Club News April 2025
President: Randy Gilpin
We have a goodbye and a welcome this newsletter. Chuck Mann, who has served very well for a number of years as a Board member and Rules Chairman, is relocating to Henderson, Nevada. You may see him one more time in early April, but escrow is about to close and he has pretty much moved. Thank you, Chuck, for your service to the club, and best wishes. We will miss you!
Ken Rosso has accepted the appointment and has been approved by the board to fill the open Board position and take on the responsibility of being our rules expert. Ken introduces himself elsewhere in the newsletter. We know he will be a great addition to the Board.
The Board continues and has nearly completed the project of reviewing and updating club documents. I forgot to send out the revised tournament rules before the recent tournament, but I will get them to you as well as the Scramble tournament rules before our Scramble tournament in April. As indicated last month, once all documents have been updated the website will be updated to reflect the revisions.
Treasurer
The club is now able to receive entry fees and send award payouts using Zelle. On a totally voluntary basis you may choose to use this feature rather than dealing with paper checks or cash.
To enter a tournament using Zelle you will complete the online registration form on the website and indicate in the box that entry fee will be sent using Zelle. The Zelle contact information for the club is vvsmgc@gmail.com.
To receive payment from the club via Zelle you will need to provide your personal Zelle contact information, either cell number or email address, depending on how you have set up Zelle on your online banking site. Zelle contact information can be sent to Roger Jackson (rogerajackson45@gmail.com) or turned in at a future tournament.
If you have not used Zelle previously you will need to first set it up on your online banking site.
REMEMBER:
Zelle is instant and irreversible. Please very carefully enter the contact information before sending your entry fee.
Likewise, provide VERY LEGIBLE contact information for receiving payouts.
ALSO REMEMBER:
This is voluntary. You are NOT REQUIRED to use Zelle and may choose to continue as in the past. NO ACTION on your part is necessary to continue as usual.
Tournament Chairman: Risto Salo
Our next home tournament is a Low Net event on March 20th. The deadline is March 7. Don’t miss out. Signup using either of the methods below.
Electronic form on the website (under the “More” heading select “Vista Event)
Manual entry form (under the “Events” heading and scroll to the bottom of the tournament schedule page) and either place it in the box at the course or mail to my address.
All checks should be placed in the box at the course or mail to my address.
The club is now accepting Zelle for entry fees and also for the payment of any winnings. Contact our Treasurer Roger Jackson to set this up. rogerajackson45@gmail.com
According to the course management, the tournament fees are not increasing for the short term. The fees for regular golf have gone up by a couple of dollars.
The carts should have sand mix in the containers. Please fill in your divots.
On the greens, please repair your ball marks and any others that you see.
Please rake your footprints and any others that are nearby to give the groups behind you a clean lie.
Membership Chairman: Gary Hallden
We begin the month of April with 140 total members. During the month of March, we gained 6 new members; Surapon Keawprasert, Stephen McDonald, Michael Steiner, Michael Sutterman, Victor Yazgulian, and Jack Zarley. Welcome to our Club gentlemen! I can guarantee that you will enjoy meeting all our members and will enjoy many rounds of golf with them.
Happy Birthday to our 13 golfers born during March. The following 13 members will officially become one year older: Arthur Anderson (74), Chris Bello (59), Gene Bensinger (83), Allen Bueltel (72), John Capra (72), Bob Good (72), Arnie Jackmond (89), Mike Mastro (74), Joe Medina (76), Jon Raich (57), Craig Stone (65), Rob Tager (82), Mel Villasenor (78).
Many members are still asking about the new golf carts and why they often shut down and stop running. Vista has adjusted and reduced the sensitivity during March. Try to remember, they have had approximately 12 golf carts damaged. Try to prevent damage by not crossing over curbs, staying away from trenches and other bad, wet, abnormal course conditions. Generally, simply try to stay on the cart paths as much as possible.
Remember, we try to play “ready golf” on every hole. When looking for a lost ball, remember there is a 3-minute time limit. If you think the ball may be lost or hard to find, hit a provisional ball, prior to leaving the tee box. Make sure to announce “provisional” to the other players in your foursome. We continue to have computing errors on score cards during Blind Bogey Events. Every member of each foursome needs to review and verify that both the gross and the net scores are accurate.
As always, because we are a Senior Men’s Club, we constantly have many members with various medical issues and some recovering from various surgeries. We are hoping and praying for a speedy recovery for all those members struggling with their individual medical issues.
Away & Inter-League Tournament Chairman: Bill Westcott
We continue to have weather issues with this year’s away tournaments. Of the three thus far, two have been rained out and one was close to being called due to high winds.
Knollwood (one of the rained-out tournaments) will not refund the green fees we paid for the March 13 tournament. Therefore, we have been forced to cancel the El Cariso tournament on April 24 and replace it with Knollwood. If you were entered in the March 13 tournament, you are entered in the rescheduled tournament. If you cannot play in the rescheduled tournament (April 24) please contact me. This may be confusing. Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or clarifications you may need.
We have also had an issue with our inter club matches this year. Winning! We are O and 2. I really don’t consider it an issue if those of you who have played enjoyed the experience. As I write this, I am having an issue regarding our 3/31 match at Vista versus Knollwood. Rain! As you may know, we don’t make the call to call off an event, the course does. Vista will not call off this inter club match until the morning of the match.
If we did get the inter club match on 3/31, we have three remaining matches for the year. If you want to put your name in to play in one of these matches, please contact me.
Secretary: Lee Goldberg
Welcome to the second month of Spring.
Mark Twain once wrote: “This is the day upon which we are reminded of what we are on the other three hundred and sixty-four.” Twain, of course, was referring to the first day of April or, as it’s often known, April Fools’ Day.
There are a few common theories behind April’s naming. One is that the name is rooted in the Latin Aprils, which is derived form the Latin petite meaning “to open.” This could be a reference to the opening or blossoming of flowers and trees which is common this month.
Another theory is that since months are often named for gods and goddesses, and since Aphrillis is derived from the Greek Aphrodite, it is possible the month was named for the Greek God of love Aphrodite. Even now April is a popular name.
What does this have to do with golf? Some of us just get carried away!
Items to remember:
- Read Randy’s Newsletter. It will be packed full of info.
- Pace of play. This includes keeping up with the group in front of you. Spend only 3 minutes looking for a misplaced (better than lost) ball.
- Repair divots.
- Play ready golf.
Are those who can use Zelle? It is so easy and instantaneous. Sign up on the website. Send your money, and Roger notifies Risto or Bill that you have signed up and funds have been received. You can get your winnings through Zelle too! It’s easy, and if you need help, I’m sure Roger or any one of the board members can guide you.
Don’t forget to use our website to sign up for away and home events.
Handicap Chairman & Web Master: Curtis Bates
I would like to welcome Ken Rosso to the Board. I’ve known Ken for many years and look forward to working with him on the Board.
Zelle is the way to go! I have used it for the last two tournaments that I played in, and it was great. No waiting for checks to get to Risto or Bill in the mail. The money gets there immediately. And if you like getting your tournament winnings quickly you cannot beat a payment that is directly deposited versus getting a check in the mail.
Keep posting all your scores! If you are having problems entering you scores into the handicap system, contact me (curtisdbates@gmail.com).
Rules Chairman: Ken Rosso
I am looking forward to serving on the board at Vista Valencia Senior Men’s Golf Club. I have played golf all my life and was raised playing at Vista Valencia. In fact, my dad was a member of the Saturday Men’s Club from the late 1960’s through the 1980’s. I feel I have a pretty good grasp of the rules of golf and if I’m not sure of a rule I will be quick to research and explain a ruling.
In addition to golf, my wife Lisa and I spend time traveling in our RV. We also have six grandchildren who are involved in all sorts of activities that keep us busy. I am also a certified umpire for baseball and softball and am currently umpiring Adult Slow Pitch Softball on Wednesday nights at Central Park. So I’m used to being challenged on rule interpretations.
I thought I would share something that happened to me a couple of months ago at one of our tournaments. It was early in the morning and the sun was just coming up as our foursome was teeing off. It was my turn, and I hit my drive. My cart mate and I both lost my shot in the sun and had no idea where it went. The other two golfers in my foursome were already walking to their cart and didn’t watch my shot. It felt like a good shot, but I chose to hit a provisional anyway. I hit my provisional and it felt just like my first shot, and we saw it land in the fairway. Sure enough, both of my drives were in the fairway no more than ten yards from each other.
However, here’s the problem. Both balls were Callaway’s with the number 2 and my initial. I had no idea which ball was my first shot, and which one was my provisional. We decided as a group that since the balls were so close to each other to just pick one and move on. I bring this up because I think there are two good lessons to learn from this experience.
First of all, I suggest all four golfers in the foursome should stay attentive and watch each other’s tee shots. After all, we are “seniors”, and our vision isn’t as good as when we were younger. Secondly, now when I buy a dozen balls, I make sure to mix the numbers in each sleeve, so I don’t hit my provisional with the same number as my first shot. I also announce the number when I announce that I’m hitting a provisional.
I am sure you’re all thinking that this is such a rare thing to happen, and it will never happen to you. However, it happened to me, and I have applied those two lessons since then. Thanks for letting me share. Enjoy your next round and hit ‘em straight.