He's Batted 1,000 By Peter Dennis, USGA Assistant Director of Handicapping and Course Rating The seminar had gathered about 300 golf course raters from around the world to fine-tune their skills. The person leading the discussion wanted to give audience a chance to stretch, so he asked anyone who had calculated course ratings for 100 golf courses to stand.
Many in the room rose.
"If you've rated 200, remain standing," the leader said, and all but four people sat down.
"If you've rated 300," the leader said, and Tony Hebel felt every eye turn in his direction, as he stood alone. The count rose a few hundred more before Hebel finally sat, easily making him the most proficient rater in the room.
If that episode from a few years ago were to recur today, Hebel would remain standing through a count of 1,000 courses, or 2,000 individual tees. He hit both levels this spring, long after he "retired" as a volunteer rater for the Chicago District Golf Association and moved to Florida. The change in residence only briefly slowed his progress; for the past seven years, he has headed up the Florida State Golf Association's rating efforts in Palm Beach County.
"I promised [my wife] Lynn that I would slow down after 1,000 ratings," says Hebel, who celebrated his 73rd birthday in March. "She's been counting, and she told me when I hit 1,000."
Hebel is unique among raters in the number of courses he has assessed. But Hebel's routine and dedication do not differ from fellow raters at every state, regional and local association who rate and re-rate the roughly 17,000 courses across the country.
The often unheralded course rating volunteers spend days traveling from course to course to provide a fundamental service that defines the USGA Handicap System. Without course and slope ratings, there would be no gauge for players to use in determining their relative skills and the game would lose its long-cherished ability to pit the beginner against the best player head-to-head.
When he sold his advertising agency in 1980, Hebel found plenty of time on his hands. He became chairman of the 1982 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, played at Knollwood Club. Once that assignment ended, he sought a continuing role in the game.
"I hadn't played a lot, and didn't play regularly until I was 45," says Hebel, ruling out competition. "I was fortunate that I was in a position to give something back as a volunteer."
Hebel attended a course rating training seminar conducted by the USGA in 1983. Then he hit the road with the CDGA's only rating team at that time, which also produced ratings for the state association.
"In the early days we rented a van," he recalls. "After putting about 10,000 miles every year on that van, the CDGA decided it might be best to purchase one."
He came to learn every stretch of interstate highway and plenty of back roads, checking new courses or updating redesigned layouts. Hebel and his team worked on days of teeth-chattering cold and broiling heat, sometimes stopping in small towns where the only course is operated by a civic club.
When the Hebels moved to Florida, Tony got in touch with the FSGA, which put him to work. "We've got 175 courses in the county, which is probably more than many states," he says. With more than 1,000 courses, the FSGA fields 16 rating teams.
Although he will cut back considerably on rating, as promised, Hebel will still lead instructional seminars, something he has done since his Chicago days. As the person leading the discussion, he knows a little game he can play if he senses the audience could use a moment or two on its feet.
