| Anthony Fink of the Eagle Creek Golf Course (formerly Loma Linda), who hits the ball like he wants to send it to the moon, won the Joplin Globe City Tournament on May 17, 2010 after completing the course at Schifferdecker in Joplin. Fink had the lowest score in the tournament which included play on four local golf courses, including Twin Hills and Briarbrook.
The Globe chipped (no pun intended) in towards the $400 gift certificate awarded the winner. This year Fink will be able to use it to buy anything in the clubhouse at the city of Joplin's Schifferdecker Golf Course.
Riding in a golf cart following the leaders always is an experience. This tournament was no exception especially on Sunday at Briarbrook when rain fell intermittently. The cart had no plastic protection on the sides. In addition, Briarbrook's apparently shaky financial condition made negotiating the "ponds" on the paths a bit tricky.
One knew when Fink was striking the ball. Whack! as opposed to a more subdued sound heard.
At one point a ball landed in the clearing just behind the cart attesting to the danger always present of being personally struck. Better to vacate the cart before the golfer makes his shot over it, in this case, a marvelous chip that landed the ball in a good position on the green.
Putting was not easy that day as the water-soaked greens offered indeterminable resistance. Interestingly, since everyone was in the same boat, so to speak, they showed little sign of frustration, only evident once when one club was used to vent.
Gift suggestion for the golfer
What could have put the golfers in a good mood is a little book that we recently received for review entitled Golf Sonnets. James Long Hale is its author. His early affection for golf and light verse inspired him to create an wittily illustrated gold embossed hard cover book that fits easily in a golf bag. (Hint, hint...for the golfer who might just qualify for something for Father's Day, it would make a fitting addition to a Hallmark card instead of those little golf booties..or even socks or a tie.)
One might associate sonnets with snobbery or English majors. However, one should remember that golf was started by shepherds not barons and sonnets were written for the masses.
While the book deals with all aspects of golf--the equipment, the fellow competitor, the swing, the bunker and, of course, the golf widow, our favorite quote by consensus deals with "the attire" or poking fun at those players who pimp out to mask their talent.
The book may be purchased here. Please note: We get no commission for sales. :-)
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