April 28, 2008

JOHNSTOWN, OH — Rick Dosky, one of the greatest handicap adjusted golfers of all time, has left us with a veritable treasure trove of memorable scenes and snapshots from his transcendent career. Although it's impossible to catalogue all the great memories, he continues to add them year after year.

Rick Dosky had a date with Clover Valley Golf Club on Sunday morning. He showed up in his black muddy shoes, black socks, black golf bag, black pants, black sunglasses, black Golfapalooza logo hat and black Golfapalooza logo golf shirt. He finished the front nine with a mind-boggling 'black' 35-over 71.

"You have got to be kidding me," said Dosky after grabbing two black-colored Guiness beer cans and an ice tea inside the clubhouse. "I am really playing bad."

Dosky was indeed playing bad, but not for the history books. Dosky had carded worse including a front nine 74 strokes at Royal American last August. He also carded a 70-72=142 at Phoenix Golf Links one week before the 2006 Carl Spackler Open Championship. He even carded a practice round 38-over 74 strokes during the Pine nine at Mountain Valley. The debacle called for a Pat Boland swing adjustment, which enabled Dosky to grab his first Golden Jacket in Pottsville, PA.

"I am peace with double-par," said Dosky. "From a career standpoint, I thought that I've accomplished everything I could as an individual golfer. A MELC Championship. A disasterous 38-over 74 and 'zone-like 15-over 51 on the same nine holes within 2 days of each other. What else was their to prove?"

He had to prove the inconceivable was conceivable. The legend stepped forward once again in record fashion.

Dosky played the front nine at Clover Valley in horrible fashion. He arrived to the 152-yard par 3 8th hole with absolutely zero confidence and a bright green golf ball. He set up with his patented closed stance. He swung and hit a strong draw over the pond and onto the green.

"Nice shot Rick," exclaimed playing partner Derek Gastesi. "That guarantees your first double bogey or better," said Greg Long of this surprising shot.

The foursome including Dosky, Gastesi, Greg Long, and Michael Gibson finished the hole. Long took bogey with Gastesi and Gibson carding pars.

As the foursome walked off the green towards the cart, Derek said, "What did you guys have?"

Gibson replied, "Par boys. One putt." Slick replied, "43", which is short for 4 strokes and 3 putts.

Dosky replied, "Sixty-five."

Rick had grown his legend. He had hit the center of the 8th green in regulation and 5-putted for a triple bogey. He somehow scored one Poststats point.

"That is unbelievable," said Slick of the sixty-five. "I cannot believe there was no swearing, no club throwing, and no raise in verbal tone. Just sixty-five as if it was no big deal. How can he be so calm?"

Dosky ended up scoring 47 points, which was enough to beat buddy Greg Long by 2 points. Long experienced a disasterous 18-over 90 on Saturday.

"Backup the truck and load up the points," said Slick referring to his point handicap adjustment. "My three kids are killing my golf game. Dosky beat me and shot 71 on the front. I played horrible, but did not realize that I am 'Brent Kaniecki terrible' right now."

The 2008 Virtual Tournament is underway with Bill Bateson leading the season-long tournament.