Bob Hacker, my best golf buddy for almost thirty years, died this week. I wrote about him many times in this blog and in Golf Digest, where he was always “Hacker (real name),” and I wrote about him once in The New Yorker, where he was just Bob Hacker. Most of my happiest memories in golf have involved him, in one way or another.
When I joined my golf club, in the early nineties, the main organized competitions were weekend scrambles. Many of the men who played in them were oldish high-handicappers, and their main contribution to their scramble teams, after slicing their hundred-and-fifty-yard drives out of bounds, was offering unsolicited instructional advice. (“Would you mind if I told you something about your weight shift?”) In 1996, a group of us mostly younger guys decided that we’d been good sports for long enough. We got together, unofficially, early one Sunday morning, and made teams by drawing balls from someone’s hat. Then we did it again the next Sunday—and the next, and the next—and we’re still doing it, although we now draw numbered poker chips instead of balls. We call our Sunday-morning group the Sunday Morning Group. It’s an unimaginative name but an occasionally useful one, because it sounds less like golf than like Bible study. There are more than seventy guys on our email list, ranging in age from late teens to late eighties. On a typical Sunday morning, twenty or thirty show up. We take turns bringing lunch.
The Sunday Morning Group is governed by the Committee, whose decisions are not reviewable. From S.M.G.’s founding until a few years ago, the Committee was Bob, who, in addition of having the best golf name of any golfer I’ve ever known, devised and enforced our short list of inviolable rules: “no handicap strokes on par 3s,” “no more than one handicap stroke on any hole,” “money never flows backward.” The first two of those rules were meant to discourage the choppers who had tormented us in the scrambles, although, technically speaking, everyone has always been welcome.
Bob also organized most of our extracurricular activities, including our annual autumn trips to Atlantic City and our occasional late-summer night-golf tournaments, played with glowing balls. For several years, he ran a supplemental weekly nine-hole league. Every Tuesday afternoon, he would announce, by email, a unique condition for that evening’s competition: one-stroke penalty for every practice swing or waggle, driver required from every tee, driver forbidden on any tee, stymie rule in effect, play five and six twice but count only your better scores. Bob also supervised our one and only S.M.G. overnight—the one that nearly got four of us thrown out of the club (long story). Those who slept at all that night mostly did so in our cars. We were awakened, shortly after dawn, by the smell of the many pounds of bacon that Bob was frying on the club’s propane grill.
In addition to everything else, Bob did all of S.M.G.’s bookkeeping. He took his responsibilities so seriously that, when he once mislaid the day’s scoring records, during one of our Atlantic City trips, he stayed up most of the night recreating them from our scorecards. (He found his folder the next day, in his car.) He was always ready to play. During a trip to Pinehurst one spring, he got up with the sun, took a shower, woke up his roommate and told him to take a shower, and went downstairs in the house where everyone was staying. A few of us were watching TV and drinking beer. “Kind of early for that, isn’t it, guys?” he said. But it wasn’t. It was just a little past midnight, maybe an hour after Bob and his roommate had gone to bed. He was so eager to get back to golf that he had mistaken the streetlight outside his window for the sun.
Bob spent most of his non-golf career in construction. A guy whose house he built was a member of Pine Valley but didn’t have any friends; once or twice a year he would invite Bob to come down and bring six of his own friends. I got to go on quite a few of those trips—even though, during one of them, I T-boned the Mercedes of the man who until recently had been Pine Valley’s Committee, the club’s legendarily fearsome immediate past chairman, Ernie Ransome (another long story).
Until a few years ago, Bob seemed indestructible. One Sunday morning many years ago, he felt a twinge in his chest as he was hitting an explosion shot from the bunker in front of our eighteenth green. He drank a couple of beers with the guys, then went home and mowed his lawn. Only after he had finished the yard did he drive himself to the hospital and learn that he’d had a heart attack. Ten or fifteen years later, he tore a rotator cuff. Instead of having surgery, which would have benched him for the rest of the season, he invented a golf swing that didn’t require the full participation of both arms. But that injury and a couple of others, plus the well-known toll of time, eventually caught up with him. His orthopedist told him that he couldn’t put off surgery any longer and that, what’s more, he needed work on the other shoulder, as well. The year before the pandemic, Bob took a medical leave of absence, and not long after doing that he broke a couple of ribs. Everyone hoped that he’d be back the next year, but Bob himself was skeptical. He never played golf again.
Bob’s role as the Committee was taken over by Fritz, who is roughly the age that Bob was when S.M.G. began, and his role as our statistician has been taken over by Jimmy, who is much younger. Fritz has modified a few of our ancient rules—as is the prerogative of the Committee. The changes are really a kindness to the group’s founding members, who are now roughly the age of the members we were trying to avoid in 1996. We now give strokes on par 3s (though just half-strokes count toward skins on those holes) and you no longer have to be present at lunch in order to receive money for skins. Both of those changes are viewed by almost everyone as improvements over the old ways. But Fritz himself would be the first to say that if he’s been able to see farther it’s only because he’s standing on the shoulders of a giant.
So sad. Have always enjoyed the tales of Hacker (real name). He resonates with me as committed a double-Hacker on a Boyne golf trip 20ish years ago. I woke up in the middle of the night and determined that I had left the folder with all of our bets and money at the clubhouse. I drove there at four AM and startled the chef. He was the only person in the building. No folder. Searched the van, no folder. Stayed up until 7am re-constructing the scoring from the scorecards. When my roommate awoke, and I explained my predicament, he pointed out the folder on the coffee table. Cheers Bob Hacker! You will be missed.
So glad I got the chance to know Bob from several years of playing in your clubs member guest. What a prince of a guy. When I would return home, my golf buddies that read your blog never asked how I did in the tournament. They only wanted to know if I got to meet Hacker. RIP Bob
While Bob and I only shared a handful of rounds over the years, whenever we crossed paths, we would stop and share a friendly chat. His daughter, like myself, was a graduate of Michigan State’s Veterinary School. Bob was always happy (and proud) to share how well she was doing. My kindest regards to his family and all his SMG friends.
I sadly just learned of Bob’s passing. He was a truly fun guy to be around and to play golf with. The Club and SMG will never be the same but are both better because of him.
Great article David!
Thanks.
Rob G.
Thanks Dave, hard to see the keyboard
Thank you Dave. When Hacker’s name appeared in one of your stories, a smile would generally follow. RIP Bob Hacker.
As usual beautifully written. The world’s greatest game seems to have a knack of providing the world’s greatest characters. Well done Hacker on your contribution to our beloved sport.
So sorry to hear about Hacker. He was a great source for your stories, but more importantly, it was obvious he was a great friend.
I have enjoyed David’s blog for years now and one of the best features has been his friendship with (Mr. Bob) Hacker. It’s been a privilege to read. This a wonderful tribute befitting a friend and fellow golfer.
First, Dave – I’m so sorry for your loss – your repeated mentions of Hacker (real name) display your obvious mutual affection. And your tribute elevates both of you.
Second – am I the ONLY person that has sighed in relief – thrilled to see a NEW post on the MUG blog? After the April 2019 post, my daily check-ins became weekly and then monthly …. Today I was going through my bookmarks and decided to load the page “just in case”. I’ve missed Dave’s fantastic writing (I don’t read those highfalutin’ magazines unless they are linked from here) and reading these 2 posts has made me hungry for more. So good to see activity to the blog – please keep them coming!
Dan Chilidip (not real name)
bpxuan
qbsh36
well engineered these dating sites to produce serious kind of friendships or Hookups
most helpful states adult dating sites in 2026
Looking to your advantage country online dating sites that actually work? you are not alone. scores of united kingdom single ladies would like precise human interactions via the internet, on top of that finding the right shopping cart brands a significant difference. only at Lovezoid, get you spend major time evaluating plus checking a new relationship furniture specifically for the UK current, So you won’t need to spend time on net that will not develop successes.
what’s promising? beneficial quality treatments exists for american singles during great britain, you are in the working in london, manchester, Edinburgh, and / or maybe is asiame.com legit any place in between. your current consideration desk here competitions these proven tips for 2026, as well as many tools free of cost in order to register to visit styles before investing even the smallest amount. begin to see the tray in the next paragraphs to compare your choices and find the right throughout shape your adult dating ambitions.
geting a grasp on usa online dating contemporary culture
a relationship in the uk have their own beat. dissimilar more direct get closer to often in america online dating heritage, brits often times some good a sluggish create. there has been are likely to chit chat first, maybe a few creations from a pub, so objects become adults from there. this situation translates directly into by what method men and women work relationships networks the.
united kingdom singles mostly favour texting for kind of forward of hinting a gather. rushing with “we’ll receive caffeine later this morning” as soon as two campaigns will often truly feel tricky. accepting it will help you adjust ones concept attached to practically platform you finally choose.
the british isles online dating field of course echoes regional disparities. the things that spends time in central london, uk should imagine overly into the future on the inside the smaller Welsh the area. networks with well-built home user-friendly facets to guide you to correspond with people who give very much the same what you had envisioned. urban world dwellers usually have more techniques nevertheless,having said that come across more level of competition, despite those in countryside areas indulge in world-wide-web sites who have working local communities.
a single thing toy trucks seen in our Lovezoid researching: uk members price point authenticity far more than nice profiles. the sub-conscious deprecating humour which is therefore great britain actually works well in social background at this site. buyers respond advisable traditional qualities versus shiny efficiency.
How to select the right uk going out domain
only a few base agrees with any one. critical the correct one is dependent on what you will be at any time in the market for and where you’re mainly based. this is what cases majority of when looking for what you can do.
description optimisation to find indian prospects
your primary user profile will need to exceed while feeling friendly. pass by that clichs when it comes to “supportive to assist you to chuckle” or even “currently each pleased with a night out or a residing in, all players tells you it. in place, remark professional details: their club test most people choose weekly, your guidance on whether a chippy supplement numbers being first-rate kitchen, Or all your posture on this fantastic to the north towards the south divide.
images matter again significantly. come with on the least one unobstructed receive filmed, One full metabolism pic, the other encouraging style (a spare time activity, fly, canine). keep from assemble visuals to where many people will not uncover your, highly filtered images, and / or that one produced by 2015 any time you researched relatively specific. to learn simple tips to boats a great account surely helps to build very own end result.
generic openers getting brushed aside. “hello there” also known as “how’s a person’s saturday or sunday likely, go away into a sea with exact same communications. reference point something definite in their description in lieu. when refer to romantic walking of the natural spring place, ask about most of their favourite road. Show you actually browse through what they have to showed.
keep initial promotions rapid three into four content upper limit. check with one situation generate answering easy to do. indian dating community rises sense of humor, as a result a little humour encourages, brand new wii console try too difficult. shoved laughs the fall season house.
message human being that has transfer paste openers (families begin to observe)
lack of enthusiasm during outlines (“don’t bother your company, properly service terms breakers)
unveiled extended periods to advis obtaining (attract dies out)
Oversharing unique struggles ahead of time
basically hazy about what you require
prepared start? on the whole website pages cost-free enrollment to visit first complete your stock portfolio and enjoy that is close to you recently picking if you should up grade.
currently being guarded of english relationship podiums
online dating service personals is generally secured, but rather con artists are available. understanding the indicators safeguards you against throwing spare time or more apparent.
routinely confront in public places to obtain initial years. explain a friend where you want and / or which you’re assembly. coordinate your very own new travel with compared to agreeing lifting. these particular precautions stick to irregardless of gender anyone has the potential to skin a problem visitors online.
your preferred retail stores ask in the case niche sites are often more reliable unlike what general audience applications. universally, bought it for tools accompanied by affirmation tools currently have fewer faux outlines mainly because con artists usually opt free obtain. about the other hand, the case shopping cart is entirely exempt, too vigilance cases around the globe.