Watching the year wind down...there comes an idea from Chris. I put it out first to you users of the blog. Here's Chris' message:
Harris Golf has a special called the Preservation Pass. It gives you a
round of golf with cart at one of three 18-hole courses plus another round
(walking) at one of four 9-hole course for $50.

I received one of these for Christmas last year, it's a fantastic deal.

Check out the web site:

http://www.harrisgolfonline.com/playcards.php

I was thinking this would be a fairly inexpensive way for a bunch of us to
play a couple of different course next year.

Personally, I think it's a great idea...but would want a commitment from you friends so that I could be assured of someone with whom to go. Let's talk about this right here.

Fall on the course

I've been out on the course for the last three days. It's a little wet, but, wow, is it in good shape! The ball seems to go less far also. I've gone up a club with some good results. I complained the other day about being kept at a 6 handicap...then went out and shot a 35! So today, I went out confident about my 6 handicap and shot a 43! Who invented this game???!! The other day I pulled out my big headed driver and put the ball 4 feet from the pin on #7. Today I tried the same and was four shots just getting onto the green. Yikes! Anyway, I had the pleasure of watching putts go in from everywhere off the club of Les Demmons who shot a 34 (he's a 7 handicap!). Really...what a putter...just amazing!
I guess the point is that there is still some good weather left to take advantage of our beautiful course. I hope to see some of you out there before it closes for the winter.

Glow Ball cont.

Chris is in a deep depression about the continued cancellation of the Glow Ball Tourney. Speak below if you have any good suggestions for him. It looks as though this Thursday may be decent weather...however, I know that I cannot be there. I'll save my ball for next year.

Wacko Wacko World of Golf!

For those of you that missed it. We rearranged the course last Sunday before the Board meeting and had a ball playing a course that featured four (4) par fours! Of course (paste) Chris Blum won the day and...ALSO, had a hole-in-one on the hole from the 5th tee to the second green! Congratulations, you sand-bagger you!!
The week has also featured a broken right elbow on the first tee by Butch Wall...is there a plaque for that?? We will miss you Butch...heal well!
This game is so strange. Today I went out for 18 with Les and shot a 31...and a 40! Yikes!
Make sure to show up at the annual fall meeting in October where, among other things, prizes will be awarded and the assembled members will vote on NEXT YEARS MEMBERSHIP FEE! If you don't attend, you can't vote! Come hear the discussion and have your say.

Glow-ball

Weather permitting, the glow-ball tourney will be given another chance next Thursday. Let's hope for good weather.
If anyone is interested, I'll have my money out on Sunday afternoon at 1:00PM. If we get enough people, let's play some interesting format.

Open/Happy Hacker Results!

Well...On a fabulous weekend of weather there was fabulous golf. The winner of the gross was Mike Collins (134) and the net winner was, guess who...Chris Blum (116) (I just have to hit paste on my computer). Second place in those catagories went to John Jacques and Les Demmons. It's a long haul over 36 holes, but everyone had a great time. Now on to Glow Ball!

Tournament Result

Now, with the rain...I get a chance to update in the blog.
The Member's Memorial was very successful....18 players showed up! Competition was good with six teams of three. The winning team was Chris Blum, Mike Collins, and Greg Soucy. Congrats to those guys. It should be noted that this is Chris' fourth win in a tournament this season...is something wrong with our system?....is something right with his game? Clearly he'll get much needed exercise going up and back at the awards ceremony....perhaps an adjustment to his handicap is necessary?
See you all at the Glow Ball Tournament on the 15th..and at the weekend long, 36 hole Open and Happy Hacker this coming weekend, the 10th and 11th. Show up at 9:30 A.M. Here's the description:

The Open & Happy Hacker (18 holes each day) (Men's)

This is an individual format tournament. Low Net and Low Gross scores are recorded for each round and posted on the Tournament Chart. All strokes are counted to the hole. (The Open) Low Net is the players score with his handicap subtracted. (The Happy Hacker) Low Gross is the player's total strokes for each round.

First & second place in each category are awarded Prizes for this tournament at the Fall Awards Meeting.

Enjoy the rain break...See you all on Thursday evening at 5:30 P.M.

The Winner is...

I sat on the deck of the clubhouse...moving to get a good view of the intense match happening before me on the vast green fairways of the UCC. With me were other players who chose to spend a portion of their mid-day viewing this drama. It was a perfect day for golf (we all had played some today) and the caliper of golf in front of us was outstanding (in one way or another!). When all was said and done, Chris Blum beat Jeff Payson up two with one hole remaining....this on the day that Chris' handicap went from an eight to a nine! It was close all the way...the gallery shifting to a shady spot near the eighth green to view the play across the street. We found that we actually have a fine course for "stadium" golf. Congratulations to both players in the finals! We saw some...er..."interesting" shots. Jeff will see his name on the walls of the clubhouse in good time, but for now...CHRIS BLUM IS THE 2011 CLUB HANDICAP CHAMPION! Congratulations!!

LOTS OF ACTION!

So much going on!

1.) Twilight was terrific tonight...16 people, real close competition...great fun! And it was some dark when we finished, so...NOTE: NEXT WEEK TWILIGHT LEAGUE WILL BEGIN AT 5:30 P.M.

2.) The final match of the Club Handicap will be held tomorrow (FRIDAY) at 12 NOON. It should be worth watching ....Chris Blum vs Jeff Payson...good luck to you both!

3.) Member's Memorial Tournament this Sunday @ 1:30 P.M. Great fun...hope the rain holds off, but don't be shy...we don't melt! Best ball, nine holes, Les determines the teams by total handicaps.

4.) ANNUAL GLOW BALL TOURNAMENT will be held on (Sept. 15th) after Twilight League. This will be a nine hole, best ball format and is open to anyone, even non-members (who will be expected to pay the $10 greens fee) with an entry fee of $3.00. You must sign up for this by 9/14 and let it be known that you need a "glow ball" (cost about $5.00). There will be a grill for everyone's use, so bring some burgers or dogs! This is a one of a kind experience, not to be missed! Sign up at the club house or email Chris Blum at xopherb@gmail.com.

The course is in great shape...all picked up after the storm and very green. Come enjoy the fun!

Tourney Update!

The final two players have been determined...and they are Jeff Payson and Chris Blum! I just have to share the email that I got from Chris. Here it is...verbatim:

John and I tried to play Thursday but got rained out. We met to play on
Friday at 2:30. He certainly was not going to give me the match. It was
extremely hot and some sort of fly was hatching out all over the course.
It looked like some sort of swarm from a horror movie or something!

I took the first two holes and it looked like I had a chance but he was
not giving up that easy. We had a great time and coming up on 18, I was
one up but John took the hole to tie it up. Off for another 9. This is the
second time during this tournament that I had to go extra holes. I pulled
out every trick I had and shot a personal low score of 33 on the next nine
but it still wasn't enough! We elected to play another nine. Yes, a total
of 36 holes! In the end, I guess I wore him down. Coming up on #36 I was 1
up. I landed a really good tee shot and my second shot was about a foot
away. John shot a 4 and I walked (limped) away victorious.

I don;t recall who won the other match but it looks like I'm in the final.
i just hope there is a course to play after tomorrow.

Twilight...alone

It was a beautiful sight...the course deep green...the hills in shades of blue in the distance...the clubhouse glistening after the passing rain. I sat there until 6:00...ready to play...but no one showed. It was like there had been some email that had gone around...and I missed it. But it was still beautiful out there...and I would have just played a few holes myself...but I returned home to have dinner with my honey. Amazing to have the Thursday night all to myself on the deck...not a complaint, but just amazing...beautiful.
The tourney continues...Member's Memorial next weekend.

A Wamping!

I got wamped this afternoon....by a fine young golfer who refused to give up when he was down three holes at the start. The guy can putt! And hit the ball accurately a mile off the tee! I guess that's what it takes. I was not embarrassed by either of my rounds..but somehow he wamped me!
Good luck to the four finalist...it's good to see some new names rising to the top.

First Round Results!

The results are in for the first round of the Club Handicap! It was a great series of matches...and already some of the mighty have fallen. I won't go so far as to mention their names...one of the mighty didn't even get his name on the list in time!
Second round matches are as follows:
Rick Starrett (9) vs Jeff Payson (4)
Jamey Lombardo (8) vs Bob Richardson (7)
Butch Wall (3) vs Chris Blum (8)
John Jacques (2) Bye

Note also that the Members Memorial has been reschedule to September 4th, 1:30 P.M. It's just a 9-hole, best ball, good time, so be there!
I will also post some information about the annual glow-ball tournament coming up in early September...I've been told the info, but can't remember it all....old age.

The course is in great shape! Have fun!

This Weekend

Lots going on at the club! The Club Handicap starts on Saturday at 9:30...first to show up pairings can start earliest. Everyone starts from #1. Talk it up and get more people on the list. We need a full 16 at least to fill the bracket. The more, the better!

Board meeting on Sunday...doesn't seem to conflict with matches. Board members can schedule at a different time. There was no indicated time for this meeting, so I'm assuming it's 1:30 P.M.

No rescheduling time for the Member's Memorial yet. There are days available, so let's wait until Les has time to think this over.

John Jacques had a hole-in-one on #5 last week! Nice shot John! I played a round with Butch this week...and he's just murder on the 3rd! He doesn't hesitate to put it over the trees and ends up out in the fairway just short of the ditch! Yikes! He could be the dark horse on Saturday.

When I look at the line-up, I just don't see an easy draw. It should be a great tournament.

Par

There is a disturbing trend at the club! It has come to my attention that both John Jacques and Mike Collins have PARRED the course in this last week!! And the games of several other players (who shall remain nameless) have improved measurably. IS THE COURSE BECOMING TOO EASY? Have these guys not heard the club rule that, if you par the course, you have to play tournaments with a blindfold on? YIKES!

All kidding aside, I saw John's card (which had several great scores by Butch) and it was impressive! A lot of 29, 30, 31 at the bottom. Then I was told that Mike had parred the course earlier in the week. Congratulations to all you great golfers...and pity on us lowly fun lovers who will get pitted against you in the Club Handicap.
By the way...Let's get a good turnout for that big matchplay tournament.
It's been great to watch such great golf at this time of the summer. Twilight league has been great fun this year.
Carry on!

3-Ball

What a tourney! 32 people on the course...all playing at the same time! Actually...it was probably too many. Should we have limited it to the first 27? Should we have played it as 4-ball? Should we add nine more holes to the course? Was it OK is it was? Let me know your thoughts. It was great to see that many people turn out...and I hope they keep turning up for the next tourney.
Also, there is a discussion beginning about the ground rules for the game on our course...what do the stakes mean?...what and when is a preferred lie?....what constitutes fairway?...what are the rules for out of bounds...water hazards...etc. Lots to firm up here...to make our scores more meaningful and not get us in trouble when we're playing tournaments with someone who knows the rules! (There are those guys!)
Cheers!

Reality Check

Well...I played a "big one" on Tuesday. Four cronies took a trip to Fox Ridge Golf Course in Auburn and had a great time....but it was a reality check for me. Number one was that I don't really play the game very well in spite of my six handicap at UCC. Number two is that I really don't care, because I have so much fun playing golf. Three was that we at UCC are very very fortunate to have the greens-keeper that we have. Our course is very beautiful...and it's all his fault.
So...when you just nudge the ball an the greens of Fox Ridge, there is a long, long roll...time enough to say "look at that.... I can't believe it... stop!!!" And there are some holes where there was water, stone walls, bushes, "native fescue", and cart paths between the tee and the fairway...200 yards away. Two of our group could hit far up onto the next ridge, but I just haven't got the power. Oh well....I learned how to say "Oh Well."
We had a great time...and that's what it's all about!
See you all on Sunday afternoon if not before.
(1:30 PM...Three-Ball Tournament.)

Member/Open House Report

Well...it may have been the season, it may have been the early morning rain, house guest, 18 holes, sleeping late...whatever, but only nine of us showed for the tournament today. There were NO guest...and there were NO women. Fortunately, this made for three closely matched teams of three, the sun came out to make it a perfect day for golf, and all scores were under par! Rick, John, and Bob went off with the money, finishing 4 under par for the 18 holes, winning by one over Mike, Ken, and Chris, and by another stroke over Paul, Jamey, and Butch. The place was crawling with Lombardo's! (Nicer guys all you could not find!)
I am asking for some input here to solve the attendance problem. It may be that we all have other things that have to get done on Saturday mornings. It may be that women don't like to play with the boys. It may be that no one is interested in putting out the effort to invite guest to this event. It might be that 18 holes is too much for some of us. I'd like to have your input so that we can have a better showing next time.
Thanks to all who showed up. It was a great day...lots of sun...some good shots...see you all soon.

Member/Open House

This Saturday morning is an opportunity to introduce possible new members to the course. Bring as many friends and neighbors as you wish! The tourney will begin at 9:30 (get there early) and will be best ball format. You may not be paired with the guest you bring, but we'll try. It's an 18 hole tourney and will cost $5.00 per player. Seeing as our membership numbers are down a bit (as are most courses in the area), we should make this a big push to get outsiders interested. Do your part please! See you there!!

One Club & Putter

A great turn-out and perfect weather for golf showed up on Sunday afternoon! We had 16 players using 5 irons, 6 irons, 8 irons, drivers, I even saw with my own eyes a highly respected member use a putter to drive with!!! In the end, we had four people tied at 31. In sudden death play-off, Chris Blum managed a par on the first hole and won the tournament with a large gallery looking on from the club house deck. It was a great day!

Twilight League!

With new handicaps in the book, nine players who recognized a good night for golf...and were not afraid of the gray sky....had a great time as three teams of three. It was perfect weather!

Notice: Don't forget to record ALL your rounds in the book on the counter...that's the only way we can get meaningful handicap ratings.

See you all at the One Club and a Putter Tournament on Sunday. Should be great fun!!

Board meeting following golf.

President's Cup Champion!

In a match that pitted the consistent, effortless strokes of a master against the decidedly mediocre efforts of an old man, John Jacques emerged as the 2011 Presidents Cup Champion today. Congratulations to John...and really to all who participated. This was a great tournament, with a good turnout, and lots of good laughs. I have it on good account that the loser of the final match (4 and 3) retained his sense of humor and plans on giving it his all once again in the Club Handicap in August...after all...he killed the king before he went down to defeat at the hands of John!
Next tourney is this Sunday...One Club and a Putter...read the description on line if you are unfamiliar with the concept.
Also, the board meets following the tourney and will discuss, among other issues, the Lady's Day controversy. Public is invited and if you have an opinion, show up and give it...or forever hold your peace.

Great Golf!

What a great evening on the course! Fifteen (15) players made five perfect teams of three. Butch was closest to the pin and David Allen only had ten putts! I can't remember who the winning team was...remind me David! We all had a great time. Think of it this way...If you had been there...it would have been four teams of four!
The finals for the Presidents Cup have been scheduled for Tuesday at 10:15 A.M. Gallery tickets for this event are FREE this year! I'm going to be there!
The course is in the best shape that I've ever seen it in. It's truly beautiful!

FINALS!

Well...Bob and Chris met and traded holes until one last put on the last hole made the difference. Too close! Bob won and will face John Jacques who handed Les a bit of a shellacking.
We had a great conversation with the ladies who showed up for Ladies Day. They still want the morning to be theirs...and they are quite adamant about that! So Verlie is going to get the email addresses and try to get the numbers up. We know there are several of you who are interested but don't know the particulars. There have been ladies playing out there on the "good" Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30. Join 'em! (If you're a lady!)
I'd love to have some communication right here on the blog...so talk if you will...and I'll try to talk back...or get others to discuss things
See you all Thursday evening!

Updates!

OK...so it was sort of wet out there on Sunday...and only a few of the very brave showed up...I was not one of them. It's my understanding that all five played a round together and had a very good time, but it was NOT the Flag Day Tournament. We'll have to wait until next year for that. The tournament has been scratched.
The President's Cup has come down to the semi's after some hard fought battles. It will be Chris Blum and Bob Richardson in the top bracket and John Jacques and Les Demmons in the bottom bracket. These should be good matches...best place to watch is on the porch! I'll post it if I find out the times.
Next tournament is One Club and a Putter on the 26th. That's a good one, full of good laughs and a few great shots.
See you all on a sunny Thursday evening.

Flag Day

Flag Day this Sunday at 1:30. This is a really fun event and we hope to see a record turnout. It's good to see that the membership of this blog is getting bigger! Terrific! Perhaps this will work. The President's Cup continues...we've seen a hole-in-one AND the current champion was dethroned this morning (by yours truly!) I will be missing Flag Day for personal reasons and will miss the good time that will be had by all. If anyone out there doesn't know what flag day is, read my email to you...or check out the web site! It's all there!!

GREAT WEATHER

It's about time we got great weather for golf! Tonight is twilight league...be there by 5:45 so that we can start by 6:00. Also, it's the last chance to get on the President's Cup list. We hope to get at least 16 people for a full bracket. It's lots of fun, so come on in and sign up! The tourney starts at 9:00 on Saturday (or Sunday if you can't make Saturday).

Golf Site

I've found a good web site for golfers like me. http://www.revolutiongolf.com/ It has a lot of free videos that give good advice. Then, if you want to part with a few bucks, you can log in and get some expensive information. I've already profited from some chipping instruction and some grip suggestions....not that it will make any difference in the President's Cup this weekend. Let me know if you think this is a good site.

Lady's Day

Wednesday mornings bring us Lady's Day. There has been a feeling that the "ladies" don't really make use of that time and some men would like to be on the course. What to do? Some of the ladies have written me with an interest and with plans...one even with a threat! So it's time for conversation. What do you think? I may wander down tomorrow and talk to some of the ladies...if they are there.

New Season!

I thought this might be a good way to communicate and discuss various issues...or even talk about the tournaments, twilight league, ladies day, "big course" outings, etc. Subscribe to this blog if you like and take part in the conversations that happen here. I'll make an entry when something golf-like happens in my life. If you are a new member and have questions about the course, this may be the place to ask them. If you don't belong yet, you can ask your questions here. Meanwhile, This is a beginning, so let's hear from YOU!