Murphy Creek. October, 2020. Class of '71 Golf Outing.

Mick Rennich writes from Louisville, CO:

 October 2, 2020 found the group back together for the second time this year, playing one of the most difficult tracks the boys have ever played. The Colorado Arrows … Tom DeVine, Mark Hanson, Mick Rennich and Harley Rinerson … teed it up once again at Murphy Creek in Aurora. Loyal readers of the Blog may remember that 2 ½ years ago the four Watertown natives attacked Murphy Creek and the course won. In fact, Mark, who didn’t even bring his clubs that day, was MVG. Murphy Creek proved to be just as challenging this year. The boys played par 3s of 185, 193 and 225 yards over weeds, rocks, water and sand. The longest par 4s were 467 and 469 yards. At the end of the day, Mark said that the course was too hard and that he won’t play there again!

It was agreed that the play would be from the Blue Tees, which measure 6909 yards in length. The boys shook off the threat of Covid-19, the constant buzz from F-16s flying out of Buckley Air Force Base, and smoke-filled air that was the result of fires to the north that are still burning at press time. Harley, our Colonel, brought old Walter Hagens (or were they Walter Hogans?) and made us each use one for one shot on the back nine. He is always coming up with these strange little golf games. We think he spends too much time at garage sales.

Harley got things going, as he seemingly often does, with a birdie on the first hole. His 17 ft. birdie putt was the longest putt made until the group played 17. Harley followed his birdie with three consecutive double bogeys. Tom, Harley’s playing partner the first six holes, made par on No. 1, and the two of them were off to a quick chit lead.

The chit contest ended with Mick getting 26, Deac 18, Harley 15 and Mark 13.

In the end, only Mick broke 100, shooting an impressive 89. He parred the No 1, 2 and 3 handicapped holes. He nearly drove the 311 yard No 9. On No 13, his 290 yard drive and 230 yard hybrid to pin high led to a birdie. Mark and Harley shot 100 and Deac a 101.

Deciding on hardware recipients at the end of the day was most difficult. Ultimately, the following awards were given:

Most Valuable Golfer - Mick Rennich … His drives were long and accurate (for the most part). He had 3-4 that approached or exceeded 300 yards. His second shots set him up for pars on the long holes. He had a birdie and six pars, the most chits and was medalist.

Purple Putter - Mark Hanson … Mark made a 60 ft par putt on 17 to win the longest putt award. The putt came from the very back edge of the green, was tracking from the start and we all watched in amazement as Mark walked it in.

The Rino Cup – this award is presented to the golfer with the best short game. Based upon his longest putt mentioned above, despite his problems from the sand, and because no one could remember any great or even good chips, Mark was the short game trophy recipient.

Shot of the Day - Mick Rennich … Mick hit his 4-hybrid to within 4 feet on the 225 yard par 3 17^th. He then missed his birdie putt! Despite the failure to convert, Mick’s shot was awarded shot of the day. During shot of the day discussions, Mr. Hanson embarked on a very unbecoming lobbying journey, arguing for the trophy based upon his same 60 ft birdie putt. Dismissing Mark’s pleas, our Board Chairman, Mr. DeVine, said that Mark had already been rewarded for that shot … twice ... and, with that, Mark’s quest for a trifecta ended.

Miss Congeniality - None … For the first time ever, no Miss Congeniality award was given. Mark’s transparent and misplaced lobbying efforts for shot of the day took him out of the running. He even paid for everyone’s green fees and then asked to be repaid … in cash. Mick kind of gloated when he hit a good drive. Harley gave out an opener of some kind that was not golf related. He marked his ball with an Advil on the 18^th green and Mark hit it. Mark’s putt was terrible to begin with, but ended up worse. Deacon brought no swag. No one bought lunch. No one was particularly nice. The result? No Miss C was presented. The Miss C trophy was given to the Colonel to be guardian over her. The group wanted a very secure location ensuring her safety over the winter, and there can be no better protector than the Colonel.

If there was a Most Improved Award, Mr. DeVine would be a lock for it. Now that he has replaced his Studebaker with a Nike Driver he got from the wily Jim Dugan, his tee shots are consistently long and accurate. Never mind that Deb and he have played fifty times this year, his drives, for the most part, were spot on.

There was no Miss Murphy Creek this year. Our first server disappeared after two visits to the table. We needed to search for someone to help us. Pictures were taken, however. See below.

The Colonel, deep in thought.

Mickster hasn't aged at all!

TD in Arrow-Wear!

Legends of the game!

Another lost ball?

July, 2020. Mariana Butte Golf Course. Loveland, CO

July 24, 2020.

What a view!  We're solving the mysteries of the universe, no doubt

Mr. Hanson contemplating taking up a different game.  Golf isn't really happening for the guy.

Mick Rennich writes from Louisville, CO:

Despite the continued threat of COVID-19, July 24, 2020 was a very pleasant summer day at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland, Colorado. The fearsome Colorado foursome of Tom DeVine, Mark Hanson, Mick Rennich and Harley Rinerson, decked out in purple and gold Watertown Arrow “71” shirts gifted by Mr. DeVine a year ago, met once again to test their mettle, wits and golf games. The day did not disappoint. Great fun. Great laughs. Mediocre golf. The quality of the golf played is evidenced by the following: in the combined 72 holes played by the four, they recorded only 12 pars and 3 birdies.  The golf tournament may, before long, give way to shuffleboard or gin rummy competition.  Time hurries on.

There was some good play, make no mistake about it. Rennich started things off with a bang, getting a birdie on the first hole and a par on the second. His lead quickly disappeared with a double bogey on No. 3 and a triple bogey on No. 4. Harley, playing his first round of the year, shot a 43 on the front side and took early command of the match. He mentioned to Mick on No. 15 that he had not yet lost a ball. He proceeded to lose three on the last three holes.

DeVine played steady golf, but three sevens on the front nine hurt him dearly. He did come back with a nice 46 on the back side. Hanson, in a manner reminiscent of Harley’s “sixes are wild” game a few years back, recorded eight 6s on the front side and staggered to a 53 through nine.

In the end, all of us broke 100, with scores ranging from a 90 (Rennich) to a 99 (Hanson).

Deciding on awards at the end of the outing, as always, proved to be a challenge to the group. The final tally was as follows:

Miss Congeniality - Mick Rennich … he took it upon himself to book the outing, paid the early tee time reservation fee for all, presented a sleeve of Callaways to each of the other three, and brought cold waters and Gatorades for the crew.  

Most Valuable Golfer - Harley Rinerson … this was a close vote as Rennich received consideration, but Harley walked away with the honor based on his solid performance in his first golf outing of the year, his second place finish, the third most chits, the second most pars and the second most birdies.

Purple Putter - Harley Rinerson … Harley walked away with the prize which is awarded for the longest putt. His seventeen footer, on No. 8 for a birdie, was a beautiful thing to witness and was by far the best putt of the day.

Rino Cup - Tom DeVine … the Cup is awarded to the golfer with the best short game. Based on a solid performance which included chips close to the hole and clutch putts that found the bottom of the cup, Tom was the unanimous short game winner.

Shot of the Day - Mick Rennich … Harley, for a moment, owned the shot of the day with a lovely tee ball on the 158 yard par 3 No. 8 to within 17 feet. As mentioned above, he did ultimately sink the putt. Rennich followed Harley’s shot with a 7-iron to within 5 feet and he then also made the putt for his second birdie of the day. The shot earned him the SOD prize.

There was no Miss Mariana Butte this year as COVID -19 protocols limiting contact between servers and patrons. Discussions as to another outing in the fall have already begun.

The starter took a selfie while setting up the first tee photo, below.

TD and The Mickster.

Presentation of the Rino Cup--best short game of the day to Tom "Crenshaw" Devine.