RUB OF THE GREEN REVISITED
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The Studebaker turned off Highway 40 and proceeded past the sign, which read “The Phoenix Club”. Pulling to a stop in the parking lot, the driver stepped out of the car. He wore a Hogan style golf cap, a checkered brown sports coat and tie, tan slacks and brown-and-white wing-tipped shoes. The faded blue eyes were in striking contrast to his lined, deeply tanned face which featured a Roman nose and a wide mouth that was always ready to broaden into a grin, suggesting that perhaps a private joke was being recalled. He walked down the hill to the clubhouse, followed by the tall skinny kid who toted a 25-pound block of ice, which would be used in the pop cooler. It was another hot day in June 1949. ********** During a round at Rea Park, back in the 1950s, Russ came to the 18th tee at four under par. “This is going to be the best round of my life,” he proudly announced as he took his stance for his final tee shot of the round. But something went wrong. The swing was forced and the ball was topped. It rolled along the fairway and plopped into the water hazard. Russ stared incredulously. He then walked slowly to the edge of the water and pitched his golf bag, clubs and all into the water and walked briskly to the parking lot. Upon arriving at his car, he searched his pockets for his keys. Remembering he had put them in one of the pockets of his golf bag, he turned and headed back to the place he had deposited his golf clubs and bag. Arriving at the hazard, he walked into the pond. With water nearly up to his waist, he located his clubs, lifted them and removed his car keys and threw the bag and clubs back into the water. He returned to the parking lot with dripping slacks, soaked shoes and wet socks. He got into his car and drove away without a backward glance. ************* Rich was playing a match with the late Charley Hollars at the Robinson Country Club. Charley hit a hard tee shot on the 10th hole that struck a bird in flight. Both the bird and the ball fell limply on the ladies tee, about 60 yards down the fairway. Charley looked at Rich and said, “What’s the ruling on that?” Rich answered, “You get to keep the bird.” ************** George’s second shot on nine was a couple of feet short of the putting surface with the pin located toward the back of the green. This left a chip of some 30 feet or more. He selected a seven iron and struck it boldly, too hard it seemed, but it smacked against the flagstick and fell into the cup for a nine-hole record 29. When asked what was going through his mind at that time Kaperak confided, “All I could think about was how I had a chance to shoot a round in the 50s. “That was not to be. After three-putting 10, I hit into a greenside bunker on 11 in two shots, bladed my approach and hit a few more bad shots to finish the hole with an eight. “I drove to within a foot of the putting surface on 14 and got another birdie, but finished with a 43 to go with my 29, an even par round.” A wistful Kaperak added, “Golf can be like that.”
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About the Book
On and off the links, Bob has been a strong competitor and an even stronger friend to fellow aficionados of the game. He taught golf for beginners in grades 4 through 8 in Vigo County for five summers before he coached high school golf for 26 seasons, the past 24 at Terre Haute South where his boys finished second, third and fourth at the IHSAA State Finals and his girls claimed eighth in the 1988 finals. Bob’s students have gone on to display exceptional sportsmanship, win championships and secure positions as golf pros and competitive professionals around the country. As a result, in 1994, Bob was inducted into the Terre Haute Golf Association Hall of Fame. He is also in the Indiana Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Bob’s competitive golf game was set in motion when he won the Terre Haute Junior title in 1949. He later played at Indiana State Teachers College, now Indiana State University (ISU), and was the No. 1 player for three seasons, winning three Indiana Collegiate Conference titles and two Little State Championships. He was named ISU’s Most Outstanding Athlete in 1954, the first golfer in the history of the institution to win the award. He won three Casey Opens, the Spaghetti Open, the Roundup of Champions and the 1988 City Seniors Championship. Bob teamed with Art Blakely to win the Terre Haute Four Ball title in 1963 and was medalist in the 1971 Terre Haute Golf Association Interclub Tournament. He has also served as president of the Rea Park Men’s Club, Hulman Links Men’s Club and the Terre Haute Golf Association.
About the Author
BOB ARNETT has spent a lifetime challenging the greens, fairways and bunkers in and around Terre Haute, Indiana. As a player, coach and columnist, his path was set in motion by his father, Robert Erwin Arnett, who introduced him to softball games at Parson’s Field, baseball in the schoolyard and golf along the Locust Street railroad tracks near the stadium. Although Bob’s dad passed away when he was 11, he has remained a key influence in Bob’s attitude and accomplishments throughout his life. The pattern has extended to Bob’s relationships with his own children and grandchildren, who learned from him how to transfer the passion and work ethic inherent in golf to their own activities and interests. Bob has been part of the Terre Haute golf community since he became a 12-year-old caddy at The Phoenix Club in 1946. Nearly seven decades later, he continues to chronicle the local golf scene in his column, Rub of the Green, published by the Terre Haute Tribune Star and collected into a book by the same name. On and off the links, Bob has been a strong competitor and an even stronger friend to fellow aficionados of the game. He taught golf for beginners in grades 4 through 8 in Vigo County for five summers before he coached high school golf for 26 seasons, the past 24 at Terre Haute South where his boys finished second, third and fourth at the IHSAA State Finals and his girls claimed eighth in the 1988 finals. Bob’s students have gone on to display exceptional sportsmanship win championships and secure positions as golf pros and competitive professionals around the country. As a result, in 1994, Bob was inducted into the Terre Haute Golf Association Hall of Fame. He is also in the Indiana Golf Coaches Hall of Fame. Bob’s competitive golf game was set in motion when he won the Terre Haute Junior title in 1949. He later played at Indiana State Teachers College, now Indiana State University (ISU), and was the No. 1 player for three seasons, winning three Indiana Collegiate Conference titles and two Little State Championships. He was named ISU’s Most Outstanding Athlete in 1954, the first golfer in the history of the institution to win the award. He won three Casey Opens, the Spaghetti Open, the Roundup of Champions and the 1988 City Seniors Championship. Bob teamed with Art Blakely to win the Terre Haute Four Ball title in 1963 and was medalist in the 1971 Terre Haute Golf Association Interclub Tournament. He has also served as president of the Rea Park Men’s Club, Hulman Links Men’s Club and the Terre Haute Golf Association. Bob’s five children, ten grandchildren and six great-grandchildren cheer his accomplishments and recognize his contributions as a mentor to countless young people throughout his career both on the links and in the classroom. Robert Erwin Arnett’s son went on to win golf tourneys in six different decades – eight club championships, four at Rea Park, three at the Elks Fort Harrison Country Club and one at Hulman Links. Dad, you have made us all proud! – Paula Brandon, Cleeta Thome, Robert Arnett, Mike Arnett, Erin Mendoza