Witter family enjoys golfing at Kimball Golf Club

Rob and Ruth Witter and their family traveled from Hinckley to play golf at Kimball Golf Club -Saturday, April 17. Rob had played the course while attending college in St. Cloud 20 years ago when he also worked on the golf course grounds crew for four years.

Rob wrote to KGC about his family’s golf outing at Kimball Golf Club

“This spring I told Ruth that we had to bring the four kids to Kimball, and after years of me telling her stories of my time there, she relented. So instead of searching for a place in Iowa to take a golfing trip, we made our tee-time to play Kimball at 2 p.m. Saturday.

“For years my wife had heard stories of the small and sloping greens, the challenge of holes 1 to 6, how the course lets you finally take a breath on holes 7 to 12, but finishes with the “toughest six hole stretch of golf in the world” (just kidding … not really … you know how tough it is.)

“When we were done, she couldn’t believe how much fun the course was. How it was tough, but not so tough that you lost a bunch of balls. In fact, as a family of six we only lost three balls the entire 18 holes.

“Our four kids are Makayla, 15 (10th grade, fell two strokes shy of making state golf tournament two years ago), Peyton, 13 (7th grade, qualified for the Varsity team this year), Naomi, 11 (loves to cartwheel while playing golf), and Matthew, 5 (plays from the 150-yard marker and enjoys some gummy worms while playing).

“Makayla finished with a 104. Peyton had the scoring highlight with a legit 91. Naomi, for the first time played all 18 holes during a round. Matthew set a new Angry Birds record for himself on the phone. Ruth had a couple of 52’s. I struggled putting early but shot a 39 on the back nine.

“Our highlights from the round certainly weren’t the scores. Golf is about fellowship for our family, a time to connect and have fun together.

“This was a chance for me to share as many memories as I possibly could during our four hours on the course together – the amazing stretch of golf from 13 to 18, including 14 which could be put onto any course anywhere and be one of the stiffest challenges – the island green (my 15-year-old looked at me on the tee and said “I literally cannot do this.” She did and made a 5 – and the incredible finish on #18.

“I grew up in golf, and I have made it my mission as a dad to make sure my kids enjoy the game; no on-course instruction, plenty of snacks, and that it’s okay to take a hole off once in a while.

“Despite it being cold and windy, the kids loved it and are asking when we can go back. I said, “now that you’ve experienced the cold and windy Kimball Golf Club, we need to line up a time to play a hot and humid Kimball.”

“This was an unforgettable day and we can’t wait to be back!”

Rob Witter

Golf … The Game for Life