Well, someone had to do it. I have joked that I was slowest to say “no” or the last to step back, but joking aside I humbly accept the decision of the Board that I complete Paul’s term as your president.
We all assumed Paul would continue to serve as our club president. His sudden passing left a hole in many hearts, and a huge hole in our Senior Men’s Golf Club. At the Celebration of Life this week we recognized his many contributions to the club and said goodbye to a good friend.
In his final newsletter article last month Paul outlined three major events that will take place before the end of the year. At this point I have nothing else to share except reminders of those events.
The window for Board nominations opened August 15 and remains open until September 15. While this may have seemed like a formality last month, it took on some urgency with Paul’s passing. There is a vacancy on the Board to be filled. At this time the nominating committee has identified some possible candidates. When nominations close on September 15 the nominating committee will determine whether there will be an election; i.e. whether there are more than eight candidates. If there are eight candidates or fewer, those candidates will be confirmed by voice vote at the November luncheon.
Other board members are addressing the upcoming Club Championship in their articles. Remember that the September and October Thursday tournaments remain “normal” events that can be entered individually, but also in combination comprise the club championship. Club Champion is based on gross score but there are three flights of net champions. I have been a flight champion once, and interestingly did not win either of the monthly tournaments. This year I will be travelling in October and unable to compete for the championship, so I am leaving it up for grabs. Get your entries in now!
Championship awards are presented at our November luncheon, a full Thanksgiving dinner catered by Nealie’s and served at Christ Lutheran Church immediately following our monthly tournament. We play a four-man scramble with a shotgun start. Prize money from the scramble is also presented at the luncheon, and if after those awards you still haven’t won anything there remains a chance to win a door prize. Be sure to get your tournament entry and luncheon RSVP in next month. Information will be sent out in early October.
The dog days of summer are almost over, according to the calendar. It’s still going to be hot, probably through October, and the board is very busy getting ready for the last four months of the year, the busiest part.
September starts the first of two championship rounds. This is what everyone has been practicing for, all year round. One might say (or I might be the only one who says it,) it’s our “Fedex Cup championship.” Granted, fifteen million will not go to our winner, but for us of our caliber, it’s pretty exciting. My year was 2017. I was “C” flight champion, and I even got a hole in one on #17. It wasn’t all good though. I got an eleven on #13, and I wasn’t even trying to get out of that bunker in front of the green. I couldn’t hit it up that hill. It kept rolling down. It’s an exciting time of year.
Risto is anxiously awaiting your entry forms and money. Be advised, this round, and this round only, will cost you an extra ten bucks to be eligible for Club or Flight Championships. This will be on September 19, and the deadline to turn in your entry form and money will be September 6. Don’t be late!
Bill is also waiting anxiously for your entry forms for Olivas Links. Entry forms and fees are due Sept 5, for a September 12 event. For both home and away, please use the website to sign up.
A reminder. PACE OF PLAY is still very important. Keep up with the group in front of you and don’t waste time looking for your ball. Three (3) minutes is what you get. Play ready golf on the greens. When you make that excellent lag shot, don’t mark it. Hit it in. When the hole is finished get in your cart or walk off to the next hole and record your scores. Don’t leave your cart in front of the green. Put it off to the side. This is just some of things you can do to keep pace. I bet you can think of other things, too!
October will be the second round of the 2024 championship, and November will be the business lunch. The business lunch is when the prizes are given out for the rounds in September and October, and the 4 Man Scramble will be before the luncheon, where more prizes will be distributed.
So, you see. Lots happening!
Three golf clubs walked into a bar. The putter ordered a beer. The wedge ordered a tequila. The third club didn’t order anything. He was the driver.
For those of you who were unable to attend Paul Long’s “Celebraton of Life” on Friday, August 30, it turned out to be very sad, but nice event. About 50 people attended this event, made up of his family members, friends, and our own Golf Club Members. Paul’s wife, daughter, stepson, and two grandchildren really appreciated us coordinating it and thought it was very nice. They thanked all of us over and over. A big “Shout out” to Bill Westcott who volunteered to coordinate the entire event, with the assistance from your other Board Members. Another big “shout out” to members Risto Salo and Rick Putnam. They provided the location (their Church) for the event and coordinated the setup, tear down, coffee, and other items.
To all Club Members-Please remember; Paul will be watching us from above…why? Because he knows that golfers love to yell “four”, score a 6, but write down a 5 on the scorecard. *Paul-may you always “Rest in Peace!”
We begin the month of September with 121 “active” total members. We gained one new member (Linard Williams) during the month of September. Linard, welcome to our Vista Valencia Senior Men’s Golf Club.
Happy Birthday to all of our 11 golfers born during September. During the month of September, the following 11 members will officially become one year older: Lee Goldberg (78), Ed Kozowski (62), Cal Leuning (71), Brian Loring (65), Ken Marchand (69), Robert Shults (66), Mike Smith (67), Ken Marchand (69), Robert Shults (66), Mike Smith (67), Ken Song (65), Dennis Talle (78), Mark Vesolowski (70), and Linard Williams (66).
We will continue to hope and pray for a speedy recovery for those members struggling with various medical issues. We hope to see you all back to playing golf very soon! For any of you struggling with your golf rounds lately, hope your scores get better during the month of September.
Our away tournament comes quickly this month as we play at Olivas Links on Thursday, September 12th. The deadline for entry is just a few days from now, Friday, September 6. So obviously, in order to not miss playing this well liked course, enter now. The best way to let me know you are entering to play in this tournament, or any other, is to use the entry form on our website. From the menu, go to “Sign ups” and then to “Away Events”. Fill out the form. Be sure to indicate how I will receive your payment (in box at Vista/US Mail/other). Hit submit and I will receive it immediately and will send you an email that your entry has been received. If you are submitting an entry and payment by US Mail, you must do so with enough time that I receive it prior to the entry deadline. Remember, our box at Vista is not emptied everyday. It can be several days before I am aware of an entry made this way. You must notify me (via the website “Sign ups” form) that you entered and paid for an away tournament by deposit in our Visa box. If you need help with how to use our website to enter an away tournament, do not hesitate to contact me. If, on occasion, you forgot to enter a tournament or you are hoping to be a late add, please give me a call or text. If there is an open spot, I may be able to add you.
Our August 29th away tournament at Sterling Hills is in the books. It seems as though a few of you figured out the fast and tough greens we dealt with. “Few” is the operative word, with only five birdies total for the A flight and zero for the B flight. Congratulations to Mike Wilson (A flight) and Andy Troiano (B flight) on their first place finishes. And a belated congratulations to Andy Troiano for his tie for first place at the Olivas Links July away tournament. I seemed to have congratulated the gentleman he tied with at that tournament but forgot about Andy. Or could it be I was adverse to speaking about what is often talked about as “kissing your sister”.
Once again. Short window of time for entering this month’s away tournament at Olivas Links on Thursday, September 12th. DO IT NOW!
Hot weather is still here. Drink plenty of water and stay in the shade. Hopefully, the weather will start of cool before the next tournament.
Our next home event is the September 19th Low Net and First Round of the Club Championship tournament. Remember to add $10 to your September entry fee if you want to participate in the Club Championship. This is a one-time entry fee good for the October tournament as well.
Note that you need to finish both tournaments to be eligible for prize money and bragging rights.
Get your entries in by September 6th. I will be sending out the entry list before the deadline to confirm that you are entered.
If you have an emergency and are not able to play the tournament, please email or text me before the day. I may have players on the waiting list. I may be able to request a course credit. If you do not show up on the day of the tournament, I will not be able to extend a credit.
Some members have been changing their email addresses. This is perfectly okay, but our club and SCGA use your email address as a way to communicate and identify you. So, if you change your email address you need to contact SCGA’s membership department at 818-980-3630 and request the email address change.
If you are having problems entering you scores into the handicap system, contact me (curtisdbates@gmail.com).
Casual Water
A player may get a free drop out of casual water on any part of the general area on the golf course, Except in a penalty area (Any area marked with red or yellow stakes). If the ball is in casual water, and is not playable inside a penalty area, the player must take a one stroke penalty and drop the original ball or a new ball two club lengths from point of entry, or go back as far as the player wishes leaving the point of entry in line with the pin and drop with a one stroke penalty. The player must take total relief from the penalty area when dropping his ball
Playing the ball as it lays
Playing the ball down (or as it lays) means the player may not move his ball no matter what condition, except casual water as noted above. This includes tree roots and rocks. If a tree well is ringed with rocks or a plastic barrier, or mulch then the player may take a free drop lateral no closer to the pin. Also, there is no penalty when moving the ball from a sprinkler head or an animal burrowed hole.If there are tire tracks on the course except in the penalty area, In this case the player gets a free drop one club length no closer to the hole. The player may also clean his ball prior to dropping the ball.
Sprinkler Head Relief Around the Green
If a sprinkler head is between the players ball and the green, and the sprinkler is 2 club lengths from the green and the ball is two club lengths from the sprinkler, the player may move his ball a club length either direction no closer to the hole without a penalty
Embedded Ball
When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
A ball does not necessarily have to touch soil to be embedded(for example, grass and loose impediments may be between the ball and the soil).
Grounding the golf club
The player may ground his club anywhere in the general area. This includes penalty areas except sand traps.
*All events in Bold are to be entered as Competitions in GHIN System.
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