The final Military/Member Mixer Golfing event was held this past Saturday organized by PEFCO Cathy Permender at the Mill Creek Country Club in Salado, Texas. I was able to play in this last golfing scramble and experience first hand what a great event Cathy organized. This was a tremendous idea of getting members of Mill Creek and interested people and organizations from the community to sponsor a soldier for a day of golfing at this Country Club. She planned this as a six week event and only one Saturday had to be cancelled as the soldiers were preparing to go to Iraq. I observed a group of men and a few women soldiers having a great time playing golf.



After registering with Cathy I was invited to partake of a luncheon prepared by Hooters of Killeen, Texas. I was given the names of two soldiers that I would be playing with. After lunch of hamburgers, chicken wings and cold drinks I left to see if I could find my playing partners. Golf carts were lined up with the name of the soldiers and the hole that we would be starting on. I parked my cart close so I could check on who would show up. Before long a young man came looking for his name and I introduced myself. He was SFC Neal Bauman and it was uncanny as this young man was from Iowa so we had something in common since. I had just moved to Salado from Iowa two years ago. This must have made him comfortable with me as we were able to visit like old friends.



It wasn’t long and another young man came looking for his name and cart and I met PFC Sung Lim. I found out he was from New York so I welcomed him to Texas. We visited about the golf course and the scramble we would be playing. This scramble was almost like a free-for-all as I had a credit and was given all kinds of mulligans and something called throws. This was a new one for me. It seems if on any of your shots and you were not on the green you can throw or toss it to the green or closer to the hole for a free shot.

We only had three to our team as another person did not show up, so the two soldiers were given an extra shot as most of the teams were four person teams. I gave our card to the player from Iowa as he had come to these events most often. He knew all the ways that would work out the best with our extra shots. We started on Creek #1 Hole #2 which is a par three. All three of their shots were wild and my shot was just off the front edge of the green. I was told I could then throw it towards the hole so my drive and this throw would count as one shot. I came up close to the hole and we tapped in for a birdie. I thought I am going to like this game.

When the game was over we all gathered in the club house, there were more chicken wings, beer or cold drinks. We waited on the veranda and visited with other players as a staff member went over the cards to pick the winners. Everyone gathered around as Cathy announced the winners and handed out cash prizes.







One of my team mates from New York had to return to Fort Hood the one from Iowa was left so we finished the last hole by ourselves. At a special drawing we each won $15.00 in cash so a happy time was had by all. This was the final day of a great golfing event for our soldiers to show our appreciation for what they do for their country.



One of my partners SFC Neal Bauman originally from Iowa.