(Mick Rennich wrote the copy and Mark Hanson took the photos for the latest golf outing. –Ed.)
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. The four of us – Tom “Deac” Devine, Mark “Betsy” Hanson, Mick “the Mickster” Rennich, and Harley “Rino” Rinerson – got together for a second round of golf this year. Getting together with old friends (we have known each other for sixty years) was a wise decision … we had the best of times; however, playing golf was a foolish decision as the play was unspectacular. We would have had more fun playing pinochle for five hours.
We ventured out early – an 8:34 tee time at Louisville’s Coal Creek Golf Course. The weather was pleasant, in the low 90s by the time we finished; and we were all glad when we finally finished! Coal Creek is Mick’s home course, but you could not tell by the quality of his play.
The hardware was evenly divided this time around. Harley, by virtue of the lowest score and the most chits, was easily the best golfer and walked away with the Most Valuable Golfer trophy. To give readers an idea of the quality of play, take note that Harley shot a 96. There was only one birdie recorded- that by Mr. Hanson on the second hole. Combined, the group accounted for only 9 pars.
Tom, by unanimous vote, was awarded the Rino Cup which is given for the best short game. Deac was superb from green side bunkers and was accused of intentionally hitting into them. His chipping was the envy of his peers.
Shot Of The Day was briefly contested, but not for long. Nominations included Mark’s approach shot on the second hole, after which he made the above-referenced birdie; Mick’s approach shot on the eighth hole, after which he missed his fifteen footer; and, Deac’s shot from the bunker to within ten feet on the fourteenth hole. Other than that, there was not much to pick from; as Harley said, it was difficult to remember many good shots. Mark was ultimately rewarded with the SOD trophy.
Mick walked away from the course with two awards. He won the Purple Putter for the longest putt. His twenty-four footer on the fourteenth hole edged out Mark’s twenty-two foot birdie putt on number two. He also was unanimously awarded Miss Congeniality, albeit after a minor protest from Mr. Hanson. Mick picked up the cost of carts for the group, bought range balls for all and gifted Deac and Rino with a sleeve of expensive Callaway balls and Mark with five colored golf balls (his favorite kind). Mick was also on his best behavior, despite playing very bad golf. Mark’s minor protest centered around Mick paying only for carts, liking it to having a party with a cash bar. Mark did make a belated run at Miss C when he bought lunch, but the voting was over and the polls had closed by the time he announced his intentions.
Miss Coal Creek, Holly, a CU student and cross-country runner, supervised the group during lunch and presented Mick with the Miss C trophy. She also took pictures of the group, using Mark’s very complicated and heavy professional camera.
In the end – and thankfully it did come to an end – it was the best of times seeing one another. We have come a long way from Mellette kindergarten and grade school!
