Loss, love and a perfect shot

by Melissa Dickson

This year marks 10 years since one very special memory for Robb Bergeson of Billings, Montana.

In a heartfelt ceremony framed by the timeless Evergreens and Big Mountain, surrounded by the company of friends, Bergeson stood on the fourth hole at Whitefish (Mont.) Lake Golf Club to return his father to the greens they’d walked on together for one last time.

Then, two days later Bergeson shot a hole in one. On the fourth hole.

For as long as Bergeson can remember, golf was the language he and his father spoke together. The late Dr. Robert Bergeson was a fixture at Billings’ Yellowstone Country Club, a regular with the tight knit group of friends known as “Team America,” and it was there, tagging along at just four or five years old, that Robb got his first real education in the game. Robert Bergeson was diagnosed with Interstitial Lung Disease in late 2012 and ultimately passed on April 4, 2016.

It was during a 9-hole round that summer of 2016 that Bergeson gathered about 12 or so of his and his father’s closest friends, who all sported matching t-shirts Bergeson had made leading up to it, what they coined as the “Bobby B Invitational.”

“When we got to the fourth tee, I popped a bottle of champagne, said a quick toast to him, and spread his ashes,” Bergeson said.

Days later was the annual 4th of July Tournament at Whitefish Lake Golf Club, an event that brought his family together every year. Having grown up vacationing on Whitefish Lake, it felt natural to join in on the tournament. He had the privilege to have played in it for the past 30 years. For many of those years Robb had his father as a caddie, before Dr. Bergeson started playing in it himself – up until the point he got sick.

“We both loved No. 4 because of the look – with the tee box tucked back into the trees, the pond on the left side, and the awesome backdrop of Whitefish Mountain,” Bergeson said.

So, come the day of the tournament, Bergeson took to the fourth tee box on the North course, 209 yards from the back hole location. It was a breezy summer day, so he grabbed his 4-iron and thinned the shot just a little so it didn’t get very high. “Believe it or not, it flew right into the hole,” Bergeson recounted. “It never bounced – truly unbelievable. As you can imagine, the shot became the talk of the golf course. Everyone was coming up to me, hugging me. It was so special.” It was also the first time he had ever teed off from that tee box.

“I immediately thought of my dad, it was impossible not to,” Bergeson said after making the ace. “The coolest thing about the whole deal was that my two best friends were right there when the ball went in.” Justin Miller was on the third green behind them and John Moscrip was on the 14th green right next to them. “I played golf with both of them at the University of Washington, and both were like sons to my dad, so it was pretty special,” Bergeson said. “Not a dry eye around.”

Whitefish Lake Golf Club’s Director of Golf, Tim Olson, was there on the day Bergeson made the ace. After three decades playing in the tournament, Robb said it was important for Olson to be part of that special afternoon.

“My dad was not just my mentor, but also my best friend,” Bergeson said. “And so many of our greatest days were shared together on the golf course. So, to me, golf has always been more than just a game. To this day, I still think of my dad every time I play golf.”