2010-02-04

Best golfers are not always the winners

Jack Finger

It is a stretch for those of us who shoot golf scores of plus or minus 100 to generate very much sympathy for the gifted handicappers who bask in the lime light of scores in the 70s or low 80s.

But after chronicling the results of the Good Old Boys Golf League weekly Stableford tournaments at the Flying L course in Bandera for the past 10 or more years, we’ve come to know that when the prize money is handed out, it’s not usually the hot shots who line their pockets with the cash. That’s because in the GOB’s format, the money winners are not those who shoot the best golf, but rather those who show the MOST IMPROVEMENT over their previous outings.

The better players, it seems, have mastered the game to where they can play more consistently and are not subject to the violent swings of the average and under-achieving herd. At the end of the day the spoils go to the victors...but ironically only those who have beaten themselves.

Charlie Prokop is a good example, and maybe the exception, of what we’ve been talking about. Charlie, 59, a doctor of psychology who once headed up that department at Trinity University, in last week’s tournament topped the field of 42 players as he earned five points above his handicap. But get this- going in he was needing 25 points to match his handicap figure and on this very cold morning he would have to shoot better than 83 to get into the money winners circle.

He went out and shot a sparkling 78. “I didn’t do anything spectacular,” he commented, “My putting was what did it. It was one of those days that you have once in a while.” Next week poor Charlie will have to shoot at least 79 to earn even a dime.

If Prokop was tickled with a 78, El Pertenheimer, 72, who winters in Bandera before returning home to McHenry, Ill., also credited putting with his good round. He missed a few make-able ones, while making a four from six feet or more.

Another winter Texan, Roger Hill, a newcomer to the GOB ranks from Veblen, S.D., and Bob Dawson of Bandera shared second place with four points each. Hill shot a 96 and Dawson a 98.

Dru Vinton of Bandera was in third place with three points from his 92; Sam Martin of Lakehills and Gerald Persyn of Bandera tied for fouth place with two points each. Martin carded an 89, Persyn 98. Walter Stroman of Boerne and DeWayne Pirtle of Bandera won proximity prizes on holes 7 and 17, respectively. Prokop’s 78 earned medallist honors ahead of Stroman’s 81. Points were worth $6 each.

NOTE: Bill Chapman, head pro of Flying L, announced that on Tuesdays and Thursdays through February, a round of golf there will only cost $18 total, including cart.