The Bidwell Women‘s Golf Club played a game of “Better Nine” last week, beating out the rain, but was slowed down by Jack Frost, albeit the day did get warmer after the short frost delay. Players could choose either the front nine or back nine for their nine-hole score. Kelly MacKinnon continued her dominance with the overall low score on the day, shooting 85 in the first flight.
First flight low net game was a tie between Becky Callas and Sheila McMurphy at 34.5. Second flight low gross: Donna Ensele, 98. Low net game: 1, Jolene Nixon, 32.5; 2 tie, Cynthia Bell and Yumiko Hankins, 35.5. Third flight low gross was a tie between Deena Cooper and Sue Blizman, 111. Low net game: Helen Deatsch, 34.5. Closest to pin on No. 12: 1, Pease; 2, Gail Johnson; 3, Ensele.
Table Mountain Golf Course
The game was “Bargain Day” for the Table Mountain Women’s Golf Club last week. The players could throw out their worst two holes on both the front and back nine. Dana Blanton shot 86 to take overall low gross. Jody Thompson was low net with a score of 75. Game: 1. Lynn Sutherland, 59; 2, Christl Yates, 59.5; 3, Mary Haloski, 63; 4, Michelle Brown, 64. Closest to the pin on No. 6: Sutherland.
Butte Creek Country Club
The Butte Creek Women’s Golf Club was also able to beat Mother Nature to the draw and get its weekly outing in before the rain hit town. The format was an ABC One Best Ball. The team of Karen Beckman, Sally Hayes and Carol Varley took first with a commanding score of 56. Finishing in the second spot was the team of Karla Dreiss, Paula Kokal and Darlene Thomasson at 63. Rounding out the payouts in third place was the team of Joan Bequette, Debbie Maderos and Pam Miller at 64.
Canyon Oaks Country Club
The morning was chilly and the turnout a little small, but the Canyon Oaks Women’s Golf Club was able to play its weekly game prior to the rain. The game was “Cross Country.” Nancy Vieira was low gross on the day at 94. Cathy Edgar came in with a net 70 for overall low net. Game: 1, Edgar, 25.5; 2, Vickie Spelts, 26.5; 3, Vieira, 28.5.
Spectacular shots
Joan Wagoner chalked up her third career hole-in-one at Canyon Oaks last week. Her 116-yard, driver tee shot was witnessed disappearing into the cup on the 11th hole by her playing companion, Linda Harris.
Some common golf terms
Casual water: a temporary accumulation of water on the course. If your ball is in such an area (or you must stand in such an area to hit your ball), a drop, no closer to the hole, is permitted without a penalty.
Course rating: a numerical rating (expressed in strokes and decimals of a stroke) that evaluates the playing difficulty of a course compared with other rated courses. The course rating is more refined than par and is based on both yardage and the expected score of a scratch (expert) player.
Dance floor: slang for the putting green.
Fried egg: slang description of a ball buried in the sand.
Hosel: the part of the club that connects the shaft to the clubhead.
Nassau: a bet on who wins the front nine, back nine, and the overall eighteen.
Shank: errant shot caused by striking the ball with the hosel of the club. Such shots either dribble or shoot off to the right (for right–handed players).
Slope: numerical value assigned to a golf course indicating the difficulty for average players, the higher the number the more difficult the course. The average is 113.
Here’s a slope comparison of the courses in our area at approximately 6,100 yards, and from the championship tees: Bidwell (123/126); Butte Creek (128/134); Bailey Creek, (119/129); Canyon Oaks (131/146); Rolling Hills (125/140: Table Mountain (117/126).
The top seven in California are: Torrey Pines South (148); Canyon Oaks (146): Spyglass Hill (145); Pebble Beach (144); Cypress Point (141); Riveria and Pacific Palisades, (139).
Looking back 10 years to February 2015Canyon Oaks Country Club
Shelley Carney amassed a total of 6,200 points throughout the year in the Canyon Oaks Women’s Golf Club Player-of-the-Year tournaments to earn the distinction of being named 2014 Player-of-the-Year. The awardees were announced at their recent annual awards ceremony. The remaining top five point getters were: Sally Pearson and Nancy Vieira, tying for second place with 6,000 points each, third place was Karen Escott (5,850 points) followed by Susan Moon (5,500 points) finishing in the fifth spot. Also recognized was Jackie Schimmel as Most Inspirational member, and Pat Radisich as Most Improved Player.
Table Mountain Golf Course
Sandy Goble shot 85 for the low gross round of the day in the Table Mountain Women’s Golf Club weekly tournament. It was Suzanne Venter’s turn to claim the low net score. Counting only the best of nine scores in the game portion the first flight winners were: 1, Pam Weichert (28.5); 2, Joan Royer (29); 3, Sally Stemen (30). Second flight: 1, Linda Lindberg (29); 2, Sharon Nelson (29.5); 3, Sherri McGhee (30).
The first tournament of the year for the Table Mountain Men’s Golf Club was a two-man, best-ball format divided into four flights. First flight: 1, Gabe Anders/Vince Sormano; 2, Jamie Scharff/Joey Lauer; 3, Ingrem Wong/blind draw. Second flight: 1, Joe Cull/Willie Wilson; 2, Joe Nehl/Albert Nelson; 3, Eddie Parker/Shayne Garewal. Third flight: 1, Dean Morrow/Bill Olson; 2, Gary Lindberg/Calvin Bailey; 3, Yves Latouche/Roberto Esparza. Fourth flight: 1, Scott Armstrong/Bruce Thomas; 2, Don Green/Fred Hugg; 3, Pater Davis/Keven Feuerstein. Closest to the pin winners: Hole No. 3, Thomas; Hole No. 7, Scharff (hole-in-one); Hole No. 12, Steve McCarthy; Hole No. 16, Bob Mortensen.
Butte Creek Country Club
The Butte Creek Women’s Golf Club selected an “Any Nine” format for their weekly tournament, wherein the players could choose two par 3 holes, two par 5 holes, and five par 4 holes of their round for their final nine-hole score. Pat Stephenson and Vicki Ellcessor finished first and second respectively in the first flight. Joye Smith and Karey McKenney followed suit in the second flight. The third flight winners were: 1, Suzy Mann; 2, Darlene Thomasson.
Dave Smith shot a gross score of 81 to win the Butte Creek Seniors Sweeps Tournament in the blue tee division for the low net score of 69. Kevin Parrish was two strokes back for the second spot. Denny Varley won the white tee division by five strokes with a net score of 64 over the second place finisher, Dick Brooks. Rounding out the other top finishers were: 3, Rich Taylor (70); 4, Mike Liddell (71); Larry Stephenson (72).
Bidwell Park Golf Course
Karla Dreiss and Kay Kurdziel tied for low gross in the first flight of the Bidwell Park Women’s Golf Club in an irons/hybrids only tournament with a score of 82. Sandy Anderson (63) was low net on the day. Second flight low gross: Betty Linzy (83). Low net: 1, Sally Weller (67); 2, Yumiko Hankins (68). Third flight low gross: Sue Blizman (95). Barbara Lutz and Cheryl Reager tied for low net at 64.
Spectacular shots
As noted above, Jamie Scharff aced the 7th hole at Table Mountain during the weekly men’s club best-ball tournament while his playing partner, Joey Lauer, applauded the shot and proceeded to write a one down on their scorecard for that hole, or maybe a net zero, depending whether or not Scharff’s handicap allowed for a stroke on the hole.
Ed Anderson’s local golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached at edanderson1936@gmail.com.
