January 2, 2021

I was born in 1951 and graduated from White Bear Lake High School in the distinguished class of 1969. Go Bears!! (“Fargo”) Beginning in fourth grade, I played sports year-round: football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring and summer. Golf? No time or desire. I lettered in all three varsity sports and excelled in two: All-Conference and All-Metropolitan in baseball and football and All-State in Football. Golf? Golf was for those pussies who could not letter in a manly sport.

Sports Highlight #1: During an American Legion 4th District play-off game, I got a game-winning RBI off of Dave Winfield. Winfield, of course, went on to become a major league baseball All Star and member of the MLB Hall of Fame.

I was recruited to play football for the Iowa State Cyclones as a quarterback.

Sports Highlight #2: While playing against the University of Nebraska freshman team in Lincoln, Nebraska, I had the misfortune to compete against Johnny Rodgers. Rodgers was an agile player who could return punts and kicks as well as catch balls as a receiver. The Cornhusker coaching staff was now also trying him out as a defensive back. I was in the middle of a sustained drive and threw a sideline pass to my open receiver. Out of nowhere, this guy Rodgers leaps and intercepts my pass, fully stretched out, and falls to the ground. If he had not fallen, it would have been a pick six. Oh, and by the way, he won the Heisman Trophy in 1972.

Between year-long football practices and a full load of heavy duty course work, there was no time to consider playing golf. My first round of golf was in the spring of 1972. My girlfriend (and future wife) was taking a golf class at her college. She had to play one round at a real golf course to get her grade. I dutifully met her at the Westfield Golf Club in Winona. I realized that my baseball grip would not cut it because I never threatened to break 100. I also hit my first shank, one of many to come. This game was not as easy as I had thought.

Sports Highlight #3: At the end of my final year of Cyclone football, I was turning in my gear when a trainer told me to hustle over to the indoor track facility. The Dallas Cowboys talent scouts were examining and evaluating all graduating D-1 seniors to determine their potential.

They suggested I take up golf. By the end of my college career I had accumulated three concussions, a fractured humerus, and a torn medial meniscus. Maybe golf was not such a bad idea.

Forward to many years later when I had the misfortune of meeting Dennis Van Norman while coaching our sons’ baseball team together. He casually asked me if I played golf. Unfortunately, I answered in the affirmative. Over the course of many years, we became 4-Ball partners. We’ve now been members of the University of Minnesota Men’s Club for 30 years and the MGA Senior Tour for 15 years.

Sports Highlight #4: While celebrating my retirement in 2008, Cheri and I traveled to the Walker, Minnesota area and played golf at the LongBow C.C. On the par 3, 134-yard, second hole, I sank an 8-iron for my only ace!

Dennis Van Norman would not let things lie. He talked me into joining the historic Francis A. Gross Men’s Club. Much to my surprise, I discovered that I enjoyed most of the members of the club. Well, OK, there are a few that test one’s mettle, especially the one who constantly wears a camera around his neck and takes disquieting photos. Even so, I’m happy with the GMC and (virus permitting) can’t wait for another season.