Stories

Club member Paul Zingg came up with the idea for this page. It's provided for fond memories and other stories. Submit your memory or story.
 

Story of the Epic Skirmish between Ken Lloyd and Steve Desimone as they competed for Low Gross during the Kooman Boycheff Memorial Tournament at Paradise Valley on April Fool's Day, 2000.

Reported by Aaron Walburg on 4/10/00 after interviewing Ken(joyfully) and Steve(somewhat begrudgingly). 

The rivalry between Ken and Steve has been going on for years. In most club events it boils down to these two for low gross.

The 2000 Kooman Boycheff Memorial tournament at Paradise Valley was no different. However, it one of the tightest finishes ever for a UCGC tournament. The fact that it was a major tournament only makes it more epic.

Although Ken Lloyd won the event on the second playoff hole with a 15 foot birdie putt, a full description of their rounds is necessary to fully comprehend the intensity of this tournament. Both golfers played extraordinarily down the stretch.

Playing in the same foursome (as they usually do) they were able to watch one another closely. Steve started things on this very windy day with a 50-foot birdie putt on the first hole. Even with in these windy conditions through the first six holes Steve still mustered 1-under par. Ken, through the first six holes was 3 over par, so after 6 holes Steve was out in front of Ken by 4 strokes.

The middle holes, 7-13, were Steve’s undoing. Steve got into a funk and played seven strokes over par during this stretch. He had several bogies culminating in a double bogey on the 13^th hole. Through this same stretch of holes Ken play more consistently and went 3-over par. Standing on the 14^th tee they were tied.

On the short par-4 14^th hole Steve managed to remain even with Ken by making a par-saving 20-foot putt. On the par-3 15^th hole Ken took the lead for the first time by draining a 15-footer for birdie. Steve returned things to even on next hole, the par-5 16^th, by two-putting from far for birdie (after reaching the green in two, of course). At the 17^th both men teed off with long irons. Steve hit his down the middle to within 140 yards of the green, while Ken skittered one down the right side of the fairway, where it came to rest about 20 feet from the hazard and about 180 yards from the green. It was then, as Steve recollects, that Ken hit the defining shot of the tournament. Until this time Ken hadn’t been connecting with his long irons. "Nothing except duck hooks" as Steve puts it. Here, under the gun, Ken hit a four iron that “Split the pin” and landed about 15 feet past the hole. Steve hit his shot to the green and both men two-putted for par.  

Ken in the foreground watches Steve hit his approach to 18.		Ken hitting his approach as Jim Peretti watches.

On the 18^th and final hole of regulation play both Ken and Steve had spectacular drives that carried the lake and ended up within about 130 yards of the green. Steve, a little further out hit first. His approach shot landed near the hole, but bounce to the back of the green, far from the hole. Ken played a low bump-and-run that ended much nearer the hole. Both men two-putted, and, having tied through 18 holes, (after waiting a few groups to see if anyone else would need to join them) decided to hold a playoff.

The playoff began on the par-5 1^st hole. Both Ken and Steve managed to land in the thick grass in front of the green in 3 shots.  Ken hit his fourth shot to within 1 foot of the hole while Steve hit his to within 4 foot. Steve had to make the four footer over the aerated green to stay alive. He made the putt.

On the next hole, hole number two and the 20^th hole of the day for Ken and Steve, both had good drives. Both hit good approach shots onto the green. Ken was about 15 feet from the hole while Steve was 8 feet out. Ken went first and drained his 15-foot putt for birdie. Steve, again with his back to the wall, had to nail the 8-footer to stay alive. This time he missed the putt. Ken won the low gross with a final score of 77( and 1-under for the 2-hole playoff). Steve also shot a 77 but was even through the playoff.

This tournament saw some of the best golf in a UCGC tournament. Even though 77 doesn’t sound like a good score, the wind was really howling that day. Coming down the stretch both men played exceptionally. Steve was 1-under through the last 7 holes(including the 2 playoff holes) and Ken was 2-under. Both Steve and Ken agree that it was a good time. They both played solidly and neither flinched under the mounting pressure. Both were pleased that it was determined not by a missed shot or mistake, but by a birdie. Although Steve, as always, expressed good sportsmanship by not being a sore loser, he did state during this interview that he was writing Ken out of his will. At least the 2000 Kooman Boycheff Memorial Golf Tournament Trophy is one item that Steve will not have to worry about in his will.

One of Paul Zingg's Fondest Club Memories:

"In 1995 I had a hole-in-one to win the club championship. This was contrasted by an 8 & 7 Eddie Reed finals thrashing by Steve." - Paul

Lessons I learned from almost breaking 80 for the first time.

by Aaron Walburg on 2/10/00

Breaking 80 is a big deal for most of us. Having golfed on and off since I was 15, I had never really come close, nor had I really ever been intent on breaking that barrier. I derived enough pleasure from smacking the ball around with friends. About 5 years ago I recall having shot an 85 at Lake Chabot. This stood as a personal best for several years. In 1998 I joined the UC Golf Club and committed myself to bettering my game. I played more regularly and my scores improved. By 12/4/99 the closest I had ever come to breaking 80 was when I'd shot an 81 in the 1999 Club Championship at Boundary Oaks. 

The tournament at Las Positas in the 2000 season was an absolute heart-breaker for me.  I shot a double-bogeyless 38 on the front nine. On the back I managed again to avoid any double bogies and standing on the 18th tee I was 6 over par. All I needed was a bogey on the par 5 dog-leg left and I would break through one of the most significant scoring barriers anyone ever faces. 

I hit a perfect drive and was only about 280 yards out, but not being confident at working the ball from right to left I decided to lay up with a 5-iron.. Selecting the 5-iron was a big mistake. Not only was the 5-iron too much club to begin with, but the extra adrenaline caused me to crush the it further than I usually do. I overshot the dogleg.

The ball had come to rest in what I later realized was an irrigation trench. Having hit there in two, I was not completely demoralized, but being somewhat of a purist, I decided to play it where it lay. (At this point I would like to introduce those of you unfamiliar with this rule to the USGA's "Doubt as to Procedure Rule", or Rule 3.3. After turning in my score I consulted Steve who advised that the proper thing to do would have been to play two balls, one from the trench and one dropped out of it, no closer to the hole. After playing out both balls I would consult the rules committee who would then decide which ball, and thus which score would count.) If I was going to break 80, then, by gum, I'd do it the hard and honest way. Little did I know that a certain Rule 3.3 could have worked to my advantage. My escape shot hit the trunk of a tree and deflected back into the fairway.

I still could break 80 with a short lay up to the green and a two-putt. My approach to the green came up short. From there I sent a long putt off the other side of the green. Everything got dark and I wound up with an 8, for a total score of 81.

The lessons I learned from this experience were good ones. First, if ever in doubt about the rules, declare Rule 3.3 and play another ball alongside the original. Let the Rules Committee decide later which one should count. The other important lesson I learned is that when laying up, be sure that you leave it well short of the object you are avoiding. I did eventually break 80. It happened about a month later at Rancho Solano. I shot a 78 during a round with my brother. I used the Las Positas experience to maintain my composure through the final holes.

Golf is as much about having correct judgment as it is about skill. I always kick myself harder for a bad decision than for a missed shot, like trying driver from the fairway. That's just plain stupid. I'd be less frustrated with a muffed 5-iron, for at least I'd had the discipline to pull out the correct club.