Dick Helmstetter celebrates his latest hole-in-one
Dick Helmstetter Makes a Hole-in-One a Year After His Prior One on the Same Hole!
Howie Tiger
On July 5, Dick Helmstetter made a hole-in-one on the 17th hole of the Eagle’s Nest course. He did it while playing with the Bandits golf group. As a coincidence, on July 6 a year earlier (his 71st birthday), he made a hole-in-one on that same exact hole!
The 17th hole played 147 yards from the blue tee to a back middle pin located just over the bunker. His playing partners included Bob Van Slyke, Brian Lorenzo, and John Zelinger. Dick hit a low solid shot straight at the flagstick. Once the ball carried the bunker, it disappeared over the hill. Dick thought he saw something just over the green. But, John said, “I did not see it go past the hole. I think it’s in!”
Since they were not sure, there was no celebration on the tee. Upon the group’s arrival at the green, Dick checked the back of the green and what he thought was his ball was actually just a leaf. However, John went directly to the hole because he thought he was right. And he was right! The celebration then commenced.
Dick has been playing golf for 45 years. This was his third hole-in-one. His first came in 1985 at the New Ulm Country Club in New Ulm, Minn. His second, as mentioned above, on his birthday last year.
Dick grew up in Madison, Minn., and earned his undergrad degree at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. He graduated from dental school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He practiced dentistry from 1979 until his retirement in 2015. That’s when he and his wife, Debra moved to PebbleCreek.
Congrats on his great “anniversary” shot! He better make sure he plays Eagle’s Nest on his birthday/birthday eve in 2025!
Jim Sheard proudly displays his first ace ever
Jim Sheard Scores His First Ace After 55 Years of Playing Golf
Howie Tiger
On Aug. 4 Jim Sheard made his first ever hole-in-one on hole number 3 of the West course. He did it while playing with his wife, Kathy, and PC residents, Jim and Pam Clemente.
The 3rd hole had a front pin position. Jim initially thought the yardage was about 150 yards based on the tee marker. However, Pam had re-checked the yardage with a rangefinder and determined it to be 133 yards. As a result, Jim changed clubs and ultimately hit his 6-iron. He hit a good solid shot straight at the flagstick. The ball took one bounce to the right and then rolled directly into the hole. All saw it go in. Jim (Sheard) said, “I can’t believe it went in!” The celebration commenced!
After playing golf for 55 years, Jim finally made the awesome shot. He was most proud that he tied his wife for number of holes-in-one. He also owes Pam big time as without her correcting his yardage, he would not have hit the proper club.
Jim is originally from eastern Indiana. He was the principal officer of the Teamsters Union in the state of Nebraska and western Iowa and held other positions in the three-state area of Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska. He served in the Air National Guard for 28 years. He and his wife of 51 years, Kathy, have lived in PebbleCreek since 2014. Jim previously served the PebbleCreek Men’s Golf Association (PCMGA) in several officer positions including as president.
Congratulations to Jim for his fabulous shot as well as his perseverance!