Well-known and popular Liberty attorney Jeffrey Altbach is thinking that it's easier to score hole in ones in the state of Florida.

He scored his second career ace on February 15 at the Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Florida while playing with three other members of the Boca West Country Club.

This ace came on the par-3 number 12 hole which is an uphill shot from the tee that did not allow the foursome to see the ball roll in the hole. After reaching the green and not seeing the ball they checked the hole and cashed in for the hole-in-one with free lunch and cocktails compliments of the golf club.

Jeff scored the ace on the 152-yard hole using a No. 5 hybrid golf club.

The 73-year-old Liberty attorney with a 23 USGA handicap has been playing golf for 47 years and is a member of the Tarry Brae Tuesday Night Men's Sullivan League which previously played at Grossinger's. He is a partner in that league since 2004 with Dave Kawauchi who was employed for many years at Yaun Company in Liberty.

Altbach and Kawauchi won the league championship in 2020 for the fourth time.

Jeffrey also played last season as a substitute for Jim Avery at the Liberty Sullivan County Golf and Country Club with Mike Watson and finished in first place for the 2020 league championship.

Avery had to drop out of the league due to medical problems.

Altbach's first hole-in-one was also recorded at Boca West in 2010 while playing with former Sullivan County residents Jeff and Howie Garchik.

The 2021 Golf Season

The 2021 golf season is underway but three major golf courses will not be open for play this year.

Grossinger's is still being maintained but will not open for play during 2021.

The Monster Golf Course at Resorts World Catskills is getting upgrades and it's reported that the new course will be a more easier course to play when it opens.

No specific dates have been announced but there have been indications the course is still being remodeled and any opening depends on construction and weather.

There had been reports that Kutsher's would be open this year, although no formal announcement could be confirmed as of presstime.

Golf Courses open for the season include, Lochmor, Tarry Brae, Swan Lake Golf and Country Club, Sullivan County Golf and Country Club, The Club at Villa Roma, Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club, and Roscoe Twin Village Golf and Winter Park.

Ed's Outlook

Confirmed golf leagues in Sullivan County for the 2021 season include, at Lochmor, a Monday Mixed, Tuesday Men's, Wednesday Correctional, Thursday Ladies and Thursday Community Travel league.

At the Tennanah Lake Golf and Tennis Club there is a Thursday Men's league, at the Twin Village Golf and Winter Park in Roscoe there is a Monday Men's league and a Tuesday Ladies league.

At the Sullivan County Golf and Country Club in Liberty there is a Monday Men's league, Wednesday Men's league Tuesday Ladies fun league and a Friday Couples fun league.

At the Villa Roma there is a Tuesday Men's league and a Thursday Ladies league and the Ladies league has several openings and to get further information on the Ladies league call Matt Kleiner at the golf course and there is also the Thursday Men's Community Travel league.

At Tarry Brae there is the Tuesday Men's league, the Wednesday Men's league and the Thursday Men's Community Travel league. At the French Woods Golf and Country Club Course there is the Tuesday Men's league.

Golf Tip

By Robert Menges

In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.

Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same.

There is no doubt that if you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.

I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin. In order to hit the ball close, I feel it is important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most golfers have a pitching wedge that comes with the set. This club has about a 47-49 degrees of loft.

You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.

A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in-between yardages in the fairway. You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54-57 degrees of loft.

Some touring Professionals will carry four wedges in their bag. The next time you play a round of golf, count how many strokes you take from 100 yards in to the hole. I think you find this will total about 60 percent of your score. When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.

Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf and Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. Call to see if he is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or 845-866-5567 or via email at bobmenges22@gmail.com

Putting Tip

By Geoff Walsh

A special key to good consistent putting is finishing the putting stroke.

Most golfers do not finish and then they wonder why they are short of the hole.

You start the stroke, you must finish and hold the finish.

Finishing means the putter head is a minimum 2 feet past the ball and this helps the momentum and the ball will roll end over end and will reach the hole.

Geoff Walsh is a Class A PGA Professional at Tarry Brae Golf Course located at 387 Pleasant Valley Road, South Fallsburg, Call to see if he is available for private lessons and if you have a question or a subject you would like covered, he can be reached by telephone at 845-434-2620.

Ed Townsend is a Public Relations Consultant to the Sport of Golf and brings over 60 years of sports journalism experience in writing and compiling the information for this column. If you have league or tournament information, shoot a hole in one or score your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177, email to bghtnews@aol.com View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.