Ole Pappy
As a golfer, I’m a dud. So I don’t golf. But I love covering golf and especially taking photos at golf meets. But never, in all my time on the course have I ever seen two opponents, tied on the last hole and BOTH sink a 40-foot putt, back-to-back.
In fact, the amount of times I’ve ever seen a successful 40-50-foot putt are limited. So when Butch Buysse pulled off the feat, did a little dance and quietly filed away the victory in the back of his mind, it appeared the great shot had earned him the Minneota Club Championship.
I thought to myself, “Aaron Sanow (Butch’s opponent), forget it, don’t even try. You can’t sink a 40-foot putt right after Butch did it.” When he hit the ball it began to veer a little, then took a slight dip and seemed to stop just short of the hole — then it fell in.
Never have I heard the Minneota golf gallery explode with amazement and the thrill of the moment. Certainly, this was the “Thrill of Victory” for both golfers.
But the thrill of victory disappeared from Butch Buysse’s lips and he suddenly was all serious again — knowing full well Sanow had pulled off the near impossible and the match would go on — as soon as Sanow finished his little victory dance! Folks were buzzing about the feat for quite a time afterward.
Meanwhile, the two competitors went out and golfed four more holes, before a Buysse putt fell just inches short and the “Thrill of Victory,” suddenly turned into the “Agony of Defeat.”
But not for Sanow, whose arms were feeling like jell-o and his throat was parched and dry as he tried to chug water and maintain his control during the ordeal. While golf is a fun game — this is where it starts to become difficult.
For some, like Aaron Sanow, who has always been a competitor (he played for the Minneota Mudhens), golf is his outlet. Afterwards, Buysse was philosophical about the defeat.
“I wanted to win, but I’m happy for him. It is what it is,” he said. When it was over, one thing stood out for both golfers. They both were thrilled by the crowd’s reaction to what clearly was an unusual, and little-seen event.
They heard the cheers and both said it was as loud an ovation as they’ve heard. The Countryside Golf Course has tried several things to keep the course operating in tough times — new managers, meals developed by the kitchen and even antique car shows.
Anyone who missed this event — well, they missed something very special!
LAUGH A LITTLE: It was his fault! The Army drill sergeant was getting frustrated with a recruit so one day he barked at the young man, “Who told you to join the Army?” he demanded.
The young recruit looked him straight in the face and said, “The Navy recruiter.”
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: As my Ole Pappy used to say, “When the WRONG people leave your life — the RIGHT things start happening.” Ole Pappy always told me it wasn’t what you knew in life — but who you knew. And sometimes he didn’t like the choices I made — and he told me so. Thanks Ole Pappy!