Gary's Dreaming of Golf Back Home This web page is my late-night dream in late winter in Minnesota. It's March and there is a foot of snow on the ground in Minnesota and more is falling. You have to do something to beat cabin fever!!

I grew up here in Oglebay Park in Wheeling, WV. I worked here for 8 years (age 13-21) at the golf driving range. My family -- parents and sister still live here on the edge of the golf courses. Just over the hill from this spot is my sister's house.

How much do I revere this spot on earth? I want my ashes scattered on the ninth fairway where I tend to hit a good drive, just a pitching wedge away from the green. Right in the center of this photo is the spot.

My parents live here in the midst of this wild, wonderful beauty!

Speidel is my dream of beauty and challenge on a golf course. It was designed by Robert Trent Jones. The LPGA played a Tour Event here for 11 years. I worked on the construction of the course one summer, clearing brush on the woods between the 7th and 8th holes.

Once I played here with Jane Blaylock and Carol Mann. Carol gave me a ride home, just up the hill a half mile. I met Nancy Lopez here when she was at Speidel for her first tour event, but unable to play due to a wrist injury. I walked and talked with her for a while. Now I know what a big deal that was. At the time, she was virtually unknown, except for an article in the paper describing her potential.

The Hamm Clubhouse, as seen through a telephoto lens from the driving range a half mile from Speidel, sits astride the two nines.

Check out the score cards below.

On the front nine, stay on the high side on the sloping fairways, avoid the traps, steer away from the trees and hit it close to the pin to overcome the big greens. My favorite is the ninth. Cut the corner for a short second, but if you don't make it across you will wish you had taken the fairway. Especially challenging is the second with a slope into the pond at the right and a severe left to right break on the green, the third with a sloping green from right to left causing four putts by the unwary, the pond in front of the green on the fifth or out of bounds behind the green that eat up bold hitters that foolishly try for the green in two. Greens are fast and big. Aim below the hole (or let it come down the slope after settling) and hit it close or pay the price.

On to the back nine for more fun and games!!!

If you haven't taken a cart yet, you probably are looking for a ride to beat the hills before they beat you. Now you ride on to the back after a break in the beautiful clubhouse atop the hills overlooking and straddling the two nines. The first picture above is the tenth hole. Greediness here can put you in the woods or wetlands, so hit it down the middle and away from the trap on the left. Twelve is a blind shot to an elevated green -- tough one from the back tees. Thirteen is a par-three over a pond -- beautiful, especially in spring when the apple blossoms and dogwood are in bloom. See the photo of this hole at the top of the page. Fourteen is another favorite. Cut the corner and hit a middle iron to the green to putt for eagle. Leave the short hitters behind here. Seventeen can be another par five reached in two if you stay left and away from the slope to the right. Hit it close and avoid a long putt that breaks sharper to the right than it looks and you can burdie here.

My main domain is at www.garyritner.org

E-Mail to gary@garyritner.org