Tri-Club gets 62 golfers

Tiger Woods started playing golf when he was 3. Ed Aisenbrey started playing golf when he was 33.

"I could never figure out why anyone would want to chase a ball around the cow pasture," Aisenbrey said Saturday at the sixth annual Tri-Club Ray Husby Memorial Golf Classic.

At 8 a.m., 62 players of all disciplines and handicaps stormed the Kenai Golf Course in support of charity and camaraderie.

Golfers paid $50 to participate in the Tri-Club Classic. The entry fee covered greens fees, lawn chair rental, lunch and dinner.

The tournament is put on by the Moose Lodge, the American Legion and the Elks Club. The event was open to the public and players came down from Anchorage, Palmer and Wasilla to keep the memory of Ray Husby alive on the links.

"Ray was one of the nicest people I ever knew," Irene Mitchell said. "He was always the same to everybody."

Vicki Shillam said Husby loved golf.

"He would golf at every opportunity, when he wasn't fishing, and that was between here and Arizona," she said.

Ray Husby was born March 9, 1931. He died April 10, 1999.

Jimmy Kimanck of Anchorage said he was glad he came to Kenai.

"The course is in great shape," Kimanck said. "Nice day; little breeze."

A blind draw teamed golfers together. Kimanck was partnered with Darell "Big D" Nelson. The men said they had played together before, but they couldn't decide when.

Tri-Club Classic chairman Doug Branscomb said proceeds will go to area youths in the form of scholarships.

Branscomb said he appreciated the contributions of the local people and businesses who sponsored holes and donated prizes.

"Everyone should thank the sponsors," he said.

The sun was out Saturday morning at Kenai Golf Course and the heat and rigors of play took their toll on some.

"The guys were very happy to see us," said one of the Women of the Moose, who was operating the Lodge's refreshment cart.

Escorting the Elk's Dawn Mising in the Club's motorized snack wagon was a man who would only identify himself as "Big John." John understood his responsibility.

"We got people on both sides, full 18 holes," he said.

Paul Lunn said the women volunteers were a blessing.

"The girls deserve the credit for bringing out the sandwiches," he said.

Lunn learned to golf in the navy. During the Korean War, he was stationed in Yokosuka, Japan. He marveled at Japan's immaculate golf courses.

"Girls with hand sheers would manicure the greens," he said. "There are some really great Japanese golfers."

Lunn said that while the Tri-Club Classic is definitely not the Rider Cup, he believes it is the best thing for recreation.

"Golf is the only game you can play no matter your age," he said. "I've seen men 80 years old out there swinging clubs."

Former Moose Governor Aisenbrey said as he has aged, his appreciation of golf has matured.

At the Tri-Club's conclusion, Aisenbrey planned to return to the lodge to toss horse shoes, roast a pig and put on a dart competition.

"Today is a good day," he said.

The first place team included Robert Speakman, Jim Bradford and Loren Flagg. Second place went to Sam Meyor, Juanita Harrah, John Lowe and Bill Graveld. Coming in third was Shillam, Loren Smagge, Del Sanders and Dex Heimer.

Closest to the hole honors went to Georgia Hutton on hole No. 2 and Bradford on hole No. 12.