Moving up to the forward tees sounded like an invitation to go low. Ten KFGC golfers took the challenge. Aberdeen kept par intact.
The concept: moving up to move the needle
Back in June, ten of us in the KFGC golf league decided to test a simple question: What actually happens when a regular group of single-digit and mid-handicap golfers moves up to the forward tees?
On paper, Aberdeen Golf Club in Eureka, Missouri, from the Silver tees—5,157 yards, par 72—looked full of scoring opportunities. Shorter approaches and tempting par 4s made a sub-par round seem within reach.
To turn up the competitive heat, we created the KFGC Forward Tee Challenge:
- The field: 10 players, each contributing $20 per competition window across June/July, August, September and October.
- The target: Shoot a gross 71 or lower during an official Thursday league round at Aberdeen. No handicaps in the monthly challenge.
- The rollover: A qualifying round would win the monthly purse. If nobody broke par, half of the pot rolled into the next window and half went into the season finale pool. In October, the entire remaining pot went to the finale.
How the finale purse reached $800
No one claimed a monthly pot. The rollover format kept the stakes building, with all $800 in season contributions eventually reaching the finale.
| Window | Dues | Rollover in | Month pot | To finale | Rollover out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| June / July | $200 | $0 | $200 | $100 | $100 |
| August | $200 | $100 | $300 | $150 | $150 |
| September | $200 | $150 | $350 | $175 | $175 |
| October | $200 | $175 | $375 | $375 | $0 |
| Season total | $800 | — | — | $800 | — |
Shorter didn’t mean easy
Going into the challenge, the banter suggested someone might clip a 68 or 69 within the first couple of weeks. Instead, nobody broke par during any of the four competition windows.
The lesson was straightforward: getting closer to the green still leaves the work of controlling a wedge, choosing a sensible target and making the putt. A tempting short par 4 can also create a decision you rarely face from farther back: attack the green or leave a comfortable approach?
For our group, moving forward shifted attention toward the scoring clubs. It didn’t hand anyone a birdie.
October 29: three players, one winning score
On Thursday, October 29, 2026, all ten players returned for the $800 season finale. The format changed from the monthly gross-score challenge to a full-handicap net competition. Players holed out every putt, with no gimmes and a maximum hole score of four over par.
The result: Matt “Bandit” Wegmann, Lewis “Lew B” Bernstein and Mike “The Dude” Wegmann tied for first at net 73 (+1). Matt posted the day’s low gross round of 78; Lew B and The Dude each shot 79.
Finale leaderboard & payouts
The top three prizes—$200, $140 and $100—combined into a $440 split among the co-winners. Everyone in the field took home prize money.
| Finish | Player | Gross | Handicap applied | Net | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T1 | Matt “Bandit” Wegmann | 78 | 5 | 73 | $146.67 |
| T1 | Lewis “Lew B” Bernstein | 79 | 6 | 73 | $146.67 |
| T1 | Mike “The Dude” Wegmann | 79 | 6 | 73 | $146.66 |
| 4 | Rob “Shades” Libera | 80 | 6 | 74 | $90.00 |
| 5 | Steve “Cosmo” Nolan | 81 | 6 | 75 | $70.00 |
| 6 | Laggin’ Larry | 82 | 6 | 76 | $60.00 |
| 7 | Rugby Rich (Rich Etzkorn) | 88 | 9 | 79 | $50.00 |
| 8 | Double D (Dave Dilthey) | 88 | 8 | 80 | $40.00 |
| 9 | Papa Shuk | 84 | 3 | 81 | $30.00 |
| 10 | Rick “McGadget” McMillen | 89 | 7 | 82 | $20.00 |
| Total purse | $800.00 | ||||
The one-cent allocation ($146.67, $146.67 and $146.66) keeps the payout total at exactly $800. All three players remain tied for first.
The stories behind the numbers
- Rob “Shades” Libera missed by one: An 80 gross and net 74 earned solo fourth and $90.
- Papa Shuk carried the lowest handicap: His 84 gross, with three strokes applied, finished at net 81 and ninth place.
- The host brought up the rear: Yours truly posted an 89, net 82, and happily took home the tenth-place $20 bill. “McGadget” will be looking for a better finish next time.
McGadget’s takeaways for forward tee play
- Choose a landing spot before choosing a club. Driver can be useful on a short par 4, but compare the trouble around the green with the approach you could leave from a safer position.
- Practice partial wedges. Work on repeatable swings for distances such as 50, 65 and 80 yards. Moving forward gives those shots more importance.
- Give yourself room around the pin. Favor a target that leaves a manageable next shot. Being close to the green is less helpful when you leave yourself short-sided.
- Build a format with a finish worth anticipating. Our rollover structure brought all $800 into a finale where every player shared in the purse.
Ric’s Rec’s verdict
5 Birdies out of 5. The Forward Tee Challenge gave familiar rounds a fresh purpose, built an $800 finale and reminded us that breaking par still has to be earned. Moving up changed the questions Aberdeen asked. Our scoring clubs still had to answer.
Results and season financial progression supplied by Rick McMillen in the 2026 Forward Tee Challenge recap.