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November 10, 1999
For the love of golf Friendshipsdrive gameBy SARA SYVERSON Journal Staff Writer
NEW ULM -- They golf in sunshine, they golf in rain, they golf in wind, they golf in weather conditions some people would not probably consider golfing in, but they golf anyway ... for the love of the game. Marilyn Reinhart, Jan Wallner and Sue Prunty, all of New Ulm and good friends, have enjoyed golf a little longer than usual this year due to warmer weather. "This is the first year in 40 years the New Ulm Country Club has stayed open past Nov. 1," said Tim Huffman, Golf Pro and General Manager of the New Ulm Country Club, "But we're not the only one. Almost every course in the Twin Cities is open." The reason the course has stayed open is to accommodate the members and give them a little more time to golf, Huffman said. "This fall has been beautiful, well actually all summer long has been wonderful. It's just lucky and very enjoyable to be out here," said Reinhart. The women began their golf season on March 30 and so far, Reinhart has golfed 172 rounds, Wallner has over 160 rounds and Prunty has 53 rounds. The women chuckled saying, "But people should know, golf isn't all we do." Reinhart works parttime at Lambrecht's, Wallner works full time at J&R Schugel Trucking and Prunty works at Cathedral High School. The women and their husbands have developed good friendships over the years playing golf together and as couples teams. "We golf for friendship," said Reinhart, "We've developed some great friendships. We do laugh a lot. I've gotten to golf with people I've never known before. Getting your handicap down is a challenge, too." Wallner said they have taken some golf trips (or they call them road trips) together this year to places like Northfield and the Mississippi National. They are currently planning a trip to Arkansas. "I golf for the love of the game and the friendship," said Wallner, "I just eat it up. You can play and you don't think of anything else but the game." Prunty said she and her husband have always been athletic people, and they took up golf eight years ago after being involved in softball for a number of years. "Golf is an activity we can do with our spouses," said Prunty. Wallner also took up golf eight years ago. Reinhart started golfing five years ago. In 1998, Reinhart won the New Ulm Country Club's Most Improved Handicap. This year she won the Ladies New Ulm Country Club Championship and the New Ulm Open. Reinhart smiled as she said, "I learned from the best, (Wallner and Prunty)." Huffman said since 1993 the popularity of golf has increased quite a bit in the United States. "In the last five to seven years women have really taken up the sport," said Huffman, "It's great -- the rise in women's golf. We're glad to have all of the women playing out here." The women love to play the sport. They have played in some rough weather climates where they have been the only ones golfing on the entire course due to the conditions. These three women look with admiration at some of the older women golfers at the New Ulm Country Club. "I admire some of those women," said Wallner, "Some of them are 80 years old and they are playing in windy weather...they are so loyal to the game." Reinhart agreed, "We marvel at them. We hope we continue to be able to play. They are an inspiration to me." On the longest day of the year the women did a little "marathon" golfing, where they began bright and early at 6:30 a.m. and golfed all day putting in 83 holes of golf.
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