<\/a>Karter Koelsch prepares to tee off at the second hole at the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
A total of 88 people participating in 22 teams, many representing local businesses who in some instances sponsored a hole on the course, took part in the tournament, said Maggie McMillan, the chamber’s executive director. She said there were also individuals signing up independently who were assigned to teams, plus one person allowed on the course as an unofficial participant.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“He was here, he was visiting in town and he just wanted to go out on the course,” she said.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The mulligans — one allowed per player — proved useful for Gelston’s team and others during an unusually warm day on a course that hasn’t seen significant rain for a while.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“The greens are going to be really fast today,” Gelston said watching his drive shot roll on the second hole. “They’ve been all dried out.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Aaron Gelston putts on a green he says is “like concrete” due to dry conditions during the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. Others in the foursome representing Alaska Marine Trucking are, from left to right, Zeno Cole, Karter Koelsch and Joe Nylen. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
His second shot was a chip onto the green that rolled well past the hole because, he said, the turf was “like concrete.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The foursome, who said they’ve known each other for many years and golf with some regularity, represented Alaska Marine Trucking, whose affiliate Alaska Marine Lines was a tournament sponsor.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
The level of competitiveness among participants varied as much as their golfing experience, from first-timers just there for the experience to course regulars determined to hit their target scores.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
<\/a>Dylan Williams (left), Matt Seymour (center) and Mark Wendling look for their balls in the rough at the seventh hole of the Annual Greater Juneau Chamber of Commerce Golf Classic on Saturday at the Mendenhall Golf Course. (Mark Sabbatini \/ Juneau Empire)<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
“We’re at par,” said Matt Seymour, part of a team unaffiliated with a sponsor. “We’re staying there.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
Members of his team discussed club choices for the best way to avoid a particularly difficult section of uneven roughs surrounding the seventh hole. When the first three players nonetheless all hit their balls into various parts of the rough, Mark Wendling used his one mulligan when his drive likewise went wayward.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t
“I think I’m going to,” he said. “That was disappointing as hell.”<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t