Jones Cup: Bob Kraft of Newport Beach Country Club

Richard Dunn

NEWPORT BEACH - When Bob Kraft of Newport Beach Country Clubsteps

to the first tee Friday in the inaugural Jones Cup, don’t expect a

monster drive.

And when he’s putting on a two-tiered green from 30 feet, don’t expect

a python to roll into the clown’s mouth for a bit of drama.

Instead, watch his craftsmanship to the green.

If Kraft, at age 61, fits the cliche “playing old man’s par,” then

he’s also becoming to the proverb “it’s not how you start, but how you

finish.”

This year, Kraft proved he can score with anybody, including at a club

where 82 members own a handicap index of 9 or lower, according to club

president Jerry Anderson. Of that total, 34 competed in the three-round

men’s club championship in early May.

“Once in awhile, the old men triumph,” Kraft said of his first NBCC

title. “Basically, I’m a weekend golfer. I’ve been playing for about

25-30 years, but I really didn’t start playing until after the (two) kids

grew up. I used to play early in the mornings when the kids were young,

because that was the only time I could get out and play.

“I gradually improved through the years and I guess this year was my

year. The old guys beat the young guys. It was quite a thrill for me. I

only entered the (Newport Beach men’s club championship) to see if I’m

competitive. I’d played with a number of those guys and some strong

players from other clubs, but I never thought I’d win it. I got a little

lucky and I beat’em, I guess.”

Kraft is equally as thrilled to be selected by his club to play in the

first Jones Cup, billed as the ultimate community pro-am in a two-man,

better-ball gross format.

“It goes to show, if you stick with it, once in awhile you get your 15

minutes of fame I guess,” Kraft said. “That’s one of the beauties of

golf. When you tee it up, the golf ball doesn’t ask you your age. It’s

how many shots it takes to get the ball in the hole, and there are a lot

of ways to do it.”

Kraft, a member at the club since the early 1970s when it was called

Irvine Coast Country Club, will team with Newport Beach head professional

Paul Hahn in the Jones Cup. Tee time is 1 p.m. at Newport Beach Country

Club.

“(Kraft) outplayed everybody this year (in the Newport Beach club

championship),” Hahn said. “Bobby’s a gutsy player, and he knows how to

get the ball in the hole. He’s a steady golfer. He’s not a birdie

machine, but he’s always there.”

Kraft believes the Newport Beach team has a chance to win the

inaugural event.

“It’ll be fun,” he said. “In a better-ball format, you can always turn

the hole over to your partner now and then. I’ve played with Paul a few

times and I think we’ll be competitive.

“If we play well, we have an advantage because it’s our home course.

This course is a little tougher for someone who doesn’t play it

regularly. I think we can make a few birdies, and I think 6-under will

win it. The rest of the players will be strong, but we’ll try to give

them a run for their money.”

In the Newport Beach club championship, Kraft shot 72-74-76 for a 222

total and a three-shot victory over runner-up Vinnie Brasha, a long

hitter who gave Kraft a run for his money on the final day.

Kraft led the championship flight by four strokes going to the 15th

tee, but Brasha birdied 15 and Kraft bogeyed 16. It was nervous time at

the 17th tee for Kraft with a two-shot lead. Both players made par at 17,

then Kraft extended his margin by a stroke on the last hole.

Kraft said the key that day was starting the round with two quick

birdies on the first three holes for a two-shot lead.

“I played pretty steady until about 15,” he said. “At 15, I started to get nervous ... and, at 16, I missed a really short putt and made bogey.

I think at that position, I was ready to choke. But I remembered what Lee

Trevino once said. ‘If you’re in a position to choke, that means you’re

in front.’ Everybody wants to be in a position to choke.”

Kraft, a longtime Corona del Mar resident who turns 62 in November,

owns a local architectural firm. His office is near the fourth tee at

Newport Beach Country Club.

The Jones Cup includes the four private clubs in this newspaper’s

circulation vying for community bragging rights and a perpetual Jones Cup

trophy, while amateurs gain instant fame and head pros are put under the

spotlight.

The new men’s competition is part of the Fletcher Jones

Motorcars/Daily Pilot Club Championship Series, which launched the Tea

Cup Classic for women in 1997.

The Jones Cup is named after the only benefactor the series has had,

and includes a pro-am team from each club.

On Friday before tee time, names of the clubs will be drawn out of a

hat to determine which two clubs will play in a foursome. Anderson will

serve as the rules official.

Like the Tea Cup Classic, the Jones Cup will have hole-in-one prizes

on all par-3s, including a 2000 Mercedes Benz ML320, valued at $40,195,

on No. 17.