October

Looks likes our Southern California autumn is upon us. Last week we had fog on the first four holes starting at 7am. If this is all we have to worry about weather wise, we really do not have any problems.

By the time you receive this letter our weekender will be in the books. All of us who participated owe Nick Zamora, Mike Montgomery and the rest of the Board of Directors a thank you for putting on this event. It always provides a lot of good golf stories for the rest of the year.

The October General Meeting will be the opportunity for submitting nominations for elected positions from the floor. We are always looking for members who have the time to run for an office and want to contribute in making our club the very best it can be. If you are interested in an appointed position, please contact myself or any Board member. We will make sure the request gets forwarded to our election committee.

On the 18^th of October we will once again have our “Dreaded Orange Ball”. If you have never played in the orange ball tournament, get a team together or contact Dennis Tramer as a single. This tournament is really a lot of fun and when your turn with the orange ball comes up, it is amazing where that ball can end up and the score you have to record. You also will probably see the fashion show put on by Rick Evans, Steve Liebeck, and others who dress for the occasion; that is a sight in itself.

I also wanted to let you know all the hard work by or Superintendent Jerry Hall and his staff is starting to pay off. The condition of the greens is much better. There is new growth and I understand that the deep punching and aeration is going on at this time. Give a couple of weeks more and I’m sure we will be back in good shape.

The monthly meeting was held September 9, 2008 in the El Dorado Park Golf Course tent area. The restaurant provided chicken breast and beef tri-tip with veggies and rolls with the salad bar, including coffee and / or tea and a cookie for your nominal donation of $7.

President Jerry Leininger called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. and led the membership in allegiance to our flag.

Past Presidents in attendance: Steve Shure, Don Marmion, Mike Montgomery, Bob Livingstone and Richard Dennison.

Jason Koh addressed the membership on course conditions. Bottom line is the salinity content of our soil is tough on our greens and grass. Jason suggests we hold the Club Championship earlier in the year and he will work with us to get that done. The aerating of the greens is scheduled for Sept. 25. Three of the par 3 tee boxes are to be enlarged and leveled. Jason is at the course 5-6 days per week, and sometimes 7. If you want to let him know about something stop in to see him. Pres. Leininger noted we are considering June for the Club Championship next year.

Rich Dennison – Immediate Past President: Rich presented the slate for the 2009 Board of Directors. President – Jerry Leininger, Vice President – Dennis Tramer, Secretary – Mike Vaughn, Treasurer Bret Holloway, Director – Mel Collins, Terry Fulford, Al Ostberg, and Tom Retterath. Nominations for the ‘Board will be accepted from the floor at the October meeting.

Myron Howard was the only new member at tonight’s meeting. Myron noted his handicap was 10.6 before undergoing back surgery and looks forward to participating in our Club.

Bob Livingstone – Rules and SCGA Representative; Bob reported that The Long Beach Golf Festival did well. $8,500 was given away to Charities. Hole 3, 9, and 12 tee boxes will be rebuilt. A new practice facility is to be built at Skylinks behind the 18^th green. At this time Bob is serving in the interim as City of Long Beach Superintendent of Golf Operations. Moving to Rules, Bob noted differences in the rules for Stroke and Match play. In Stroke you can play a 2^nd ball through the hole and determine the rule after the round, whereas in Match play you must make the decision on the spot. If you feel you know a rule has been violated you must make a claim at that time. Your words have to include words such as “I believe what you just did was a Rule violation”. The Rule number is not necessary but your statement must identify that you contest your opponents’ action. At the end of the match you will determine the correct rule. A few questions on certain issues followed. Bob stated that the SCGA is selling the Member Course. They have barely been breaking even and have determined that golf course management is not their strong suit and that selling is the right thing to do. SCGA website now allows members to research their stats. Casual Golf Days have been well received. The next one is to be held at Indian Wells (Bob Hope Classic course) for $65. The SCGA has tickets for sale for local golf events at reduced prices.

Team Play – Paul Wildy is our Saturday captain. Paul took the opportunity to thank Terry Fulford and Larry Lipman for the fine job they did the last two years as the Saturday captains. Paul reminded prospective Team Play members to have their 2009 Renewal in before October 15^th. This is the last date to guarantee you will be on the January SCGA roster, a condition of eligibility. Mel Collins will be our Thursday co-captain with Glenn Cantin as our captain. Thursday play starts the first Thursday in January. Sign ups to start the first of October. Get signed up.

Mel Collins – Director: Tonight’s Putting Contest had several players. We had a three-way tie for 2^nd scoring 15. Receiving $15 each were Terry Henson, Ron McBride, and Steve Giroux. Rolling a 1-better 14 and winning $58 was Tim Braswell. Flights matches are through the first round. Be sure to get your next match scheduled and played on time. No extensions will be granted.

Terry Fulford – Director: Had (16) players in today’s 9-hole tourney. Taking 3^rd place with a 35 ½ was Greg Englant, taking 2^nd with a 35 was Tony Jimenez. Tom Conlisk took the win with his 34 ½ carding a 6 on the 9^th hole (not really, I just couldn’t resist. GOM for August winners were Gross – Bret Holloway, 69 and Net Al Reinking 78 – 12 for a 68. Terry took a random survey on if the members would prefer a monthly trophy or a small gift certificate. The trophy showed to be most popular. The 9-hole tourney ends when Daylight Savings Time is over.

Mike Montgomery – Communications: Mike is looking into new speakers for our PA system.

Nick Zamora – Entertainment: Pushing the Weekender hard this year. 16 teams is the goal playing Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. All rounds qualify for the Little Brown Jug. This is the weekend of October 3, 4 and 5 at Doubletree in San Diego. Rio Hondo is our last away trip this year on November 6 starting at 9:30 am, cost $80 per player. Nick is looking at new places. If you have a course we should play, see Nick.

Bret Holloway – Special Events: We’ll have Sweeps both days at the Partner-Partner for $40 per team. Individual Special Events will be $20 per player. All entries will be paid on Saturday. Bret noted what the events would be. Pres Leininger reiterated that everything must be paid on Saturday, and the total entry fee for anyone wanting to go Pig for both Gross and Net would be $120 not $80 per team.

Dennis Tramer – Tournaments: The Bar-B-Q went pretty well. Next year we’ll run this as a shotgun to get everyone finishing around the same time. We will likely have a buffet under the tent instead of a Bar-B-Q as well. As for this Saturday’s Partner-Partner you won’t have individual handicaps, only team. Saturday is Better ball while Sunday will be Aggregate. Tee times are from 6:30 – 10:30. The Orange Ball tourney is in October, $50 per player. Each team will receive two (2) Orange balls before going out. At least one (1) of the balls must be returned with your scorecard or your team will be disqualified. Dennis noted that for players coming back from an injury that if you need a handicap adjustment you are to turn in five (5) honest scorecards for consideration. At that time “Fish” called the first 15 names for October Sign up.

Old Business: Deadline date to have your Renewals submitted to Mike Vaughn is October 15. Team Play members must renew on time or they will not qualify for the competition. The SCGA gives no buffer on this. If you are on the January roster you play, if you’re not you don’t. Another advantage of early renewal is the $15 savings. Members will also receive the early rate as well as to remain on the January, 2009 SCGA roster is October 15, 2008. The Club Championship was just completed. Flight

Winners were Net #2; Tom Montgomery, Net #1; Cliff Aichele, Sr. Champion; Doug Jones. Our 2008 Club Champion is Steve Mena shooting a 58-hole total of 218. Well done, Steve.

Cash raffle tickets continued to be sold. Bret Holloway called the winning numbers. Didn’t catch the Grand prize as I was too busy counting the $15 I won!

The Membership drawing tonight was for $50. The number of Tom Braun was drawn. Tom was at the meeting. Next month the prize will be $60.

We all had a great time. We had great weather and some fine scores shot even though the course was not in tiptop shape. We had a really short field as we only had 116 golfers, but as you'll see the payouts were great. I hope we get better participation next year. The Saturday format of front 9 scramble and back 9 crossover are a lot of fun. Anybody who hasn't played this needs to try it. We had 1 phenomenal score on Saturday as Mel Collins (HOLE IN ONE ON 12) led the way for him and John Hasselman to a great gross score of 61. They came back Sunday for a even par score of 108 for a 169 total to win the A flight gross easily. Other winners A flight net at 168 M. Gilmore & S. Giroux ( A MAJOR UPSET) B flight gross at 194 T. Henson & D. Ahern B Flight net at 168 G. O'Brien & D. Hudzietz (another upset) C flight gross at 203 K. Bartley & L. Bartley (they've been cashing a lot, time to sick Retterath on them) C flight net at 159 T. Fulford & T. Montgomery. All these teams cashed for 120 points per man Fulford is the new Stan Faris as he can spot a sandbagger just as well as a COORS LIGHT. As for T. Montgomery he will never see 2 pops again. All payouts are posted on the internet and in the hallway.

On meeting night October 14th I will be taking signups for the individual Nassau that will be played on November 15th.

Beginning Balance Checking Account			$ 16,233.96

DEPOSITS
PART/PART	$ 12,490.00
HOLE IN ONE (B4Mel)	$ 366.00
CLUB CHAMP	$ 4,905.00
CKING INT	$ 1.04
DUES '08	$ 100.00
DUES '09	$ 10,842.00
ORANGE BALL	$ 2,970.00
SAN CLEMENTE	$ 80.00
AUG TOURN	$ 8,550.00
HOLE IN ONE (after Mel)	$ 370.00
50/50	$ 100.00
FLIGHTS	$ 90.00
RAFFLE	$ 2,197.50

TOTAL CASH RECEIPTS	$ 43,061.54

SUBTOTAL			$ 59,295.50

DISBURSEMENTS
POSTAGE '09		$ 33.60
SCGA DUES '08		$ 160.00
RAFFLE		$ 1,305.55
SAN CLEMENTE		$ 85.00
AUG TOURN		$ 10,948.00
LOS ALTOS TROPHY		$ 66.81
DIRS MEET		$ 50.00
SEASIDE '08		$ 1,183.00
SEASIDE '09		$ 102.31
PART/PART		$ 7,752.00
DSL		$ 5.00
CLUB CHAMP		$ 5,841.00

TOTAL CASH DISBURSEMENTS		$ 27,532.27
CHECKING ACCOUNT BALANCE			$ 31,763.23
NEW CD			$ 5,205.65

TOTAL FUNDS			$ 36,968.88

By the time you read this the weekender will have already been completed. Three days of golf in the wonderful town of San Diego. You will have already heard how good the weather was and who the winners were. You will know how much fun you missed, so I hope you remember to put this trip on your schedule for next year. It is always a great time and a good way to relax with your fellow club mates. I want to thank everyone for their support and hard work in making this a memorable experience.

Out last trip of the year will be to the new and improved Rio Hondo course in Downey. The date is November 8, Saturday, starting at 9:30 am. The cost is $80.00 and the format will be count 2 Scores on the Par 3’s and 5’s and 3 Scores on the Par 4’s. Sign up as a single or bring a whole foursome. You can email me, call me or sign up at the next club meeting on October 14^th.

Remember the “Little Brown Jug”, I will be posting the standings after the weekender. For those who are playing this big time event, you need five (5) net scores to qualify. You get these scores by playing in my away trips and the weekender can count as three. The lowest sum of these five (5) scores will determine the winners. First Prize is 150 points, Second Prize is 100 points and Third Prize is 50 points. Any questions?

It has been 8 years since El Dorado Park GC was last rated by the SCGA, and we are scheduled to be rated again on October 30th. As a part of the rating, the course will be GPS-measured by the SCGA as well. Once the new rating is figured we will play to it for posting and for determining handicaps, even though the course will not run out of scorecards until early next year...the correct numbers will be in our and other SCGA-linked computers.

I haven't heard of any recent Rules snafus, so I will go with a basic reminder. Many times golfers will refer to a bad break as a "rub of the green", but that is not a correct reference. Rule 19 deals with a ball in motion stopped or deflected. Rule 19-1 states in part: "If a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is a rub of the green, there is no penalty and the ball shall be played as it lies."

Hopefully you just asked "what the hell is an outside agency?". An outside agency is basically anything that is not part of the side (the player, partner, their caddies and their equipment) or the match (the two opponents, their caddies, a referee, etc.). So, a moving maintenance vehicle, an animal, a spectator, a fellow competitor who is not your partner, etc., are outside agencies and the ball is played as it lies (even if it gets a bad break like bouncing into a hazard or OB).

If a ball is deflected by the player, his partner or either of their caddies or their equipment, there is a 1-shot penalty and the ball is played as it lies. If a ball is deflected by an opponent or his caddy in match play, the player may replay his ball if he wishes, so long as he does so before any other strokes in the match take place.

The monthly meeting was held at Skylinks on Sept. 24th. Phil Hester, Director of Parks, Recreation and Marine Dept., was there to present an audit report from the City Auditor, which was approved by the City Council in August. The audit made recommendations for greater internal control on capital improvements, recording of gross receipts and complimentary play for record keeping purposes which he explained and approved. As usual, per contract with the City, golfing fees, cart fees and other amenities were increased effective October 1st, all staying within or less than the agreed percentages. Senior monthly ticket and Senior 12 play cards have been discontinued in response to the Auditor's better tracking of rounds of golf.

As of this writing, all scheduled aerification on all courses has either been performed or is in the process of being done. There goes all those good green at El Do. Skylinks new practice facility in under way and should be completed shortly. AGC has installed a new practice ball machine at Skylinks that requires a key instead of a card. If responses to the new machine are positive, they will install the new machines at all the other courses in due time. Course play and course revenue were down 2.57% and 3.91% respectively for the month of August , mostly blamed on the depressed economy. Junior Golf had another great summer for all the youngsters at Heartwell and another successful year. That's it for now. Play good golf and enjoy the fall weather.

The Flights Championship is now in the semi finals. Last year's President's Flight Champion Bill Hasselman is making a bid to repeat. As is Robert Creighton in the Vice-Presidents flight. All flights must complete their semi final matches by October 31. Be sure to record match results in the Flights book next to the Computer in the Pro Shop or on line at our website. Players have done a good job of getting their matches completed, thanks.

This will be the last putting contest this year, the contest will start at 5:00 pm. I would like a big turn out, in the past we have had some good payouts, lets have a good final.