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An Active Couple
NEWPORT BEACH COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERS GARY AND ANNE CARLSEN SHARE SOME OF THEIR ADVENTUROUS HOBBIES , THEIR FAVORITE NBCC MEMORIES AND HOW THEY ’ RE SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC .
Every so often , the editors of Bay Window send out a questionnaire to one of the esteemed members or employees of an
International Bay Clubs property to gain some insight into his or her life . These nine questions allow our readers to learn something new about old friends , or discover somebody they have not met before . For this issue , we ’ re getting to know Newport Beach Country Club members Gary and Anne Carlsen , who met on a blind date at USC and have now been married for more than 50 years .
1Bay Window : What is your favorite NBCC memory ? Gary and Anne Carlsen : A few years ago , we both hit our shots up onto the green at # 17 and proceeded to both make our putts for birdies .
2BW : Who is your biggest golf mentor ? GC : Anne is the one I look up to because she “ plays the game .” I admire her great attitude and her ability to stay positive .
3BW : What is your funniest golf experience at NBCC ? GC : I let my push cart roll down the hill at # 15 before the lake was revamped . It swerved hard right , with me running to catch it , but dumped right into the lake . I dragged my bag out , but couldn ’ t find everything . After finishing the round and having lunch , I went home , put on my wetsuit , came back and retrieved the rest of my gear with my mask , fins and snorkel . … We still laugh about that .
4BW : What is your favorite holiday ?
AC : Thanksgiving . It ’ s a time to be thankful with family together — no presents , just my favorite colors , and pumpkin and apple pies . I like sharing around the table with words and drawings after our meal .
5BW : What are some of your biggest hobbies ? GC : I have done underwater photography since I was
15 . Since 2008 , I have had an observatory near the town of
Anza , outside of Temecula . I use a 12.5-inch reflector with attached cameras to do astrophotography . AC : I have been in an investment group for over 25 years and enjoy learning and following businesses and finance . Improving my golf game is an ongoing interest .
6BW : Do you do any other sports together ? AC : We have scuba dived in many seas — the Sea of Cortez , the Red Sea , our Pacific Ocean , the Indian Ocean . In the ’ 80s , we were in Micronesia in Palau , Saipan , Truk Atoll and Pohnpei . We recently revisited the beauty of Palau .
7BW : What is something about you that many don ’ t know ? GC : I competed in the 1968 Olympics in the discus throw . … As a senior , I broke the school record and … ended up at USC on scholarship . I broke the USC record at 206 feet and went on to win a series of track meets leading to Lake Tahoe and qualification for the Olympics in Mexico City . Anne and I married in April 1968 and together got to experience Mexico City ; I placed sixth . Amazingly , I still hold the USC record and my high school record after 50 years .
8BW : How does discus throwing compare to golf ? GC : The hips lead the body and the arm lags behind to receive the power from the body . Power is applied with the arm only after it is triggered by the body turn , so it is similar .
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BW : What has been your saving grace during the
COVID-19 pandemic ? GC / AC : NBCC ! Being able to just walk the course … and , now , having golf back to normal has filled our days with exercise and seeing friends — from a distance .
48 BAY WINDOW