Blog

A Boomer’s Journal

Welcome, golf fans, to our third annual foray into all things golf. In past seasons, I was able to shoehorn myself into some top-level events held in our fair region. First it was the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, and last year saw me wandering at The Curtis Cup matches, the women’s version of the Ryder Cup, as the USA women took the game from their British counterparts at the venerable St. Louis Country Club.

This year, with no national events to get myself invited to, I decided to get really local. Over the next two issues, you will get a close up view of several North County’s finest public golf courses. This week will feature Berry Hill Golf Course in Bridgeton. And me being oh, so clever and also oh, such a scrounge, I asked the PGA Professionals at each spot to let me play one of their favorite holes, to give you a below-average duffer’s perspective. They also graciously spent some time extolling their venues virtues. So ‘win/win’, right?

Well, at Berry Hill in Bridgeton, I sat down with the ever-personable PGA Professional Dave Levine. Berry Hill was founded in 1967 as a private course, but was bought by the city in 1979.

“We, meaning the city employees, do a great job of keeping this course in top condition. Of course, we are in the recreation business and work hard to provide a quality product, from tee box to green, from the best hot dog we can get to the coldest drinks. Our customer service is very important to us,” said Dave, when asked what makes Berry Hill the place to play.

“Our 9-hole set up allows for a quick round in about 2 hours, 15 minutes, perfect for after work. A complaint about golf is that it takes too much time, but we offer an alternative to that. We have a lot of regulars during the day, and a very loyal women’s contingent. Price-wise, we haven’t had an increase in 11 years. So it is very affordable. But there’s more to it than price. Our course is very pretty, and very playable, but challenging as well. There’s a lot of ‘risk/reward’ to it.”

He mentioned the “Play It Forward” tees, indicated by a metal plaque on every hole that serves to shorten the hole for those who need that, like children and beginners.

“Some seniors and ladies really like that starting point,” he noted.

Levine didn’t hesitate when asked about his favorite hole. “I’d have to say our #1. It’s a short par 5 at 465 yards from the white tees, with a downhill look into the fairway. You’ve got to be straight, with trees and rough on the right and the forest line left. But you can get there in three, and putt for birdie. Yeah, I like that #1 a lot.”

And so it was my opportunity to see what I could do on the first hole at Berry Hill.

It being early spring, the weather was perfect, about 65 degrees, grass as green as a lime gummie bear, a sky of robin’s-egg blue.   ‘Luvly’ day for some golfin’, to be sure.

For my tee shot, I pulled this 19 degree Adams hybrid I got for 20 bucks last summer.   Cobra the Driver had “trouble” written all over it, so he stayed in the bag. I managed a good swing and landed Mr. Wilson Staff just into the first cut off the fairway, a bit left. Easily to find which is always a good thing on ones first shot of the day. Being about 200 yards out to the green, I had a decision to make… do I go for it or lay up? Ha, just kidding!

With my average swing speed and 66-year old upper-body turn, my goal was to just get it close. So I chose to ‘club up’. Which in the ambiguousness of golf lingo means to go with a 6 iron instead of a 7. But wait, doesn’t that mean you’re going down a club? Yeah, except a lower numbered club gives you a better distance (theoretically, at least!). But enough about this. I employed the 6 and dropped the egg just 5 yards shy of the green.

Nice shot, Tommy, says I to myself. Now this is where the scoring kicks in. ‘Scoring’ as in getting a low swing count. In this game, like no other, less is more (see ‘ambiguous golf lingo’, above.) I grabbed my 60 degree lob wedge, made three perfect grass-clipping practice swings, stepped into my stance and just at the last milli-second of the downswing, panic at line-driving the ball across the green set in and I slowed down at the bottom. Plunk, a little nubber just onto the green, stopping 15 feet short. Ugh. However, it was uphill to the pin (or cup, or hole, or flag… all meaning the same thing.) Which is good. I took aim, stepped up to putt, then stepped back.

A sweet breeze wafted through the tall oaks beside the green. The sun popped out of the clouds, giving the dew on the short grass a tinkle like so many tiny jewels. No sound save the birdies a-tweetin’ and the rush of leaves. A vision of why I love to be on a golf course. But then, reverie broken, it was back to the business at hand. Gauge the speed, set up, look at hole, to ball, rock and fire. A nice little roller with a chance, yes, a chance… alas, it rings the cup and trickles 4 feet left.

Which I resolutely walk up to and plunk in for a par 5. As I tip my cap to the imaginary adoring gallery, I feel the joy this game can offer to even a hacker such as myself every now and again.

Next time we meet, it will be plying my “skills” on St. Ann International Golf Course and Florissant Golf Course. Until then, “hit ‘em straight, friends.”

(Editors note: Tom welcomes all comments. Send them to independentnws@aol.com)

Share on Facebook

Tweet

Follow us