The king has retired -- sort of.
After a record-setting era as New Hampshire Amateur golf champion, Salem native Bob Mielcarz, now 76, has virtually retired from statewide competition in the Granite State.
Mielcarz won a record nine New Hampshire Amateurs between 1977 and 2000, eclipsing the eight titles won by Tom Leonard between 1939- 52.
He got to play his final New Hampshire Amateur on his home course at Concord Country Club. "I thought that was a nice touch, finishing my New Hampshire Amateur competitive days at Concord," Mielcarz said.
Even better, the oldest player in the field ("by a lot," he joked), made it into the 64-player match play bracket -- out of a starting field more than twice that size -- only to lose his opening round match to two-time former state champ James Pleat, son of long-time friend and rival and three-time titlist Phil Pleat, 6 and 5.
Call it a bittersweet finale.
"I had a modest goal to reach match play and I did," Mielcarz said proudly. "I got a sense of harsh reality -- and perspective -- when I got paired with James for match play. I guess James exacted some revenge for the Pleat clan, given that I had beaten James' father five times over the years when James served as Phil's caddy. However, I didn't mind one bit because I was happy just to be in match play."
Mielcarz appeared to have a great future on the Massachusetts amateur golf scene after he won the super competitive Folly Hill (United Shoe/Beverly Golf & Tennis Club) club championship in 1972, one year after graduating from the University of Rochester.
"I'd beaten George Nekoroski in the semifinals," Mielcarz recalled, "then beat another fine player, Steve Femino, in the final. What made that win special was the fact I played the final match a little hung over from my bachelor party the night before, plus the fact I was getting married that same afternoon.
"I knew that I had an understanding wife regarding my passion for golf, because Elaine's first words after walking down the long aisle of the St, James Church in Salem, MA were 'did you win?'"
That victory over Femino was a sign of things to come. But not in Massachusetts.
When a business opportunity presented itself for Mielcarz with a New Hampshire base of operations, he and Elaine relocated to Concord, N.H. That set the stage for a dominance never seen in New Hampshire Amateur annals, as well as a 52-year membership (as of 2026) at Concord CC.
His state championship reign began in 1977 and spanned five decades: 1977, '78, '79. '82, '91, '93, '95, '96 and 2000.
At some point, Mielcarz -- who is a member of the St. John's Prep Athletic Hall of Fame and NH Golf Hall of Fame -- had to begin thinking about saying farewell to the state amateur.
"I skipped a few tournaments after the 2012 event," he explained. "Then I saw a very tempting rotation of venues on the State Am calendar: Nashua, North Conway, Abnenaqui, Manchester and Concord. I made it to the semifinals at Manchester and won the tournament on the other four courses. So I decided to come out of my self-imposed retirement and try to finish my tournament career at Concord, my home course.
"I joked to my friends that I was like an aging rock star embarking on a farewell tour," he added with a laugh. "Tournament officials did a nice thing for me in that last amateur I played ;they put me out last on the second day of qualifying so that when I came up to the last green with my playing partners, the folks behind the green were there to give me a special sendoff. I kind of fooled them by making it to match play."
Mielcarz provided some self-induced pressure before making the match play cut. He made an eight on No. 15 and was afraid he'd blown his opportunity. But he steadied quickly, parring 16 and 17 and then made a 30-footer for birdie on 18. If he had missed the 30-footer, he would have found himself in an 8-player playoff for the final two spots in match play.
Mielcarz wondered in 2025 if his decision to retire might have been premature.
"I'd had such a good summer on the golf course," he said. "I had an eight-round stretch where my high score was 72 and my index (handicap) was down to 0.3. Still, I needed to accept that my days of state competition were past."
"Finishing up at Concord where I had previously won in 1993 in front of friends and family was sweet. I even had two of my grandsons caddy for me that week. I don't mind admitting that it was very emotional at times and more than a few tears were shed."
"I came a long way as a player of some reputation after winning that club championship at Folly Hill," Mielcarz reflected with a smile. "I will cherish every one of the nine state titles, but I also am proud to have made it to the quarterfinals at Mount Washington when I was 65."
Mielcarz has been Mr. Dominator competing in club championships at Concord. He won 20 of them, the first in his first year as a member in 1974, his last when he turned 70 in 2020.
"I've been blessed with longevity as a player, no doubt about it," Mielcarz pointed out. "Very few injuries or illnesses all these years. I've just kept swinging at the ball and I'm still doing it.
"But playing in 43 state amateurs became, I guess, my limit."