Hole-in-one insurance

I was reminded, in a recent communication with former Men’s Club Champion and Little River Inn Golf course employee, Tim McLaughlin, about holein-one insurance.

Onceupon-a-time, this insurance was available to local golfers who wished to participate. This is how the insurance worked: Those who invested, Dave Hautala remembers, paid $2 for the coverage. The money was held in trust by the Pro Shop. If you were a golfer who plunked a hole-in-one on a busy golf day instead of buying everyone a round of drinks the hole-in-one insurance kicked-in covering the traditional drink cost and if funds exceeded the drink costs the excess money was pocketed. A reward for your achievement!

Now, as we know, the odds of an amateur getting a hole-in-one are 12,500 to one. Doesn’t seem like a good investment, and maybe that is why the insurance idea fizzled. Bill Gibney also remembers the era of hole-in-one insurance and suggested we might want to resurrect the policy. Well, golfers can putt the idea around the practice green and decide.

In other news, it is the time of year for membership renewals. Pro Shop manager Kathy Shepley suggests any prospective and re-enlisting golf members call the pro-shop for an update on annual fees. There will be some adjustment in fees for those who were members in 2020, and whose golf play was reduced by COVID-19. The golf course does offer a monthly fee payment option in lieu of paying the whole yearly sum. However, paying for the entire year upfront is a money saver.

Another option for those golfers who, for whatever reason, are not ready to commit to the annual fee, is to purchase a “20-play card.” These cards market for $200 and are good for 20 nine-hole rounds — or ten 18-hole rounds — golf carts not included. The current walk-on golfer green fees are $45.00 for 18 holes plus $15.00 for a cart. Nine holes go for $30 with an additional $10 with a cart.

Lastly, we are saddened to hear the golf community has lost one of its stalwart members — Jack Carlson. Jack passed on last week at his home in Caspar. A Fort Bragg native and lifelong true-blue commercial salmon, albacore and crab fisherman, Jack was noted on the course for his dependability, honesty, humor and for creating the “Carlson”. A “Carlson” refers to playing 18 holes of golf without getting a double-bogey.

We miss you Jack and we will all try our best to get that “Carlson.”

If you were a golfer who plunked a hole-in-one on a busy golf day instead of buying everyone a round of drinks the hole-inone insurance kicked-in.