Published: September 09, 2007 12:14 am            

Rub of the Green: Columnist has many fond memories of George Kaperak

TERRE HAUTE — In thinking about the nearly 60 years that I have been acquainted with George Kaperak, there are many adjectives that apply to one of the most gracious individuals ever to hit a golf ball down a Terre Haute fairway.

George was an outstanding golfer and an excellent bowler as well. He always demonstrated a great sense of humor. It was always a treat to be in his presence. He consistently exuded an up-beat attitude, and I never heard him make a disparaging remark about another individual. These endearing qualities contributed to the fact that there were legions of friends who thought him so special.

For decades I usually began a conversation with George by asking, “George, what are you up to?” The answer was always the same. “About five five and a half.” To me he was a giant. Another of his favorite statements, especially when discussing some thorny issue, was “It seems you just can’t get ideal conditions any more.”

A number of years ago while playing in a Rea Park hunt and standing on the 10th tee, I heard someone say, “George has a chance to shoot 29 on the front nine.” I quickly ran back to No. 9 in time to observe Kappy addressing a chip shot from about two feet short of the putting surface with the pin approximately 12 feet from the back of the green. The chip rolled directly at the hole, nipped the pin ever so slightly and went down into the cup. Seven birdies and two pars contributed to a fantastic nine. Things didn’t go well on the following nine, but George had his course record 29 on the front. A record that, as far as I know, has never been equaled.

George was always generous in helping younger players. Whether it was giving them tips regarding their swings or giving them a ride to out of town tournaments, he was happy to be helpful. It was a treat to ride with him since he usually drove a new or nearly new Pontiac Bonneville. It was nice to travel in style.

It was back in the 1950s at the Casey (Ill.) Open that George won the amateur division and his brother, Mike, the pro at Rea Park, took first in the professionals’ segment of the competition. Terre Haute players in the tourney helped the popular Kaperak brothers celebrate long into the night.

The Fendrich Open, a favorite event held in Evansville, attracted many area golfers. A $50 merchandise certificate each day went to the player who could put his tee shot closest to the pin on a 225-yard par-three hole. A yawning sand trap fronted the green with the flagstick located at the back of the putting surface.

George hit his driver into a strong wind, and it finished one foot from the hole. The following day as we played the same hole, we noticed the flag denoting the closest shot was in the same position it had been the day before. We asked the fellow checking the shots if there wasn’t a closest to the pin contest again. He replied, “There sure is, and the guy who won it yesterday knocked it up a foot away again today. How good is that guy, anyway?”

The answer was easy; he was a long hitter with a superior iron game that produced nine holes in one. He was also an excellent putter, as demonstrated by his multiple wins in both the Terre Haute Stroke Play Championship and the City Match Play Championship. In addition, George won several Rea Park Club Championships as well as a number of Senior City titles that in days gone by were decided by the 50 or older player who shot the low score for 72 holes in the city stroke play tourney.

George also teamed with Bill Kipple to win the Terre Haute Round Robin Tourney, a competition reserved for the low 20 scorers in the THGA City Stroke Play Tournament. He was a charter member of the Terre Haute Golf Association’s Hall of Fame.

One cold, December day while playing winter golf at Rea Park, the wind was howling in our faces as we teed off on No. 12. Although measuring 390 yards, the hole played much longer.

George sliced his drive into the middle of the No. 16 fairway. From there he hit a driver that finished by hopping into the cup for an eagle. There wasn’t a club in his golf bag he couldn’t hit with authority, including knock-down wedge shots that came in low with unbelievable backspin and then applied the brakes when they neared the hole. He consistently performed these shots regardless of how hard the greens might have been. I believe he could stop a wedge shot on a concrete green.

All in all, George Kaperak was a great competitor, a loyal friend and a magnificent role model. I’ll treasure memories of George both on and off the golf course. During Rea Park Men’s Club Socials held at Rea’s clubhouse, George could always be counted on to lead a dance titled “The Hokey Pokey.”

George Kaperak was absolutely a man for all seasons! Golf in Terre Haute is much poorer for his absence, but much richer for his presence among us.



A funny thing happened during Tiger Woods’ march toward victory in last week’s Deutsch Bank Fed-Ex tourney. Eldrick got out of step and had to settle for a tie for second and what had to be the bitterest pill for the Tiger to swallow, was the fact it was Phil Mickelson who went head-to-head with golf’s No. 1 player for the win.

In the “now what?” department, Phil has announced he may not tee it up this week at Cog Hill due to some disagreements with the tour’s commissioner, Tim Fichem.

As for Tiger, you can never tell about him. He may just stay on his yacht. He’s probably very tired, especially after losing to Lefty, who is now the world’s No. 2-ranked professional golfer.



A tip of the hat to Ernie Maesch on winning his second Idle Creek Club Championship. Ernie fired a couple of smooth 71s to win the title going away.



• Tip of the week — Much has been made of the fact that Butch Harmon, Tiger’s former instructor and Mickelson’s coach, gave Phil some instructions as how to play against Tiger. Mickelson wouldn’t divulge what the tips might have been.

If I were to guess, I’d bet that Butch told Mickelson to go the continuous putting route. After Tiger putts out there is often a stampede to the next tee, making his opponent’s putt just that much more difficult. Mickelson followed that course of action to a “T”.

Previously, I had watched poor Mike Weir try to putt on the final day of a PGA event with a herd of galleryites stomping off to the next tee while poor Weir tried to concentrate. He finished with a 79.

Tiger was asked why he or his caddy didn’t hold up their arms to help quiet the spectators, whereas Tiger and his caddy answered, “That is the marshals’ job.” Actually, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus quite often helped the hapless volunteers in this endeavor.

By putting out before Tiger, Phil took away a negative factor that otherwise would have been a plus for Woods.

Anyway, our tip is this. For most amateurs continuous putting can be a plus or a minus. To find out, experiment with both methods and keep a record of your putts. You’ll soon discover what works best for you. Of course, you don’t want to step in your playing partner’s line when putting out.

Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.



Tribune-Star golf columnist Bob Arnett can be reached by e-mail at subob@aol.com.

        

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