One of his unforgettable moments came when McDowell, Collins, Percy and Amos were playing at Baxter Springs Country Club.

“Roger never missed putts, but he missed a six-footer and threw his club into a Mulberry tree,” Russell recalled. “It didn’t come down. Over on the other side of the tree, Chips was throwing Roger’s clubs at the putter one by one until only one was left in the bag. All the others were stuck in the tree. I thought Roger was going to kill him.”

What has been the biggest change in the conditioning of the Baxter Springs Country Club?

“It’s always been a lot of fun,” he said. “But back in the old days grass would be that high (holding his hand between his ankles and knees). It has been improved a lot. We’ve put Bermuda in fairways and on the tee boxes.”

The club will hold its invitational tournament next weekend.

Taking care of a golf course has long been a family affair for the Hurtts. His wife worked by his side until they adopted a little boy several years ago. His daughter, Debra, worked with him at Loma Linda and his son, Russell Jr., is his assistant at Baxter Springs.

Russell remembers the story of a greenskeeper who, upon retiring, tore up his lawn at home and covered his yard in cement because he didn’t want to “cut another blade of grass.”

That, he says, won’t happen with him. He likes cutting grass.

Fund-raiser

The second annual Kelly Jo Brookshire four-person scramble is scheduled at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Schifferdecker Golf Course. She died Dec. 19, 2004, after a battle with fibrolamellar carcinoma.

Proceeds from the tournament will go to Camp Quality, which provides year-round support programs for children with cancer and their families. Each camp is run by volunteers and is community funded. The typical cost for sending a child to camp is $600.

The entry fee is $50 per player or $200 per team.

Children’s benefit

Children’s Haven of Joplin has some new champions: AT&T Pioneers and the AT&T United Way Committee. An AT&T Joplin Call Center Charity scramble will be played Friday, Aug. 7, at Schifferdecker Golf Course. Net proceeds will go to Children’s Haven.

A variety of sponsorship and player packages are available. The entry fee for an individual player is $80. For a four-person team, it is $280. For more information, players may contact Tim Barney at (417) 627-1633 or email tb7075@att.com.