Area Golf: Brummer has magic touch at Eagle’s Landing

It should be noted early that Tom Brummer is not the new head PGA professional at Eagle’s Landing Golf Club south of Brainerd.

But the 84-year-old Brainerd resident may have a secret to playing the par 3 11th hole at the Jim Dahl-designed layout.

Through his almost 50 years of golf, Brummer has recorded four holes-in-one. His first came in 2015. All four have come on the 11th hole at Eagle’s Landing, including his last two on June 3 and June 21.

“Josh (Dahl), the guy who runs the course, was a little surprised when I came into the clubhouse 18 days later and told him I had another one,” Brummer said.

He’s used the same pitching wedge to record his aces as well. And while he hasn’t retired the club, he has all four balls he used in safekeeping.

As for his secret to the hole?

“I don’t think it’s me,” he said. “It’s just a short hole. It only plays 90 yards. The hole slopes off to the right so you have to aim left. Plus, it’s a two-tiered green and I’ve always gotten them (holes-in-one) when the pin was on the first tier.”

Brummer said he started golfing when he was in his 30s, but wasn’t a daily player until he retired, which was in 1994.

“Nothing happened real fast there, but I think God sees that if you enjoy the game I think he rewards you once in a while,” Brummer said. “But he can go the other way. I had an eight on my round (Thursday).”

Brummer’s predilection for getting aces at Eagle’s Landing rubbed off on his grandson Matt Bummer who aced the par 3 15th at Eagle’s Landing.

“He hit it right in the hole,” Brummer said of his grandson’s ace. “It went right from the club into the hole. Mine always rolls in. You can see both greens from the tee boxes of 11 and 15 so I was able to see them all go in the hole.”

All four of Brummer’s aces have been witnessed and, of course, that means they haven’t been free, he said with a laugh.

“I buy a beer with the guys I golf with, but I guess one time I spent a few bucks.”

Brummer golfs about three or four times a week and often shoots his age, but when it comes to shooting holes-in-one he has a bit of advice — “I think you have to rely on God. Sure you hit the ball, but I think I could stand on that hole and hit balls for 10 days and never get close.”

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop.

1/4: Tom Brummer at 84-years-old has the magic touch on hole No. 11 at Eagle's Landing in Fort Ripley. He has scored four hole-in-ones on the hole beginning in 2015, with two this June. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

2/4: Tom Brummer waits until golfers clear the green on No. 11 at Eagle's Landing Friday, June 25, 2021. The 90-yard from the forward tee par 3 hole is the site of four hole-in-ones for the Brainerd golfer. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

3/4: After teeing off Friday, June 25, 2021, on No. 11 at Eagle's Landing, Tom Brummer watches his ball fly to the green, the site of four-hole-in-ones for the 84-year-old golfer. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

4/4: Tom Brummer loves to play golf and his time at Eagle's Landing has paid off with four hole-in-ones on No. 11 at the Fort Ripley course. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch