Recently, I visited Montreal, Canada. I enjoyed the visit more because my daughter was the reason of my trip, otherwise, on the way back, I was never so happy to see stars & stripes in the horizon.
Don't take me wrong, Canadians were great hosts, especially Gary Lagden, the golf professional at the scenic The Blainvillier Golf Club, where the qualifying round took place; however, I never felt much out of place as in there, part of it was that it was difficult to communicate, and part of it was the obvious desire of the locals to cheer for any Canadian born player to win their national championship, something that has not been done in over 25 years. To some of the spectators, it was more than just a golf championship, it was a matter of national pride.
Driving back across the border, when the immigration official asked us about our trip and gave us a "thumbs up", almost as if somehow Anya had gone to "represent" the United States instead of herself, it reminded me of several international competitions of different nature, those where the name of the country is first, and the name of the athlete is second.
We have several international competitions for which players MUST qualify to have the honor of representing our country (even if some are by "captain's picks"): The Ryder Cup, The Solheim Cup (to be played later this year), The Presiden't Cup (also to be played next month), the Walker Cup and the Curtis Cup. But you also have the The World Cup and The World Amateur among others, however, there is no point system to qualify for these, you are invited by a committee no one knows about; and now, as of 2016, you'll also have "Olympic Golf", and so far, there is no word on how teams will be selected.
To begin with, I believe that golf doesn't belong in the Olympics unless some changes are made to the rules of competition, among the changes I can think of: 1) No caddies allowed (for instance, athletes in the Biathlon don't have someone carrying their competition rifle) and 2) Somehow the rules include a benefit for faster play (wouldn't it be fun if there was a stroke deduction if you finished in les than 3 1/2 hours, and a penalty if you took more than 4 hrs?)
On the other hand, I'd really like to see the very best amateur golfers (professionals do not have a place in the Olympics) represent us with their heart, just as the professionals represent us in the Ryder Cup, President's Cup and Solheim Cup. Maybe have a qualifying tournament, just like they do for other sports. Otherwise, it would be a sad thing for the Olympics to go the same route as the The World Cup has gone in the last 20 years, especially the last 10.
Gone are the days where our very best and highest ranked players represented us in the World Cup. The last three played (2010 was cancelled), we were represented by the following players: John Merrick & Nick Watney (2009); Ben Curtis & Brandt Snedeker (2008) and Heath Slocum & Boo Weekley (2007). Of these, only one major winner (Ben Curtis), which by the way, is the only tournament that he has ever won to date. Now, I don't doubt these players' patriotism or skill at their best, and we should thank them for saying "yes" when tapped to represent the U.S., but clearly, they were not our "best guns" at the time. Clearly Phil & Tiger should have represented us more than they have.
Between 1953 (1st year the World Cup was played) and 1996, the United States won 21 times; an American won the individual title 16 times, and the U.S. Team was runner up 6 times. The best finish in the last 10 years has been second (twice). Before, the U.S. team was chosen from the best finishes in the majors, thus, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer teamed up to win 4 cups, so did Fred Couples and Davis Love III. Other winners include Johnny Miller, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Ben Hogan, Julius Boros, Billy Casper and other major championship winners.
I have no idea what the thinking is. Maybe there is a brainless and narrow minded idea that "everyone should have a chance" to win (politics seem to be that way the last few years), therefore, since we cannot limit their equipment (as some politicians tend to do with forces that represent our best interests overseeas), we send second or third string players, only with hopes that we win, not with the desire to be best represented. Maybe they want to give other countries a better chance, who knows.
If you were putting your life on the line, wouldn't you rather have a qualified marksman with great equipment that he trusts watching your back than someone who hits the bulls eye only 10% of the time? Sure, sport is different, but we still want to have the best chance to win.
All I can think of is that hopefully, people with this kind of thinking have nothing to do with the makeup of the 2016 Olympic Golf Team.
BREAKING PUTTS...
--- Our first poll on format of play had 47 responses as follows:
a) Individual Stroke Play 12 (25.5%),
b) Individual Match Play 10 (21.2%);
c) 2 Man Scramble 15 (32.0%);
d) 4-Man Scramble 8 (17.0%);
e) Other 2 (4.2%).
That one third of the people enjoy playing a 2-Man Scramble is not a surpise, but it is good to know that almost half the people like individual formats as well. Now, let's ask how do you play the ball. "Up"? "Up & Down"? "Down"?
--- Swimming Pool to close with a swimming pool party on September 10 (the evening of the Elks Tournament). Party has nothing to do with Elks tournament in the morning, two separate things.
--- Elks Tournament is scheduled for September 10. 4-Man Scramble. $440 per team. Includes everything. Elks Members and non members invited. Shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.
--- Cary Hall Memorial set for September 24th. $400 for a 4 man team. More details later.
--- Good luck wishes to Dr. Craig Phelps who is going to the annual Amateur Handicapped Championship. Over 4,000 golfers gather in Myrtle Beach in over 70 flights (including seniors and super seniors). Dr. Phelps has competed in this event several times, making the finals two years ago (40 players of each flight get to the finals). Bring a trophy!
--- A "Make a New Friend" (or get re-acquainted with old friends) outing will take place a week or two after Labor Day weekend. Outing will be on a weekday. Details and date TBA. Men & Ladies invited.... especially our weekday early birds. Lunch will follow play. If things go as planned, every group gets stuck with me for a couple of holes, so I can get further acquainted with several more people. If so, I'll get to play and you can take a shot at "beating the pro".
--- Plans are on the table for a match play event to be added in late fall (a two day weekend). As well, some have hinted that a "Tournament of Champions" would be a good idea. I concurr.
a) Individual Stroke Play 12 (25.5%),
b) Individual Match Play 10 (21.2%);
c) 2 Man Scramble 15 (32.0%);
d) 4-Man Scramble 8 (17.0%);
e) Other 2 (4.2%).
That one third of the people enjoy playing a 2-Man Scramble is not a surpise, but it is good to know that almost half the people like individual formats as well. Now, let's ask how do you play the ball. "Up"? "Up & Down"? "Down"?
--- Swimming Pool to close with a swimming pool party on September 10 (the evening of the Elks Tournament). Party has nothing to do with Elks tournament in the morning, two separate things.
--- Elks Tournament is scheduled for September 10. 4-Man Scramble. $440 per team. Includes everything. Elks Members and non members invited. Shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.
--- Cary Hall Memorial set for September 24th. $400 for a 4 man team. More details later.
--- Good luck wishes to Dr. Craig Phelps who is going to the annual Amateur Handicapped Championship. Over 4,000 golfers gather in Myrtle Beach in over 70 flights (including seniors and super seniors). Dr. Phelps has competed in this event several times, making the finals two years ago (40 players of each flight get to the finals). Bring a trophy!
--- A "Make a New Friend" (or get re-acquainted with old friends) outing will take place a week or two after Labor Day weekend. Outing will be on a weekday. Details and date TBA. Men & Ladies invited.... especially our weekday early birds. Lunch will follow play. If things go as planned, every group gets stuck with me for a couple of holes, so I can get further acquainted with several more people. If so, I'll get to play and you can take a shot at "beating the pro".
--- Plans are on the table for a match play event to be added in late fall (a two day weekend). As well, some have hinted that a "Tournament of Champions" would be a good idea. I concurr.
LONG AND SHORT CHIP SHOTS...
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| Fix 2-3 Ball Marks every round and your greens will improve |
-- "PLAYING THE COURSE AS YOU FIND IT"... It's in the rules of golf. Read Rule #13. But let's expand the term a bit. Let's not talk about bad lies in fairways, or trees in front of you (that some take out of play when using "lift, clean and place"), or tee markers position.. let's talk about our greens. Most people would agree that the surfaces are pretty nice and pretty full (or close to), and yes, most would agree that they are somewhat slow (to some, these feel like a 4-5 in the stimpmeter, but it is closer to 7-8). Like most, I also like faster surfaces, but I ask to all: Be patient, it is better to be overly cautious than to be a little over confident with this heat and pay grave consequences. Remember that our resources are not the same as other courses. ON THE OTHER HAND, YOU CAN SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY HELPING US FIXING BALL MARKS, YOURS AND OTHERS OF THOSE WHO FORGET!! SEE YOUR GREENS IMRPOVE!!-- Will miss two kids at the golf course, David Clinton and Cody Lake. Both kids graduated and will be attending higher education nearby. David was the first person in Elk City, young or adult, who invited me to play with him after I took the job as golf professional. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed myself and how good it made me feel. I never had the chance to play with Cody, but saw him play a few times in the spring events with Elk City H.S., and he is intense, maybe too intense for his own good. He'll do good at whatever he chooses. Also coming back from summer work was smiley and long hitting, Keegan Hall who came to play a few holes the other day and hit a few balls.... OK kids (all of you five), whatever sport you do this fall, don't forget golf!
-- Played 9 holes with two high school students, one was Brock Walker who this summer elected not to play as much. One wonders what kind of player some people could be if they put more time into the game. Brock is one of those people. As is Berek Dyson and the whole golf team, now with upcoming member Logan Gray, who seems to like golf only. But one piece of advice to parents and players: golf is only a game, if your kids (and if you kids), like to do something else or experiment with some other sports, do so! Stay busy and out of trouble! There is room everywhere for your passion(s).
-- This all reminds me of a conversation I had the other day with some people about how good some people seem to be at what they do. I believe that to be good at something, you have to be somewhat selfish and do only one thing. A musician cannot be good if he does not have the will and motivation to practice 12-14 hours a day, maybe more. Football players cannot be good if they do not condition themselves and practice their plays over and over again, golfers cannot achieve greatness if they do not hit the dirt (Hogan's secret: "the secret is in the dirt") and do it with passion and fun. Can you imagine Shawn Wilson being the head librarian? I am sure he'd find a way to be good at it, but excellence comes when you perform within your talents and passion. Kids will find out what they like and will gravitate towards that. Don't ever put limitations on them!
-- Joby Gray continues his excellent play and earns 2nd place in a OGJA Tournament with 72-65, even after spotty putting and a last minute change in equipment (putter). Trust me, at that level of play, "blaming" equipment (putters, wedges and driver in that order are to "blame" for most bad shots) is usual among confident players... "It can't be me", they think. This time he was right. Keep it going kid!
-- In other topic, Joe Wynn, just two days after his birthday, shoots the round of his life (a 76) with pals Gaylan Edwards, Tony Turnbull, Ann Cowan and Andy Blankenship. Then came back and joined my dearest Ramona, and other 9 couples and played in the Couples Thursday night event, where his pals, Ann Cowan and Terry Anderson won with a net 30. Coincidentally it was Ann's birthday, so, friends and staff gave them a small surprise cake. Brad and Dayva Spitzer shot the best gross round of the night, a 31 that netted 2nd place (the Thursday Night Couples Scramble is now handicapped). Other couples last night were: Terry & Joyce Schones, Joe Bill & Soy Butler, Larry & Lana Hudgens, Gary & Jenatte Scott, Jerry & Jackie Oldham (the favorites last night along the Spitzers); Paul & Sharon Hill and Allen & Kathy Robinson, all of whom joined Ann and Joe for a slice of ice cream cake.
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| Joe Wynn (background) asking for handicap adjustment from Ann, who said, "all you get is a slice of cake". |
-- And to end, Ann and Joe exchanged gifts, Joe received two Titleist balls and Ann two cute pink balls... just what she likes, uh?
And... That's all for today!
TUMBLEWEED COUPLES A WESTERN OKLAHOMA FAVORITE
As one who for the first time was part of the Tumbleweed Couples tournament, I can appreciate that our membership is a great and gracious host, which may be the main reason of why many of the visiting couples, several who come from as far as 5-7 hours driving distance, place the Tumbleweed Couples on top of their list every year. Judging from what I have seen as a newcomer, perhaps just a natural thing in all of Elk City in general.
From the outside, our mixed couples event might be seen as just "another plain Jane" tournament; after all, every golf course can schedule a 2-Man Scramble for two days, make some money and get it over with. But at Elk City Golf & C.C. things are quite different: it is eveident that everything thought of revolves into making every local or visiting team feel "right at home". Of course, there are little things, which individually may seem insignificant, but which added together, add to great hospitality and make the event special and lot of fun to be part of.
The event kicks off with "Horse Race" (or "Shootout") on Friday afternoon. Eleven mixed couples participated in this alternate shot event, in which a team or more, are eliminated in each hole (highest score goes out in each hole, and, if there is a tie for high score, it is broken with a "chip off"). The last three teams alive, are designated as: "win, place and show".
Then, of course, is the "main event": a "scramble" for 36 holes which adds a "Sunday only" competition which is optional. In between, there is a party, dinner/dance, gift bags, door prizes, live band, playoffs (all 36 hole ties are broken with a sudden death playoff).
Unique as well, is the way the flights are made and the "bump rule" (which everyone who had a bad first round for their skill level dreads to deal with), and, the different things done during play, such as cutting two holes on greens #5 and #18 and allowing teams to putt to the hole of their choice (when I went out to check out things and greet players during play, I had the luck of witnessing a birdie by all three teams in the same group on #18: Rob & Bonnie Lake and Tom & Patricia Bender made 15 footers on the front hole position, and Ron & Paula Walker made birdie from 3 feet in the back).
Of course, many of these "extras" could not possibly happen without the hard work and ideas of those in charge (this year, Ann Cowan and Katy Womack could not have done a better job in their respective roles), and, last, but not least, several gracious and generous sponsors, all of whom only derive two benefits from their investment: a sincere "thank you" from the organizers and the pleasure of saying "yes, of course I'll help!" (for this year's sponsors list, click here). See you next year and, below are the results:
Horse Race: "Win" - Dustin & Haley Gunkel; "Place" - Brad & Dayva Spitzer; "Show" - Paul Gunkel & Tori Windsor. Best shot of the day: "chip in" by Tom Gilliland on #5 to stay alive during a chipoff... most untimely miss? Paul Gunkel's first putt on #8 which left daughter Tori with an almost impossible to make 2nd putt.
"Main Event" ("*" denotes won playoff):
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT: 1st (61-56/117) - David Dyson & Neidy Taylor; 2nd* (58-61/119) - David & Rachel Poole; 3rd (61-58/119) - Dustin & Haley Gunkel; 4th (62-64/126) Eddie & Mary Jane Repp.
"A" FLIGHT: 1st* (64-62/126) Mike & Ann Cowan; 2nd (64-62/126) Rusty & Kelsi Wilson; 3rd* (63-64/127) Perry & Paige Adams; 4th* (64-63/127) Paul Gunkel & Tori Windsor (first out on the three way playoff were Dustin & Holly Mahoney, 67-60/127).
"B" FLIGHT: 1st (68-66/134) - Grady Lantz & Paola Alvarez; T 2nd (declined to do playoff and split prizes) Michael & Katy Womack (68-67/135) and Brian & Jami Young (70-65/135); 4th (72-65/137) Rob & Bonnie Lake.
"C" FLIGHT: 1st* (73-70/143) Rodney & Sara Cloud; 2nd (74-69/143) Brian & Stacey Fox; 3rd* (74-71/145) Steve & Penny Frick; 4th (75-70/145) Allen & Kathy Robinson (first out of a three way playoff were Robert & Linda Roggendorf, 73-72/145).
"D" FLIGHT: 1st* (80-73/153) Jerry & Cheryl Southerland; 2nd (80-73/153) Bobby & Nelda Kee; 3rd (80-74/154) Dewey & Rita Coats; 4th (79-76/155) Charlie Kauk & Ashley Morris.
There were two "bumps": Roy & Nelda Maynard (73-69/142) who were leading their flight and their 4 shot improvement was one more than the "bump" number in this flight; and Jerry & Karen Sizemore (80-71/151) who had the round of their life and were bumped by 2.... it all leaves you wondering if the "bump rule" should be tweeked with!
For pictures of the event, click here.
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| But of course we will pose for a snap shot! Kevin & Ginger Giles |
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| Taylor Neidy stares her tee shot on #4 which helped her and David Dyson to a winning 56! |
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| Paola Alvarez Bennett enjoys old time manners & hospitality of Grady Lantz |
Then, of course, is the "main event": a "scramble" for 36 holes which adds a "Sunday only" competition which is optional. In between, there is a party, dinner/dance, gift bags, door prizes, live band, playoffs (all 36 hole ties are broken with a sudden death playoff).
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| Does this need explanation? Dan & Lori McCann |
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| "Sealed with a Kiss?" Explain this: Dayva makes putt, but Brad gets prize? Smart man! |
Horse Race: "Win" - Dustin & Haley Gunkel; "Place" - Brad & Dayva Spitzer; "Show" - Paul Gunkel & Tori Windsor. Best shot of the day: "chip in" by Tom Gilliland on #5 to stay alive during a chipoff... most untimely miss? Paul Gunkel's first putt on #8 which left daughter Tori with an almost impossible to make 2nd putt.
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| Oh yes! It fell in for birdie! |
| Add caption |
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT: 1st (61-56/117) - David Dyson & Neidy Taylor; 2nd* (58-61/119) - David & Rachel Poole; 3rd (61-58/119) - Dustin & Haley Gunkel; 4th (62-64/126) Eddie & Mary Jane Repp.
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| Rob Lake celbrates after wife Bonnie made birdie on 18 |
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| Kelsi Wilson displaying her improved form. Hard work always pays off!! |
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| Larry & Kelcee Millican, one of several Father-Daughter teams |
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| Robert Roggendorf: "How you like me now?" after a very nice tww shot on #18 |
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| Karen Sizemore: "Gimmie Five" after long putt on #10 |
For pictures of the event, click here.
CORRECTION!
The correct time for the "Horse Race" this afternoon will be 4:00 p.m. as opposed to what was posted earlier in the week.
(We had sent a correction email to our mailing list, however, not everyone who reads this blog is in our list)
I apologize for the misunderstanding I may have caused!
You can check the current list of particpating teams in the Tumbleweed Couples with the link on the right of this post. Groups and hole numbers will be posted by1:00 p.m. this afternoon.
(We had sent a correction email to our mailing list, however, not everyone who reads this blog is in our list)
I apologize for the misunderstanding I may have caused!
You can check the current list of particpating teams in the Tumbleweed Couples with the link on the right of this post. Groups and hole numbers will be posted by1:00 p.m. this afternoon.
FAIRWAY TO FAIRWAY...
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| Ed Hughes: Showing the difference between wet & dry |
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| Notice the contrast between watered areas and unwatered. |
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| Larry Butcher shortly after chipping in for birdie on #8 |
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| Kermit Kingsford posing with old friend, and former club professional Ron Simmons |
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| Joby Gray posing with #1 fan, mom Roberta Gray after his day at USGA Qualifier |
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| Joby & Haley Gunkel leaving last green at Oklahoma City GCC after finishing with birdie. |
... Elk City PGA Tour favorite Ricky Fowler, is in the chase of the Firestone Invitational. He has been close before, and recently lost a 54 hole lead. We will all be watching. Maybe coming from behind will be his style.
... Rusty Wilson's team (Charlie Kauk, Dave Rogers & Fred Schmidt) win a three week carry over with 9 straight 3's! They beat Craig Martin's team (Sean Wilson, Rick Rex, Tim Dewitt) by one. Martin's team made a 2 on #4, but had 4's on two par 4 holes. On Thursday, Tyler Windsor and wife Tori, "tore" the field apart with a 29 and a 6 shot win over second place in the weekly couples event.
... AND COMING UP, AUGUST 13-14, THE ANNUAL TUMBLEWEED COUPLES TOURNAMENT! So far, we have 58 teams and it promises to be a great weekend. The festivities start with a "horse race" on Friday afternoon... 5:30 p.m. on the dot!!