An 88 on his 88th
Just like that 2020 is out the door, and we are all a few steps inside the front door of 2021. Notice any difference yet? Make any resolutions? How’s your swing? Still have the slice? Ya got that putting stroke down?
One guy that has that putting stroke down is Butch Carlstadt. You remember Butch; he has played more rounds of golf shooting his age or better at the Little River Golf Course than any other local golfer. Friday — the first day of 2021 — was Butch’s 88th birthday. I couldn’t play that day, but was on the course and saw Butch on the turn. I wished him a happy birthday and asked, “Are you going to shoot your age or better today, Butch?” “I might,” Butch responded.
Butch was playing with the Stableford gang. On the 18th hole, our Butch sunk a 30-foot birdie putt to shoot 88 on his 88th birthday. Wow! Congratulations and just — wow, Butch.
Evem John Johansen showed up for nine holes on Butch’s birthday. John hadn’t played golf in three months but wanted to be there for the birthday celebrations. John commented, “Even though I haven’t played in three months I have played every day in 2021.” Well yes, it was the first day in 2021.
And, on that day, I could say I haven’t played a single day of golf yet this year.
Another fellow who has his swing down is Larry Krasner. Back in the twilight days of 2020, the final week, Larry pulled out a six-iron on hole number seven and hit it well but when he walked the canyon up to the green — no ball. Hmm? Larry crept up to the flag stick and there was his ball lying in the bottom of the hole smiling up at him. Larry had just got his first hole-inone. Congratulations!
Larry has just recently rejuvenated his game not having played much golf since his college days. He connected with Pro Shop manager Kathy Shepley, who gave him an NCGA hole-in- one form which entitles him an opportunity to enter a drawing of other hole-in- one entrants. If Larry wins, he gets a free round of golf with three buddies at Poppy Hills Golf Course. It was reported from way down in always summer Arizona, that local golfer Garry Van Tassel also got a hole-in- one — also on hole seven — at the Arizona Traditional Golf Club. This was also Garry’s first hole-in- one. Congratulations. Garry!
Who were the last golfers to pull the 2020 curtain on the Little River Golf Course? Who played the last round of golf in 2020? It was none other than the Brooks brother’s father and son Paul and Zach Brooks.
Who opened the curtain on the 2021 Little River Golf season? It was of course the dawn patrol guys — Ken Baumgartner, Ralph Turrentine and Mike Roscoe. Thanks, guys. Someone had to do it.