November

We were sailing along quite well until it was my turn to use the “Dreaded Orange Ball” on hole # 17. I stood on the tee, full of confidence, and promptly “sliced” the ball into the trap at the front of the 10^th hole. The worst part was up the fairway came Tom Conlisk and Paul Wildy asking what I was doing over here. I am certain I will be reminded of this shot for years. Every year there are stories about the of things that happen in this Tournament with that dreaded thing, if you missed it you should make sure you are able to play next year.

We have just one away trip left this year, to the SCGA course in Temecula on November 7^th. If you get this Newsletter before that date and are interested call Nick Zamora to see if there is a spot available.

Rich Dennison is currently taking sign ups for the November Stableford, if you want to play give him a call, it is an individual Tournament. The always fun Christmas Tournament is upon us. Fill out your application early because space is limited, it is a true blind draw for teams and we will have the Golf Course to ourselves for the entire day. See Rich Dennison or someone on the Board if you have questions. Don’t miss it!

We are getting close to the end of the year and it is time for the election of the Board that will represent you for the following year. We have only one office that is being contested this election. There are three very qualified candidates running for the Director position.

The monthly meeting was held October 12, 2004 under the El Dorado Park Golf Course restaurant auxiliary tent. The restaurant provided their usual great dinner tonight for your $6 donation. President Tom Link called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the membership in allegiance to our flag.

Past Presidents in attendance: Tom Conlisk, Richard Scoville, Steve Shure, Don Marmion, Mike Montgomery, Greg O’Brien, and Bob Livingstone.

The minutes from the last meeting and Treasurer’s report as printed in the newsletter were accepted.

We had one new member at tonight’s meeting. Bob Livingstone took him on the traditional informative tour.

President Link announced that we have representatives from American Golf to talk with us tonight. Flyers have been passed out for questions that members would like to have answered. At that time he introduce Brett and Javier. Brett is our new Grounds Keeper and has been here for about 6 weeks. He is excited to be here to support our great course and has plans to bring it back. There is a price change coming up. American Golf favors a 3-tiered system. Skylinks will be “Platinum”, we’ll be “Gold, and Rec Park will be “Silver”, each step a 25% cost increase. Of course the City will make the final decision. Brett read the new fees. For example we’ll be up $2 on weekdays, and $3 on weekends. Pres. Link then introduced Javier. Javier comes from Texas, and has worked with building a course In New Mexico, went east, and now he’s back here. He has been with American Golf 6 months. Someone commented about the crabgrass around the greens. Mike Montgomery asked if the monies from the first rate increase have been used to help maintain the course. The answer was “No”. Brett said it was more of a cost of living standard increase. Steve Shure made note that we were told the course would be kept up to a Premier condition. They have not lived up to what we were told. Steve noted that it seems American Golf does not have to answer to anyone on their being held to any standards. How do we keep our course and American Golf to be at the level they are accountable for? Steve wants Brett and Javier to know our Club’s position, and that we could go to the City and recommend someone else be selected to manage our course if need be. Jim Fuchs noted to Brett and Javier that we need them to go to American Golf to support our position. Javier noted the soil is too compacted and can not absorb water. He has asked for (2) aerifiers for use in aerating the soil (4) times per year in effort to correct this condition. Mel Collins discussed the wet greens and asked Javier to discuss his plan. Javier immediately said that these are the worst, and that he is not used to such greens.

Pres. Link introduced Dennis Wright who is overseeing the tournaments at the Long Beach courses. Dennis has been at Rec Park for 5 years working for the City of L.B. His jobs is to make sure that when Men’s, or any other, Clubs are having tournaments that the times are filled. Javier then made remark that he is trying to get the course back in better condition. Steve Shure noted that for 5 years people here have fallen, and that if this new group doesn’t get the tools and equipment they need that they will fall too.

Paul Wildy, Saturday Team Play Co-captain, noted that the people signed up for the 23^rd, 30^th, and 6^th need to see or call him. Paul reinforced that if you are signed up for Team Play be sure you renewals are paid. They need to be paid NLT October 31, 2004 to remain eligible to play in an SCGA event for 2005.

Bob Livingstone took the podium to discuss the elections for 2005. The ‘Boards slate was noted last meeting and tonight we are taking nominations from the floor. President – None, Vice President – None, Secretary – None, Treasurer – None. We have slated 3 persons for Director at Large for these 2 positions. No others were nominated. Motion to close the nominations was made, seconded, and approved. The vote will be held first thing during the November meeting. Last month was the Club Championship. The Senior winner was determined in a playoff between Mel Collins and Steve Friend. Mel prevailed. Our Club Champion for this year is John Dymon. The Club will cover John’s membership for 2005. Next year we will have one if not tow stroke play net championship flights.

Jerry Leininger – Handicap: In September some of our scores did not get sent to IDC. We will use your Trend score for this month’ as it is likely the most representative of how you are playing. We are looking into how we can keep this from happening again. October 3 is the date the Trend index was determined. These results are posted as well as being on our website.

Nick Zamora – Entertainment: What a weekend at Singing Hills. Next year we’ll go to a new course. It may be twice as expensive but it will also be a lot of fun. Skins were Net this year in giving everyone half of their handicap. We only had (2) Skins claimed, Fred Gibson and Chris Benes. November 7 is SCGA Member Course. Fee will be $75 with a probable 2-on-3, 3-on-4, and 4-on-5 format. A blind draw hole or two is always possible. Looking at some new courses for next year, be ready to play.

Mel Collins – Rules: Mel provided follow up on last month’s intro to Rule 25 as Tom McCutcheon did not agree with his interpretation of the rule. It is defined that a ball must be in its own pitch mark, that is the key. A ball in heavy grass could be a condition if the ball was in its own mark.

Dennis Tramer – Director: Flights are going along well. Several of the October rounds have already been played. Dennis noted that he and Mike Vaughn took second place in the weekender overall, and that in all his years it was the first that Mike has cashed at the weekender tournament. Mike acknowledged that ‘Fish is a great coach. Pat Nohalty won the Putting Contest with Terry Fulford taking second. Tom Bentele took the 9-hole tourney honors. G.O.M. for September were Steve Friend with a Gross 69, and Roger Scaife for a Net 64 (80 – 16).

Rich Dennison – Tournaments: There are a couple of openings left for this Saturday’s tournament. November will be a singles tourney. With the rate increase our tourney will now be $40 each player. Rich needs us to have their’ groups names together and the minimum $10 entry fee for each player. December is the Christmas tourney. We will have the course for the full day. Rates are $53 to walk and $62 to ride. Derbies will be held later in the day. Rich is shooting for 180 players. If more than the 180 sign up they will be playing. The format will be playing your own ball with any number of variations. Rich noted that the Thursday Team Play is need of players. If you can participate please contact Roger Scaife or Larry Lipman as soon as possible.

Old Business: Mike Vaughn commented that going into tonight 251 members have renewed, or about half. Mike noted that he received about 50 renewals tonight, and thanked the membership for their timely submitals.

Raffle tickets continued to be sold. Don Russell drew the tickets, Rick Evans called the numbers while Greg O’Brien distributed the prizes. A lot of prizes were given away that included golf balls, towels, range cards, gloves, and hats.

50-50 was $60 tonight. The winner was George Manyak (he won the 50-50 in August as well!). That was a quick $30 for George and $30 for Jr. Golf.

The membership drawing tonight was for $130. The number of Lee Lockyer was drawn. Lee was not at the meeting. The prize will increase to $140 next month.

The stories of the Orange Ball were being told all afternoon in the El Dorado Bar. It’s amassing how the color of a ball can change how you normally play a hole. Why do you lose an orange ball? When you haven’t lost a ball in years. That’s the Dreaded Orange Ball.

The Gross winners this month have a couple of new names this month. Mike Marmer, Paul Hoch, Doug Jones, Kevin Orr and Greg Lester.

In the A-Flight we had are regular winners Tom Link, John Suttie Don Marmion, Frank Followell and Tom Braun. Albeit they won on a card off against 2 other teams they did win again.

In the B-Flight we had another card off. Nick Johnson, Terry Sweet, Marty Suart, Jim Clinton and Nigel Sherry got the win this month.

In the C-Flight the group of Dick Marsh, Fred Gerlach, Fredrick Gerlach, Bob Blanchard and Mr. Draw won easily it’s nice to have new names on the winners list.

November 13^th will be the Modified Stable ford Tournament. The object to this tournament is to score as many points as possible, the one who scores the most points wins. (gross or net) Double Bogey or higher = --1 point, Bogey = 0 points, par = 1 point, Birdie = 3 points, Eagle = 5 points Double Eagle = 8 points. I have openings so give me a call and I’ll get you in. (562-822-2659)

The December Christmas Tournament is just around the corner, so get your sign up slips and money in so you don’t miss out. Remember we give away the excess monies on this one, plus we have the course for the day, there are Derby’s to sign up for and if you want you can play a few more holes as well. We will be playing 5 man teams. The shotgun start will began at 7:30am, don’t miss out this is a Fun one.

Talk about Fun ones I went to the weekender this year for the first time and found out that I had been missing the best deal in our golf club for years. Put next year’s weekender on your calendar now it’s well worth it.

Beginning Balance			$18,931.35

DEPOSITS

Checking Interest	1.33
50/50	36.00
Club Championship	110.00
Nov. Tournament	2,430.00
Raffle	367.00
Dues '05	15,025.00
Oct. Tournament	2,824.00
Hole-in-One	48.00
Weekender	4,130.00
Flights Championship	270.00

TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS	25,241.33

SUBTOTAL			$44,172.68

DEBITS
Seaside Printing		$ 643.67
Directors Meeting		$ 50.00
Weekender		$ 700.00
Raffle		$ 378.79
October Tournament		$ 7,402.50
Club Championship		$ 990.00
Los Altos Trophy		$ 230.15
Sec. Of State		$ 20.00
Postage/Misc		$ 37.60


TOTAL CASH DISBURSEMENTS		$10,452.71

ENDING BALANCE			$33,719.97

Well yet another month comes to an end!! Before you know it we will be competing in the Christmas Tournament. This months Commissioners meeting was not real exciting, but some of the sub committee meetings brought out some interesting topics. The rounds for September for the two courses were down by four %. Our course was down 5.66%. The year to date rounds were also down by 1.35%. For our course year to date we our down 3.75%. But on the other hand the revenue generated is still doing well. $246 thousand went to the city during September. Our C.I.P. fund is actually going for the bond payment, but soon there will be some monies available for any projects that are needed. Junior Golf is doing well with 74 Thousand in that account. The Club hours are in line as well.

As you already probably know the superintendents have switched positions from Big Rec to El Dorado and El Dorado to Big Rec.???

I am on several sub committees this coming term. One being the Hall of Fame. We will be planning a very nice ceremony probably in April 2005. The event may include a tournament, as well as honoring the Hall of Fame inductees. I must ask if anyone has any type of memorabilia regarding Long Beach Golf. Pictures, news articles etc. If you do please get with me. They can be donated to the City or just loan them to the City for the Hall of Fame building. Also I am on the tournament committee. We are in the process of getting ideas together for the possibility of making changes to the current tournament operations manual. If you have any ideas of what you feel would be a fair change to the current format, please get with me. All of the ideas will be submitted to the City. We want to make the tournament operation as easy and enforceable as possible. Enough for now. I will see you at out next meeting.

I have been asked by several members what to do if the tee markers are moved either way up or way back from the permanent marker sites. The simple answer is to post what you played. If you played white balls, post white. If you played the blue balls, post blue. The course should be set up so that the AVERAGE distance for the entire course should not be greatly changed. The maintenance crew may need to alter some tee placement to even out the wear and tear on the tee box or for seeding or other, however the overall distance should not be affected. This also means that if the tees are up for all par 3’s, that is no reason to post Whites in place of Blues that you played. Remember it is the OVERALL course yardage that is taken into consideration. To quote the SCGA Handbook,” Placement of tee-markers should be balanced so that the course’s effective playing length is approximately the same from day to day. Adjustments may be made to allow for weather and turf conditions”. So remember: play White – post White, play Blue – post Blue.

LI’s – With last months hassle with the computer, I wanted to let everyone know that you can get your index each month on the Internet. Just go to SCGA.org and on the home page on the right hand side sign into SCGA I mail. Follow the prompts and each month you will have your Current and LI before I get a chance to post it at El Dorado. Pretty slick if you haven’t tried it.

SCGA Member Report Card- This site on the SCGA home page will allow you to view or print out your 12-month history and review. Use the Index information to see where your LI is coming from and how it was determined. Remember that your LI is based on a your low index for a rolling 12 month cycle: November 03 to October 04 as example.

Thanks and remember – Try your best on each shot and post all your countable rounds.