Final round: Karzmer hits 18, looks back at 2012

I spoke with Todd Franko, editor of The Vindicator, about how many more columns I should write this year.

After looking at how many we already had out there, we realized that this would be column number 18. Being a golf column, we figured 18 was a good number to wrap things up on.

What a year it was for golf in The Valley! I’d personally say two stories dominated the local golf scene this summer.

Dennis Miller qualified for the United States Open. A club pro from Mill Creek Metroparks made a putt that hung on the lip and captivated. Then he got to realize his dream by playing in our country’s national championship.

Greatest Golfer of the Valley was bigger and better than ever — 250 plus golfers. There were a successful Open defense for Anthony Conn and a third title for Ed Antonelli. There were six other very deserving champions, more courses and sponsors than ever before and six junior qualifiers with a Tournament of Champions. We’re already working on making Greatest 4.0 even better.

Think about the thrills this game can bring us. How many Valley golfers had a hole-in-one this summer? Won a scramble? Raised money for a great cause? Broke their personal best score? Won their league championship? Or their club championship? Or Old Pal Tournament? Or taught their child how to play for the first time?

These are the things that make this game we love so great. For all of us not named Conn, Antonelli or Miller, we still have the opportunity to compete and enjoy this game every time we play.

I can’t tell you how thankful I am for the opportunity I was given to share my thoughts every Sunday. Throughout the summer, I received wonderful emails from people sharing their thoughts about my thoughts. I appreciated every single one of them.

I received a number of suggestions for column topics: Brian Terlesky; Alex Casi; Mike DeNiro and Coach Moschella; Bogey’s Bar and Grill; The F-Troop Memorial; YSU golf; local high school golf; Ohio junior tournaments; Harry Toscano;George Bellino. Keep them coming. Hopefully next year we’ll be able to touch on some.

And, I’ve been asked a number of times which column was my “favorite” to write. Here are my Top 5:

5. Father’s Day: The Porters and the influence Tim Porter, my father and all fathers have.

4. Mill Creek Par Three: The best place in the Valley to learn golf and its impact on the Karzmer family.

3. Dennis Miller: Today’s Jack Fleck qualifies for U.S. Open at Olympic.

2. Jerry McGee: The absolute best golf storyteller shares some of his favorite stories.

1. Mother’s Day: Because what son ever really tells his mom enough just how special she really is.

To all the people who took five minutes each Sunday to read my column, thank you. Until 2013, have a wonderful fall, a healthy and happy winter, and a very quick spring back into summer.