Congratulations to John Aldridge, who defeated Max Bumguardner 5 and 4 yesterday and is now
the 2013 Lone Tree Men's Golf Club 2013 Individual Match Play Champion.
With a 5 and 4 score, it is apparent that there was not a great deal of drama in yesterday's
match. With respective handicaps of 20 and 13, John and Max are both capable of some really good
golf as well as some not so good; what I call Clint Eastwood golf: The Good, Bad, and Ugly. Yesterday's
round was not either's best golf, and perhaps exemplified by hole number 8, on which John hacked his way
to a 9. But with his stroke on that hole, and Max's 8, the hole was halved.
What I would like to focus on here, in our appreciation of this feat is not the shots and putts made
or missed in this final match, but, instead, the season-long accomplishment that is the Match Play Champion.
There are 2 championships in our Men's Club to which any individual member, regardless of handicap, can aspire.
If achieved, this feat represents taking on golfers at all levels, low to high handicappers. Those 2 championships
are the Tournament of Champions and Match Play. For most of us, the highest pursuit and glory of a
Club Championship from the gold-teed first flight is not a possibility. So the TOC and Match
Play represent our chances to take on all comers and win. Not just within our flights, but everyone;
all 240 members. To win either of those trophies makes for a successful season and a moment in the sun.
Congrats, John Aldridge. Well done.
-Karl Kiefer
