Seventy-one year-old Grahamsville golfer Pravin Singh recorded a rare occurrence on June 2 at the Town of Fallsburg Tarry Brae Golf Course when he recorded a double eagle, sometimes called an albatross, on the 491-yard par-5 sixth hole.

In golf, an albatross (double eagle), is something that most golfers will never have the fortune to make. This scoring term, which represents three strokes under par on a single hole, is extremely difficult to achieve.

Several professional golfers have scored a double eagle in a tour event, but the list remains relatively short compared with the number of holes collectively played by all the golfers in the PGA and LPGA tour history.

But Pravin is more than just your ordinary amateur golfer who now has scored his first double eagle.

Pravin is a tennis professional who took up the game of golf while serving as the tennis professional at the former Kutsher's Country Club.

He self-taught himself the game of golf and went on to serve as head of the golf program at Kutsher's Country Club.

Pravin at the same time being Golf Director was also the Tennis Pro, a position he has held for 15 years at Kutsher's.

He also was the former Tennis Professional at the now closed former Pine's Hotel and resort.

The Singh family have made Grahamsville their home for a number of years and have lived in the area for some 40 years.

Pravin, married to his wife Mary for 32 years, are parents of two children, daughter Patricia, a graduate of Tri-Valley Central School where she played tennis on the Tri-Valley-Fallsburg girls tennis team and on the boys golf team at Tri-Valley and John who also graduated from Tri-Valley Central School and attended the University of Tampa where he played on the college golf team.

Pravin grew up in the Calcutta, India area and graduated from high school and Calcutta University majoring in mathematics. He played tennis professionally in India for seven years and has taught tennis in Florida, at Columbia University and now teaches at the Beaverkill Valley Inn near Lew Beach.

His wife Mary is a registered nurse (RN).

Asked how he became golf director at Kutsher's Pravin noted that Mark Kutsher encouraged him to accept the position. Pravin a number of years ago played golf to a zero handicap and he has two lifetime holes-in-one.

When recording the double eagle he used a driver off the tee and then from 185 yards out he went with the No. 5 rescue iron which hit on the right side of of the green and ran into the hole.

While playing Kutsher's a number of years ago he recorded a 65 which tied the course record.

The June 2 match at Tarry Brae was played with Bid Goswami and Gavrav Misra.

Pravin's total score for that day was a 73, one over par, scoring 38 on the back nine and 35 on the front nine.

Ed's Outlook

Hospice of Orange and Sullivan Counties have announced their annual golf classic.

The Hospice Annual Golf Classic will be held August 10 at the West Hills Country Club in Middletown.

Contact for information is Maggie Sutter at 846-561-6143 at ext. 366.

Golf Tip

By Bob Menges

One of the most overlooked aspects in the game of golf is called “course management.”

There are two different components that control the game of golf, mental and physical. Course management falls under the mental side of the game. Golfers of all ability levels can learn to shave strokes off their game by thinking.

Even the greatest golfers in the world hit errant shots once in a while. While some of them make fantastic miracle shots to get out of trouble the smart safe play is forgotten because it does not make the highlight reel.

I see golfers try to hit shots they are not capable of and it ends up costing them strokes instead of saving them. If you use good course management, sometimes it is better to pitch out to the fairway and then hit to the green.

When you are playing a par-5 you may want to lay up with your second shot and then try to make a birdie by using a good wedge game.

If you find yourself in trouble on the course, make sure you go through all your options before you hit your shot. By using good course management you are able to keep a big number off of your scorecard.

You may feel like you are giving up, but sometimes a smart safe play will save you strokes and improve your score.

Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available when the course opens in mid-May. If you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323, 845-866-5567 or via email at bobmenges22@gmail.com

Putting Tip

By Geoff Walsh

Confidence in your putting ability is a huge key.

Here's a four-step process.

1. Motivation to improve.

2. Practicing the correct elements of putting including four putting drills.

3. Quality, diligent practice putting sessions will bring good results.

4. Good results will give the golfer the “confidence” to continue the practice and building of putting skills over time.

Geoff Walsh is a Class A PGA Professional at the Tarry Brae Golf Course at 387 Pleasant Valley Road, South Fallsburg. At this time private lessons are not available. If you have a question or 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. When leagues and courses are fully in operation send your league or tournament information to Ed at 845-439-8177, email to bghtnews@aol.com or fax to 845-205-4474. View this column and Ed's photos at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.

Twin Village

Monday Mens

1. Brock & Brock 18.0

2. Green & Glantzis 16.5

2. Wilcox & Gray 16.5

4. Madera & Madera 15.5

5. Trask & Mooney 15.0

6. Husson & Husson 13.5

7. Templin & Lee 13.0

7. Rowan & Bennett 13.0

9. Tallman & Ackerly 12.5

10. Tucker & Smith 10.5

11. Jester & Winters 10.0

11. Rampe & Hill 10.0

13. Darbee & France 9.5

14. Haas & France 8.0

15. Ryder & Ryder 7.5

16. Harris & Spalding 6.5

16. Thomas & Hendrickson 6.5

18. Murphy & Murphy 5.0

SWAN LAKE

Tuesday Night Birdie Division

1. A. Torrens & Z. Cody 26.0

2. J. Sazoff & S. Ottino 24.5

3. C. Roth & C. Roth 23.5

4. T. Merklin & S. Austin 22.5

5. T. Ditmar & N. Rusin 20.0

5. D. Luczyski & M. Garigliano 20.0

5. H. Kerhley & J. Rhupert 20.0

6. J. Franke & R. Franke 18.5

7. K. Torrens & M. Lagatutta 17.5

7. D. Byrne & T. Byrne 17.5

Tuesday Night Eagle Division

1. N. Bell & M. Freaney 29.5

2. M. Diehl & A. Bradley 24.5

3. J. Finn & J. Russell 23.5

4. J. Tanous & J. Wilhelm 23.0

5. P. Fanning & A. Marciano 21.5

6. B. Strong & P. Umphries 19.0

7. P. Donovan & K. Scheibe 18.5

8. N. Huggler & M. Murphy 17.0

8. W. Herzog & K. Clifford 17.0

9. Todd & Taylor VanKeuren 16.0

Tuesday Night Par Division

1. J. Rusin & R. Ellison 30.0

2. J. Van Keuren & T. Nieman 26.5

3. E. O'Malley & T. Ellison 25.5

4. K. Wheeler & S. Hamlin 22.0

5. C. Hicks & B. Garber 21.0

6. M. Williams & D. Divita 19.0

7. T. Gallo & T. McCausland 18.5

8. C. Schadt & W. Mall 17.0

9. P. Clifford & A. Hauser 16.5

10. J. Merklin & O. Trask 14.0

Thursday Travel League

1. Thomas & Husson 21.0

2. Bacigalupo & Mitchell 18.0

3. Schmidt & Ackerly 17.5

4. Jardine & Stanley 16.5

4. Gilmore & Bernstein 16.5

6. Collura & Fisher 14.5

7. Martinez & Sherman 13.0

7. Benzenberg & Benzenberg 13.0

9. Coney & Mace 10.0

9. Poli & Cunningham 10.0

11. Hutchins & Mack 8.5

12. Winters & Petraglia 6.5

12. Cawley & Todora 6.5

14. Stevens & Snihura 5.5

15. Lubniewski & Martin 5.0

16. Heavey & Magill 2.0