Golfers participate in intramural event despite weather

During a golf scramble, Brad Weigand, a marketing major, tees off at the Kent State Golf Course Friday.

Credit: Tanika Snyder

The wind may have been piercing, the temperature chilling and the rain pouring — but that didn’t stop them.

Twenty-two dedicated golfers withstood the dreary weather Friday afternoon and participated in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center Intramural Department’s two-person golf scramble.

The scramble is held at The Kent State Golf Course and has been one of the intramural department’s most successful events for nearly a decade. This year, 12 teams were registered. Only one didn’t show, said event supervisor Mike Fitzpatrick.

“I am very pleased with the turnout for how the weather is, but you can’t control Mother Nature,” Fitzpatrick said. “I’m just glad almost everyone still showed up.”

The 18-hole scramble was divided into three different groups: men’s, women’s and co-ed. There were eight teams in the men’s group, one in the women’s and two in the co-ed. The first tee time began at 2 p.m., with the final tee time at 2:37 p.m. Two tee times ran every 15 minutes, Fitzpatrick said.

“We teed off at 2:15,” said Mike McClure, freshman sports management major. “The only downside is the rain. The clubs are getting really slippery because they are so wet.”

McClure, along with scramble partner Frank Speziale, won the men’s division by shooting a score of 67, which is three-under par at the course.

Both McClure and Speziale have been golfing for around 10 years and really enjoy the sport. They said they have been frequent visitors to the course, golfing two to three times a week for the last three weeks.

The scramble is slightly different than a regular game of golf, Fitzpatrick said. Both team members tee off, but after that, the teammate with the best drive marks the spot where both team members continue play from.

“Say on the first drive you hit the ball pretty good, but your partner hits their ball in the sand or the trees — your partner would just start their next shot from where your ball is, instead of where they hit theirs,” Fitzpatrick said. “This allows for better shots and more competition.”

Jack Cardinale, Kent State Golf Course starter, said many groups who hold tournaments on the course follow the same guidelines.

“We hold many tournaments on this course,” Cardinale said. “The groups always call ahead for a tee time, and we block off that time for them. Today we started half of this group on the front nine and half on the back nine.”

Cardinale’s job as a starter is to do just that — start each group off. He said on busier tournament days when the weather is nice, he could be counting off and starting around 50 golfers at a time.

On weekdays at Kent State Golf Course it costs $18.95 per person to play 18 holes of golf, including a cart. On the weekend it costs $26.75. Scramblers paid $16 per person or $32 per team. Winners received T-shirts for their victory.

“The prize isn’t what these people are here for,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think it’s the competitive factor. I have personally refereed different intramurals and people love to compete. They always want to be the best.”

For more information on intramurals, call the intramural department at (330) 672-0487.

Contact fitness reporter Tanika Snyder at [email protected].