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His aim: close

Frank Less, 70, has a knack for winning closest to the pin.

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 23, 2008

ADVERTISEMENT [Lance Aram Rothstein | Times] Frank Less plays in a scramble match at Magnolia Valley Golf Course in New Port Richey on Jan. 16.

NEW PORT RICHEY

To Frank Less, there isn't anything magical about his drive. His approach hasn't changed. Neither has his swing.

Yet the 70-year-old New Port Richey resident seems to have a real knack for knocking the ball close to the pin.

During the first two Sundays of league play at Magnolia Valley Golf Club, Less won the closest to the pin competition three times.

"You just have to know your yardage and select the right club," Less said before Wednesday's league play.

He reached hole No. 13 on Jan. 6 within 10 feet and 7 inches. He won the $65 purse.

On Jan. 13, he won it twice - on holes No. 7 and No. 13 - out of more than 60 golfers. Less was 2 feet from hole No. 7 and 6 feet from hole No. 13. That day he left with $106 in his pocket.

Not bad for a retired golfer who has been playing the sport regularly since he was 35 years old. Less, who is from East Chicago, Ind., wasn't born with a club in his hand.

And for a while, he was more interested in hitting the bowling lanes than driving a golf ball.

But eventually he got bored with bowling so he moved onto golf.

He'd catch a round of golf after working a full night inspecting machinery with his co-workers.

His work day ended at midnight, so they'd all meet up at the course later that day. On his off days, he'd meet up with his golfing buddies again.

His golfing group grew to about 100 men, and once a year, they'd travel to Florida to play all the golf they could in a week. They played in Orlando, Naples and so on. It was then that Less started thinking retirement in Florida wouldn't be such a bad thing.

His wife, he said last Wednesday with a smile, tolerated his golfing habit. She still does, he added with a grin.

Finally, retirement came calling. So Less and his wife moved south to check out Florida. They spent four months with her sister before settling into a home in New Port Richey.

Less, who is hesitant to give himself a handicap, still plays frequently and most of the time at Magnolia Valley. He also plays at River Ridge.

Peter Lenhardt III, general manager of Magnolia Valley, has played golf with Less.

He joked that it wouldn't surprise him if some of the guys started asking for Less, who hits from the gold tees, to play on their team for league play.

But rules are rules, and the teams are fairly assembled every time in the clubhouse.

"He hits the ball well and puts you in a good position," Lenhardt said.

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[Last modified January 22, 2008, 23:23:09]