Half of the Couple Birdies: The Man, The Golfer, The Local Legend Mark Hargrove
Who is this person you see in many of the videos? Well, let me tell you.........
His golf story started about 6 years ago in the cold dead of Minnesota Winter. Mark met me and asked me what I do for fun. My immediate response was, other than anything with my kids and work, GOLF! Prior to meeting me, Mark thought anyone that played golf were crazy. He lived for anything on wheels - motocross, dirt drags, building engines. Golf was far from anything he even thought was normal. So, what did I do? I said, "Let’s go outside. It's darkish out and let's hit balls into the lake!" After a couple of hits, he strives for perfection. He was, as you know, like many golfers, excited about getting back to it the next day. To feel for the first time the adrenaline of that one crushed ball gliding in the air and then hitting the ice and rolling for days. He was hooked. That is where his love-hate addiction for golf began.
After many more outside nighttime lake range sessions, golf dome trips, and some personal lessons, he ventured to continue at it day after day, bucket after bucket. Thousands of balls hit. Multiple par 3 rounds graduating to regulation courses. He started with a set of King Cobra graphite shafted clubs, then a year later tried going to King Cobra one lengths.
All the while, he was pounding the ball, torquing, twisting, and turning his back. Well, I forgot to mention that prior to meeting me, he had multiple ER visits and med flights from racing. So, his back was not meant to do this sport, but not even once to this day have I heard him complain. I have witnessed in the first couple of years playing his back going out on the course, down on the ground in excruciating pain. Still, after given a moment, he wanted to finish the round. In the second year, he went in for two surgeries, but they didn’t help much, due to needing a fusion. He had a laminectomy and diskectomy on his lower back. The doctor strictly said to not do anything for at least a year. But that did not stop him from doing the one thing he could. Six months after the surgery, he was back at it, playing full rounds, hitting balls, and striving to be the best he could. He was hooked on the game, quickly outgrew his second set of clubs, and got fitted again, this time with Mizuno irons. Still, that's what he plays to this day!
Mark has gone from a very beginner to a low single-handicap golfer, all in a mere few years with back surgery. The back is not much better than it was prior to surgery. Most rounds, I feel he is one bad hit away from his back going out again for a few days. Sand shots, shots from hard ground, shots under trees... they all scare me. But if you know Mark, those are where he tends to shine! Any basic shot which is hard or next to impossible for the average golfer, he knows the precise club distance, zones in on the target, and knocks it close! He has honed his game so much that he has learned the smart play is sometimes better than the "I've got this" mentality. Even though he still tries it and of course, flag hunts. His experience from a beginner to a low handicap golfer in just a few years has left me speechless. With hard work, smart strategies, and dedication to all aspects of the game, he is by far and has exceeded my expectations. When someone says golf is about improving your game and being better than yesterday, he is a perfect example of that.
Some of the courses he has played and conquered, which inspire me and were more than just great play in real-life PGA settings, include......
TPC Twin Cities, have played both the Pro Am for the 3M Open and the Morning after. Recorded pars on both 17 and 18 in tough settings pins and rough set for tour event as well as Same Placement from Sunday at the Open.
TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course- Played it a week before the WM Phoenix Open So PGA like settings with full stadium set up and fans there watching and cheering. Pared the Famous 16 Coliseum. Hit the green with an injury with after an incident with a cart being stuck on 15 and it locked up due to workers in a lift in the way. With a bad back and the caddy already on the green with myself and the other golfers Mark had to move/ lift the cart by himself so it would advance.
Trump Doral Miami: Played 3 of the 4 Courses. Blue Monster was closed due to Trump Classic, and at the time President Trump was there playing. Red Tiger has 14 water holes, pared all the par 3’s and birdied the famous 18th hole! Golden Palm recorded 3 birdies, and Silver Fox multiple par’s and 2 birdies on par 5’s! Not to mention he got pooped on by a bird the last day while we were playing.
Paynes Valley: Have played it 2 times and both times we played it the famous 19th hole he has parred it. The first time was the year it opened up and they had a stand with a person tending it giving away posters, and 10,000$ for anyone with a hole –in-one so added pressure!
Old Head of Kinsale: 2 birdies, and the Worlds hardest golf hole, “Courcean Stage” or Tiger Woods after asking his caddie the name of the hole during a warmup round for the Open Championship said, "They should rename it Holy ****!" He parred that as well. Just imagine teeing off into a cliff the Atlantic Ocean all along the dog leg left dropping 300 feet below strong wind gusts wanting to pull your ball into the ocean and shot into the green up high wind Is blowing the windsock straight right, the flag/pin is blowing straight left. Hitting the green in regulation and 2 putting for par! Made his day!
TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course: The Famous Players Championship course hole 17 Island Green, with Georgia Tech players watching in the rain. He hit the green, missed the birdie by inches, and made par!
There have been many more great pars and birdies not to mention countless chip ins, impeccable drives, and great putts. At Courses like Rio Secco in Nevada, The Legends in Myrtle Beach (Oyster Bay, Moorland, Parkland, Heathland golf Courses), Kiva Dunes in Gulf Shores Alabama, Branson Hills in Branson MO, The Pines and the Preserve in Brainerd MN, and hundreds of Rounds in and around the Twin Cities in MN.
In a few short years, Mark has come a long way and fully immersed himself in the world of golf. He has dedicated his time, acquired knowledge, and developed a deep understanding of the game. With his unwavering desire to constantly improve and his remarkable patience, Mark's growth in golf has been remarkable. As we look ahead, let us follow Mark Hargrove's journey and witness where his passion for the game will lead him!
For the love of Golf and COUPLE BIRDIES.
19th Hole at Payne’s Valley at Big Cedar Lodge in Hollister MO. He has played it twice and made par both times!
Almost draining the Birdie putt on 17 at Sawgrass! Made Par.
Teeing off at 16 “The Coloseum” at TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course with Fans in the stands amping up a week before WM Phoenix Open. Made par under pressure!
