Door County Golfer Profile: Jim Gelhaar

Age: 71

Occupation: Retired, high school math teacher and tennis coach. I’ve vacationed in Door County since 1940.

Home Course: Peninsula State Park

You’ve been involved with the Peninsula Golf Associates, explain what the association does: The Peninsula Golf Associates (PGA) runs the golf course and hires the staff. The PGA started in 1982, and I’ve been on the board for 16 years. It’s a great group of people dedicated to making Peninsula a great golf course.

Handicap: 12

Best 18-Hole Score: 71, happened twice, many years ago

Years Playing: About 56 years.

Hole-in-Ones: Had one while in graduate school at the University of Mississippi.

You and your wife have teamed up to win a few tournaments, tell me about that: We have won the Couples Tournament at Peninsula State Park three times, and this past winter we won the Couples Tournament at the course we are members at in Florida.

Favorite Golf Memory: We (my wife and I) loving playing at Peninsula Park. I love to compete. I’ve played in about 20 Resorters.

What’s in the Bag: Wilson Fat shafts irons, Wilson hybrids, Callaway Driver, Alien wedge, Carbite Mallet Putter

You mentioned you are a tennis instructor, how does tennis relate to golf: I’ve taught tennis and in the summer – I teach tennis three times a week and play three times a week. The one thing needed in both sports is mental toughness. What you do with your mind between shots in both sports is huge. When you’re walking you can do what you want, but in both sports you need rituals, which help you under pressure.

Strengths: I have a favorite club called an Alien, and from 75-yards-and-in, it’s my secret weapon. I also take three lessons a year to make sure I’m doing the correct things.

Weaknesses: As you get older distance of the tee, but I keep the ball in play.

Golf Tip to Share: Balance. As far as making sure I’m not lounging at the ball. But it all comes down to mental toughness. In golf, you have 16 seconds and you need to make it happen in that amount of time. Another tip is putting: Once you line up, strike the ball – don’t hesitate once you address the ball.

When not Playing Golf, Jim can be found: As I mentioned, I give tennis lessons three times a week, and I’ve taught at the Warhawk Tennis Camp in Whitewater for the past 30 years.