On Oct 21st, 2018, we played our final match of the year, the Winter Classic Championship, at Ledges Golf Course. Joe T was just coming back from his honeymoon and Bryan’s wife was kind enough to remind him that morning that they had a family event that day. This meant that we had 2 groups of 4. Chris moves back up to the A group and Dan, Adam, Dave, and Jon are a foursome in group B

All week we knew the weather was going to be cold and windy. The temperature was about 43 degrees at 6:30am with an overnight rain. Fortunately, it was now just a drizzle and the rain would soon stop. Unfortunately, 43 degrees was the high and the temperature was only going to go down while the wind was going to increase. The wind was going to be 7 mph but as the day went on it was going to be as high as 14 mph with gusts up to 30 mph. Finally, we were going to have a WINTER Classic Championship.

The front nine:

It was chilly however it was not “freezing” but with all of the clothing we were wearing, it was going to take some time to find your swing. As a group, we did have 6 pars and 2 birdies, not bad for a cold and windy morning.

Chris starts the front nine with 2 pars and only one 7 and he proves quickly that he is the man to beat. Joe starts out with a pair of 8s to go with a par and then settles down but the damage may already be done. Rock almost drives the green on the par 4, 4th hole and gets a birdie but he also includes a 9 and a 10 to his score card. Dave gets a couple of pars but the 10 at the 2nd hole just looks ugly. Dan was playing great golf until the 9th hole where he cards an eleven, Ouch. Jake scores a birdie but the two 9s are not going to help get him a decent score. Adam and Jon work hard to fight off some 8s, 9s, and 11s but it is a fight they both lose.

Front Nine Scores:

Chris – 46

Joe – 51

Rock – 52

Dave – 53

Dan – 55

Jake – 58

Adam – 67

Jon – 70

Chris is off to a great start but the majority of us were in the 50s and with at least some hope of a comeback. I reminded everyone that this was the last round of the season and that you either win or you are a loser, there are no second place points today. I also told them that if they are playing scared or conservative then they will be going home a loser. To be honest with you, Chris had a 5 stroke lead over 2nd place and I thought it was pretty much over but being as competitive as we are, I had to make an effort.

Back nine:

By the time we play the back nine the wind has really picked up and it has made it a little colder but we continue on. In fact, it was so cold that Jake had to go to his truck to put on more clothes.

Dave plays much better and while he is not the player he once was he did shoot the low score on the back. Jake starts the back nine with a 10 and finishes with a 9 but the middle was ok. Dan is scoring 6s, 7s, and 8s so he is not doing as well as the front but he did finish with a par. Rock starts the first fours holes with three 9s. Rock does right the ship after that and even gets a par on the 17th hole but we all know his day is done. Adam and Jon play much better on the back, Adam only has one 9 and Jon only gets one 10.

Joe is down by 5 to start the back but he gets one back on the 10th. Joe gets another stroke back on the 11th hole and he starts to believe that he has a chance for a major comeback. On the 12th hole, Joe gives back a stroke and he is back to trailing by 4 with only 6 holes to play. Chris and Joe play even on 13 but then Joe gets 2 more back on the 14th and 15th hole and he is down by 2 but there are only 3 holes left to play. Time is running out for Joe and Chris is getting ready to right the wrong that happened in 2015. Chris and Joe both score 5s on the 16th hole and Joe is still down by 2 with only 2 holes to play.

On the 17th hole, Chris uses his driver and his ball drifts right to an area in front of the tree line that runs down along the right side of the hole to the green. Joe plays his drive right down the middle. Chris’s second shot has to go through the woods but Chris thinks that he has a lane. His theory is that if he aims at the tree then he will miss the tree… but that’s not how it worked out. Chris hits the tree and the ball comes all the way back to him. His 3rd shot doesn’t make any contact with the trees but it just barely makes it to the other side of the tree line on the fairway side. Joe’s second shot is straight down the fairway. We go back to Chris ball but we cannot find it. The leaves are everywhere but we search and search but come up empty. By the time the hole is over the damage is incredible, Chris scores a 9 to Joe’s 5. Joe is up by 2 going into the final hole.

Now its Joe’s turn to be nervous and he is praying that his driver doesn’t decide to turn to shit on his last drive. Joe and Chris both have good drives. Chris has some problems with his 3 wood going short and he travels the rest of the way on the left side with the bunkers. Joe has a nice 2nd shot right down the middle. On Chris’s 4th shot, he tells Joe to take the cart. Joe hit his 3rd shot onto the green but for the first time today Joe is not trying to get it anywhere near the flag, he just wants it on the green. As Joe pulls up to the green and pulls his putter, he notices Chris’s putter is still in his bag. Joe though Chris had taken 2 clubs to finish the hole when Chris told him to take the cart. I bring Chris his putter and he says he will finish the hole with the same club he has been playing. Turns out, Chris told Joe to play his ball but did want him to come back. My bad.

Back Nine Scores:

Dave – 47

Joe – 49

Jake – 52

Chris 58

Dan – 58

Rock – 59

Adam – 61

Jon – 66

Final Scores (Actual Scores)

Joe – 100 (100)

Chris – 104 (104)

Dave – 106 (100)

Rock – 108 (111)

Dan – 110 (113)

Jake – 113 (110)

Adam – 122 (128)

Jon – 130 (136)

Joe completes the improbable comeback for the win and joins Dave as a two-time winner of the Winter Classic. Chris had played an incredible 16 holes and it is almost impossible to tape the wheels back on after they come off with only one hole left to play. Chris will have to wait until next year to right the wrong from 2015.

Kudos to Chris for being able to separate between being a player and being the Deputy Commissioner. I know it had to be hard to hand Joe the trophy.

Another year is in the books. Thank you everyone for making this a great year.

After we take a little time to breath and get our lives organized, we will meet to talk about next year's schedule, rules and handicaps. I will be in touch.

Respectfully,

Broken Joe

Commissioner