Last month, on possibly the windiest day of the summer, a local investment firm sponsored a scramble at Hawktree Golf Course.  Special guest was golf professional Fuzzy Zoeller.

Fuzzy put on a clinic at the range before the scramble tournament began.  Here, he tells the hardy audience about the importance of solid contact with the ball.

Note the gentleman in the background covering his ear from the wind.  This is golf, North Dakota style.

Fuzzy hits a low-flying "stinger" into the wind

My scramble partners, Jerry, Bruce, and Chuck, ham it up demonstrating the posture resulting from the gale coming out of the west.

The only protected spot on the course was the tee on #15 where Fuzzy greeted each foursome, autographed caps, and chatted while the foursome ahead cleared the green.

It was a little unnerving teeing off in the presence of a bona fide pro.  Amazingly, my shot found the green.  Yes, golfers, I'm working on the "chicken wing."

After our foursome teed off, Fuzzy hit four shots [he was only supposed to hit one but we were the last group coming through so he kept at it until he hit one within 10 feet].  We then could use any of the tee shots [we chose Fuzzy's--no surprise] and made a birdie.

After the golf, we relaxed in the clubhouse where Fuzzy answered questions and generally entertained the crowd.  When asked the secret of his nearly 30-year marriage to wife, Diane, Fuzzy joked that "staying away."  "No, seriously," he added, "having an understanding spouse willing to put up with a pro's traveling life-style is the key."  Fuzzy was cordial and humorous, not to mention extremely knowledgeable about the game of golf.

A few weeks after this outing, I traveled to Minot and Williston for the annual Greater Halvorson Open.