A Community's Struggle With Missed Putts Haunts RV Family...

We have no concrete proof that there has ever been a putt made at the Tama/Toledo Country Club.

To get to the communities of Tama-Toledo from our campground (Outback Campground/Resort), our path took us past the beautiful and luxurious non-award-winning Tama-Toledo Country Club. This nine-hole course undoubtedly offers the area golfing enthusiasts a home to hone their game and enjoy some quality fellowship. We got to know it quite well as we made at least one trip into town most days while staying there.

The greens appeared to be in adequate shape for consistent putting.

With multiple greens located along the road we traveled, we were blessed with taking in a plethora of approach shots and a multitude of putts. At first, we watched in passing... the course was just another landmark on our way to town... but after a few weeks of trips, we collectively questioned if we had ever actually seen a made putt... We had not.

Now, paying much closer attention, we witnessed missed putts to the right or left… short or long… became a part of our daily lives. Getting it close was good enough for the golfers we encountered, and the practice of ‘‘picking it up’’ was commonplace. Days became weeks… weeks became months… and still, we never witnessed Tama-Toledo’s most elusive golf feat.

Elizabeth made a hole-in-one putt at the campground mini-golf course...

Determined to see a putt being made live, we found ourselves waiting for the right golfer to put us out of our golf misery. Each time we pulled away, we were left with a destiny unfulfilled, and our hearts grew a bit darker with shame. Even during the later part of the Iowa golf season, and holding very little hope we would realize our Tama-Toledo golf destiny, the "Golf Gods” shined upon us as a man stuck an approach shot from 100 yards within five feet. Putting our car in park with the notion our burdensome golf journey was finally seeing its conclusion, the chosen golfer hopped back into his cart, drove up to the green, grabbed his putter, approached... and crushed our spirit again…

Instead of using the putter in hand, the golfer stopped, lifted his foot, and attempted to kick the ball in. Leaving the ball an inch short of its home, the man picked up the ball and walked away.

An undivided feeling of helplessness came over the car.... and we pulled away.