By Gary D'Amato

JSOnline, Milwaukee Wisconson Journal Sentinal

Posted: June 30, 2009

Hartland - Carl Meyer is a certifiable golf nut, a solid 11-handicapper who plays 120 rounds a year, prefers to walk and carry his clubs and keeps a well-stocked cooler in bushes in his back yard, which just happens to abut a fairway on his home course, Chenequa Country Club.

Hey, a guy gets thirsty playing all that golf.

But Meyer plans to outdo himself on the Fourth of July. That's when he will play "100 Holes for our Heroes" to raise money for Hire Heroes USA, a nonprofit organization that helps armed services veterans make the transition from the military into civilian work.

"A lot of people think I'm crazy," Meyer says with a laugh, "but not just because of this."

One hundred holes in one day? Not only can it be done, but Meyer is living, staggering proof. Last year, he played 108 holes - six consecutive 18-hole rounds - on the Fourth of July and raised $15,000 for Hire Heroes USA.

"It was their single biggest fundraiser of the year," he says. "They had an event at Fenway Park that raised $10,000. So far, we're at $26,500 in pledges and donations this year and my guess is we'll do $30,000 to $35,000."

To contribute or for more information about the organization, visit www.hireheroesusa.org.

Meyer, 51, the vice president of national accounts and distributor relations for BSN Medical, is not a veteran of the armed services. He's just thankful for the freedoms he enjoys, one of which is whacking a little white sphere around a couple hundred acres of green grass.

"There are thousands of vets who put their lives on the line so we can live in peace every day," he says. "They need the chance to live the same American dream that we do."

Meyer plans to start his golf marathon around 5:45 a.m. Saturday and finish around 6:30 p.m. Last year, it took him 12 hours 50 minutes to play 108 holes, which works out to a bit under a 2:10 pace for 18 holes.

In a concession to save time, he will use a motorized cart, but he'll play the holes in succession - no jumping around - and follow the Rules of Golf. Yes, he'll hole out on every green, even the tap-ins.

His goal is to average bogey golf. Last year, his scoring average was a shade over 88 per 18 holes. He had seven birdies, 29 pars, 44 bogeys and 20 "others" and lost about a half-dozen golf balls.

Playing 100 holes in one day requires Meyer to play through groups on the course. It would be nearly impossible to pull off the feat on a crowded public course. Bill Graham, the professional at Chenequa CC, will explain what Meyer is doing to every group that tees off so they won't be startled when he races up behind them in his cart decorated with American flags.

Meyer also had to get permission from the club's board.

"I think it's just wonderful that he directs his passion toward a cause like this," says Don Prachthauser, the club president. "It's such an easy thing to say yes. It makes us all feel better about ourselves."

Meyer says he had no problems last year, even though he had to play through some groups twice.

"How many clubs could you go to where a guy has carte blanche to play through every group on the course all day long?" he says. "Bill does a great job of letting everybody know so that when I come up behind them, they're, like, 'Come on through.' Without Don's help and Bill's help, I couldn't do this."

Meyer vows to play at least 100 holes, even if it's 95 degrees or raining.

"If it's hot, I'll drink a lot of Gatorade and grind it out," he says. "Our troops sleep in heat that's worse than our worst stuff. I've got good rain gear, so unless they kick me off the course I'll be playing.

"I'll play 100 holes if I have to crawl and putt with my nose."

If all goes well, Meyer will be a bit sore Sunday, but nothing he can't handle with some help from Aleve. Then he'll probably do what he did last year, and what he does just about every day he's not working: Play golf.

"I just love this game," he says.

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Link: http://www.jsonline.com/sports/golf/49557282.html