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Monday May 14
A Review of CenterPointe: A Hole-by-Hole history
#1 Par-4 376 yards
When we think of CenterPointe's first hole, wagers come to mind. Standing on the first tee always brings discussion of "action." Generally, the action is very minimal (2-2-2 for example), but it is action nonetheless. The first tee always brings memories of head pro Jim Buchanan's run-in with Mr. Martin. Perhaps we have all learned from this mishap that CenterPointe is a tightly run ship, and the daily fee must always be paid.
#2 Par-4 417 yards
Ah, the second tee. We all ponder how we played the first hole.....but where is Mr. Stachura. Of course, he is up on the blue tees scouting out the hole for us. Once he has declared the course to be clear, he will make his way back to the group.
#3 Par-3 152 yards
The first par-3 on the course, number three brings us no funny memories. Hovever, the overly large green often presents comical putting efforts. Many a three-putt have occurred here.
#4 Par-4 373 yards
Number four is a fairly straightforward uphill par-4. It provides no outstanding memories, but is often the site of an interesting drive. With many trees down the right side, and a fairway bunker on the left, drives often fail to find the fairway. As we have seen early this year, the rough before the lady's tees and the lady's tees themselves have been popular spots for Mr. Stachura to drive to.
#5 Par-3 145 yards
Folks, you will have to forgive me. I cannot come up with any good comments for this hole that are relevant to our group. Therefore, I will simply say that Tons had a hole-in-one here. Mr. Mathias was "on the bag" for it. That is all.
#6 Par-4 408 yards
Number six is the site of Mr. Andolina's famed eight on the second day of the innaugural Matches. A difficult hole, the sixth can often be a pivitol hole on the front nine.
#7 Par-5 506 yards
Number seven is a difficult uphill par-5. It is the only par-5 that is truly very difficult to reach in two. It has been done very few times. The trees on the right and left are often popular places for players to leave their drives. This makes the hole even more difficult, although par is still makeable from there.
#8 Par-4 408 yards
Number eight has provided more laughable drives than any other. First, left....many drives have gone left out of bounds....quite laughable. Then, right......many people, especially Mr. Martin, have sprayed drives unbelievably right, and balls have been played from the second tee.
#9 Par-4 388 yards
Number nine is most famous for being the home of Mr. Martin's eagle on the second day of the Matches. Even after this remarkable two, Mr. Mathias was still able to overcome Martin's efforts to win the stroke play 76 to 77.
#10 Par-4 386 yards
The tenth tee is usually the dining room table for players. After purchasing an overpriced hot dog or burger, players generally eat on the tee while waiting for slow groups ahead. It is here that the more difficult back nine begins.
#11 Par-3 166 yards
Mr. Bielawa provides the greatest memory of the eleventh. Many years ago, he put three straight golf balls in the pond, and proceeded to take an unknown number on the hole. This type of pathetic golf has never happened after this sad day.
#12 Par-4 378 yards
The current number twelve was re-done just after we all became members, and presents a much different test than it used to. It was here that Mr. Andolina entered the right-hand pond to pull off an impressive shot against Mr. Mathias on the first day of the Innaugural Matches.
#13 Par-4 397 yards
Number thirteen, the home of "The Incident." It was here that Mr. Martin took a 5 inch chunk out of the green after making a bogey, in the Innaugural's final round. Even with this bogey, Mr. Martin shot an immaculate 73, to beat Mr. Kleinman 8&6.
#14 Par-4 383 yards
Number fourteen is the home of Mr. Bielawa's famed side-ways shot. Having only about 100 yards in, he shanked a wedge laterally, and into the pond. We have no records of what score he took, and cannot remember a date either.
#15 Par-5 493 yards
This straight-away par-5 quite possible has the best history of any hole on the course. Fifteen is home of the infamous "Fight," witnessed by Mr. Mathias and Mr. Bielawa. It was here that two drunken foursomes did battle in the middle of the fairway. Number Fifteen can also claim responsibility for the snapping of two of Mr. Bielawa's clubs.
#16 Par-3 191 yards
The finest memory of the sixteenth comes from Mr. Stachura. After making a 7 (we think) on the 15th, in the junior club championship, Mr. Stachura ventured to the 16th tee and sat in the famous vertical fetal position on the divot-dirt box. He has been known to practice this position on many occasions.
#17 Par-5 490 yards
This final par-5 is best known for two comments by Mr. Kleinman. The first comment came when he had almost exactly 150 yards into the hole, and asked "how should I play this?" One week later, Mr. Kleinman was faced with a similar shot, of about 130 yards.....he blew it over the green, and then proclaimed, "I just don't understand the yardage here."
#18 Par-4 433 yards
Eighteen is a bear. It is here that many rounds have ended on a sour note. A long par-4, eighteen usually plays into the wind and demands a long iron into a green protected in front by a bunker. The fairway bunker can be carried by everyone we know, except Mr. Mathias sometimes.