So you think your strong suit in golf is putting? Then take a trip to the Putt-Putt golf course on Peters Creek Road on any Monday evening for the weekly tournament on the lower 18-hole links.
And, be prepared to be eaten alive.
The public is invited to join members of the PPA (Professional Putters Association) and APA (Amateur Putters Association) as they convene for their 54-hole weekly 7 p.m. event. Free practice starts at 6 p.m. And make no mistake about it-these guys are GOOD.
I watched Roanoker, and current PPA member, Dennis Biesma as he cruised through his second round Monday night. He spends most of his round plucking holes-in-one from the cup. With par at 36 on a standard putt-putt course, Biesma is nonchalant about his performance. “A good round for me is around 26,”he says. “My best round was a 21.”(an 18 would be perfect) He once made 13 straight holes-in-one and estimates he plays 1,000 rounds a year. And, if your complaint about golf is that it takes too long to play-Biesma says if noboby is in front of him, he can play an entire round in 10 minutes. “I have a good idea how to play the banks on every hole.”
Don’t get any cute ideas that you’ll sidestep the pro and tackle one of the amateurs-it only gets worse. Roanoker Clayton Craft was on hand for Monday night’s competition. Craft is a 2-time national APA champion, taking the titles in 1995 and 1996 in Michigan and Orlando, Florida respectively. His career-best round is 22. He knows the game and its angles like a geometry professor.
Geoff Boyer fired a 22 Monday night in one of his three rounds- two 2s, a 3 , and 15 aces. The field also included VWCC student Mark Smith who holds the Peters Creek course record with an unthinkable score of 20.
With its angled bumpers, mirage-like obstacles and holes on the sides of hills, this game is a true test of anyone’s patience.
But, with its signature green carpet and orange rails, it’s a game everyone loves and is perfect for a great family outing. Throw in the touches Peters Creek owner David Mitchell has added-like palm trees, jungle animals and waterfalls- and you can’t help but have fun at a very reasonable price.
Mitchell, who has been in the putt-putt business for 35 years, has held these weekly tournaments since 1976. He estimates there are around 75,000 rounds played on his courses each year. And, if the golf gets too tough, they also have batting cages for baseball and softball as well as an arcade room.
So, round up your usual foursome and come on out for the challenge. But remember, with these guys, ones don’t add up very fast.
Story and Photo by Bill Turner
