Gross Men’s club Doubles Match on 15 June 2021
On 15 June 2021, the team of Paul Gustafson and Paul Bussmann, also known as the Plump Paul’s, took on Jim Rudberg and Jim Langham, known as the Slim Jim’s in a classic Gross Men’s club doubles match. The handicap strokes were calculated and verified on the first tee. Jim Rudberg had a 1.5 index, Jim Langham a 4.1 index, Paul Bussmann a 17.3 index, and Paul Gustafson a 23.0 Index. In the doubles match play, the low handicap golfer plays to scratch, and the other golfers get the stroke difference from their course handicap and the Low man, Jim Rudberg. Jim Langham received 3 strokes, Paul Bussmann 16 strokes, and Paul Gustafson 22 strokes. The men shook hands and the Slim Jim’s teed off first.
The teams halved the first hole as Gustie saved the day for the Plump Paul’s with a 5 net 4 to tie the Slim Jim’s natural pars. On the second hole, the PLumpster’s made a mess of the hole and Jim Rudberg won the hole for his team with a solid par. Slim Jim’s 1 up. This seemed to fire up the Plumpster’s and they ham and egged gross pars on the next 5 holes. Only a gross birdie 3 on hole #6 by the 2020 Gross Men’s Singles champion, Jim Langham, prevented a 5-hole blitz. The Plump Paul’s were now 3 up after 7 holes. Hole 8 was won easily by the Slim Jim’s to reduce the lead to 2 UP. Hole #9 was halved as Gustie’s bogey halved the Slim Jim’s par. On #10, Bussy’s par/net birdie halved the Birdie 4 by Jim Langham to maintain the 2-hole lead. Twice in 5 holes the Slim Jim’s had to produce gross birdies to tie the Plump Paul’s Par/Net birdies.
On hole #11, Plump Bussy three putted for a 5 net 4 and the Slim Jim’s solid par won the hole and reduced the lead to 1UP. The next two holes were halved, and the Slim Jim’s decisively won the 14th hole to square the match. On #15, both Plump Paul’s salvaged scrambling Par/Net Birdies to win the hole and retake the lead. What a match! On #16 a scrambling Bogey/Net par by Gustie tied Jim Langham’s par. On #17, Gustie came through with a scrambling Bogey/Net par to tie the hole as Jim Rudberg made a solid three.
On to the 18th hole with the Plump Paul’s 1 UP. Each of the Paul’s got a stroke on number 18. It looked like one of the Slim Jim’s needed a birdie on #18 to win the hole. Paul Bussmann reached the fringe on #18 with a #7 iron for his second shot. Each of the Slim Jim’s hit the green with 25 footers for birdie and narrowly missed their birdies. Bussy putted up to 4 feet short and Jim Langham said that he needed to see the putt go in. Bussy missed the putt on the left side and tapped in for a Bogey 5/Net Par to tie the Slim Jim’s and allow the Plump Paul’s to win the match 1 up.
Each of the Slim Jim’s shot fine rounds of 73 strokes each. Paul Bussmann fired a 92 and Paul Gustafson shot a 95. The golfers shook hands and the Gross Men’s Club Handicap Chairman, Paul Bussmann, reminded each golfer to post their match play scores. It was a hard fought match and the Plump Paul’s ham and egged it just good enough to stave off the Slim Jim’s tenacity and never give up attitude. Next up for the PLumpster’s are the Sensational Steve’s, comprised of Steve Date and Steve Larson. A few tickets remain if you would like to watch another epic match that must be completed by 25 July.
Faithfully submitted by Paul Bussmann
29 June 2021