Rick Stimmel continues his amateur success on the senior circuit
01 Jan 2024
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Rick Stimmel Rankings
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Rick Stimmel (Submitted Photo)
Rick Stimmel of Pittsburgh, Pa., is no stranger to success at the amateur golf level.
But the amount of success that Stimmel has found since turning 55 is surprising even to him.
“The thing that we all have to learn is don’t underestimate anybody,” Stimmel said. “My main thing is when I got to senior golf, I didn’t underestimate anybody.”
Stimmel became eligible for senior events late last season and has taken full advantage while recognizing the talent on that circuit.
“There are many different swings on the range, but these guys all know how to get the ball in the hole. It is super competitive,” Stimmel said. “I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it is way more competitive than I expected.”
Since entering the senior events, Stimmel has won the Pennsylvania Senior Amateur, the George Dressler Senior, the Art Wall Senior, the Senior Porter Cup, the Dixie Senior Amateur, and the Society of Seniors Ralph Bogart.
He also made the match play of his first U.S. Senior Amateur Championship after a strong showing in the stroke play portion.
Stimmel has found success at all levels of the amateur golf game, finishing runner-up in the 1997 U.S. Mid-Amateur and qualifying for the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, famously won by a 15-shot margin by Tiger Woods.
A trend for Stimmel this year was keeping his expectations low and letting the game and the rounds come to him. Before the Dixie Amateur, he was coming off not playing for almost two months and was dealing with a stomach bug at the Ralph Bogart. Due to that and the weather, he was unable to play a practice round but found himself in the lead after a 1-under 71 in the first round.
Rick Stimmel “I just kept grinding it out and seeing what would happen," Stimmel said.
Stimmel added, “It doesn’t matter what age anyone is; everyone still has a good game."
Stimmel has been a medical sales representative for over 20 years, and that discipline has been something that he has been able to translate onto the golf course as well as his personal life, which is a balance that comes difficult to all elite-level amateur golfers.
“It gives me some freedom in the summertime, but usually in the winter, November to April, I am really grinding, Stimmel said. “This year, I was able to sneak away and play in some of the events.”
Stimmel still has to do work as he travels and keep up with it, often working as he travels for golf. The balance of work and play is one that he has juggled for years and has it mastered by now.
However, even after doing this grind for 25 years, Stimmel still runs into some unique challenges. Heading to the Ralph Bogart, Stimmel took the driver's head off the driver so that it would not be damaged on the flight.
And he left it on his kitchen table.
He went to Golf Galaxy in Florida, got a new one, and went out and won the event.
Also the support he has received from his wife has also been positive in his amateur golf journey, encouraging him to play in more events this season.
“She has been super cool about it,” Stimmel said. “She was like, ‘Why don’t you go ahead and try another one?’
Stimmel does not know exactly how his 2024 schedule will shape up, but you can bet it will be filled with more top finishes.