The Dew Boys of Golf

 

Columnist’s note: After I played an early round at Gunflint Hills with the Junior Dew Boys, Bruce Futterer was kind enough to share their story with me. I have edited it for length and clarity. Thank you, Bruce.

Bruce Futterer recalls: The Dew Boys golf group began as a couple’s group in the 1950’s, playing after work. After retirement, the men in the group created what became known as the Dew Boys, playing before the dew evaporated. The Dew Boys were Chuck Futterer, Ray Sjoberg, Walt Mianowski, Leonard Goodell, Dwayne Staples, and Frankie Rabold. Donnie Ingram played with them on occasion.

My dad died on February 25th, 2011, at my home in Arkansas. He played his last 18 holes of golf with me a few weeks earlier at Lyons den golf course in Dardanelle Arkansas. The course is now owned by John Daly (PGA golfer).

–at his funeral, the Dew Boys were the honorary pall bearers.

–After Dad’s passing, I made a point of playing with the Dew Boys the day that I arrived in Grand Marais to take us place. Playing that round with tears in my eyes.

–I would often play with the Dew Boys during my adult years. As a schoolteacher I was able to spend much of June and July and Grand Marais.

As the Dew Boys aged, their love for the game did not falter. Dwayne Staples was the first to call it quits.

The Dew Boys kept on playing although the aging process was taking its toll. Ray Sjoberg had his lower leg amputated but made a determined recovery and was soon back playing, his game improving on his artificial leg.

Walt Mianowski continued to play as his eyesight waned. He would see me in town and jokingly tell me that I had to show up the next morning for golf with my young eyes. He said he couldn’t see his balls anymore and needed help.

Leonard Goodell eventually couldn’t play anymore, but he would continue to show up each morning and join the group to keep score and provide ongoing good-natured ribbing. Leonard would provide chocolate covered donuts from the world’s best donuts at least once a week.

After most rounds, the group would sit around the clubhouse table for a cup of coffee and quickly and decisively solve the town, county, country and world’s problems.

On hole number two my dad, who always played with orange-colored balls, would often hit his drive under or near the birch tree to the right side of the fairway. One day Frankie Raybold filled an egg carton full of orange balls and snuck out early and placed them under the birch tree for my dad to find. Sure enough, my dad’s drive ended up under the birch tree, and he found the treasure of orange balls. It was a good gag and everyone laughed, but none more than my dad who now had a dozen more golf balls.

It was sad when Walt and then Ray could no longer play but the Dew Boys continued to show up most mornings at Gunflint Hills chasing the mower from green to green.

Dew Buster: Fred Anderson, after he retired, played out in front of the Dew Boys. He would play quickly, walking, and often finish in 45 minutes. You could see where he played by following his dew tracks

The current Dew Boys, or Junior Dew Boys, are Bob Carter, Jerry Cole, Marlo Luick, Bob Ferrone, Ralph Larsen, and Bruce Futterer. Some in this group had the pleasure of playing with the original group on occasion.

The group usually tees off at 7:00 a.m. and walks the course as carts are not available until 8:00. All members are in there 60s and 70s and look at the activity as good exercise good company and occasionally good golf.

On Sunday mornings, if all the group is present, some sort of team competition is played with big money on the line – usually $2 or so. (Columnist: Occasional guests have been welcomed. Bring your Wellies.)

Steve Aldrich is a retired Hennepin County lawyer, mediator, and Judge, serving from 1997-2010. He and his wife moved here in 2016. He likes to remember that he was a Minnesota Super Lawyer before being elected to the bench. Now he is among the most vulnerable to viruses but fully vaccinated. Steve really enjoys doing weddings, the one thing a retired judge can do without appointment by the Chief Justice. He officiated at a well-masked wedding this year where the “congregation” was in Grand Marais, Norway, and White Bear Lake.

Copyright Stephen C. Aldrich and News-Herald, 2021.