Around Thanksgiving 2011 , Devon Quigley, “Ironman” Dana Quigley’s son had a serious car accident, he’s still in a coma with massive brain injuries but thoughts, prayers and the Quigley family strength is keeping him going.

For updates on Dana Quigley's son Devon's slow progress from massive brain trauma:    Please Go to CaringBridge.org/visit/DevonQuigley for updates on his condition. Our thoughts and prayers go with the entire Quigley Family in their time of need.


Mark on 2012 Champions Tour season preview and opener:

"I ’m refreshed and ready to go, 2012 is going to be a lot of fun both on and off the course. BogeyPro suited me with a KaddyCam, Bob’s knee is repaired and the 10 weeks off provided time for family, friends and necessary work. Hopefully you missed me because without my weekly missives I felt a bit empty, like I wasn’t connecting with all my friends around the tour and back in Wisconsin.

So here goes on a brand new year, I hope it’s started well for all and continues down a guided path. 2011, as you all might remember was quite the year for the Huber family. I’m not going to dwell on the ups and downs but the experiences have left me with a new found energy I can’t quite explain. Watching dad pass on and welcoming my first great niece into the world within six months lets me know someone is definitely watching over us all. The difficult times were assisted by faith, family and friends.

The off season was a blur and it’s nice to get back to work so I can rest. We’re starting on the Big Island, Hawaii, this year at the Mitsubishi Championship Hualali Four Seasons resort, a five star compound suited for kings but not meant for caddies. We’re going to shack up in the Kona Tree House, Google it for pictures, and have a good time cruising the old fishing village, Kailua-Kona sipping a few cocktails along the waterfront. Haven’t been there in about five years it should be fun.

I’m really excited about Bob’s chances this year. He’s only got a few years left in the bag and I get this feeling he’s ready for that big one this. The BogeyPro crew is providing some new opportunities for some off-beat fun. A book might be in the works but KaddyKam will show its face throughout the year. There may be a few pics added to KK each week but you’ll have to go to BogeyPro.com for the real good stuff. I’m telling ya it’s going to bunches of fun this year. I may be all over the map, LPGA, Nationwide, or PGA Tour and KaddyKam is going to catch the stuff most folks don’t see."

Mark on Caddy Changes 2012 Champions Tour season opener:

"Year end always provides changes in the caddy ranks. Quickly here’s the new line-up. Watson kept Ox so Todd went to work for Crenshaw, who told James he wasn’t playing much and he went to work for Keith Fergus who fired “Wholewheat” late last year cuz he couldn’t keep his mouth shut. “Quartzie” jumped “Boss of the Moss’s” bag for a youngster, Danny Lee, and Van slid in the saddle because Mike Reid lost a lot of eligibility. “Jethro”, Ted Shultz, fired Patrick, not a big deal since he doesn’t pay much and is high maintenance, so Patrick went back with old boss Lanny Watkins, who ain’t afraid to pay but not sure if he can play anymore. There were a few more fringe signings but my brain cells are a bit weak this beautiful morning in Hawaii."

Mitsubishi Championship 2012 Champions Tour opener wrap:

"It’s a long flight to Hawaii for one week but someone has to do it. Bob and his wife, Peggy, flew over on his birthday New Year’s Eve, bopped around Maui for two weeks and tried to play himself back in shape. They do it every year, he mixes in some corporate golf to help pay for the trip, they relax and get out of the Oregon slush tuning up for the year. It’s going to be a short one in 2012, the Champions Tour keeps losing tournaments, I think were below 25 these days. Hopefully, Finchem will give us a bit of attention but I doubt it.

This may be the most laid back week of the year. Everyone is still shaking their rusty bodies, most guys don’t spend a lot of time on the range and if they do caddies are usually excused, at least I was and we enjoyed the Island cruising around in our ’95 Eldorado Cadillac on loan from long time friends “the Reibe’s”. It was classy, guzzled a bit of gas and all it was missing was a dashboard Hula girl.

A double and two bogies along with our seven birdies left us at -3 on Friday, a good start but nothing spectacular. Bob birdied the first two, had a 10 footer for his third birdie in a row on 3 but we were jinxed as I walked on the green. A friend of Bob’s hollered at me, “Looks like you might birdie them all. Think he can birdie all 18?” The putt lipped out, we failed to birdie the easy par 5 fourth hole and doubled the treacherous fifth splashing our tee ball short of the green. He did birdie the next two like a pro but the “whammy” on three disturbed the “Golfing Gods”.

Four Seasons at Hualali is the number one resort in the world and they’ve recovered nicely from last year’s tsunami. The Jack Nicklaus design cut out of the lava flow is spectacular but defenceless unless the wind blows or the tour officials tuck the pins. The wind was moderate until Sunday but the officials missed the greens with a few pins. Usually a pin is never less than four steps from an edge, we paced a few that were less than three and the pin sheets were off on numerous occasions, but whose complaining we’re in Hawaii.

We struggled on Sunday. Strong crosswinds that were difficult to judge, a bunch of burnt edges, a ball in the lava, Bob’s gimpy knee and bad caddying created a smooth 75. All was well though and he was relatively pleased with the week. It was the first time he’d played six days in a row since October. We survived, a little winded and stiff after each round but enough energy left for long nights under the gazebo at our Kona Tree House.

Five of us rented a Big Island relic. It was a beauty with open air multi-coloured rooms, small salt water pool with Jacuzzi, banyan tree, mongooses, geckos, and thousands of birds in the back yard. Built in the early ‘60s it was the only house in the neighbourhood but things have grown up around it, the homeless have taken over the parking lot behind the tree house and they created a bit of a problem during the week. One went to the hospital and another to jail after a bloody battle outside our back gate Wednesday. Wendy had to deal with it while we were working, not fun she told us all.

During our travels we meet a lot of different people. This week Bob and I hooked with Conner Dwyer and his lovely wife Kait, newlyweds honeymooning in Hawaii. Conner is just out of the Marines Special Forces serving four years active duty in Afghanistan. We hooked up awhile back through Kaddy Korner, met for the first time last February and keep in touch irregularly. He joined us during the pro-am and the tournament set him up as an honorary observer for Friday’s round.
 
Kait gave him a hall pass for the day and Conner followed Tom Watson and Corey Pavin inside the ropes. Tom and Corey visited the troops in 2009 over the holidays and Conner showed me a picture of him and Tom just as Tom cruised by in a cart Thursday morning. We flagged him down and Tom chatted with Conner for a bit. It was a little something for someone who has done so much for our country, a very special moment."