It all started with a little too much daylight being available at the conclusion of an early Terlingua World Championship Golf Shoot-Out. Ranger Bob and Jeff weren't ready to put the clubs up while the sun was still hanging so high above the horizon. So off they did go for another round of nine holes. It became apparent on the fifth tee box that darkness would come before the final five holes could be completed. What to do? Collaboration and deliberation delivered a solution to the conundrum. No recollection that beer played a part in the thought process, but if so, how would one remember?

So was christened the 59th hole, a par 8 cross country golf excursion from the 5th tee to the 9th green. This unique golf tract required some one-of-a-kind stipulations; that being the use of only one club and only one golf ball. Seems the score ended in a tie, once again a matter to be settled same place, same time, the next year.

Soon enough others joined in on the 59th hole. It became customary for each participant to hit a golf ball towards Mexico prior to the group making its haphazard way to the ninth green. The passing of Tom Skipper in February of 1984 brought a solemn observance to the ceremony. His ashes were scattered on the tee box and a bottle of tequila was passed in a circle as golfers remembered Tom with a toast. Bottle open, cap tossed, the first drink was poured to the ground for the departed, but not forgotten friend . . . Tom liked his tequila. This ritual of remembering past tournament participants with a tequila toast remains to this day.

The tournament took on gypsy status with the new millenium. In 2001 the tournament moved to Presidio and golf balls became pelotes when they actually crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico. The ninth hole was played with a single club of choice at the Alpine Country Club in aught-two and aught-three. 2004 found the golfing party on the move again.

The Tom Skipper Memorial Terlingua World Championship Golf Shoot-Out was honored to be the Grand Opening Event at the brand-spanking new Quicksilver Challenge Golf Club in 2004. The "toughest mile of golf" in Texas was truly challenging and a new closing ceremony was in order. Off to the scenic par three third hole, about a hundred yards straight up the hill. Teebox tequila toasts were made to the memories of friends departed. On to the challenge of a fitting new tradition. It began as a closest-to-pin contest on the short hole with a driver, of course, the only club of choice. This initial idea had some lead balloon characteristics about it and the participants were not faring well in their efforts. What to do? Off to the right, up a mountain at about 250 yards stood the abandoned remains of some old mining equipment, metal tanks and the like. So a finger was pointed and a new challenge was issued, "Ring the Bell!" Only one person managed the task . . . twice . . . in a row. He immediately took permanent retirement from the endeavor that his perfect record go untarnished. Just what does the future hold? Time will tell.