Ray Hibler, 95, hit the ceremonial first drive at the grand reopening of the Robson Ranch Wildhorse South Course on Oct. 16. The course was newly renovated.
Hibler is a Robson Ranch resident. He won several tournaments as a player, including a World Senior Golf Championship title. He later organized tournaments, rated golf courses for Golf Digest and worked for Nike Golf. He started playing golf relatively late, around 1977, after earlier years in baseball, basketball, the Army, teaching, coaching and clothing manufacturing.
Hibler said, "Golf has been fabulous to me. Having the honor to take the first drive on the new course was an incredibly special experience." In 2019, he shot a 71 on the Wildhorse course, 1 under par, which was 17 strokes below his age at the time, 88.
Hibler has cut back on his own playing. He still watches his neighbors play from his home. At the reopening, he let younger golfers take over after his first drive.