THE PICTURE POST

August 1, 2003

THE DUFFER

A Hacker’s Tour of Central Wisconsin Golf Courses

With Mike Sievwright

Hidden Waters Public Golf Course

Hwy 22 & 54

Driving Range; 9 Holes of Challenging Golf,

Bar Open All Day Seven Days a Week; Pizza & Snacks;

Clubs, Shoes, Golf Balls & All the Necessities;

Outside Party Facility Available.

The Duffer, Hap, Once and Smack. Are these really the nicknames of this week’s golf foursome or somebody’s way of avoiding prosecution? Everybody in the group had a nickname to contend with besides having to put up with the Duffer on the golf course.

Harold "Tap" Anderson, owner of the Hidden Waters Public Golf Course, Waupaca, introduced the duffer to Mark "Smack" Toftum and Carroll "Once" Thompson prior to tee-off. Harold explained that Carroll was nicknamed "Once" because he had recorded the first-ever hole-in-one at Hidden Waters several years ago.

The origin of Mark’s moniker was unknown until the group arrived at the very narrow second hole, which is securely guarded by trees on both sides of a small fairway. Mark preceded to smack just about every one of them en route to the green! Of course, everyone knows how the Duffer got his handle.

Hidden Waters is playing extremely well this year. The fairways have matured nicely and a new watering system for the roughs has been a nice addition. Harold said that hey had been pumping about 230,000 gallons of water on the course each night. The greens were in great shape, although you couldn’t’ prove it by the putting display of the Duffer.

Some interesting design changes are underway on the once-open third and fourth holes, including a possible redesign of the pond on No. 4. The pond on the front-left of the green may be expanded around the front to keep the long hitters from being tempted to go for the green.

The fun this foursome enjoyed can be duplicated by anyone wishing to help Hidden Waters celebrate its anniversary. The eighth annual anniversary outing will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9, with split fee times beginning at 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. and again from 12:30 p.m. until 3 p.m. The outing will include 18 holes of golf with cart, food, prizes, drink specials and more. Extra prizes will be awarded for a hole-in-one. (Think it can happen twice, Carroll?) There will also be a special drawing for a trip for two to Las Vegas. Call Hidden Waters for details – and tell ‘em the Duffer sent you.