#8 12/17/1999
Golf in Enemy Territory
The Little Putter
Stanford University and University of California, Berkeley have a long history of
rivalry. Since I graduated from Cal with both a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science, I've really never cared for Stanford much. However, by now you know that
I'm a big fan of the Stanford Women Volleyball team, who will be playing against Penn
State Nittany Lions for the 1999 NCAA division I championship on 12/18/1999. (Click here
for the previous story: "All the Way--A Decade of Victories")
After reading my story about the Stanford women volleyball team and also the story
about playing "Beach Golf," Ron, who is still
finishing up his doctorate degree at Stanford, suggested that we have a golf challenge
pitting two Cal grads against two Stanford grads. What a great idea! Believe me, I need
very little excuse to sneak out of work to play golf once in a while, especially on a
gorgeous sunny and warm day in December. Can you believe that it's possible to play golf
with a short-sleeve polo shirt in the middle of December? So I looked forward for two
weeks to play golf in "enemy territory."
Besides, Stanford Golf Course is a private course for Stanford alumni, staff, and students
and not open to the public. Fortunately I can go as a guest of Ron. It's a good thing that
they did not make me take an oath to denounce anything related to Berkeley. I also did not
have to dial "1-800-BEAT-CAL" to reserve a tee-time! Stanford golf course WEB
site ( www.stanfordgolfcourse.com/ )
The first hole was very interesting. I never teed off from such a high
vantage point. Here is the hole description from the Stanford golf course WEB ( www.stanfordgolfcourse.com/hole1.htm
) "One of the most dramatic opening holes in Northern California, the 507-yard
par-5 first hole starts with an elevated tee shot that carries over Junipero Serra
Boulevard before reaching the fairway 75 feet below. A large fairway bunker on the left
side invites any stray or short drives, but shouldn't come into play for longer hitters."
So Ron, Jason, Branko, and I teed off. Well, you know this is going to be an interesting
competition when both Jason and Branko's balls landed in the bushes in front, and both Ron
and my balls hooked to the left into a barn. Gee, I hope I did not hurt that horse in the
corral :-)
Since none of us golf regularly, we decided the most fun way to play is to have
two-on-two scramble match play. On the same team, we will always hit from the best ball
position. A point on each hole is awarded to the team who has the fewest strokes on that
hole.
Do you know that Stanford school's mascot is a tree? So it's very ironic
that Ron and Jason's second shot ended right behind this huge tree! Here was Ron hitting
his approach shot. Jason actually found a golf ball stuck in the tree from a previous
hapless golfer.
Amazingly enough Branko and I won the first hole. After halving the second hole, Ron
and Jason won the third hole. Branko and I then continued to play well with wins on both
the 4th and 5th holes. This was fun.
(An overview of the hole from the Stanford Golf course WEB. Click on the
thumbnail for a larger view.) So Cal was leading 3 to 1 when we reached perhaps the most
dramatic hole of the whole match. It was the 141-yard par-3 8th hole. Both Ron and I hit
beautiful shots with our iron. Ron's ball landed just about three-feet from the hole. My
ball was probably ten-feet away. Since I was away, I putted first. I took my putter,
aimed, and made great contact. It was tricky because the hole was downhill. The rolled,
rolled, and rolled. I did not think it was going to make it. However, the ball went in at
the center of the cup. I pumped my fist. This birdie was very satisfying.
To half this hole, Ron had to make his birdie putt. What pressure.
Here he was setting up for his putt. He made it! Even though neither team scored a point,
but we walked off happy.
Stanford then won the 9th hole. On the front nine Cal was leading 3-2. Branko and I
were enjoying our nice lead. Alas, it was not going to last.
On the back-nine Branko and I just could not get things going. We could
have easily won a few holes if we could just make a few putt. We also knew that Jason and
Ron have the home course advantage. You know why? I had a nice approach shot to the green.
This was one of the few times that I actually made a crisp and solid contact with the ball
but only to see that my ball went right into this darn Stanford tree! It's a pity that I
did not carry a chain saw in my golf bag.
Here was Branko hitting from the fairway. Please send him an e-mail if you
can give him some constructive criticisms. As usual I refrained from giving golf advice on
the course--the way I played I'm not qualified to screw up another person's swing :-) Here
were some good points about Branko's swing 1) the ball is at the right position, 2) head
was down, 3) good rotation of the hip and shoulder, 4) the weight is shifted to the back,
5) the club did not dip past horizontal, 6) the right leg is not locked straight. The only
thing I can see Branko can improve is that he should keep his elbow straight. He was so
desperate for a good, straight and long tee shot.
The course was beautiful.
The Stanford red tide started to turn. Ron and Jason won the 10th, 11th,
13th, and 14th. So they were leading 6-4 when we got to the 15th hole. Did Branko and I
play poorly? Did Ron warm up? Was Jason able to fix his slice? No. Stanford starting
winning when Jason started to use his grand daddy's old, rickety putter! With that secret
weapon, they were able to made several crucial putts!
Branko and I were desperately trying to make something happen. Alas, we
ran out of holes and sunlight. We won the 15th, halving the 16th, Stanford won the 17th,
and Cal won the 18th. We actually played the 17th and 18th in near total darkness. I still
cannot believe that my drive on the 18th was actually long and straight, and the ball
landed in the middle of the fairway. Also, Branko had a nice pitch shot on the 18th in
near "pitch" black darkness! I guess Branko and I next time will play
blind-folded since we seem to play best in darkness :-)
Ron was setting up for another drive. Since he was the best player out of
the four of us--ending the day with two birdies-- so we can tease him about some of the
tee shots that he popped up in the air. Those shots were so high and with such long hang
time, we said that he needed to get a FAA flying license.
So after 5 hours of playing, Stanford won this match with a score of 7 to
5.
So instead of the "Big Axe" for the football team, we have
the "Little Putter" for our golf competition. However, Jason still would not let
Branko and I chainsaw his grand daddy's putter and mount it on a board :-)
We had a good laugh on the course. Branko told Jason that it shows that
Jason last played golf during his high school years with his grand father because he
played like an old man. Jason's revenge was to put rabbit ears on Branko's head in this
photo :-) So I'm embarrassed to say that this round of golf goes to Stanford. So far
Jason and Ron have refused our challenge to play sand volleyball :-)
So I came home with fond memories of another great golf outing, even
though it was in "enemy" territory. However, I still have a lot of explaining to
do with Rondo about why I'm wearing a bright red Stanford Golf Course polo shirt. I don't
think my dog Rondo was very happy about my traitorous behavior. :-) (However,
ironically I think Theresa and I have actually brought him walking around Stanford rather
than Berkeley campus. He did leave his calling cards in Stanford! So maybe Rondo is a
Stanford kind of dog after all!
