Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Once again, the first time's the charm

T.S. Last El Defensor Chieftain General Manager

Once again, the first time was the charm at this year's Elfego Baca Shoot, an extreme golf event that calls for players to tee off atop Socorro's "M" Mountain and play to a flag pin about 2,500 feet below and nearly 3 miles away.

The Shoot is held annually in conjunction with the Socorro Open golf tournament. This year, Josh Green of Scotsdale, Ariz., took the honors in his first attempt at what is widely considered "the toughest hole in golf."

"It always seems to happen that way," said Caleb Gonzales, who won the event in 2005 on his first of five trips down the mountain. "I won it my first year; Dennis (Walsh) won it the first time he did it; Tyson (Gobble, last year's winner) won it his first time. I don't know why it is, but it's always a first-timer."

Green filled out a foursome as a late entry.

"I came here to win (the Socorro Open), but I played poorly," said the 26-year old in his third year as a professional. "I came out here with four other guys and I was the only one who missed the cut. I've been here the last two years and always wanted to try this, but I made the cut both times. This year I didn't, so I had the opportunity."

Simply Surreal

It took Green 18 strokes to get from a tee box located near the "M" branded in white lime just below the mountain's peak to a 50-foot circle that serves as the "hole," located next to the Energetic Materials Research and Testing Center.

Green edged Dennis Walsh, the 2007 winner, by one stroke.

Although Green knew of the Shoot, he admitted later that he didn't know what he was getting into when he stepped on the platform near Socorro Peak, with an elevation of 7,423 feet.

"It's a lot tougher than I thought it would be, for sure," he said after he finished the trek. "It's probably one of the most dangerous things I've ever done. I wasn't nervous until I got on the wood plank to tee off. It's pretty surreal hitting that first shot."

Winds gusting to near 30 mph were just one of the elements the golfers had to contend with. The mountain is rugged, made up of loose rock and sheer cliffs, and peppered with cactus plants.

"The toughest part was the loose ground. Finding a flat lie or getting any kind of consistent lie is impossible," Green said.

Because of the impossible lies the mountain renders, golfers are allowed to move the ball to a more favorable area no closer to the hole. They are permitted to tee the ball up for every shot, using a short-handled broom as a base.

Golfers are allotted three spotters to locate their ball after each shot. They were given 10 minutes to find the ball after each shot. A lost ball cost the golfer a one-stroke penalty.

Green lost two balls and was the first one in the clubhouse, about 5-1/2 hours after he teed off.

Tough, Challenging, Fun

Next to finish was Scott Jameson, who was participating in his third Shoot.

"The first year I did it because I wanted to go to the top of the mountain," said Jameson, who manages the Smith's Food & Drug Store in Socorro. "The second year, I felt I knew where to hit it, and more importantly where not to hit it, and I tied for second."

This year, Jameson was the victim of too many lost balls. He finished the Shoot with 17 swings, but his four lost balls gave him a 21.

For Jameson, participating in the event is an adventure.

"It's tough, but to me it's fun. It's a challenge, but for us it's a family thing," said Jameson, whose brother-in-law, brother-in-law's sister and nephew came from Clovis to serve as his spotters.

Jameson said he wasn't sure he'd be back again next year.

"I don't know if I will or not; I've gotta think about it," he said. "I turn 50 next year, so maybe if they let me hit from the senior tees."

Outta Luck

The youngest participant this year was 24-year old Caleb Gonzales, who was also the most experienced in the group. A two-time winner of the Shoot, Gonzales has descended the mountain four other times.

Although he carded a 13 the first time he won in 2005, the best he could do this year was shoot his age.

"The main thing is that when I won I was working at a golf course and was playing all the time," said Gonzales, a Socorro native.

Now a full-time pharmacy student taking classes at both the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College, Gonzales said he doesn't play much golf anymore.

Still, as a two-time champion, Gonzales knows what it takes to win.

"It takes a lot of luck out there," he said. "And you've got to know where to hit it. There's an area where if you don't hit a good shot, you're in trouble. I didn't hit a good shot (this year) and it murdered me. It made it hard on me and hard on my spotters."

That trouble spot comes early on. It was his third shot that went astray, effectively ruining his chances to win.

But Gonzales said he'll give the Shoot another shot next year.

"As long as they have it, I'll probably do it," he said. "I've got a son now, and I'll probably end up doing it with him some day."

The Exciting Conclusion

A small gallery watched the thrilling finish, nearly seven hours after the fearless foursome teed off.

Socorro's Dennis Walsh had a chance to tie for first place if he could place his ball inside the circle from 75 yards out.

The joke among those who mingled at the finish was that if Walsh was successful on the shot he and Green would have to go back to the top of the mountain and play off for the championship.

Walsh played a nice iron shot that landed pin high on a slope about 10 feet left of the "hole." The ball rolled toward the flag over the stoney ground but ran out of steam less than 4 feet from the circle. He "tapped in" for a 19.

Walsh wasn't just chasing his second Elfego Baca Shoot title, he was racing the clock. He was due in Albuquerque at 4 p.m. to attend his brother's wedding. After finishing what was nearly a seven-hour trek down the mountain, he hopped into a waiting car and drove off. Word is that he missed his mother being walked down the aisle but made it for the "I dos."

Earlier, Walsh was asked what compels him to play golf down the mountain.

"Just to say that you conquered it," he said. "We're out here all year long playing on our beautiful golf course. With this, you get one chance a year, so why not?"

Conquering the Mountain

Back at the New Mexico Tech Golf Course pavilion, where the awards ceremony was held, Green received a crystal salsa bowl that serves as the Elfego Baca Shoot trophy and a $500 certificate for pro shop merchandise.

Green said he's won tournaments in college and earned his first pro win on the Pepsi Tour last year, but he's never won anything quite like this.

"This is different," he said. "This was unexpected and it's completely different from anything I've done before. It's exciting to win this because it's unique."

Although Green said playing the event was a good experience, he hopes he isn't back next year to defend his title.

"I'd rather make the cut," he said.

And now that he's made his way down the mountain, he's still got a mountain to climb.

"I want to play on the (PGA) Tour someday," he said. "That's the goal."

tslast@dchieftain.com

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