.  How about just trying for a block from 9:00-10:00? 

Lee and Olie:

Mahaney and I are in on that foursome! He and I had already discussed golfing so that will work.

I agree on the later tee time. Jim, if it means Steve will come all the way back from Omaha, as it is a great distance for him to travel and he is bagging a family reunion, I think we should try and accomodate him! If anything if we get the 8-9 block,maybe Jim can hook us up with the 9am tee time!

Tritz, sounds like Olson might do better playing with the women drinking memosas and getting pedicures as he's afraid of a little booze early in the morning.  As the saying goes, "You can't drink all day unless you start in the morning".  Oh, by the way, I'll need a ride home from the course.

"If I can't bring a ringer, prohibits me from playing" per John Puetz.  Is that like taking the ball and running home to mama.   You can have Tritz, the Iowa national champ, or whatever his title was, or anyother ringer you can get.  The foursome we have assembled will be very formidable in the dinking and chew category, regardless of the tee time.

Steve, Ritch, Doug;

The foursome sounds awesome, should be a good time. 

John;

You would remember all those highlights from Sophmore year basketball seaon, since the highlight of your prep athletic career was actually making a team and acting as the towel girl for the rest of us and your coaching idol, coach Sully.

Lee

Olie,

What I meant was that I was the ringer.  However, after playing with Tritz a couple of years ago, he has remained silent on the subject.  Then Warden tells me to forget golf and focus on an eating contest.   In all of this bantering back and forth, none of my so-called friends has volunteered to play in my foursome.

Sorry Mr Puetz,  I would have been honored to tee it up with you on Saturday.  However, I have a conflict with another tournament that I am scheduled to play in.   I am sure Mr Tritz would gladly display his skills and team up with you.  He probably has not responded because he is on the range honing his skills as we speak.  He hits more range balls in a day than I have in a lifetime.  I actually have started my preparation in case an eating contest hits the agenda, as I will have Taco John's  home restaurant advantage. 

Puetz, you want some cheese to go with that whine?

Sorry I haven't replied about this yet....the golf course is open and I've been over there hitting balls and playing with all my free time.  I think Puetz doesn't want to play with me cuz then he'd have to play by the rules..you know..no nike wedges. I could probably look the other way a couple of times while he "improves" his lie from behind a tree to the middle of the fairway.

Hey John;

Where can I get one of those "Nike Wedges"?  They may come in handy with my game...  Instead of a 60 degree loft, I'll take mine in a size 13 EEE.

Jim;

There is only certain items we can get back in Sioux City, so instead of Jeff's Taco John eating contest how about a poll question with some of the following contest items:

Tastee

Twin Bing

Elfredo's Pizza

Charlie Boys (Miles Inn)

Dollar Bucket of beer (Bills Bar back in the day)

Lee

John;

A little FYI note before you select partners, quoted from the SC Journal last summer: 

"Donaldson may have come up with his share of good shots on Sunday, but none topped the one by Jim Tritz, the first flight champion, on the 143-yard par-3 sixth hole. Tritz holed out for an ace, creasing a 6-iron through the wind and into the cup for his first-ever hole in one."

While the hole in one is impressive (I saw Olie make one when we were 19 at Hidden Acres and he STILL owes me a round), a six iron with a full swing going 143 yards.  Sort of makes you think...

Lee

Lee,

The Journal left out the part that he was the first flight champion playing in the women's tournament (which explains his low handicap a little).  Why else would there be a 143 yard par-3 hole in a tournament?  I wonder if he'll want to play from the front (red) tees this summer when we play?

Allow me to further explain that hole in one.  First off, the hole yardage that day was 143 to the middle of the green. Secondly,  actual yardage to the hole as defined by my skycaddie was 128.  There was a steady 35 mph wind straight into our faces when we played that hole that gusted to 40+ mph.  Now, I hit a 6 iron usually in the range of 165-175 yards depending on swing speed and trajectory.  On that shot, the ball never got more than 20 feet off the ground and was tracking perfectly to the high side of the hole, landed pin high, bounced forward about 10 feet and spun back and left, straight into the hole.  It was a match play championship match and I went first since I won the hole before it.  The guy I was playing then hit his on to the green about 50 feet away which of course I gave him the putt for a birdie.  I ended up winning that match on the 13th hole.

The weather was so bad that day that only those of us in the finals of the tourney were there so the hole in one only cost me about $30, so I got that going for me...which was nice.

John Puetz wrote:

Puetz...12th hole at Augusta, Masters Saturday...144 yds.  Real tournament???

Lee,

I think we're even.  You were supposed to be in my wedding, remember?  That last minute call saying you couldn't make it back that month(June) using that bogus Navy excuse, only for you to show back up in town in July on your leave.  But, I'm sure I can spring for a beer or two this summer.

And Jim, what the hell!  SKYCADDIE!!!!!  During tournament play??? Didn't know you could use that.   Then again, most of us don't need that extra help.  

Oly,

SkyCaddie is USGA approved for tournament play.  I tell you what though...that thing has really helped me improve my score.  Now I know yardages to the front, middle and back of the greens; how far to carry water and sandtraps and all that.  In tournaments where you have pin sheets with pace markings where the pins are and you know how far you need to carry the ball makes a ton of difference.  You should fork out the money for one if you can pry that billfold of yours open.

Jim,

I know the pros use them during practice rounds and such, never seen them use during a tournament.

I think we all would appreciate you doing a little re-con for us and supplying yardage sheets.  Sounds like they would be most helpful.  And lord knows, we're going to need it.  :)

Steve 

Well, you can't use them in Professional tournaments like that but in USGA sanctioned amateur events or even in the local tournaments where USGA rules apply you can use them.  They really help speed up play too as you don't have to walk off yardages or wander around looking for sprinkler heads with markers on them.

As for your need of help with pin sheets et.al. I don't think I have enough to help the likes of Shankapotamus Jones and Happy Hooker Puetz.  Theirs is more of the hit and hope golf...hope that it stays in bounds and gets off the ground.

Jim;

I have the laser range finder (Pinseeker by Bushnell), it helps but only on those rare occasions I hit the ball in the direction I was intending.  Learned to play golf in the military, so am sort of stuck on the left-right-left path down most fareways.

Steve;

You probably owe me, or my recruiter for that matter; another beer for missing your big day.  I was still in my "Frank the Tank" mode back then and Dana would have barred you from any further contact with me after any toast I would have attempted.

Anyone;

Puetz still needs a golf partner, I'll cover the beverages for anyone who takes one for the team....:-)

Lee

Lee, Jim

Bring those things with you.  I need to see if I should invest in one.

 Lee,

I remember that final hole well. I hit the most glorious of golf shots.  You and me playing and Dana walking with us.  About a month after our wedding.  Final hole and she says; "Make a hole in one for me".  The golf god's were smiling on that day as they directed that little white devil to its home.  She hasn't been on the course with me since and I haven't had another hole in one.  Hmmmmmm, I probably should have had her with me more often.  

Wow - Lot of smack talk goin on here.  Really makes me wish I could make it back for the reunion and join up with Nancy and Becky and show you guys how to play golf!  Can't wait to hear all about it.  Here's a little taste of what we see down here in GA / AL - usually in April . . .

Alright Ford!!!!  You officially SUCK now!!!!  Next year hook me up with a couple of tickets and a free place to stay somewhere near Magnolia Lane.

What days were you there?  By the outfit Tiger is wearing, I'm thinking it was Monday.  Do you realize the magnitude of your presence on those hallowed grounds?

Jim

Well - I have to admit I couldn't go this year - so those pics were from last year.  Pretty awesome though.   TV does not do that course justice.  I've been on a lot of great courses over the years, and none compare.  I'm still hoping I'll get to play it some day.  Our EVP of Operations did last year.  I'll keep you in mind if I score some tickets next year.  The landlord of our call center in Augusta is one of the members (has his own parking space right in front off Magnolia Lane.)  Pretty cool stuff.

Hey Jim, nice photo - but your seriously geeky computer skills are showing.  You obviously photo chopped the part of the photo where the 83 year old grandmother (with walker and seeing eye dog) is blowing by you at the finish of the Sioux City Marathon........

Hey, I practically needed a walker to finish that race.  That was a month after our 20th reunion and I toasted my achilles the week of the reunion but trained for the race in a swimming pool.  Was doing fine in the race until the 11 mile marker when I toasted the achilles again.  Being the smart guy that I am, I didn't stop and continued on and finished the last 15.2 miles with quite a bit of walking.  The last block was about the only time I was able to run fairly hard and that's when the picture was taken.  Thankfully it wasn't taken earlier or you would have seen me getting passed by some loser slow guy like you haha.

Jim;

Missed the 20th due to an all expense paid (your tax dollars at work) extended trip to the Northern Arabian Gulf.  What the hell were you doing at the 20th reunion that "toasted your achilles"?  Didn't think riding a golf cart around while getting spanked by Warden was all that athletically challenging. 

Lee

Lee,
I was training for the marathon and reunion week was my high mileage week.  Was doing 800's on the West High track with Mike Mahaney (Doug's older brother) and another guy I worked with.  We did our first 4 800's counter-clockwise and we switched to clockwise for our last 4 and somewhere in the first lap I felt something tear.  This was on Tuesday of that week...know it well cuz first off it was a speed workout and secondly it was my last day at Gateway as I was getting laid off.

By the way...Warden beats me most of the time in tournaments.  I'm better at screwing up my first round than he is and usually get so far back that even a great round doesn't get me in contention.  I do have a tendency to win a lot of money playing skins though.  Won $20 on Thursday and another $52 on Saturday.  The unemployed guy has to make money some way doesn't he?

Just wondering, how many of the folks signed up for golfing ever play for money like Jim does?  Maybe we can add a poll question regarding that on the home page.  BTW,  Puetz finally succumbed to his fear and asked me to play with him instead of against him during the tournament.  Makes you sort of feel sad for the "little fellow"......  :-)

Lee "Tin Cup" Jones 

Play for money!! I think something can be arranged. Jimbo, set up a format using handicaps and or handicaps (the real type).  I am willing to donate to our unemployed classmate(s). By the way, we are talking about miniature golf, right!!!

I'll take one for the team an play with Puetz. Poor guy, I'm gonna carve him up like a Christmas goose!