Ran’s game has declined but his spirit and enthusiasm has not.
So the story begins 2 years ago when I played a friendly match with him at TPC Stonebrae and he made every putt he looked at and beat me 4 and 3. For the last few years, the gloating and badgering became insistent.
The opportunity to play him at Cypress Point was just too good to be true.
The match began with Ran hitting a big hook on the 1st hole which resulted in him having to pitch out. Low and behold, he was able to salvage a bogey which won the hole when I 3 putted for double. Not deterred, I was calm and collected. He hit his tee shot on the 2nd hole out of bounds which began a string of mis fires that allowed me to build a 5 up lead after 12 holes.
He birdies the 13th and I made bogey on the 14th which brought the match to 3 up. He then threatened me that if I gagged this big lead, he would write the story on GCA and lock it on the first page for the rest of my life.
We came to the 15th and we elected to play the original Mackenzie tee. 145 yards to a back hole location. His swing was good but he pulled his shot into the left bunker. I knew this was an opportunity to close him out. I elected to hit 8 iron and the ball never left the flag and finished 2 feet away. His shoulders fell and he knew the end was only moments away. His bunker shot went over the green which was anti climatic as I sank the putt to win 4 and 3.
As we left the green I asked him to walk to the clubhouse in defeat. Dazed and confused, he begged me to let him play the famed 16th at Cypress Point. I relented, not wishing to see this man fall any further into despair.
Shockingly, he rejuvenated himself on one of the great walks in golf. He arrived at the 16th and took the tee out of turn? He elected to hit 3 wood and although it was on the right, found a thin path of grass, with an easy chip to the pin.
I also choose a 3 wood. With a mighty swing the ball launched like a heat seeking missile. All on the tee knew we had just witnessed the shot of the day as it tracked for the hole. I had visions of the 10th hole in one on the famed hole, possibly honorary membership!!! It landed just a few feet from the hole and rolled some 20 feet by.
Ran’s chip left him some 5 feet away.
I on the other hand was cheered on by the caddies. They told me the story of the famed “22” club for those who make 2’s on both the 15th and 16th. Again my chance for history. I had putted well for the entire summer and hit my ball exactly as I wished. As it approached the hole, Ran yelled “it has a chance” but it didn’t move off the line and missed by 2 inches to the left. Fittingly, Ran sank his putt for par. We finished the day with pars on both the 17th and 18th as well.