Fred Kowalczyk
Howie Tiger
The PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association (PCMGA) has named Fred Kowalczyk its Most Improved Player of 2021. The official announcement was made at the President’s Cup tournament on Jan. 20.
As background, Fred grew up in Glen Ellyn, Ill., a western suburb of Chicago. He attended a parochial high school in Wheaton, Ill., and his family moved to Phoenix soon after graduating. He secured a degree in business at Arizona State University. He met his wife of 44 years, Kitty, at ASU who, by a small-world coincidence, was also a native of Glen Ellyn.
After getting their degrees, they returned to the Midwest—Kitty to pursue her nursing career and Fred to figure out what he wanted to do for a living. A good friend of his worked in his family-owned auto dealership in Highland, Ind., Webb Ford. Fred took a job there and worked up the ladder. He spent 44 years there, 28 years as the service manager and 13 years as an operations project manager. Fred and Kitty resided in nearby Schererville, Ind.
Fred’s interest in golf came from his father, an avid golfer. As a kid, Fred would bike to a local golf course, The Village Links of Glen Ellyn. Thanks to the professional who supported youth golf, he was able to hit balls for free early in the morning and even get free golf tips from that pro. But golf was not his only interest. He also played baseball, basketball, and hockey.
As an adult, Fred mostly played recreational golf with his buddies. Rarely did he play more than once a week. Raising a family and working many hours did not allow for any competitive golf. His mantra was, “Play when you can!”
Fred retired in March 2020. He and Kitty planned for their retirement and decided on PebbleCreek. They purchased a lot in 2018 and then built a house. They moved into their new home in April 2020.
He has yet to get a hole-in-one. He considers himself a decent putter. Since retiring, Fred has been playing three or four times a week. He has spent time practicing to improve all parts of his game. In 2021, Fred improved from a 13.9 index to a 9.4. Practice, practice, practice is his not-so-secret secret!
The PCMGA uses the USGA method to determine who the most improved player is. The formula used is a ratio that encompasses the handicap index at the beginning of the year and at the end of the year. The formula also takes into account that it is more difficult to improve from an index of 10.0 to a 5.0 than it is to improve from a 25.0 to a 20.0. The higher the ratio, the more handicap improvement.
A card credit for $25 will be awarded to Fred for his achievement.
Congratulations to Fred for a great season!