My best round ever?

I believe it was the summer of 76.  Bi-centennial on everyone's mind.  A hot, humid summer at the Elks/Hillsview Country Club in Pierre, SD.  Curt Byrum, Scott Hofer and myself had pretty much finished the day of golf.  We decide to play 1, 2, 3 and nine before we drive the 28 miles back to Onida.  For some reason I made the comment...   well, if I am three under after three holes, we are gonna play the whole front nine.  We tee off and I hit my drive into the fairway grass bunker.  180 yards out, I almost sink a five iron, leaving it a foot from the cup.  Number two is an easy par five, and I am 20 yards out in two.  A chip and a putt, and birdie number two?  I blade my wedge, and leave myself a 60 foot plus foot for birdie, and the drop is at least three feet.  You could sit there all day long, and never make this putt.  I made it.  Geesh!  Two under after two.  Number three is the number one handicap hole on the course, a long par four.  I hit a drive into the rough, and have a three iron to the green.  I knock it twelve feet away, and bam, birdie number three.  We played the rest of the front nine, and on number nine, a short par four, I am twenty yards out after my drive.  I chilly dip my chip ten yards.  My next chip rests three feet from the hole.  And it breaks about eighteen inches.  I nervously make the putt for a par.  A 32, as number six, normally a par four has flooding, and is playing as a par 3.  Possibly my best round ever, and certainly one to remember! 

Beating the club pro...

The year was 1975 and i just turned 16. I was hanging around the pro shop, talking with the head pro Rick Anthes. Nearby listening in was Bill Palmer. Bill was good old boy (millionaire, businessman, humanitarian, comedian, great friend and in his early sixties). Rick was telling me that I could not hit the ball 250 off the tee. I disagreed. After further conversation, I said that I could probably beat Rick, and the club pro laughed at me. After further conversation, he said let's play 100 dollar nassaus (front, back, 18). I said I did not have that much on me, when Bill chimed in and said, go ahead David - if you win, you keep the money, if you lose I will cover the bet. Rick, beginning to feel confident, or stupid or whatever said he would give me three shots a side. I said 'OK'. I had a five handicap at the time. Four hours later I had three hundred dollars in my pocket, as I shot even par, and beat him straight up - without the 3 shots per side. Along the way I kept asking Rick to press, so I could win five or six hundred, as I knew I had him, but he humbly declined. Titleist golf ball $1.25. Leather Ben Hogan golf glove $6.50. Taking the club pro for three bills - priceless!!!

It's In The Hole! (aka, Hole In Ones!)

This is probably my favorite story of all time. My dad had a hole in one before I was born. Then he had a hole in one the year I was born. Then he had a hole in one on my 13th birthday (he wore the number 13 in basketball, and I love Dan Marino, etc.). Then, and the very best one -- when I was sixteen, he and I were playing Doc Zakahi and Doc Sibling for some cash, and on number eight -- I hit first. As my dad walks to the tee with a seven iron, I say no... hit an eight iron. And he ACES it! Wow! Amazing! (we won the hole, lol) Total = 4 aces, a pretty good poker hand, which he was probably even better at! And I used to play cards at The Four Aces in Denver.

Dedication

I pretty much grew up at the country club. Not an expensive, ritzy country club, but we did have grass greens! This site is dedicated to my dad, one of the best golfers I have ever known! Miss you, and love you!