The Circle Of Golf
The Gant (Golf Across Nebraska Tournament) began when four guys from the Schuyler High School Class of 1968 decided to throw glue on the slippery surface of long-term friendships by scheduling some golf. "You never have friends like you do when you're a teenager," says Marci Krivohlavek, wife of tournament co-founder John Krivohlavek. The tournament became a memorial to "Kriv" when he died 11 years ago.
As with most buddies trips, more friends got involved as years went by, and the size of the group grew from four to 12 and eventually 42, which is how many teed it up this year.
The 25th Annual Johnny Kriv Gant Memorial had all the ingredients of a buddies trip: golf, camaraderie, adult beverages and an awards ceremony. But it also had two things you don't find on most guy getaways: wives and children.
Spouses joined the group the fifth year. "We figured our wives all knew each other, and they got along, so we decided to include them," says Dana Trofholz, an original "Gantster." The Gantsters found out that once you invite the wives, there's no going back. "They tried to get rid of us at one point," says Deb Christensen. "But then they realized it's the women who bring the food."
Future "Gantster" Kellen Krivohlavek at the 25th Gant in Nebraska.
Five years ago the junior Gantsters -- sons and daughters -- got the invite to ensure the tournament lasted for generations. "We knew one day we'd be playing cards instead of golf," says Trofholz. "So we added the kids."
The first Gant was at Schuyler Golf Club, a topped drive and wedge from the high school and an hour west of Omaha. The Gant has been played all over the state, but Schuyler made sense for the silver anniversary because most group members still live nearby. The course is just nine holes, 3,054 yards, par 36, with squeaky bridges, parallel fairways, domed greens and $20 green fees. But it's in good condition, and it's golf.
The 12 senior Gantsters play a 27-hole competition, and they pick up the tab for the wives and junior Gantsters. The 14 women and 16 juniors play an 18-hole scramble that's less competitive. I ambushed the group before their round and handed out balls, hats, a range finder and $700 in drinks.
On the first tee, the 12 seniors formed a circle, touched drivers in the sky and on the count of three shouted the names of players who had passed. "1-2-3-Kriv! 1-2-3-Sandy!" Sandy, who died in May, was the wife of John Heffner. She's also the reason the group wore black ribbons.
Johnny Kriv's grandson, Kellen, nine months old, marshaled from a cart. He's a "junior-junior Gantster," as they say, and evidence that passing on the event to future generations is taking shape. "As you get older, what you're left with is friends and family," says Sam Balak, who supports the Gant but doesn't play. "That's what this group is all about."
