Posted on 11/11/2009 12:47:13 AM PST by TigerLikesRooster
Playing a 'round' near the DMZ
By Drew Gallagher
ESPN
U.S. ARMY CAMP BONIFAS, South Korea -- We've all hit tee shots that could be described as "dangerous." Tight fairways. Intimidating water hazards. Thick fescue. All of these make for "dangerous" conditions.
But I've never hit a tee shot with the North Korean army just a mulligan away.
A soldier from the North Korean Army stands guard at the border. Such is golf at U.S. Army Camp Bonifas, South Korea, home to one of the world's most unique golf courses. The "course" consists of a single 192-yard, par-3 hole that sits 440 yards from the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea.
The green is made of artificial turf. Heavy barbed wire marks out of bounds on the left; a six-foot-deep military trench runs along the right. It won't be confused for a country club, but for soldiers stationed at Camp Bonifas, it's a functional golf hole in their own backyard -- and that's all that matters.
"I played golf on Sunday and it was a 12-hour trip," says 22-year-old Staff Sgt. Derrick Meisenheimer. "I left here at 8 in the morning and I got back at 8 at night. So it's nice to come out here, hit some balls, have some place to practice a little bit."
From his direct manner of speaking to his thousand-yard stare, Meisenheimer looks and talks like a guy with "Staff Sgt." in front of his name. Originally from suburban Kansas City, Mo., he's the type of guy who was born to be a soldier. He's just one of the avid golfers at Camp Bonifas, and he'll be my playing partner for a round. He greets me wearing full camouflage fatigues, combat boots and a 9mm pistol at his side.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Who took the video of the stare-downs, which looks like the photog is standing in the middle of the border strip?
“I play golf 400 yards from 4,000 North Koreans trained to kill me...”
Well, someone had to say it.
It was probably built to show North Koreans just one more thing they don’t have.
I remember those old MASH episodes, where Hawkeye and Trapper would tee off into the minefield.
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