Joe Salvaggio is all smiles after carding an even-par 27 —and a free membership — at Rolling Hills Golf Course. Submitted photo

Joe Salvaggio’s golf resume growing up was pretty impressive.

Twice during his career at Randolph Central School he earned a berth in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship. Upon his graduation, he moved on to Allegheny College and, by his senior year, he was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year and a Division III All-American.

But success on the links and enjoyment in doing so always seemed to be mutually exclusive.

“Since the age of 14, every round that I played was either competitive or preparing for a tournament,” Salvaggio said Wednesday afternoon. “Now that I don’t play competitive golf, I’ve truly learned to enjoy the game. I used to be so competitive, and it was so important for me to play well on a big stage.”

Now a generation removed from that win-or-go-home mentality, Salvaggio, a 46-year-old math teacher and golf coach at Jamestown High School, has a decidedly different attitude about the “gentlemen’s game.”

“Now I’ve truly learned to just enjoy the opportunity to play,” he said.

Monday was particularly meaningful.

Playing with friend and Persell Middle School teacher Ken Ricker at Rolling Hills Golf Course in Chaffee, New York, Salvaggio toured the par-3 layout in 27, the first person to accomplish an even-par score on the Erie County layout this season. In fact, his 5-foot par-saving putt on the 200-yard ninth hole preserved his even-par round and awarded him free golf for the rest of the 2020 season, courtesy of owner Jason Kline.

“Whether that putt went in or not on the last hole, it was just a great opportunity to go play golf with Ricker and enjoy a great afternoon,” Salvaggio said. “There used to be a time when a bad round of golf meant that it was going to be a bad day. I don’t approach the game that way (anymore). It’s supposed to be for fun.”

For the record, the two men played 27 holes. Salvaggio posted scores of 30, 27 and 28, good for 4-over. It marked the first time in 23 years that he’d played a par 3 course. Ricker posted scores of 33, 34 and 31 for 17-over.

“For me, it’s a great challenge,” Ricker said. ” … I’d like to take a whole bunch of guys who think they’re pretty good and see if they can shoot 27.”

Salvaggio’s first round of the afternoon began with a double-bogey on the very first hole.

“That shot my chance of shooting par, but it gave me the opportunity to know what clubs to hit on every hole,” he said.

The scouting report paid dividends on Salvaggio’s second tour.

After parring the first four holes, he birdied No. 5, parred No. 6, bogeyed No. 7 and parred No. 8.

“The finishing hole is 200 yards and I hit a 3-iron over the green,” Salvaggio recalled. “I chipped up to 5 feet and then I made the putt. … I knew it was for the first even-par round on the course for the year. It was fun for that putt to mean something. … It went right in the heart of the cup. I gave it a fist pump and a smile. I was just happy to enjoy the afternoon.”

Noted Ricker: “That’s Joe as a golfer and a person. He’s just rock solid.”

Needing a birdie on the last hole of his third round for a second-straight even-par score, his putt from 35 feet didn’t fall.

“It’s a really nice layout,” Salvaggio said. “The holes range from 140 yards to 200 yards. It makes you hit a bunch of different clubs and it’s a challenging course. It’s got big greens that run nice and smooth.”

Now that he has free golf there for the balance of the year, Salvaggio already has his calendar marked for a return trip.

“The plan is to get back to Rolling Hills before the end of the month to play again and see if we can match it or shoot even better the next time,” he said.