UPDATES & MORE...

--- Please note that the Boy Scouts Scramble was changed from April 21st to April 14th!!!

Wouldn't you like to be able to
"bottle in" all this wisdom? L-R:
Calvin Adkisson, Carrol Anderson,
Don Ballew, Kenny Schuelein and
Paul Harless.

--- Nice temperatures and no wind brings record crowd to our golf course in the middle of the winter: 101 rounds of golf!! Talking about taking your clubs our of the garage! It seems like everyone did it on the same day!  (hey, now don't put them back either!!) Took some pictures, but couldn't take everyone (sorry!). Go to our Facebook page (link on the right) and you can get to all of our albums.

--- First Round of Accenture Match Play saw the most "upsets" ever, including the #1 player in the world and defending champion, Luke Donald, who lost to three time major winner, Ernie Els. By the way, I definitely believe that a #1 should not be #1 without a major championship. Luke has won none, Ernie Els has won three.

Even Mona played! Here with
Linda Griffith & Daiva Spitzer 

Happy Couple!
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Hargrove

--- "I have won ugly, and I have lost pretty" said former U.S. Open Champion Tom Kite years back when he won a playoff with a bogey. That is exactly what happened to Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy in round one, they both "won ugly", but they advanced. We were thinking that if Tiger won a couple of more matches, watch out! But he lost in the second round, where he lost "ugly", he just could not make the putts he used to make.

Lana Hudgens: "Go in!!"

Pro-Shop helper!!

--- In the last post, I mentioned four players whom I'd like to see in the semifinals, three of my four picks lost so far: Bill Hass and Jonathan Byrd lost in the first round, Els i the second round. I guess I am not as good at picking as I thought I was. Rory McIlroy is the only one left, and he has not shown stellar play.

--- Good weather to continue! So... come and visit!

SHORT PUTTS

When teeing areas are small, this is
a typical teeing Area on a Par-3 in
winter time. 

LOCAL:
--- EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY: Golf Carts will be banned from the fairways until further notice. It is imperative that we avoid compaction of the ground so that the fairways can recover from the 2011 drought that affected the turf so much. The pro-shop will issue a limited number of handicap flags for those members who truly need some help (member will cover the cost of the flag), but these members will be required to go strictly at 90 degrees across fairways and no closer than 20 yards (60 feet) from any greens. Par-3 holes will continue to be a "no carts zone". WE APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S COOPERATION AND INVITE YOU TO JOIN US IN EFFORTS TO MAKE YOUR COURSE BETTER.

--- Along with the above, the Elk City Golf & Country Club's Board approved the purchase of two golf mats to be used on Par-3 holes during the winter. We predict that these will be so successful and welcomed by members that all Par-3 holes will eventually have these mats in use, for men and women, during the winter and early spring months. This practice will help the maintenance department with taking care of the small teeing areas during the non growth season, and will help golfers play the course at its full length at the same time since no temporary teeing areas will be necessary.

--- The traditional "President's Ball" took place last Saturday (Feb. 18). About 70 people gathered to say "hi" and spend an evening with president Joe Wynn, who is serving a third one year term. Members dined and danced at the tune of the Pale Horse band in a PAR-FECT night ahd thanks to all who attended.

--- There has been an addition to our tournament calendar: the Boy Scouts Club from Elk City will have a benefit scramble on April 21st, making it our first adult tournament of the year (the season opens on April 4 and April 11 with the Elk City High School invitationals). Teams will be composed of four golfers playing a scramble. All teams are required to have at least one kid 13 and under in their team. More details later. Tournament host is Brad Harguess.

--- After a great January where we had many great days for golf and a fair amount of play, winter caught up with us and we were closed 11 straight days. On Saturday, a cold, rainy and windy day, we had one player only. Guess who?

--- The old clubhouse built in 1952 that was replaced with the current clubhouse in 1970, was demolished. For a while, it will be difficult to get used to not seeing the charming, but small building that had not been used in over 40 years. Calvin Adkisson was the last president while the club still used the old clubhouse, Dr. Bill Husband was the first president when operations moved to the new clubhouse.

Last Winter's view of the old
clubhouse from an area just
south of #13 Tee

AWAY:
--- The last four events of the season have been won by someone coming from behind. Brent Snedeker, Kyle Stanley, Phil Mickelson and Bill Hass, who on Sunday won in a sudden death playoff, all came from behind, but they were all in the top 10 at the beginning of the fourth round. When it doesn't go well for the leaders, as it happened this last four events, we shouldn't think why it happens to the best players in the world, but why it doesn't happen more often. By the way, Bill Hass has proven, once more, that he can be a major contender who plays the odds, and pulls the shots. I'd say he is one of the top 4 favorites this week at the Accenture Match Play.

All that is left of the old clubhouse
is a concrete slab.

--- Tiger Woods will be seeded 21st for the Match Play (5th in his bracket). If he wins the first match, watch for him to "upset" other players. Will he win? I don't know, that is why they are playing it, to see who wins (sic!). This is not a prediction, but I'd like to see these players make the top 4: Ernie Els, Jonathan Byrd, Rory McIlroy, Bill Hass.

Calvin Adkisson, presided Elk City's
Country Club in 1969, the last year
the old clubhouse was used.

--- LPGA Tour is down to 22 events for the year! Down from 36 only a few years ago. Everyone wonders what really happened. If it was the economy, the PGA Tour would be suffering as well, but that is not the case. Perhaps I am way off base, but a change in times where political correctness is more "important" than doing the right thing may be one of the causes for this decrease in interest and support from sponsors: Sponsors focus on the image of the product they sell, golfers want to concentrate on playing golf and not having to deal with politics, and the public wants to see the show. Let's get back to basics.

"COMEBACK" SUNDAY...

It was a "comeback" Sunday in golf with rather pleasant results, except of course, for those who came behind (yes, it was "Comeback Sunday"in football too, since the Giants were 8 down and came from behind to win Super Bowl XLVI)

Anyway, last week I was hoping that Kyle Stanley recovered after his first win was delayed when he scored a triple bogey in the par-5 number 18 at Torrey Pines. I have seen and felt the pain.

In the former Andy Williams San Diego Open, Stanley, starting eight ahead and coming to the last hole four ahead, Brandt Snedeker birdied, Stanley tripled and then lost the playoff withj a trhee putt (he had three-putter the 72nd hole also). The thing is that Stanley didn't really hit horrible shots, he just hit so-so shots that turned worse than what he deserved. But the golf gods are cruel, and test the character of the best. That is why we say, "the mark of a champion is not that he wins, but what he overcomes in winning". That is why we say that "golf does not build character as much as it reveals it". Stanley did just fine. Stanley has a lot of character in that fighting spirit and a lot to be proud of.

The future of golf is good... and good for everyone.

Golfing Family of Paul Gunkel
(minus son Dustin) gathered with
other friends to watch golf & football
on Super Bowl Sunday.

Kyle overcame his internal demons, his insecurity, his fear of failure, his nervousness, the fear of a last minute bad shot, and the fear of someone doing the impossible; and, the fear of an untimely three putt that would put him in yet, another playoff that he could end up losing, again. Only this time, with a slim lead of one and not four, instead of playing "safe" as he did in Torrey Pines, he took the driver out on the last hole, flew it past the water where he could have a short and easier approach, hit a wedge in the middle of the green and two putted for victory.

New England's Tom Brady Fans

He went from starting eight ahead on Sunday, to starting seven behind Spencer Levin, who like Stanley, played over par the last round and lost. What a story! Levin, if the trend continues, by all practical purposes, becomes one of the favorites this week in Pebble Beach. In his interview, Levin was nothing less than a great sportsman, acknowledging his mistakes and praising his winning rival. No excuses, only facts. It is not how, but how many that counts. As with Stanley, I hope that Levin recovers from his collapse, which was actually the same hole for three rounds, the reachable Par-5 #15. He never birdied, and on Sunday, he took a double boegy seven.

Not many recover from a collapse as big as shown in the last two weeks. But that is sports. That is why Kyle Stanley's is a great story.

N.Y. Giants Fan

Bruce Crampton came in second in several majors to... Jack Nicklaus and never won one; on the other hand, Tom Watson, who in the early 70's was known as a "choker" (which started by his weekend collapse in the 1974 U.S. Open, where he closed with a 9 over par 79, and lost by five), ended up winning 8 majors, three of which he won, down the stretch, from the King of Majors, Jack Nicklaus.

Okay, plural: make it "Fans"

Kyle Stanley fan
Elk City's "Big Ron" is from
Washington, as is Stanley.

Watson forever erased his image of a choker. Then you have Jean Van De Velde who never recovered from his triple bogey 7 in the 1999 British Open, which in his case, was a bunch of bad decisions and bad shots; and for you football fans -particularly young ones-, the Vikings went to four Super Bowls and never won (by the way, only once in their four trips, did they score more than 7 points); so did the Buffalo Bills, who  won their conference four straight years, something no other team has ever done (I don't know a thing about football, but I do read a little). The stories about failures are more frequent that of overcoming champions.

Kyle Stanley is one of a kind (if you read about him, you'll see that he is on the way up), and I predict that he will be in the Ryder Cup (*) this year... We want him there!

In a lesser, but encouraging note, 7,000 miles away from his homeland, John Daly shot a 67 and came in 4th in the Qatar Masters. This is the highest finish in 5 years for the troubled golfer who must start thinking about golf and not his failures... he still has some good years ahead of him.

(*) I wish they would go back to the old way of the top 12 qualifiers, instead of having 4 captain choices, but that is another topic for another time.

2012 UPDATES...

Bob Griffith: Ready to
shoot his age once more!

--- Don't forget the "PRESIDENT'S BALL" dinner/dance on February 18! $20.00 P/Person. You will dance to the music of "Pale Horse" Band.

--- Proposed Tournament Calendar has been finished. You may click on the link on the right to print your copy (Note: when changes are necessary, these will be posted here and the calendar will change).

Dave Rogers: he may
have forgotten his cap, but
not his game. 4 birdies!

--- The weather has been fantastic and people, members and non members, are catching on! if you haven't played this year... well, it is time you go get those clubs out of hibernation!

Ed Hughes & trusted staff , Ron & Tony
working on #12's bunker and drainage

--- To all golfers: when golf course is busy, WE WILL BE PAIRING SMALLER GROUPS OF SINGLES AND TWOSOMES INTO THREESOMES AND FOURSOMES. This will not only help the pace of play on the course, but it also will help your contact list... think of this as a "Make a New Friend Program"

Halie Myers helping 2 yr old
son Trayton with his setup

--- Tiger Woods makes the news again, this time for not winning! Tiger chose not to start his year in the U.S.A. and was tied for the lead in the AbuDabi tournament, shot 72 and came in a tie for third, one behind Rory McIlroy and two shots behind... who? Just making a point, they say that no one remembers a loser and that everyone remembers a winner. Except of course, when Tiger is "supposed" to win and doesn't (it used to happen to Nickalus too). By the way, the winner was Robert Rock, from England.

Damon Culver, businessman
and volunteer firefighter,
finds a little time for golf

--- On the same weekend, in the U.S.A. there is drama at Torrey Pines, Brandt Snedeker wins a playoff after Kevin Stanley implodes with a triple bogey "snowman" to fall into a playoff for the trophy. It was painful to see. Here is a golfer who got himself in the lead by playing aggressive golf, comes to the last hole with a four shot lead -reduced to three after Snedeker birdies in front of him- and decides to "play safe", which is not his style. Pressure will do some strange things to golfers! (I hope he recovers!)

Harry Payne, Senior Champ
enjoying a warm winter day

--- Need a space to park your golf cart? Contact our Club Manager Myra Baker at 225-5454, she has been working on making a few parking spaces available for members!

Jack Christian getting back
"in the swing of things"

--- Have you updated your "Sky Caddy"? To do so, you must load it by deleting Elk City Golf Course first, then add it again and it will load the new rotation.

--- By the summer, we will offer yardage and course description books courtesy of local businesses, mostly owned by members. Thank you! (you will enjoy these)

--- New sand is replacing old sand in all of our bunkers. Our maintenance staff is also working on the drains and irrigation system.

--- Story: Pete is playing golf when his boss calls him, "How are things in the office Pete?". "Great", he responds, "Pretty busy, but everything is taken care of. No need to worry"; the boss follows, "Pete, I am glad the office is doing well, but you better learn to play faster, I am in the foursome right behind!". Oooops!

A group waiting on #1 on a busy day

--- Take this to the bank: "Old School" in golf is better than all the new stuff. I don't mean this as going back to wooden shafts and the 13 original rules of golf (now we have 36). But I am not much for videotaping and over-analyzing a swing or a shot, or paid mental coaches. The best players have always played by feel, they are their own mental coach and analyze the swing by the results they see. The laws of ball flight have always been the same, if the ball slices is because the clubhead is open to the path that the club is traveling on. That simple. You don't need a video to tell you that. You need to learn how impact should feel, and once you learn it, you'll never forget it, even if you cannot do it repeatedly. I think all of these new things contribute to very, very slow play, not to mention the worst ailment in golf: "Paralysis by Analysis".

UPDATES....

--- The Annual Stock Holders Meeting was held last Monday, January 16 in the evening. Brad Gilbert and Jeff Rule, were reelected to their seats, while Rusty Wilson was elected to replace Debbie Smoot on the Board of Directors. Everyone is thankful to Debbie for her collaboration and hard work for Elk City Golf & Country Club. For more particulars about the meeting, click here.

--- Our season has started with reasonable good weather during the early months, but we all know winter is not over yet. Nonetheless, I suggest to those who have not been coming during the cold months, that you take your clubs our of "hibernation" and start playing a little! If you need re-gripping, call the shop!

--- We will continue the practice of selling range memberships: $150 (individual), $200 (for two) and $250 (for 3+). Multiple players memberships are for family members living in the same household. Non members pay $50 more per membership.

--- April 17 has been set as the "Demo Day" started by Cory Smith a few years back. That will also be the first day of the Tuesday's Men's Scramble for 2012. So far, Titleist, Cleveland Golf, Adams, Ping and Tour Edge have agreed to demo their products.

--- New scorecards will be available before the end of the month. These have been redesigned and Legacy Bank will continue to be the sponsor.

--- DON'T FORGET!! We offer tee times for weekends. This has been a practice that only a few members have taken advantage of, but well worth the time of a phone call.

--- Courtesy of local businesses, Elk City Golf & Country Club will offer colored "course guide - yardage book" booklets. These books will be printed by Benchcraft Co. The booklets will also have local golf information such as present officers' names, tournament calendar, club information, club champions, course records, etc.

--- If you like what we offer in the pro-shop, tell others, if you don't, please tell us how we can improve our services and help you.

--- PGA Season started with a win by Steve Stricker in the Tournament of Champions, and then continued in Hawaii by rookie Johnson Wagner. It continues today with the start of the Humana Challenge in partnership with the Bill Clinton Foundation. Tiger Woods is still MIA here. The late Bob Hope (he did more for golf than Tiger ever did or will do) invited Tiger to play here and Tiger never did. Bob Hope will forever be linked to Southern California Golf  (and golf everywhere as well) through this event and through the $50+ million the tournament raised for local charities, virtually funding the Eisenhower Medical Center. Phil Mickelson, a two time champion, is returning since his last appearance in 2004. President Bill Clinton is the new host and we hope that he carries on as good or better than Bob Hope did, and do so apolitically. The best fivesome ever to play here was paired with touring pro Scott Hoch, he played with presidents Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford, and of course, Bob Hope! How good was that! Turn your T.V.'s on!

FRIDAY 13 RULES CHANGES (OR, CLARIFICATION)...

I don't know the history of why "Friday the 13th" should be a bad day. In fact, I always expect good things, I am not superstitious (I was once told that it is bad luck to be superstitious, so there). If I hit a bad shot on the course, I always yell, "get lucky!" instead of "go ahead, go in the water!" If I had a cat, it would be a black cat. And I don't walk under a ladder only because it is not very smart, not because it is bad luck (maybe it is bad luck not to be smart when you need to be smart).

Anyway, since the last few weeks have been slow, I've taken time to play a little golf without worrying about the shop so much, and have enjoyed the company of different golfing members, one of whom I cost money to because he chose me in the last two holes of a "Wolf Game", and I three putted 17th, and failed to make a 7 footer on 18 (I guess that is why he calls me "Sergio"... sometimes "Julio"). Sorry, I'll try better next time... but the truth is that I blame my bad putting on the greens, and that is why I am writing this:

Let me say that Ed Hughes and his staff are not at fault here. My bad putting happened because there seems to be the understanding that there was an old law that read as follows: "In the interest of fast play, members and visiting golfers are strictly forbidden of wasting time in fixing ball marks" The next line read: "do not rake bunkers either, for the same reason as above".  I am here to say such law never existed, and if it ever did, it has been abolished from the books the way old laws have that do not apply any more. This is effective the first Friday 13th of 2012, which means today.

I don't know about you, but I hate putting on greens that are peppered with ball marks, especially on the course I work for and which by nature, I am really proud of. Here is another law that seems to be in effect, for which, as the first one, I haven't found anything to support its enaction: It reads, "Speed Limit on the course: Groups must play at their own pace, unless there is a slower group in front, then, your luck just changed and you must now play at their pace for the rest of the round".

Now, wouldn't this very rule go against the previous one?  Where do you think golfers get these ideas? Really, I haven't seen anything in writing. Here is an example you'll understand: you are in a hurry to go to Oklahoma City and drive east on I-40 on a beautiful day, and hardly any traffic on the road... that is until you catch this car that is driving at the same speed as the 18 wheeler on its right (60mph) and you can't go anywhere! (By the way, it seems that the slow car is usually driven by someone who can barely see over the dashboard, or on their cellphone and are driving without paying attention to anything or anyone else). You feel like yelling, "GET OFF THE CELLPHONE YOU TWIRK, PUT A THICK TELEPHONE BOOK UNDER YOUR REAR END, PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD AND GET OUT OF THE WAY SO FASTER CARS CAN GET GOING."

In a golf course, there is nothing illegal about going faster than other groups, there aren't any speed limits. The only time, and I mean THE ONLY TIME when slow play is understandable, is when the golf course is so busy that there is no way to play faster.

So here are the three golden laws that the Board of Directors will most likely approve unanimously:

1.- LEAVE THE COURSE BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT. This means it is perfectly legal to take time to fix ball marks, rake bunkers and fix divots while the rest of your group is hitting their shots.  In fact, BY LAW, not leaving the course better than you found it will earn you a place in our "Black Book".

2.- Speed limit abolished unless course is busy. Always play as quickly as you can, while enjoying yourselves. When Walter Hagen said, "take time to smell the roses" (there are no roses on Elk City Golf & Country Club anyway), he was not speaking literally, he was speaking figuratively about life.

3.- If you are teaching someone to play golf, do it on the practice areas!

To close, it all boils down to two golden words in golf: COURTESY & ETIQUETTE! If you are one of the 300+ members, this is your course, be a gracious host and "keep your house clean". And if you are a guest, make it easy to be invited again! 

ENJOY YOUR "FRIDAY THE 13th", SOMETHING GOOD IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL OF YOU TODAY!

OLD 2011 AND NEW 2012 COME TOGETHER....

The "old" year came to an end in Elk City with a very nice New Year's party at the club, and just a few hours after repeating "happy new year" over and over, we had our first customers of 2012: member Patrick Meche Jr. with brother Adam friends Tyler Petersen and smiley Kortney.

For some reason, I didn't even have time to do any "new year's resolutions", not that I would have followed any, as has been my lifestyle the last 20 years.

Let's face it, I know that to follow through, you need understanding, conviction and will power. When it comes to "new year's" resolutions, I seem to lack one or two of these all the time. I really speak by personal experience, the only life changing "resolution" I've ever followed (quit smoking, "cold turkey"), was not a "new year's" thing, but something that just happened, overnight, through divine intervention and not by personal will power.

I think everything is going
well, don't you?

Anyway, the old year began coming to an end on Friday the 30th, when we had great golf weather as evidenced by about 70 people, members and non members, using the course that day. On Saturday, I knew things would be "new" (for 2012) pretty soon, when I saw one of our members using his recently purchased "push cart" and walking a full nine holes instead of riding his cart while listening to soft rock music ( I would have really wanted to go take pictures that day, but the pro-shop was always full of people wishing us a happy new year).

Relax Lady! All is going to
turn out very well!

Though the weather on this last day of the month and of the year, was not as nice as the day before, play was almost as high, and by the time we attended the party, we had been so busy in the afternoon, that I was only about 30 minutes from having removed myself from my desk when I walked into the party: time to relax!

See? There you go!

First member I saw at the party was "dancing" and "Texas Hold'm" legend, Calvin Adkisson (by all accounts, he has enough energy to go dancing every week, and then uses the rest of his time playing golf), who had brought two young guests to the party and ended up being seated right next to our table. Then, as you would expect, those members of the board who had anything to do with the party and who considered themselves "hosts", Joe Wynn, Brad Gilbert and Ann Cowan (as you might be used to by now, she was there before anyone else), began coming early as well. In all, over 150 people attended the party.

Despite the club having been shorthanded that night, the party went great, and the music by Trader Price was downright inviting to the dance floor. I even danced a few songs!

At 12:00 a.m. sharp, we all raised our champagne glasses and wished everyone around a "happy new year", with plenty of people to sincerely wish this thought to. Cell phones rang everywhere, including ours, from friends and family members wishing a great new year to come as well. At that moment, I began thinking of changing my habit of not making "new year's resolutions" (that I didn't seem to be able to keep anyway), into changing certain things that I know I can change, so here are the "TOP TEN" that I came up with, even if start a few days late:

10. Be on time every day (I was more on time when we lived in Sayre than now that we live 3 miles away)
9. Be sure to make everyone know that fixing ball marks is actually legal (it seems that most people think it is illegal!)
8. Be more strict in not allowing smaller groups on busy days and pairing them up into larger groups. OK, let's rephrase: include more "meet a friend" days so play is in foursomes and not twosomes.
7. Walk at least 18 holes every week and practice more (I hate playing bad golf)
6. Learn to stay out of people's way when taking pictures (hint, hint Mona: I may need to spend some money in buying another lens that I can use from farther away).
5. Take more pictures.
4. Write this newsletter more often and sooner when there has been an event.
3. Re-arrange the pro-shop and stock it with things beyond golf equipment...
2. Never, ever wear a cowboy hat again. Somehow it doesn't look good (My God! I drank only one beer all night!)

Did you see that one Sergio?

and my number one goal for 2012 is....................

1. Try harder to understand what newly  turned "Six-Oh" and friend Tony Turnbull talks about so I don't have to pretend to comprehend. 

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!

(Click on our Facebook link for more pictures)