Juergen Trager played a round at Mulligan’s Pointe Sept. 7 with his son, Eric Rodriguez. Using the forward tees at 262 yards, Trager’s drive ran into the hole for a rare hole in one on a par 4. That is called an albatross by some and a double eagle by others, but it goes on the scorecard as a 1 in any event.
Right after the shot went in, his son chose the occasion to tell Trager he is also going to be a grandfather.
Good timing all around.
Returning the favor
John “Jack” Desmond passed away recently, and Butch Holtzclaw asked for a little help in honoring one of the South Carolina resident’s last wishes.
Desmond grew up in New York, served honorably in the U.S. Army, and had a long career in the poultry industry. For several of those years, Desmond and his family lived in Delaware, where he and his son John played golf at Shawnee Country Club.
The younger John became good friends with Holtzclaw in the early 1980s. They played together on the Cape Henlopen High golf team and on many other rounds.
In 1987, young John applied for a scholarship from the Delaware State Golf Association Scholarship Fund. He received a stipend and attended UNC Greensboro, where he played on its golf team.
According to Holtzclaw, the family always appreciated the support from the DSGA – so much so that Jack’s obituary specifically asked for donations to the fund in lieu of flowers.
Holtzclaw let me know about the situation, and I am happy to pass along the request.
If you would care to join in, please send your donations to the DSGA Scholarship Fund, 20 West Buckingham Drive, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971.
It is a nice way of returning the favor.
L.A.B. Putters
The funniest promotional sign I saw at the 2020 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., last January was on the outside wall of the booth for L.A.B. Golf of Reno, Nev.
Its message was simple but effective: “Putting doesn’t have to suck.”
Naturally, you wouldn’t see that sign unless the folks at L.A.B. also had a proposed solution for you.
The putters seek to help golfers keep the putter face perpendicular to the intended line at impact. The initials “L.A.B.” mean Lie Angle Balance and refer to the way the head design maintains that aim throughout the stroke.
To make it work for you, a required fitting will match your tendencies and preferences to the putter, which is then custom-built. This can be done either by an in-person process or online at the L.A.B. website. There are several customization options for color, grip and shaft.
The D.F. 2.1 putter is an unusual large shape, made from high-grade aluminum and CNC-milled to its final shape. I was surprised how big it was compared to my Ping B60. It retails for $450.
The B.2 putter is much closer to a traditional blade putter shape and size. It uses the same center shaft design and sells for $399.
The company’s sense of humor also extends to its website. According to L.A.B., the B.2 putter “feels like surfing on rainbows and frolicking with puppies in a golden meadow.”
All right, then.
These putters may take users some time to adjust to the design. If they perform as promised, however, misgivings about appearances should diminish if not disappear completely.
Mulligan’s Pointe club champions
Mulligan’s Pointe in Georgetown completed its club championship Sept. 13.
Maxine Ansbach won the ladies championship, with Diane Braver earning the runner-up spot.
Juan Johnson won the men’s division, with Will Millikin as the runner-up. Wes Townsend was the low-net winner.
Mark Dufendach won the first flight, with Casey Irvin winning the second flight.
Golf fundraiser Oct. 10
Gene Bleile writes a fun column about golf stuff in the Beach Paper, the Cape Gazette’s seasonal companion on the newsstands. He is also active with the Seaford Swimming Association.
The SSA will hold its second annual golf tournament Saturday, Oct. 10, at Hoopers Landing Golf Course, part of a fundraiser to address some upgrades. The association’s 64-year-old pool is now a historic landmark as well as a valued community recreation resource.
The $85 player fee covers the golf, mulligans, a lunch card honored at a Seaford restaurant, and prizes. Sponsorship opportunities include tee signs and foursome packages.
For more information or to register for the event, contact SSA President Mike Cotton at mscotten83@aol.com or 302-381-3622, Bleile at reb60315@yahoo.com or 302-629-8978, or Hooper’s Landing golf pro Mike Connor at 302-629-2890.
Local club competition results
The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies golf gang played a Criers’ Tournament Sept. 15, in which the worst scores on three holes are eliminated.
Susan Brady won first place, with Linda Townsend in second and Karen Feuchtenberger in third.
The Kings Creek Ladies 18-hole group played an individual net Stableford game Sept. 10, won by Barbara Hines. Cynthia Robinson took second and Nancy Froome finished third.
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Fritz Schranck has been writing about the Cape Region's golf community since 1999. Snippets, stories and anecdotes from his columns are included in his new book, "Hole By Hole: Golf Stories from Delaware's Cape Region and Beyond," which is available at the Cape Gazette offices, Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach, Biblion Books in Lewes, and local golf courses. His columns and book reviews are available at HoleByHole.com.
Contact Fritz by emailing fschranck@holebyhole.com.
