NWARKIGC

On Memorial Day of 1988, I and three other male employees from Buena Vista University, along with an equal number of friends, embarked on a four-day golfing vacation in Bella Vista, Ark. One of them, Keith “Busboy” Bjorkgren, whose son Nate is the former head coach of the Indiana Pacers in the NBA, owned a remodeled 1965 Coachman bus that perfectly suited our eight-some for the 500-mile trip from Storm Lake to Bella Vista.

We named it the NWARKIGC — short for the Northwest Arkansas Invitational Golf Classic. Many current and past participants, of whom there have been 41 overall, still can’t pronounce the acronym correctly.

No one could have imagined that this small tournament would still be going strong almost 40 years later. In fact, one player referred to it as “A Tradition Like Many Others,” in contrast to the Masters Golf Tournament. Ironically, it has become something far richer: a living, breathing gem of competitive fellowship and shared history. Most contestants over the years have been former athletes who thrive on winning, yet a spirit of love, comradeship and integrity has consistently served as the glue holding everything together.

The original eight were all in their late 20s to early 40s when NWARKIGC began. For the first 23 years, a hale-and-hearty crew of fluctuating size (never more than 16) attacked the game with abandon — 36 holes a day for three days, followed by 18 holes on the fourth and final day. Former Buena Vista Head Wrestling Coach Al “Bogey” Baxter, one of the founding members, famously quipped, “We’re here to play golf, aren’t we!” And so we did — dawn to dusk. As the years — and the mileage — added up, the event eventually evolved into a more sustainable 18, 18 and 18 over three days.

But there’s more. Much more.

The quartet of lowest net scorers in this handicapped format — known, appropriately, as the “Final Four” — play an additional nine holes on the last day to determine the champion. Each Final Four qualifier receives prize money from the modest entry fee, and the winner earns a hand-crafted traveling plaque and handsome Green Jacket.

Meanwhile, non-qualifiers aren’t sidelined — they draw names to decide which finalist they’ll support, with some cash also on the line. Add in a variety of side games played throughout each round, and the result is a layered, immersive competition that builds steadily toward those final, pressure-packed holes.

Hovering over it all is the ever-mysterious force known simply as “The Committee.” Since the NWARKIGC’s inception, this anonymous body has been responsible for developing the annual schedule and producing the Media Guide in all its detailed glory. Speculation about its membership is constant — and unresolved — including the perennial question of whether all current committee members are, in fact, still alive.

As if that weren’t enough, every participant is assigned a nickname — one that must be used universally. These monikers derive from their background, personality, golfing traits, tournament duties, or, occasionally, an inexplicable moment of fate, as you shall see.

A glance at the Media Guide for NWARKIGC XXXIX in 2026 reveals that, while Bella Vista long served as the tournament’s “spiritual” home, other venues have periodically taken center stage. Since 2018, Sioux Falls has become the primary host. The Media Guide opens with a roll call of champions — the 39 recipients of the Jeffrey T. Spielman Memorial Award for Golfing Excellence, the most coveted honor in this tightly knit fraternity. Jeff, the erstwhile BVU head mens basketball coach, was one of the NWARKIGC founders.

In 1996, The Committee introduced a second distinction: the Keith P. Bjorkgren Annual Memorial Award for Golfing Futility, bestowed upon the tournament’s highest net scorer. The irony, of course, is that Keith himself remains very much alive. When asked about the honor in 2024, he deadpanned, “For all these years, I thought it read ‘Fertility’!”

There are countless priceless NWARKIGC stories, but two rise above the rest — equal parts heartbreak, absurdity and legend.

In 2004, 16 competitors were battling for a spot in the Final Four. It is always exhilarating — but also always a grind. The last hole of qualifying was a 179-yard par 3 at Dogwood Golf Course in Bella Vista, playing into a stiff wind, with the green guarded in front by a sizable pond.

1994 champion Bogey Baxter stood atop the leaderboard, needing, as it turned out, only a 12 to qualify.

His tee shot found the water.

From the drop zone — a delicate 40-yard chip over the edge of the hazard — Bogey proceeded to deposit six more balls into the pond, ultimately carding a 17. He claims he required professional counseling for several years to recover from the experience.

Two foursomes behind him was Sid “Cougar” Kortemeyer, then the athletic director and head golf coach for the University of Sioux Falls Cougars. Knowing he needed something special, Cougar lasered a 5-wood that sailed just over the green… then holed his wedge for a deuce — leapfrogging Bogey into the Final Four in one unforgettable swing sequence.

Sid’s story runs much deeper. He was a uniquely gentle and courageous man who had contracted polio as a child and lived his entire life with significant physical challenges, including a defective heart. Sid was also vision-impaired, able to see clearly for only about 50 yards. His playing partners routinely provided aiming guidance for many of his shots.

In 2005, standing on the 9th tee at Highlands Golf Course — a 143-yard par 3 again requiring a carry over water — Sid prepared to strike. To help guide him, I pointed out a large tree behind the green as a reference point. Also in the foursome were Doug “Tomahawk” Thompson and Roger “London” Egland of Storm Lake.

It was late afternoon, and shadows had begun to consume the green. Everyone except Sid watched the ball leave the clubface — but none of us could track its full flight. Then came a sharp, metallic clang, believed to be the ball striking a sprinkler head.

After searching around the green, I had the idea to check the hole.

There it was!

The ball had plunged directly into the cup without ever touching the putting surface. Sid didn’t hesitate: “That’s the best shot I’ve ever HEARD in my life!”

The following year, The Committee made it official. Cougar would be forever known as “Ace.”

Ace is one of six deeply beloved NWARKIGC alumni who have passed since 2014, all but he having been Storm Lake residents of varying time frames. Those other five — Kent “Money” McElvania, Lanny “Gritty” Grigsby, John “Clock” Klockentager, Jeff “Spuds” Spielman and Roy “Bugle Boy” Beukelman — collectively account for 10 championships and an immeasurable legacy. Both Money and Gritty captured their final victory while courageously battling cancer, from which both were called home less than two years later.

At the top of the record book stands BVU Hall of Famer “Tomahawk” Thompson, with eight Green Jackets over 39 years. Bryan “Woods” Woodward and Money are tied with six titles each, while Beaver grad Jim “Doc” Nurse — whose brother Nick coaches the Philadelphia 76ers — follows with four.

Tomahawk’s impact extends beyond the leaderboard. Each year, at his own expense, he commissions custom-engraved memorabilia — hats, shirts, jackets, golf balls, coasters and more — for every participant, complete with imprinted nicknames and Roman numerals marking the tournament edition. Eight championships, it turns out, can help fund a lasting heritage.

Now, a new generation is stepping into the story. In 2026, Paul “Sonny” McElvania joined our tour, honoring the memory of his father, Money, and helping ensure that the tradition continues to evolve without losing its soul.

Because that’s what the NWARKIGC has ultimately become, heading into its 40th year in May 2027: not just a golf tournament, but a living archive of relationships, rivalries, laughter, heartbreak and shared history. Every participant — every personality — is woven into its fabric.

“A man who is truly wealthy is rich in relationship.” — Scottie Scheffler

Mark “Games” Gries resides in Myerstown, Penn., and has had the joy and honor of playing in each of the NWARKIGC’s annual events since its inception.