Golf Notes: Performing brain surgery
Last Friday, April 2, I was enjoying a round of Stableford golf with Peter Barg, Larry England, J. D. Comer and Bill Speake. On the tee to hole No. 9 Butch Carlstadt, who was playing with the group ahead of us, wheeled up to our five-some, came to a stop and announced to retired doctor Peter Barg: “I need brain surgery.”
It was unusual for Butch to circle back on the course for any reason, so hearing that he “needed” brain surgery was initially a little alarming — thinking he was going to ask Peter for some surgery advice. Butch then handed Peter his three-wood saying, “I can’t hit this club anymore, it is yours if you want it.” Peter said, “Sure, I’ll try it. Thank you.”
Without any surgery tools in his possession, Peter might have had to use his sand wedge and maybe a seven iron to perform the operation on the golf course. As it was, it was more expedient and less time-consuming for Butch to rid himself of the three wood than to have the surgery.
Butch has a reputation for generously passing on clubs, shoes and other golf stuff that he no longer uses or wants. For now, the three wood has found a new home. (Peter liked it.) Butch also has a reputation for shooting his age or better; probably more than any other local golfer. Last week Butch did it again, ringing in an 86 two strokes better than his age. Congratulations, Butch, and we are glad Peter did not have to do the surgery.
Larry England began that same round with a brand-new driver; a King Cobra S-1 adjustable. I think it also had a little built-in jet propulsion because from the first time Larry used it, the ball whooshed far down the fairway. (Larry likes it.) No need for brain surgery yet. Chong Maijas has no need for corrective brain surgery either, as last Saturday she holed a 21-yard chip for a birdie on No. 5. Exciting!
The Little River Men’s Club NCGA 2-man best ball qualifiers played their match at Monterey on April 5 and 6. The deadline for submitting Golf Notes is Monday morning, so Notes will have an account of their adventure in the next column. Representing our local Men’s
Club was Terry Stratton, Bobby Burdick, Randall Jones and Zack Brooks. The group was notified by the NCGA that due to COVID-19, golf scores would have to be recorded on a smartphone app so that scorecards would not be passed around. Terry commented that he did not even own a smartphone but would get one for the occasion.
Sign-up at the Pro Shop for the next NCGA 2-person team four ball qualifier to be played at Little River on April 18; first tee-off is at 9 a.m. Good Luck!