2019 Alumni Club Golf Report

June 10 – Bluffs at Coffee Mill, Wabash
Thirty-two IBM Alumni enjoyed a beautiful day at The Bluffs at Wabasha. Most of them played a second nine after lunch thanks to a special rate of $5.75 per person (with cart). Lunch was also great. The team of Dan Gronli, Sharon Murray, Steve Riles, and Bill Kleis won bragging rights at -3. Two teams came in second at -2. They were Don Eisenmenger, Dick Dahl, Lou Leonard, and Paul Michels along with Roger Lewison, Craig Olson, Bob Becker, and Dale Haufbauer.

Lou Leonard won both a closest-to-the-pin and longest putt. John Bazey won the other closest-to-the-pin and Bill Kleis won the other longest putt. On June 11th, we already have 21 golfers signed up for our second event scheduled for June 24th at Pine Island. We have arrangements again this year for a great meal from Trail Head Catering in Pine Island.

June 24 – Pine Island
There was a brief drizzle that lasted five minutes. Then the sky cleared and 22 golfers enjoyed a good round and a good meal at Pine Island. Dick Dahl and Vic Hartman managed to both win closest to the pin and longest putt contests. Bragging rights belonged to Paul Brown, Jeff Parker, and John Bazey, after shooting a round of -2. Most golfers played a second nine after lunch.

The next event will be held on July 8th at Zumbro Falls. Nine holes of golf with cart and burger basket will be for only $20, and a second nine can be played for $8 plus tax. Hope to see you there.

July 8 – Zumbro Falls
Today, we had 22 golfers again. This time the weather was perfect, and the burger baskets were too, thanks to Darlene at the Zumbro Falls Golf Course. We even remembered to take some pictures this time. Bragging rights went to Hal Kossman, LeRoy Luhmann, Ken Kiefer, and Duane Luinstra with a score of -3. (Hal said he carried them on his shoulders.) Tied for second were Dennis Noltee, John Bazey, Paul Brown, and Jim deLongpre and the team of Jeff Parker, Bill Kleis, and Jim and Nancy Kryka at -2. Longest putt was won by Paul Graham. Bill Kleis left his tee shot on #4 about five feet below the hole for closest-to-the-pin. John Bazey took Bill’s place in the afternoon foursome for the second nine, and you can see where his tee shot on #4 wound up. (Fortunately, his shot didn’t count for the prize, but he did make the putt. He also saved a lot of beer money by not making a hole-in-one.) :-)

Rich Peter, Tom Beagle, Roger Lewison and Barry Knapp

Dick Thesing and Mark Ginnrich

Jim deLongpre, John Bazey, Paul Brown and Dennis Noltee

Lynn Didier, Charlie Graham, Vic Hartman and Paul Graham

Ken Kiefer, LeRoy Luhmann, Duane Luinstra and Hal Kossman

Jim Kryka, Nancy Kryka, Jeff Parker and Bill Kleis

John Bazey's almost hole-in-one

July 22 – Mt. Frontenac
Twenty-eight golfers enjoyed the perfect weather and beautiful scenery at Mt. Frontenac. Bragging rights went to the team of Don Eisenmenger, Dale Haufbauer, Craig Olson and Paul Michels at even par. Charlie and Paul Graham won two of the events, and I forgot who won the other one?! But Bill Macy did have a natural eagle on a par four, and I didn’t forget that. And I definitely don’t want to forget to thank Tom Modjeski for his help in making this our best stop again this year.

Dan Gronli, Sharon Murray, and Tom Jacobson and a wonderful view of the Mighty Mississippi.

August 5 - Willow Creek
The course has taken a beating in places due to some of those earlier torrential rains, but we had a clear morning and a nice temperature for the 24 golfers who participated. Vic Hartman, Jeff Parker, John Bazey, and Jim deLongpre finished at -1 to take honors. Two teams played even par. Rich Peter had the longest putt, and Dick Thesing won the closest-to-the-pin contest.

The next event will be at Dodge Center on August 19th. Hope to see you there.

August 19 - Dodge Center
Flexibility was the keyword at Dodge Center. Thanks to Mike and Kim at the course, we were able to have a great day in spite of the course inadvertently scheduling aeration the morning of our event. And thanks to Dan Gronli, it all ended well. For the first time, our group played 18 holes prior to having our lunch. It allowed us to play all eighteen in front of the aeration equipment, and it solved a problem for the kitchen. Bragging rights went to Hal Kossman, Bob Harmel, Ken Kiefer, and Duane Luinstra at -2. Don Eisenmenger, Paul Michels, Dick Dahl, and Craig Olson were second at -1. Bob Harmel had closest-to-the-pin, and Kermit Bormann had the longest putt. The weather was perfect for the 30 golfers who played. Dan was able to handle the prizes for yours truly, who had to become a chauffeur and leave early.

September 9 - Oak Summit
The rain got to some of us before we made it to the clubhouse, but seventeen brave golfers played at Oak Summit. Lynn Didier decided to stay dry and just enjoy the lunch, and managed to find some horseradish for Rick’s great brats. The team of Dennis Noltee, Paul Brown, and Jeff Parker played one under par. Charlie Graham, Paul Graham, and Vic Hartman were +1. They get honorable mention only because Paul Graham had a natural eagle on #13, a par 5. Paul Brown and Mike Nadeau had closest-to-the-pin and Bill Kleis made the longest putt.

Our last event is at The Jewel on September 30. I am retiring from handling the Golf Committee at the end of this season. I will help anyone who is willing to step up and keep the golf events going, and would look forward to participating. It might be a good time to change the format. For example, Rick, at Oak Summit, says he would be interested in having an event there each month where he would handle the pairings and even some of the sign-up activity, and prepare different meals.

September 30 - The Jewel
What a beautiful day for our last event of the year. Temperatures were in the 80’s and there was a light breeze as 30 golfers came out to play golf at The Jewel. Most of us stayed for the second nine after lunch. First place went to Paul Brown and John Bazey at -3. Second went to Dick and Julie Dahl, Lou Leonard, and Dale Hofbauer at -1. Third place was a tie between the team or Paul Michels, Craig Olson, Chuck Balster, and Dennis Noltee and the team of Charlie and Paul Graham, Vic Hartman and LeRoy Luhmann at even par.

John Bazey won closest-to-the-pin for men, and Julie Dahl won for the women. Chuck Balster won the longest putt contest. We had a good year with lots of fun and fellowship. Here’s hoping you are able to keep your swing grooved through the winter, so you will be ready to enjoy another year of golf next year; and, hopefully, the IBM Alumni Group will be able to continue with some events.

Group photo of the golfers at the Jewel

Comments from the Golf Coordinator

These golf reports were provided by Bill Kleis, 2019 Golf Event Committee Chair