Oct 13, 2016 Results
A bit chilly to begin with, but tolerable as golf goes, that's what we encountered yesterday at Far Oaks for the final outing of the 27 event season for the ACS group. The sun even cooperated late in the round and got rid of the early chill - or didn't it? At the final count we amassed 123 players for this event, two of whom were disguised as the late, great, Payne Stewart - nice knickers Randy and Bob.
One of our avid members, Ron Smith by name, donated his superb golf ball collection to the masses. Ron estimated around 2200 balls were brought in and by the end of the day just about all of those were consumed by members in need of extras. However, if you needed extras you should just follow Randy Pratt around the course sometime because he has a habit of leaving balls in each hole when he and his group finish. Anyway, thanks to Ron for the donation which we understand was done to ensure domestic tranquility and to keep those %^&*# balls out of the kitchen sink!
Another special "hats off" goes to one special guy, Pierre Sans Souci by name, who yesterday successfully attended his 252nd consecutive outing with us. Unbelievable. We must be ok by his standards to have put up with us for that length of time. Thanks for being so loyal Pierre and we hope to see you for another 252 - if we last that long. We're sure you will.
And at this time, on behalf of the committee, I'd like to thank all of you who took the time after the festivities to file by the table and shake our hands. It really means something to us to be appreciated for the work that it takes to put these things on. And of course extra special thanks has to go out to Randy Pratt who this year shouldered virtually all the tasks involved in the process that is the ACS golf group weekly event. Having done the pairings/mailings/etc. for quite a few years take it from me these tasks take up a fair amount of time in one's life during the golf season. Plus, he sets up the courses for the year and remains in contact with their management for each upcoming event. Quite a task for just one person - thanks a ton Randy. And in spite of "accidentally" drawing his own ticket to win the final 50-50 of the day, he really is a tolerable guy who somehow on occasion manages to trick the computer into thinking his team actually won something on the course.
And, a reminder here, Randy announced afterwards that we are breaking ties with our local/national organization and that next year we'll be charging everyone a $5 membership fee which covers such things as publication of our booklet and some administrative items. But, we will still go by the name of the ACS, since it was the chartering organization and the administrative core of the group are folks from our government organization.
Another mod to the rules; our "75 and older hit from the front tees on your birthday" has been changed to "the year in which you turn 75 you may hit from the front tees". That really doesn't help me at all since I make the milestone in February.
Enough of the accolades and the BS, let's get down to golf. The course was in good shape, at least the fairways and even the rough. The greens, however, were similar to what we've encountered the past 2 weeks - rough. Many ball marks had not been properly repaired and there were just a lot of bare spots on many of the surfaces.
For the event we invoked the "hit from any tee" concept. To a man we all congregated on the red tees to get a fresh perspective on our games. We did this last year and really it didn't prove anything. Scores did not tumble as expected. What it seems to prove is that our games have to be altered to accommodate an approach shot from a distance we're not used to, a distance that requires a more lofted club and perhaps a different swing. Admittedly we are not equipped for either. I guess what I'm saying is that in my opinion it's not such a great idea for those of us that would like to use a full overswing most of the time.
On another front, not on the course, but in the surrounding multi-million dollar subdivision the construction guys decided to use their noisiest possible equipment to alter the landscape. I'm absolutely convinced that those big dump truck drivers got extra glee out of banging their rear gates to get rid of the last, tiniest particle of dirt. Those things sounded like a stick of dynamite each time they performed that task. I'm sure those drivers had a big chuckle later on about how they upset the serenity of the golf course by showing their prowess with their big equipment. I hope they developed headaches because of it. I know I almost did.
Results:Oh yeah, the playoff hole was #15, a very short par 4 guarded in the front by a $%^*ing bunker.
Flight "A"
In First, winning the whole shootin' match with a sparkling -13(59) was the Ron Muse, John Prather, Ken Knarr, and Kerry Rockwell foursome. I played here with Ron several years ago and I think we also finished at -13, but that was from the whites. Guess we're getting a bit shorter with age, eh?
In Second was the Tom Wulf team at 60(not his age by a long shot)
In Third was the Don Zugmaier team who shot the same 60.
In Fourth was was the Jack Panula squad with a 61(-11).
The Tom Braun team also shot 61 but was passed by the Panula team because of the SCP.
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Flight "B"
Most of the teams in this flight finished at -10(62) - like six of them
In First was the Tom Prinzi group
In Second was the Dan Edmiston team.
In Third was the John Balog team
In Fourth
Also with the 62 were the Gene Erard team and the Jack Eckhard team. The John Boyd team and the Harvey Ruth teams each had 63's.
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Flight "C"
Six teams finished with -8(64).
In First was the Gary Dyhouse team
In Second was the Bob Haddad team.
In Third was the Ed de la Pena team.
In Fourth was the Paul Villhard team.
The Jim Zweifel team and the Charley Wilson team also shot 64's but were out of the running based on the SCP.
The Bob Edwards team shot 65 while the Dave Page and the Lou Pessoni teams shot 66's.
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Flight "D"
Four teams topped out this flight with -5(67's).
In First was the Dennis Meade team.
In Second was the Max Saunders team.
In Third was the Don Giarraffa team.
In Fourth was Bob Bischoff team.
Two teams shot -4(68), the Stewart Pagenstecher team and the Jim Frost team, while the Larry Knopfel team and the Bob Checkley team posted -2(70) scores.
And the WEoD (worthy effort of the day) went to the Bert Schott squad who posted a -1(71), thus making it one of the few times each team was below par, and unfortunately for all those sisters waiting in the crowd for that sibling smooch, no one was even par.
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Awards:
Closest to the pins for the day:
#2 Tom Prinzi #6 Ron Ruffin #8 Ed de la Pena #13 Jack Reiner #16 Ken Knarr
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Well, that's it for the year, thanks again for all of you that enjoyed it, and if you didn't perhaps you need a different swing coach, or new equipment, or clothes, or something.
Oh yeah, in the drawings afterwards we gave away $7000 in lumps of $200/$300/$500 awards.