VGA offers prearranged golf events on Wednesdays and Saturdays at courses in the Phoenix area. Membership in VGA open to Men & Women
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From pond to pin! Jon Rahm skips to a hole-in-one on No. 16 on Tuesday at the Masters.
In Memorium: Don Peterson past VGA president and among the founders of VGA. An excellent golfer a true friend and organizer. Rest in Peace, Donald Peterson. At college, Don admitted to being more of an athlete than a scholar. He lettered in three sports football, basketball, and baseball. He earned a degree in Sociology. Don first came to Arizona for a brief time in February 1966 prior to being drafted into the U.S. Army. He liked the area so much that he decided this was where he wanted to live and moved to Phoenix in September 1968. His first job in the Valley was as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Prior to his retirement in December 2012, he was the General Manager for Arizona Industries for the Blind for 23 years. His association with the VGA began in the early 1970s with many Saturday rounds played at the old Camelot course, now Painted Mountain in Mesa. They also played the municipal courses on a rotational basis including Papago where Don met John Pierce and recruited him to play in the VGA. Don’s VGA presidency dates back to 1978, which he earned “by default”. As time passed, he took on the role of the secretary as well. His love and devotion to the VGA did not stop there. He took it upon himself to author the quarterly newsletter and sold hats for many years until he stepped down as president around 2011 and as the secretary in 2014. While Don served on the board, he always put the club first. He stated, “You’re on the board to serve the members of the VGA and not your own goals and interests”. As president, Don remained neutral on VGA issues but when controversies arose, he always managed the Board’s concerns with calmness, dignity, and class.
In Memorium: Vic Bosiak served on the VGA board for five years. He also was a member of the rules committee. His most recent outing with the VGA was on Saturday September 3 at the Grand Canyon University course where he shot 56 on the front nine not bad for being two months shy of 96. Coincidentally, GCU used to be Maryvale where Vic first played with the VGA. Vic loves to gamble and play cards. As everyone in the VGA knows Gordon is fond of saying you are luckier than Bosiak which is a tribute to his skill at Crazy Bridge. Vic just smiled about his luck at cards and winning and said “I collected the money.”
It isn’t often that you see this. Four golfers from VGA hitting the same spot on a drive from the tee box. Fred Baldwin, John Euler, Larry Burton, and Steve Richter accomplished this feat today (February 7th, 2018) on the Ocotillo Blue Course hole #3. Very well done gentlemen. This is hard to do for Pros let alone guys in VGA but it happens.
Ron Amstutz and friends got an opportunity to play in the Phoenix Open ProAm event on January 31, 2018, at the TPC Stadium course. Video
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Having captured the 2017 Masters, Sergio Garcia deserves his spot on VGA Media.
Walking the paths of Ernest Hemingway, Fred Baldwin has summit-ed Kilimanjaro.
Fred Baldwin at the summit of Kilimanjaro
Doug Rankin’s big 13.8 oz. early morning Roosevelt Bass. Caught on a Spook in less than 2′ of water. Golfers just make better fishermen too it appears.L-R, Steve Richter, Doug Patterson, Gordon Lukert, enjoy the beauty of the Boulders Golf Course. June, 8th, 2016
Ron Amstutz’s Bulgarian Golf Adventure.Click here.
Today, I just played an awesome course on the Black Sea in Bulgaria called Thracian Cliffs. I thought I would send some pictures as several of the VGA members that knew I was going asked me to send pictures. You can post if you want. Thanks, Ron Amstutz. Here’s a web link to the resort. Awesome http://www.thraciancliffs.com/
Another VGA golfer gets a Hole in One.
Tommy “No shoes” Hecocks is back in town and added a Hole in One on #16 at ASU Karsten to his golf memorabilia. Due to a low spot where the pin is placed, Tom didn’t get to see his ball go in but low and behold there it was. Sweet!
VGA Golfers are talented fishermen too
Tom Giljum, avid VGA golfer and avid fisherman has acquired a Nirvana of sorts. He golfs with VGA on many occasions all the while living in Rocky Point in Mexico, where he catches fish like the Grouper shown. All this a mile from his home in Mexico. Does it get any better than this?
Steve Richter hole-in-one on #16 at Mesa Country Club. Using an 8 iron at 147 yards.
Jim O’Keefe passed away yesterday at 11:30 Am. He was hospitalized and did not recover from the effects of pneumonia and old age. I’ve met a few people in my time, but never any as nice and personable as this gentle soul. He will be missed by all that knew him. VGA expresses condolences to his family and friends. I cannot imagine your sorrow. RIP Jim, March 23rd, 2016
Rusty Silverman, Tony Dalton and rest of their foursome get ready to tee off at GCU Course in Phoenix.
Cardinal’s receiver Larry Fitzgerald appears in October 2015 Golf Digest.
Jeff Currie, Mick Panarello, Tony Dalton in Yakima Washington.
Mesquite Invitational played the 16th and 17 of July 2014 in Mesquite, Nevada. For more Mesquite Golf info click here. We played four rounds; Monday, the Palmer in Mesquite, Tuesday, Sand Hollow in Utah, Wednesday, Wolf Creek in Mesquite, and Thursday, Falcon Ridge in Mesquite. The courses in Mesquite are in the canyons while Sand Hollow is more open, but does have some interesting holes along a mesa bordering the Virgin River. The highlight of the trip was Wolf Creek, which we played at 5798 yards, and a slope of 134. But the scenery was worth it. After four rounds, Larry Burton and Neal Fisel tied for first place with a net score of 274. A good time was had by all and we are looking forward to doing it again next year.
In Memory of Donald “Spanky” Caldwell. He did many things to help VGA.
