With much of the golf world still talking after the July 4th weekend about the rather epic meltdown and finish in the John Deere Classic, another stirring golf finish almost slipped under the radar….this competition at the lovely and challenging BMCC in Nashville in their annual Fourball (Match Play) elimination tournament.

Wily veterans RGC and his moppy-headed partner, JB, were cruising to victory over youngsters JC and CC, 3 up after the 11th Hole, although storm clouds gathered on the horizon. And frankly, Foremost hears there was some internal dissension rumbling on the leaders’ team as well, as RGC had conceded a challenging, side-hill 3 and 1/2 footer on the 10th Hole, when a possible miss by their opponents would have buttressed their solid lead. “I don’t know what RGC was thinking” said JB, who noted that his opponents had made him putt a two-footer on the previous hole. He said that a team discussion was held, and RGC had admitted the concession might have been a mistake.

Indeed, there might have been some carry-over effect from this intra-team squabble. The wily veterans promptly lost the 12th Hole, still two up, and had teed off on the Par 4 13th Hole when a lightning bolt streaked directly over their heads, thunder boomed, and the horn blew suspending play. Thanks for the warning! The players raced to the cover of the clubhouse. After an approximate 30-minute wait, the players returned and completed the 13th Hole, with the youngsters winning again, and the wily veterans now up +1.

After teeing off on the Par 5 14th Hole, the horn blew again and the players once again returned to the clubhouse. After another 30-minute wait, the return to play signal sounded, and the players again proceeded to the course to continue play on the 14th Hole. JB was relieved that he was even able to find his partner, RGC, who had disappeared and was finally found, after a lengthy search by several volunteers, in the dining room eating ice cream alone.

The players returned to the 14th Hole this time and hit another shot or two before the horn blew again (the third suspension of play) with another guaranteed 30-minute delay on the horizon.

The players again proceeded to the clubhouse. They sought out and asked the Committee if they could return the following morning to pick up their competition on the uncompleted 14th Hole. The Committee denied this petition, noting that tournament rules had stated this round of competition had to be completed by Friday, July 3rd, and that this was the last day, Friday, July 3rd.

The players amicably conferred and jointly agreed to determine the Match by coin-flip as late afternoon had arrived, storms still threatened, and player endurance was waning … particularly among the veterans.

JB and RGC were proud of themselves for insisting (a point graciously conceded) that they should receive coin-flip consideration for being one up after the 13th Hole. Therefore, rather than conduct a single coin flip to determine the winner, the players agreed that it would be only fair to flip coins individually on each hole starting with Hole 14 until a winner was determined, with the veterans one-up entering the flip competition.

The only other matter under contention was choice of coin, as the largest coin anyone held was a dime, and RGC demanded that a coin be procured which he could see. Someone came up with a quarter. (Foremost was unfortunately out of town with his silver dollar Trump ball-marker coin, which would have been a perfect fit for the occasion).

The stage was set for the competition — it would be conducted on the imposing, covered, outdoor porch and bar area over-looking the 18th green and 1st Hole teeing area. A large and festive crowd gathered as word of the 5-hole coin-flip competition spread. Scores of golfers gathered on the porch as the storm threat had emptied the course of players. The bar did a brisk business. Foremost is confident that among the onlookers were numerous competitors hopeful to see the always-formidable veteran team of JB and RGC go down. And F has not been able to verify the following as fact, but one reliable witness reported that member and famed announcer JV was in the crowd in rapt attention, perhaps measuring this finish against the historic finishes he had witnessed over his long tv broadcast career.

M, the bartender, was designated by the players as the official coin-flipper. The flips began. The veterans won the 14th to go two up, lost the 15th to remain one up, and then won the 16th to go two up with only two to play! Victory was almost assured! Yet, they lost 17 and 18… Sudden Death! Overtime! Onlookers crowded the floor to catch a glimpse of the action!

RGC paused the final flip momentarily with a mild complaint. He noted that he had really been unable to see the result of each flip, as M had caught the flip in hand and pressed it unseen into his arm, from which point he had raised his hand quickly noting the result without exposing the upturned coin and only then announcing his verdict. M, perhaps unaccustomed to the demands and pressures of his new job designation, promised to slow down the process so the result could be witnessed by all … a declaration which was acceptable to RGC.

RGC confidently declared “Heads” as the Sudden Death flip coin spun in the air. M caught the coin, slapped it down on his arm, raised his hand, and slowly circulated his arm in all directions for all to see. Even RGC could see this result. It was “Tails. The wily veterans had lost three flips in a row and the Match.

RGC said sitting through the three storm delays was tough. He said the loss was painful in its own right, but having to listen to JB, during the flip sequence, explain to all who would listen the scientific explanation behind the formation of clouds, thunder, and lightning was almost a more excruciating and painful ordeal.

“He’s the dumb one”, said JB upon hearing of his partner’s commentary…”conceding putts and eating ice cream … it’s a fact … we all know … lightning kills”.

It’s nice to see this fine partnership shrug off their misfortune so gracefully!

F apologizes to Readers for the lack of Rules context in this Post, but offers this recount of the competition in recognition of the originality in its evolvement and its now- historical status in Match Play competition… at least at BMCC. As usual, any comments or corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F