Door County Golfer Profile: Mike Standish

Age: 66

Occupation: Retired. Previously a commercial real estate broker in Chicago, representing office space tenants against landlords in lease negotiations. After moving to Door County in 1996 founded Mortgage Mortgage and specialized in procuring government loans for first time homebuyers.

Home Course: IdleWild

Handicap: 7.5

Best 18-Hole Score: Shot a 71 at IdleWild in 2011, matching a similar score at Cherry Hills years earlier.

Years Playing: 40

Hole-in-ones: I’ve thought that if a Chimpanzee had a golf club (with no idea where the hole was) and as many swings as I’ve had, something would have gone in the hole. Not so for me. Closest was in a dense fog at Maxwelton Braes on hole #5 where we could not even see the green. After our tee shots, I found my ball behind the pin, hanging on the lip…but it would not drop.

Favorite Golf Memory: In 1988 at the USGA Senior Championship at Medinah, I saw Billy Casper hit his 30-yard draw, driving over the water on the very long par-5 hole #14. It was one of the best and longest shots I had ever witnessed. Several years later, I was a guest at the club and teeing off on the same hole, I hit a career drive over the water. It ended up in the same spot as the Billy Casper shot I saw years earlier. With visions of sugarplums in my head and anticipating going for the green in two, I semi-swagger up to my ball and found a sprinkler-head with a yardage marker. I bent over to read the yardage and it read: “You’ve got to be kidding.”

Nicest Golf Course Ever Played: Medinah #3, Pinehurst #2 and Spyglass Hill.

Favorite Golfer: Gary Player. At the first Kemper Open at Quail Hollow County Club, I was in the motel elevator and popping on (with his golf clubs) was Gary Player. Somewhat tongue tied, I squeaked out a “How’d you play today.” He answered with a depressed “I never hit a good shot all day.” I looked up his score later and it was a 67.

Fantasy Foursome: Three friends and myself playing anywhere.

What’s in the Bag: TaylorMade R11 Driver, Big Bertha 3 & 5 wood, TaylorMade Burner 3 & 5 hybird, TaylorMade Burner 2.0 irons, Cleveland 53 and 56 wedge, knock off Odyssey 2-ball putter

Strengths: Driver and fairway metals.

Weaknesses: A case of the shanks or a snap hook develops sometime during the season.

Golf Tip to Share: Be positive. No matter how bad you’re playing, you can still play worse.

When not Playing Golf, Mike can be found: Working in the garden under direction of my wife, Mary.