January

Thanks to all who played in the Christmas shotgun, we had 192 players. I want to congratulate everyone for playing under 6 hours. The weather was a little cool in the morning, but it turned out to be an outstanding Golf Day. Special thanks to Paul Goydos for playing, it’s always nice to have beat the Pro, wish I could..

We have two new members to the Board of Director’s and a new Director. Dennis Tramer is now one of your two Directors. Tom Retterrath is your new Handicap Chairman and Bret Holloway as Special Events Chairman. I am sure they will all do a great job next year. The Board is here to help and answer questions that you might have feel free to cal at any time.

The January Scramble is full, but you can always call Jerry and get on the stand- by list. Do to the lack of daylight hours in the first 3 months of the year it is though to get in, but the rest of the year it is no problem. Remember to come to the January 9^th meeting and put your name in the lottery for a starting time. The February 18^th tournament is the 5-man Select Drive. Be sure to sign up for he first away trip of the year at the meeting, we are going to Cross Creek on the 11th of February.

I hope that you all had a Wonderful Holiday Season and I am looking forward to next year as your President again.

The monthly meeting was held December 12, 2006 under the El Dorado Park Golf Course restaurant auxiliary tent. The restaurant provided a selection of chicken and peppers, tamales, rice, salad, coffee, and ice tea for your nominal donation of $7. President Rich Dennison called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the membership in allegiance to our flag.

Past Presidents in attendance: Richard Scoville, Steve Shure, Mike Montgomery, Bob Livingstone, and Tom Link.

Tom Burris, Bob Livingstone, Fred Gibson, and Tom McCutcheon represented our life membership.

The Minutes and Treasurer’s report as printed in the newsletter were accepted.

Pres. Dennison noted the new Board of Directors members and those continuing in their present positions from last month’s election of officers.

Bob Livingstone prompted the membership to participate in the SCGA tournaments this year. The schedule is on their’ website. Bob then noted our Club Champion, Mel Collins, tied for 4^th place in the annual Club Champion tourney. The field consisted of 96 Club Champions. Well done Mel!

Jim Byers was the only new member who took the podium to introduce himself to the Club. Jim went with Tom Link for the informative tour and to gain insight about our Club.

Mike Montgomery – Communications: Mike advised that the Club has some extra money and that the BOD’s would like to purchase 2-way radios with proper licensing for communication between the first tee, our course marshals, the fore-caddie on hole #1 and the Pro Shop during tournaments. The radios we use now are not meeting the need as range of communication is almost only within earshot. Mike has found a set of six (6) 2-way radios with 10-year warranty that are what we need for $2,000. A motion was made and seconded from the floor to purchase the radios. Vote unanimously passed. Mike will procure the radios.

Terry Fulford – Director / Team Play: Terry thanked everyone who showed up for Team Play tryouts. Several members of this year’s team are new to the competition.

Rick Evans – Director: Golfer of the Month for November were Net; Greg O’Brien 79-12=67 and Gross; Glenn Cantin with a 71. Glenn was the only member to turn in a Gross card. Both Greg and Glenn are eligible for the Golfer Of the year tourney to take place in March or April, 2007. The El Dorado Cup matches have been completed. Flight Runners-up received $60 for their efforts; President – Tom Retterath, Vice President – Mike Montgomery, and Secretary – Mike Vaughn. The winners received $100 and a plaque as follows; President – Mike Marmer, Vice President – Randy Kervin, and Secretary – Tim Braswell. Rick extended thanks to those who helped him the last 4 years while he was on the BOD.

Nick Zamora – Entertainment: Next year all the sites are set up. Cross Creek in February, $100 will be the cost. Word out is it is the #1 public course in Riverside county. We’ll play a Shotgun starting at 8:00 am with format 2 Better Ball with Blind Hole on both front and back. In March we’re going to Jurupa Hills. SCGA Member Course will be April 29, and the Weekender will be at Singing Hills.

Mel Collins – Rules: Mel thanked everyone for the support during the year. We have 3 significant Local Rules changes that become effective tomorrow, December 13, 2006. #1 is that the players can now remove rocks from bunkers with no penalty, #2 is all water at El Dorado will now be played as “Lateral” hazard, and the big one is #3 where the maintenance roads along holes #7, 11, 17, and 18 will now be considered an integral part of the course, no relief. Mel spoke with both the SCGA and USGA and they fully support this decision. The road behind #3 will still be free relief as there is area between the road and the fence to drop. A lot of discussion followed.

Bob Livingstone – Hole-In-One Fund. The fund has over 474 points now. He read the names of several members at the meeting who are not insured and urged them to sign up.

Jerry Leininger – Tournaments: This Saturday is our December Shotgun. If it’s raining, show up. The only way we will not play is if the course is closed. It will likely be cart paths only. 6:00 am check-in in the restaurant / bar area. A breakfast buffet will be available for $7. Starting time is 7:00 am. Tee groupings are on the internet. Format will be 2 Better Ball, (2) 3-man teams per group.

Raffle tickets continued to be sold. The prizes tonight included everything a golfer could need (and want) bags, gloves, Pro V1 golf balls, range cards, alcohol, a lot of cash, and other golf related items. Mike Montgomery pulled the tickets while Bret Holloway and Dan Ahearn distributed the prizes.

The membership drawing tonight was for $160. Al Ostberg and Bob Livingstone pulled 20 numbers to help in the process as we will draw until a member who is present number is called. The following members who were not present numbers were drawn in consecutive order; Dan Zenovka, Bob Petrillo, Lee Lockyer, and Larry Darlak. The 5th number drawn was that of Mike Vaughn. Mike collected a check from Treasurer Al Ostberg for an early Christmas present from the Club. It does pay to attend the meetings. Hope to see more of you at the monthly meetings next year. We will start at $50 at the January meeting and increase the amount by $10 each month until it is won, or given away at the December meeting. It will start at $50 again if someone collects during the course of the year and progress accordingly.

Format: Scramble. Each player tees off on each hole. The team selects the shot they prefer and all players place their ball within ONE SCORECARD length of that spot through the green, or within a putter head length of that spot on the green, and then play from that spot. If the selected shot is in a hazard, rough, or on the fringe of the green, the ball must remain in that condition when placed back in play. This procedure will be followed for each shot until a ball is holed, or the selected shot is within the hole and the tape placed on the flagstick, in which case the next shot will be deemed to have been holed.

Putting No special rules for putting; every player is entitled to putt on the green. Once the team’s selected shot comes to rest within the tape placed on the flagstick, the next shot will be deemed to have been holed.

Flights: There will be 1 Gross & 4 Net Flights determined by the Total Handicap of each Team.

Scores: RECORD ONLY THE GROSS SCORE FOR EACH HOLE. Handicap strokes will be applied by the Tournament / Scoring Committee.

Turn in your scorecard to the tournament table after your round – Failure to turn in your card is Disqualification

Ties: Will be decided by a card off by the Tournament Committee after completion of the Tournament using USGA’s recommended tie breaking procedure.

Rules: The Tournament will adhere to all USGA Rules and Regulations and any other local rules in effect.

Speed of Play is an issue: Your Group is responsible for keeping up with the group in front of you. Do not spend time looking for lost balls, do not take practice shots or putts after your team has holed out.

Our 2006 Monthly Tournaments have come to an end. I would like to thank Tom Link, our out going Past President, President Rich Dennison, and the 2006 Board of Directors for their help in making the 2006 Tournaments such a success. A very special Thank You goes to our members for your participation at our Men’s Club events. I do not want to forget the staff at El Dorado Park Golf Course and also Randy and staff in the restaurant for their assistance. It makes it a lot easier when you have such great people to work with. Thanks to all of you.

Well we had 16 holes of good weather and 2 holes of showers to set the tone for the day. The course was playing a little tough for most of us but some managed to record some good scores and we did finish in time for the derby’s. Not all that bad.

Santa did come early for Toby Kovaleff and Russ Slayton in the form of the ”Blind Draw”, to shoot a Net 128 for first place. Bill Hasselman, Chris Price and Justin Vander Broek edged out Mike Mongomery, Rick Evans and Steve Shure for second place with a 129 net. Jim Baird and Bob Maney also got an early visit from Santa, (“Blind Draw”) to cash. A list of the winners is in this newsletter. Congratulations to all who cashed.

The January 14th Scramble is filled for team spots and I am working off the Stand by list for single players. We have limited daylight for the first 2 or 3 months of the year so be patient if you do not get into one of those events.

The scramble will be played as in the past: Reduced Handicaps and the rotating putting rule. Player A putts first, then Player B, Player C etc. until the ball is holed. You do not get 5 putts from the same location as other scrambles. I will have a Red Tape “ Gimmie” on the flagstick to help move us along. Make sure to add an additional stroke if you end up within the red tape.

Handicaps will be the lower of your current or Tournament Index. The following Handicap conversion will be used: 0-5 =0 6-11 = 1 12-18 = 2 19-24 =3 24+ = 4. Your Handicap will apply to your team total only. Remember you must use two of each players drives during the round. Score a team total only and DO NOT Post this round. Please contact me or any of the Board if you have any questions.

In the Select Drive, the 3 best balls of the team will be used for scoring. Select the best drive, and play your own ball in until holed out. Each Player is required to use 2 of hi drives during the round and we will play to 65% of your current or Tournament Index per the SCGA recommendations for a select drive event.

Sign ups will be taken at the January General meeting through our lottery system. Please make sure to come early and put your name into the bucket before the meeting starts.

Beginning Balance Checking Account			$ 40,335.31

DEPOSITS
Nov. Tournament	$ 4,353.00
Checking Interest	$ 3.86
Dues 2007	$ 5,118.00
Hole-In-One	$ 18.00
50-50	$ 18.00
Raffle	$ 145.00
Weekender	$ 150.00
Soboba	$ 3,481.00
Skins Game	$ 2,448.50
Christmas Tourn.	$ 7,250.00


TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS	$ 22,985.36

SUBTOTAL			$ 63,320.67

DEBITS
Nov Tournament		$ 7,932.00
Los Altos Trophy		$ 62.50
Seaside Printing		$ 97.30
Misc & Postage		$ 210.62
Soboba		$ 3,281.00
Seaside Printing 2006		$ 612.80
Christmas Tourn.		$ 1,905.20
Christmas Raffle		$ 1,037.00
Dues 2007 Refund		$ 80.00
12 month CD		$ 10,000.00
Phone Subsidies		$ 350.00
Directors' Meeting		$ 50.00
LB Jr. Golf		$ 500.00
Skins Game		$ 2,448.50
TOTAL CASH DISBURSEMENTS		$ 28,566.92
CHECKING ACCOUNT BALANCE			$ 34,753.75
		CD	$ 10,000.00

		TOTAL FUNDS	$ 44,753.75

As I have mentioned a few times at the General Meetings, the 2007 SCGA Calendar of Tournaments will have been made public on Tuesday, January 2. I strongly encourage all of you to take advantage of one of the biggest parts of your SCGA membership, which is the tournaments the Association conducts. You do NOT have to be a scratch player, either! Several years ago the SCGA realized that its tournament program was slanted to about 2-3% of its membership and have since added many "net" championships. Take a look at www.scga.org under the "Rules and Competitions" link and see if you can't find a qualifying event to enter...you will enjoy playing in a well run event!