days, Ruth will go out in just about any weather condition.
“My cart is covered for those cold days and I prefer the hot
temperatures, but if they’ll let me play, I’m usually out there.”
To give the reader an idea of her dedication, she was out
playing a round of golf a decade ago in the middle of December.
Yankton had a record-setting winter that year with warm
temperatures and golfers were allowed to play without carts. It
turned out to be a December to remember.
“I was five holes from finishing the front nine when I stepped
in a badger hole and hurt my ankle,” she says. “It was very
painful, but I wanted to finish the round.”
Ruth played the last five holes, drove home and waited for her
husband to return home. By that time, the ankle had swollen
and become severely bruised.
“We drove up to Avera Sacred Heart and, sure enough, I had
broken it,” she says. “It’s a good thing it happened in the winter
time. That would have been tough sitting out a season for that.”
Unfortunately for Gravholt, she is currently sitting out this
summer season – to a point – due to a broken wrist. “Loy and
I spent the winter down in Parker, Ariz., as we do each winter,
where I usually take part in a winter golf league. This year,
though, I had a few setbacks and didn’t get to enjoy as much
as I usually do.”
When the Gravholts returned to Yankton in March, Ruth was
chomping at the bit to get out on the course. Unfortunately,
Yankton experienced a very wet and cold spring. By the time
the weather started cooperating in early May, she broke her
wrist in sort of a freak accident. “I was so disappointed at the
timing of it,” she explains. “After not getting to golf much in
Arizona this winter, I was really looking forward to coming home
and golfing locally. When this happened, it was quite honestly
heartbreaking.”
After getting patched up by orthopedic surgeon Brent Adams,
however, Ruth is nearing her return to the course. “It’s getting
better every day,” she says. “I’ve been putting and have started
chipping. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I can play
without restrictions.” As a matter of fact, she’s already played
in a tournament only being able to putt. “The game itself is
magical,” she continues, “but the social aspect is also very
important to me. The friendships I’ve developed have been
immeasurable.”
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One of those friendships includes an annual November trip
to Phoenix for Gravholt and fellow golfers Barb Olson, Gail
Kennedy and Connie Rucker. “We have such a good time
down there,” she says. “The courses are magnificent and very
challenging. They’re also very expensive. I don’t think some
people realize how fortunate we are with the local prices we
have for golfing and the beautiful courses we have in the area.”
So, next time you’re out on the course, look for Ruth in her
yellow bug golf cart. She’ll probably even invite you to join her in
a round.
vBy Jay Gravholt
Floors & More
(formerly Floor To Ceiling)
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HERVOICEvJULY/AUGUST 2016v11