Golf is one of those sports that frustrates the majority of
people who attempt to whack at that annoyingly small ball. Now
consider trying it in the dark. Remember
–
”
be the ball.
”
Golf is one of those sports that frustrates the majority of people who attempt to whack at that annoyingly small ball. Now consider trying it in the dark. Remember – “be the ball.”
That’s what the 50 participants in the Gilroy Municipal Golf Course’s annual youth night tournament did last Friday night – they putted at night. Not with the dean’s daughter (come on, I’m giving you the lines, what movie?), but with a bunch of friends and one up-and-coming celebrity.
Gilroy resident Ryan Slater, who turned 9 on Monday, joined the glow-ball tournament having recently returned from the Calloway Junior World tournament in San Diego in July. Pacific West Christian Academy student Andrew Hathaway and his father, Scot Hathaway – manager of Los Lagos Golf Course in San Jose – were still reliving Andrew’s recent 90-yard hole-in-one on No. 5 at Los Lagos, all done with a pitching wedge while they waited for the putting contest to start.
Devin Rottler won the overall points in the putting contest during the pre-twilight hours, and after the ravenous group of young golfers wolfed down their hamburger dinners, they were given glow necklaces to wear on the course and the foursomes were chosen.
Teeing off at 8:15pm in the moonless dark, the shotgun start began a five-hole round. The challenge of hitting the ball in the dark sparked some pretty outrageous drives, but the bigger challenge was keeping ahead of the group behind us. They had no indication in the pitch dark whether we had finished the hole yet. It quickens the pace of the game when glow-balls begin to land at your back with a solid “thunk.” Incoming!
Besides the challenge of the dark, the small glow-balls and the disorientation, the local skunk population had their own spook, courtesy of the golf carts.
Course expert Eddie Bedrick, 17, considers hole No. 8 his favorite and passionately discussed golf with his fellow players during his second night tournament. Bruce Woten, assistant pro at the municipal course, graciously hosted the young golfers along with former Dispatch sports writer Ana Patejdl, who works in the pro shop at the course. A very successful tournament of nighttime champions!
Bigger-than-life Frank Angelino greeted me with a warm welcome from behind the Gilroy Elks Club bar during the Casino Night, which benefited the Lodge’s Charity Fundraiser on Saturday night. They were just wrapping up the buffet dinner while the local celebrity dealers were setting up gaming tables.
Louie Trinchero was pulled to his blackjack table mid-sentence by a fellow Elk, and Reggie Bravo took over the press relations. Bravo, a former federal mediator, has the gift of gab and never once failed to bore his audience with tales of mediation glory.
Settling in at the Spinning Wheel was Jay Meacham with his wife, Chick, and the Trumpp family was well-represented with patriarch Armand Trumpp dealing a blackjack table. Armand’s granddaughter, Kristina Sanchez, threw dice at the craps table with her husband, Brian. The newest Elk in the Lodge, Steven Montgomery, and his wife, Jayne, owners of Air Filter Control, joined two weeks ago.
“I like it!” Steven said of his membership in the Lodge. “I was looking for an organization that would benefit the community.”
I think South County is becoming a Mystery Spot for Geminis born on June 12 (my b-day). At Casino Night, longtime San Martin resident Freddie Lewis shared her experience and talents with me – knowledge of computers rivaling a tech-teen – when we discovered our common birth date. Mrs. Lewis sings when the spirit moves her and lives life to the fullest – including keeping an eye on the card dealing of Frank Angelino.
Tim Rose and Duane Rasmussen called it an early night when Bravo’s winnings were unstoppable. A successful $4,000 was raised at the benefit.
Ciao for now.
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