LONG PUTTS...

--- Please keep Mr. James Ellis and Mr. Jesse Allen in your prayers and thoughts. Both have personal health issues. Mr. Ellis served the club for over 20 years and paved the path for many of us who work in the golf business, and who somehow ended up following his foot prints in Elk City. Mr. Allen is not a member. In fact, most of you might not know him -or of him-, but I do, as he is a regular during the season. He is one of those quiet people, who collectively make our job easier and better for the growth of the game.

--- Thank you to Dr. Don Bellew for personally singing his book, "Clear Creek: The Moon and Yellowtail" for me. The book is a novel based in true historical facts about the Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma. According to Dr. Bellew, a part Cherokee Indian, -somewhat shy-, confessed to me, "most of the 'smart' people who have read it, think it is a very good book. I hope you like it too". I will tell you what, you bet I am going to say it is a good book! Dr. Bellew is not a stranger to public service, he was once president of the club as well as mayor of Elk City.

--- Logan Gore makes his second hole in one of the season! There are people who go a lifetime without making a hole in one. Good players too. But Logan Gore beat the odds by not only making one, but two holes in one in a span of 8 months. His first one, earlier in the summer, was on what is now hole #7, and now, last Sunday, he aced hole #10 with a short iron to the difficult green. Logan, playing by himself, was waved through by the pair of Shawn Wilson and Allan Bradley, who witnessed the feat. Now the question is... did Logan at least invite you for a Coke guys?

Billy Bashaw & Family

--- We all say that golf is a "family game", or "a game of lifetime". The thing is, there is proof of it, EVERY DAY. I truly enjoy parents bringing kids to the golf course as much as I enjoy sharing moments on the course with our retired players. It is never "too late" to introduce a kid (3 - 85) to golf, and never to old to enjoy a round of golf.

Who says golf is not
for fun fashion?

--- You want to improve your game in the fall and winter? Forget about beating balls, practice your short game. In the fall and winter, when you do not play as much, your touch around and on the greens goes into hibernation, yet, I see golfers who used to play a lot, just come and beat balls in the range from time to time during the colder months. Spend half of that time on the putting clock and you will see your scores improve.

--- This is "President's Cup" week. The last significant tournament of this season for golf fans and established players. However, for aspiring tour players, men and women, the most significant tournament coming up is the "Qualifying School". For some, the toughest and most pressure packed of all events. Both, the LPGA and PGA Tours have a series of escalating tournaments leading to their finals. The finals of the LPGA feature 144 players who will play 72 holes in two courses first; the top 70 and ties will play an additional day. After the 5th round, it is determined who makes it to the LPGA & Futures Tours. On the PGA Tour side, the men play 6 rounds and play 2 courses as well, and the top players make it to the PGA Tour, the other players to the Nationwide Tour. Both finals are scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5... I will keep you posted on Anya's progress in the LPGA Finals. Keep her on your mind!