From: thor@zeus.alta—oh.com (Dave Collard)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.golf
Subject: This weekend in Hershey, PA and surrounds [LONG]
Date: O5 Jun 1996 01:07:24 GMT

               THOR'S ARTICLE ON RSG-HERSHEY 1996

Well, I haven't seen any posts yet about the big event in Hershey, PA so I figured I would post my experiences which I can't hold in any longer.

I drove from Columbus, OH — I was supposed to play Saturday morning at a place called Royal Oaks at 8:30 or so. Figuring 6 hours (7 max), my plan was to drive to a campground just west of Harrisburg and pitch a tent at a campground, then drive on to Royal Oaks in the morning. Well, it is major construction season in I-70 and I gave up and got a hotel room far short of my goal for the night in the forbidden city of Breezewood.

We played 36 at Royal Oaks - a very nice course and a fantastic deal if you are playing 36 because the replay cost us only $10 (though Coops did some negotiating to get us this rate as it is normally $12 after Memorial Day). There is a *LOT* of sand at this course. The courses I play average 2 bunkers per 18 (ok that is an exaggeration). Anyway, I spent the first 18 trying to get out of the sand. I learned something, because the second 18 I duplicated my career score of 84, which I did last year at a much easier course (Safari north of Columbus). I want to tell you about one shot I played during this round because I cannot get it out of my head and I think it is the best I ever played.

I was long on my approach to the green and a little bit to the right. This green is a two—tier green and the pin was maybe 8 feet from the ridge dividing the two tiers. This was a very long green front to back and the ridge divided the tier the long way. I had to pitch on to the green and roll to a complete stop (almost) right at the ridge at the exact point necessary for the ball to roll down the ridge (which was steep) toward the pin. I did my usual routine, but then I saw, no, sort of felt or experienced or grokked I don't know it just seemed as if I lived through the ball rolling the club swinging, ball turning and heading toward the pin. It was as if I heard a voice, then, saying "now, do it now" - and for once I listened and played the shot with my heart instead of my overly analytical mind and really it seemed as if I just watched myself pitch the ball onto the green - deja vu - it was just as I had seen it it my head - almost rolling to a complete stop - no doubt in my mind it was going to keep rolling - YEAA it made the turn aimed directly at the cup, picking up speed, then reaching the flat part of the lower plateau.... rolled to a stop 1 inch from the cup.

Ahhhhh.

When I die and go to heaven I want to relive that moment over and over. I have never experienced the phenomenon of seeing the shot before it happens, in fact I thought it exhibited great literary license. Now I know.

If it HAD gone in I WOULD have died.

Well you are probably bored, but I have to finish.

Sunday morning played a very new course Dauphin Highlands which was my favorite course for the weekend, although the green—to-tee distances were nearly as long as the tee—to-green. I shot an 89 - started off well with a 43 but couldn't get going on the back nine.

Then, I was rather beat at the main event where I started out with a hopeful birdie but followed that with two triples.

I walked and carried the entire 72 holes along with Fred Stluka, who, with myself, was the only other walker to my knowledge at the E—Town event. They came up to us prior to the event and told us all had to use carts but we invoked Coops‘ name and they disappeared 'xyzzy'.

One other thing — I have been having trouble with my Taylor Made Tour Spoon, and I showed it to Dave Tutelman who I had the great pleasure to meet. He held it as I told him "I can't hit this club — it doesn't feel like my matching 5 wood". He gave it back saying he wished he had equipment to analyze — I proceeded to hit the club better than I ever have straight down the middle on the next 3 holes. I fell to my knees and presentedd the club as an offering — all he has to do is touch it.

The next day, the spoon had trouble, but, listen to this: before the round, Dave T was looking at my Sand Wedge which I bought for 5 bux at a used sporting goods place. He touched it and asked me about it and I said I carried to sand wedges — the GolfSmith Backflow wedge plus this one which I thought was 54 degrees. He took one look and a swing and said it was 56 degrees. I get up near the green on the first hole and what happens? Chip, roll, *PLOP* right in the hole. All he has to do is touch your club and it transforms itself at least for a little while :-)

Great weekend and I am ready for more.

THANK YOU COOPS !!!!!!