NOTES FROM ELK CITY & ALL OVER...

ELK CITY

Roberta Gray: "Does this mean that I don't need
to pick up balls for him every afternoon?" YES!

-HARD WORK PAYS OFF. Joby Gray signs up to play for the University of Central Oklahoma. Joby will join his cousin Logan Gray and his lifetime friend Keegan Hall in the team in attempting to bring the NCAA's Division II National Championship to Oklahoma. Brock Walker and Berek Dyson two other talented seniors, do not intend to play golf in college. Joby was sought by several schools, including some Division I universities, but chose University of Central Oklahoma mainly because he feels that they have a very good and committed team under the coaching of Pat Bates, a great coach and former tour player who is not only a great teacher, but also has a very good and personal relationship with all these young men. We are told that Joby's mom, Roberta Gray,will miss picking up balls for him in the pasture every afternoon! Joby, that's your job!! (Thank you for inviting me  to the signing in ceremony!)

- There is no official celebration, but do you realize that Elk City Golf & Country Club has just turned 75 years old? (!!! - Yeah!!!). Yes, the current club -not location, which has changed over the years-, was founded in 1937! Happy Birthday!

- Joyce Ellis underwent knee surgery and is recovering at the Grace Living Center in Clinton, OK. She will spend Christmas with her daughter Janice in Missouri... but meanwhile, give her a call and cheer her up!

- Did you know??? Have you noticed that our greens are faster now, smoother as well? It is because Ed Hughes, our superintendent now "rolls" the greens three times a week. So you can expect to have smoother, faster and truer greens from now on.

- FYI: Pro-Shop hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to sundown, except on Mondays which are 11:00 a.m. to sundown. We will be closed Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.

- Saturday, Nov. 24, come and watch the Bedlam Game at the club! OU will host OSU and it promises to be a big matchup. That day as well, we will be drawing for the 60" FlatScreen TV that was displayed at the pro-shop for a few days. Bring a dish to share with other members...

- STARTING THIS COMING SPRING, TWO PROJECTS FOR OUR GOLFERS:
 1) LET'S GET FIT! WE WILL ENCOURAGE WALKING THE COURSE, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK.
 2) WE WILL HAVE A SUNDAY AFTERNOON LEAGUE, OPEN TO ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE COMPETITION, SKINS, "RABBIT GAME", SNACKS, ETC. I PROMISE, IT WILL BE FUN AND COMPETITIVE.
We'll keep you posted.

FROM ALL OVER
- Rory McIlroy is leaving Titleist for a lucrative contract with Nike becoming the best paid golfer at the equipment and sports clothing giant... at least on paper. Why? Tiger Woods doesn't like to be second to no one, and word is out that he will still be making more than the $25,000,000 Rory will be making. Rory recently won both, the PGA Tour's and the European tour's money titles. As far as getting used to the equipment, times have changed, and as I explained in the previous blog, technology is such that professionals will not have much problem getting used to a slightly new different feel. Titleist continues to adhere to their policy that no golfer is bigger than the brand, and we should appreciate that.

- Lee Westwood will part ways with long tome caddie and friend, Billy Foster. This coming spring, at the Masters, it will be Westwood's 60th attempt at a major. Caddies are very important, but it is the player who hits the shots. My take is that Lee will stay "major-less".

- Remember what many used to call the "silly season"? Skins, Skills Challenge and small invitation tournaments? Here this out: Two weeks ago, there were 4 major tournaments going on at the same time, Rory was playing in one of them, Tiger in another, Phil Mickelson in another. This week, you have the Hong Kong Open, the Australian Masters, and South African Open. It is said that Rory, Phil, Ernie and Tiger make more money in appearance fees than if they win the tournament. Silly season? It is beyond silly!