“The Final Shot." - Jack Pine Savage
Henry W. Falk
February 22, 1950 – April 22, 2025
Jack Pine Savage isn’t about golf. It’s about life.
It’s about being authentic when the world tells you to pretend.
It’s about taking the hard road instead of the easy one.
It’s about grit, humor, and living your life your way.
This is the story of Henry “Hank” Falk — the original Jack Pine Savage.
When Henry “Hank” Falk walked into a room, people noticed. Not because he demanded attention or spoke the loudest, but because of the quiet confidence he carried. There was something steady about him — a grounded presence that made others take notice before he even said a word.
Hank was authentic. Real. He never tried to be someone he wasn’t, and that honesty drew people in. He could cut through pretenses without even trying, and it made others feel comfortable enough to be themselves around him.
What stood out most was his balance of grit and humor. He worked hard, chose the tougher road when most would take the easy one, and faced challenges head-on. But he also laughed easily, even in tough moments, and had a way of making others laugh, too. His humor wasn’t forced — it was woven into who he was, a reminder that life was never too serious to smile at.
And when life tested him in ways most can’t imagine, Hank never wavered. He met hardship with resilience and perspective, never complaining, always grateful for the life he had and the people he loved.
Those who knew him understood: Hank didn’t just live his life. He showed others how to live theirs.
That spirit — that combination of authenticity, humor, grit, and perspective — is what it means to be Jack Pine Savage.
While telling a story to a group of guys at Pawley’s Plantation, Hank described a dinner he once had with a table full of successful, polished professionals. He admitted he was nervous because, in his words, he “never went to social grace school” and didn’t know all the rules of fine dining.
When the meal was served, Hank was first — so he dug right in.
One of the men at the table, an attorney, called him out for being rude.
Hank didn’t miss a beat. With his trademark quick wit, he said:
“I’m just a Jack Pine Savage from the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. I grew up on a farm, and when the dinner bell rang, we ran in, got served, and ate as fast as we could so we could get back out and finish the work. That’s how I learned.”
Then he grinned and jabbed back at the attorney:
“But I noticed something — you never failed to cash a check that had ketchup spilled all over it.”
The entire group at Pawley’s erupted in laughter. And that was the beginning of Jack Pine Savage.
That same Pawley’s trip carried more weight than just a story and a laugh — it became the beginning of something much bigger.
While down at Pawley’s Plantation, Hank had been considering buying a condo. The realtor showing him the property made his pitch, but Hank — never one to do things the conventional way — turned it into a challenge.
“I’ll buy a condo if I can shoot 79 from the tips here at Pawley’s,” Hank said.
The realtor agreed, thinking it was just talk. But Hank meant it. They set out for the round, grinding from the tips. By the time they reached 18, Hank was right on the number. On the green, he faced a putt to seal the deal.
What made it unforgettable? The realtor himself crouched down on the 18th green, helping Hank read the putt. Hank rolled it in — 79 from the tips. True to his word, he bought the condo *that very day.* His attorney was there, his banker was on speed dial, and the deal was finalized on the spot.
That moment marked more than a real estate purchase. It planted the seed for a tradition that would shape the Jack Pine Savage crew: long, grueling road trips to Pawley’s, where authenticity and toughness mattered more than comfort.
Year after year, the trip became a test of body and spirit. A twelve-to-fourteen-hour drive. Thirty-six holes on Thursday, thirty-six on Friday, thirty-six on Saturday. Then back in the car for the long road home on Sunday.
It was never meant for the faint of heart. It was meant for those who embraced the grind. It was meant for Jack Pine Savages.
Jack Pine Savage isn’t just a name. It’s a way of living.
At Pawley’s Plantation, this creed comes alive on the course. Playing from the tips isn’t about chasing an easy score — it’s about challenging yourself. Breaking 100 from the back tees is worth more than bragging about an empty 80 from the front.
Because it’s not about the score. It’s about the test.
Hole 17 at Pawley’s will never just be another hole.
In April 2021, Hank stepped onto that tee box already knowing something was wrong. ALS had begun to take hold. Earlier in the round, on hole 7, his body had faltered. But on 17, with a quiet weight hanging over the group, he made his choice.
He teed the ball, turned toward the marsh, and — in typical Hank fashion — hit his drive deliberately into the water. Then he waved goodbye to the course.
It wasn’t just a golf shot. It was Hank doing what he always did: his way. He chose the place, the timing, and the meaning.
From there, he walked the hardest road of his life. ALS is merciless, but Hank never complained. He never asked “Why me?” Instead, he said:
“I got dealt a bad hand, and I’m just going to have to deal with it.”
Even in the face of a brutal disease and the short end of mortality, he remained grateful — for family, for life, for everything he had achieved.
On April 22, 2025, Hank passed. But not before proving, one final time, what it means to be Jack Pine Savage.
His song of choice said it all: “My Way.”
Henry “Hank” Falk was born in the remote farm country of Adams County, Wisconsin. The second of six children, he grew up working the family farm, learning discipline, responsibility, and the value of hard work at an early age.
Hank’s drive wasn’t limited to chores and farm life — he was also a gifted athlete. In high school, he competed in football, wrestling, track, and baseball, earning the honor of Senior Athlete of the Year. He went on to play quarterback in college for a couple of years before life led him in another direction.
After school, Hank began working in the factory at La Crosse Rubber Mills. What started on the floor of the factory evolved into a career in sales, where his determination and natural leadership carried him all the way up to National Sales Manager. Hank once set his sights on becoming the company’s CEO, but when it became clear that door would remain closed, he didn’t hesitate. With his entrepreneurial spirit, he chose another path.
Over the years, Hank bought and sold shoe stores and clothing businesses, pursued multiple real estate ventures, and ultimately found his calling in the auto industry. In northwest Ohio, he acquired a small dealership — essentially on a handshake — and built it into a thriving business over the next 30+ years. His business instincts were sharp, but more importantly, he was steady under pressure.
One of the defining moments of his career came during the Great Financial Crisis. Faced with uncertainty about whether his auto brand would even survive, Hank made the decision to buy over seven figures’ worth of vehicles — a gamble that could have ended the business. Instead, his boldness and steady hand not only preserved the dealership but left it stronger than before.
Though largely self-taught in business, Hank always credited key mentors, including his former father-in-law, Warren Smiley, with shaping his thinking. He combined those lessons with his own relentless drive to make hard choices and stay the course when times were toughest.
Beyond his career, Hank was defined by his loyalty — to his friends, to his employees, and above all, to his family. His success wasn’t built on shortcuts but on integrity, courage, and the quiet confidence that carried him through every chapter of his life.
To honor him, a plaque will mark hole 17 at Pawley’s:
“The Final Shot." - Jack Pine Savage
Henry W. Falk
February 22, 1950 – April 22, 2025
Beside it, a QR code will take anyone who stops there to this page — so they’ll not only know what happened, but also what it means.
Because Jack Pine Savage isn’t just about golf. It’s about authenticity. It’s about resilience. It’s about living life your way, no matter how hard the road.
And for anyone who steps onto the tips at Pawley’s, Hank’s spirit is still there, reminding you: this is what it means to be Jack Pine Savage.