IB takes you inside rounds of golf with local executives for a reminder of why it’s a love-hate game, and why so many folks in our online Executive Directory are linked to the links, too! If you have a story to share, too, make sure your profile is updated on our online Executive Directory and the e-mail it to gloriab@magnapubs.com (and a photo, if available) and we’ll consider for an upcoming issue!
Scott Flanagan
Vice President for Planning and Enrollment, Edgewood College
I have a standing foursome in the Eagle Open, a fundraiser for the Edgewood College athletic department. For the last few years, friends from Cincinnati, western Iowa, and southeastern Wisconsin and I play one round together per year, always at this outing.
A few years ago, the outing was held at the Legend at Bergamont. Since all of my playing partners are better players than I am, I have the privilege of driving first. As I prepared to hit our group’s first drive on our second hole, photographer John Maniaci and Julie VonderVellen of Edgewood College’s marketing staff approached to get some pictures.
Julie was positioned slightly in front of me and about 20 yards to the side — a place where only a colossal shank could reach her. As I stood over my drive, I heard her mumble, “Just in case” and walk quickly back to a safer spot. I realized that if I stepped back and readdressed the ball, I would probably not be able to quit laughing enough to hit the ball, so I decided just to go ahead and swing.
After hitting my drive … which, it should be noted, ended up safely in play — and while holding my follow-through, I said, “Did you say ‘Just in case?’” As turned Julie turned purple with embarrassment, John — always the pro — caught the reaction of my playing partners. (See photo above.)
Donald Madelung
President, Herzing University
My son, Drew and I set out to do a double Metro (scores of under 80) at Six Mile Creek in the morning, and University Ridge in the Afternoon with his good friend Travis Phillips and his dad Dave.
The Six Mile Creek adventure ended up with me shooting a 79 and my son a 76. So one Metro out of the way. I was trying out a new 23 degree Cobra Hybrid club and I wasn’t liking it too much.
University Ridge started out well with two pars on holes 1 & 2. Got to number 3, long par 3 of 174 yards with water on the left, wind out of the south west. Drew was going to hit first and decided, with the wind, it was playing more like 185 and clubbed up. I was going to hit a 5 iron, but took the 23 degree Cobra out and said let’s try it.
I still have big grin on my face as I tell this: I hit the shoot of a life time, a nice draw hitting the green and curing into the hole. Ace, hole in one — and on Father’s Day with your son and his friend and dad as witnesses. I struggled to shoot 81.
Golf was $160, bar tab $350, hole in one with your son watching … priceless. (See photo below.)
Lauri Binius Droster
President, The Droster Team, RBC Wealth Management
Years ago, a friend and I were golfing and playing a hole that ended at a row of trees and bushes; then the next hole turned and went back toward the clubhouse.
She hit her drive and then noticed some rustling in the bushes. There was a naked man in the bushes!
I was preparing for my next drive and had not hit my shot yet. She said, “Hurry up and hit your drive!”
Now, proper golf etiquette dictates you don’t tell someone to hurry up and hit their shot. I was taking my time, choosing the right club, planning my shot. She kept telling me to hurry up! I was starting to get annoyed and said, “When I’m ready!”
Well, then I duffed the shot and we didn’t get to walk as far away as she would have liked before I hit my second shot.
Paul Hoffmann
President & CEO, Monona State Bank
First story: I was golfing with my soon to be father-in-law up a course outside of La Crosse. As he teed off on a long par three, two obviously impaired guys crossed in front of our green with their golf cart. We yelled “fore” and my partner’s golf ball ended up hitting one of the guys in the jaw on the fly. They quickly turned their cart around and headed straight for us in the tee box with clubs in hand.
I could see the ball mark with dimples on the jaw of one of the guys. As his club was in the air, ready to strike my future father-in-law, all I could remember thinking was if I was truly that committed to his daughter. Well, I was able to talk them out of a fight and we eventually parted shaking hands. Twenty years of marriage later, I know I made the right decision — although I still wonder for how long could you see the ball imprint on his jaw.
Another one: I used to work in the pro shop at a golf course up in the La Crosse area. We had a small grass airstrip along one of the holes in the back-nine. Occasionally a small plane would land with a group of golfers, usually from the Chicago area.
One early summer morning, the fog was especially thick over all the course. I was the only person in the pro shop while a few groundskeepers were out mowing, raking traps, etc. Suddenly I could hear this engine sputtering and chugging up in the clouds. I went outside to see what was going on.
Just then, a World War I era Red Baron-like bi-plane drops out of the clouds, flies just overhead and lands on the 10th fairway. Shocked, I jumped in a golf cart and drove down to see what was up.
Here it was an English gentleman flying his plane up to the EAA convention in Appleton when he developed engine problems. He luckily caught a glimpse of the golf course through the clouds and decided to make an emergency landing. We ended up making radio contact with his ground crew so they could find him. He showed me his prized plane and told stories until help arrived and the fog cleared. His mechanics fixed the engine and then he took off buzzing the course waiving to all the golfers — goggles on and red scarf blowing in the wind.
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