No. 361: Mike Rapp

Long before Mike Rapp was the superintend of the Falcon Crest Golf Club near Boise, Idaho, he had one of the best titles any person could have.He was a Muni kid.Mike grew up playing golf at the Highland View Golf Course in Butte. He golfed and golfed and golfed.He spent so much time on a golf course, that he decided to make that his livelihood. Mike started working at the Butte Country Club, then he earned a degree in horticulture at Montana State University.That led him to Boise, where he has spent the last few decades.Mike was a member of Butte Central’s 1989 Class A State championship golf team. The other members of the team were Joe Stimatz, T.J. Harrington, Brian Noctor and my brother, Don FoleyMike led the Maroons that in State tournament at Fairmont Hot Springs, finishing in a four-way tie for third place. After a playoff, he finished fourth, one spot below Anaconda’s Jim Stergar, who is once again the state championship basketball coach at Billings Central.In August of 1995, Mike shot a 6-under-par 64 at the Muni. That tied our childhood hero Dave Cashell for the course record. That record stood a for 20-some years before it was eclipsed by Kaven Noctor.In this episode, we talk about how Mike three putted on the 18th green to settle for a tie. For years, he blamed me. At least in part.I played the back nine with Mike that day, and I made a comment midway through the nine about the course record. It was kind of like telling a pitcher he’s got a no-hitter going into the eighth inning.That is not the right move to make.If you listen to this episode, though, you will see that Mike does not hold that against me. Well, at least he doesn’t anymore.This episode is also available on YouTube. Find it on ButteCast.com.