Favorable golf weather soon — maybe | Tee to Green

The Canyon Oaks Women’s Golf Club played a game called “Hate ‘Em” for its weekly outing. The players could eliminate two holes from their final score prior to teeing off for the game score. Sally Pearson was both overall low gross and low net, 85/65. Game: 1, Pearson, 56; 2, Joan Wagoner, 60; 3, Nancy Vieira, 61. Closest to pin on No. 14: 1, Cynthia Paulo; 2, Vickie Spelts; 3, Wagoner.

Bidwell Park Golf Course

The Bidwell Park Women’s Golf Club played a game of “Ts and Fs,” counting the score on the holes beginning with those letters and subtracting one-half a player’s handicap. First flight low gross: Kelly MacKinnon, 89. Game: 1, Gayle Alward, 37. Second flight low gross: Jolene Nixon, 103. Game: 1, Janet Ford, 38. Third flight low gross: Liz Mosher, 108. Game: 1, Melodie Johnson, 38; 2, Rachel Graham 39.5; 3, tie, Linda Mowell, Sue Blizman and Eileen Brownell, 40.5. Closest to pin on No. 2: 1, MacKinnon; 2, Debi McDermont.

Junior golf

Livy Woodward shot an even-par round of 36 in the girls’ 8-and-under division, and won by 4 strokes in a U.S. Kids Central Valley Tour Tournament at Elkhorn GC the week before last, following her win the previous day in a U.S. Kids event in Lodi.

This past weekend she competed in two events, one at Paradise Valley GC in Fairfield on Saturday and again at Spanos Park on Sunday. She won by a whopping 18 strokes on Saturday, shooting a one-under-par score of 35. The next day at Spanos Park it was déjà vu, shooting another one-under 35, and winning by 10 strokes. This young lady is on a roll and definitely enjoys being in the winner’s circle.

Spectacular shots

Brandon Long scored his first hole-in-one on the 16th hole at Bidwell last week. Witnessing Long’s perfect 149-yard, 7-iron tee shot disappear from view into the cup were his playing companions Ryan Lund and Shane Castillo.

Looking back

One thing about this rain we’re having is that in order to fill up the column, we can look back in time and recall the accomplishments of some of our friends and fellow players (past and present). The following was the golf column from March 3, 2014

Leckinger and O’Donnell Dominate Again

Butte Creek Country Club

Bob Leckinger and Mike O’Donnell continue to rule the links in Butte Creek Men’s Club tournaments. This mighty duo won the BCCC Spring Open Tournament in style by winning both the gross and net category in the blue tees first flight. They won the net title by three-strokes over their nearest competitor and the gross title by one-stroke. Leckinger and O’Donnell won the 2013 Butte Creek Men’s Invitational then followed that win up a few months later to win the Fall Classic. The second and third place net teams in the blue tees first flight were the father and son team of Phil and Brian Jones (64), and John MacTavish and Ed Anderson (66), respectively.

The team of Gary Bright and Royal Hawkley won the blue tees second flight with a score of 61. Jim Mann and Jim Westcott took second, one stroke back. Bill Kyle and Brian McGovern finished in the third spot at 64. Jerry Louie and Chuck Lohse won the white tees flight with a score of 62. The team of Denny Varley and Jim Gaumer and the team of Clyde Powers and Don Bultema spit the second and third place winnings after both teams tied with a score of 63.

Those winning the horserace contests were: Blue tees first flight: MacTavish and Anderson. Blue tees second flight: Bright and Hawkley. White tees flight: Powers and Bultema.

Irma Jenkins was again the first flight leader in the clubhouse in the Butte Creek CC Women’s Golf Club monthly Medallion Day Tournament with a net score of 74. Vickie Ellcessor shot a net 78 to take the second spot. Barbara Joronen won the second flight with a 79. Karey McKenney’s net 81 was good enough for second place. Joan Bequette (82) and Darlene Thomasson (83) were the top finishers in the third flight.

Table Mountain Golf Course

The Table Mountain Women’s Golf Club took it easy on themselves last week and played their “par 3” course set-up. Sandy Goble took low gross. Kris McGee won low net. Others in the winners’ circle were: 1, Elaine Thomas; 2, Margo Borgo; 3, Janett Ott; 4, Sue Snow.

Canyon Oaks Country Club

The Canyon Oaks Women’s Golf Club also were able to get their weekly tournament in last week between the rainy days. Low gross over the field was Konnie Marskey. Shelley Carney took low net. Those winning in the game portion were: 1, Tammie Cook; 2, Carney; 3, Nancy Vieira. The closest to pin winners were: 1, Vieira; 2, Cook; 3, Marskey.

Lava Creek Golf Course

The team of Wally Zampa and Patrick Welch will represent the Lava Creek Men’s Golf Club at the upcoming NCGA two-man zone regional qualifying tournament. Zampa and Welch shot a best-ball net score of 55 to edge out the team of Rudy Melashenko and Tom Mason by two strokes.

Baggers of Sand, Beware!

This was the title of an article, written in 2004 by Jim Cowan, Director of the Northern California Golf Association Course Rating and Handicapping Department, which appeared in the NCGA Blue Book, in Cowan’s column “Through the Green.” The NCGA did an exhaustive analysis and documentation of all sanctioned NCGA competitive rounds for a two-year period to arrive at their conclusions, and their subsequent actions imposed on players who consistently shoot at or under their “established” handicap. Cowan’s article was an effort to emphasize the enormity of the problem as the NCGA foresaw it, and their efforts to “level the playing field.”

“Based on the performances of some players as reported by the NCGA during their sanctioned tournaments you would think that scores several strokes under one’s handicap are everyday occurrences. They are not! In many instances, they are “once in a decade” or even “once in a lifetime” types of scores.” For instance: if you are a 12 handicap, the odds of shooting 84 (net par of 72) are 5 to 1 against. The odds of shooting 74 (10 under your handicap) are 84,300 to 1 against.” The odds obviously vary in between because they go up exponentially. The odds of a five-handicapper playing five strokes under his handicap twice in a row are a whopping 143,641 to 1.”

Ed Anderson’s local golf column appears Tuesdays. He can be reached at edanderson1936@gmail.com.