Intramural golf in full swing at Luke

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Twenty-eight teams hit the greens at Falcon Dunes Golf Course June 18 kicking off the Luke Air Force Base intramural golf season. 

The two-person teams will look to knock off the back-to-back champion 756th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. 

A team can win up to six points per match and the point total decides the overall champion. Four teams, including the 756th AMXS, have won all of their available points through last week's games. 

The squadron's own Jeff Mitzelfelt is a big reason why they have four of the last five intramural golf championships. 

"As the co-captain of the varsity team I expect to play well and to be the lead guy, the go-to guy," Mitzelfelt said. "It doesn't always happen that way because golf is a very hard game, but I set those expectations for myself and try to live up to them." 

He started playing Falcon Dunes eight years ago when he arrived at Luke. The only intramural title in the last five seasons he did not win was three years ago when mission requirements kept him from playing. 

Mitzelfelt says he has an advantage over other teams because he has so much experience on Falcon Dunes. 

"Being at Luke and playing that course a lot has helped," Mitzelfelt said. "I know the greens and the little nuances of them." 

Andrew Tischler and Mitzelfelt teamed up to win last year's intramural golf championship. The duo did not show any signs of rust from a year ago, taking all six points in their first match last Thursday against the 107th Air Control Squadron's first team. 

Chemistry also helps them continue to play well too, Mitzelfelt added. 

"You still have to hit the shots but we know each others' games so it helps a little bit," he said. "We get along, we don't get down on one another when we hit bad shots so it's good for us. We seem to gel well together that way." 

Tischler will move to a new base later this month so that may affect the 756th's success. Even so, Mitzelfelt does not expect anything to change. 

"I'd like to win it again and get the commander's cup points," he said. "I like playing competitive golf and I enjoy the competition - that's what I always look forward to. 

The 27 other duos will not have much time to catch the champs. Teams play one match a week at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday mornings. The season runs through August. 

Winning a third straight championship and five out of the last six will not be easy though, Mitzelfelt said. 

"Luke has a lot of guys that have been here for a little while," he said. "There are a lot of good golfers here so the level of competition is high as compared to other bases I've seen."
Despite the competition, the league is about more than just winning commander's cup points, he said. 

"It's a good way for me to get out and play competitive golf, and I also use it as a networking tool," he said. "I'm able to get out and meet new people from different squadrons and make connections. I've used the connections to get things done on base. 

"It also generates interest in the varsity golf team too which is great because sometimes mission requirements make it difficult for people to come out and play." 

For more information on the Luke intramural golf league, visit www.allprosoftware.net/2009Lukegolf/.