Patton turns 99 years old and takes first | Tee to Green

The maintenance crews at all of the local courses have been inundated lately with the tasks of removing downed trees and debris caused from the recent high winds and flooding. This work is even more difficult because the saturated conditions inhibit the effectiveness of the equipment, and, of course, those of us that will play golf in a blizzard sometimes get in their way. Mother Nature must have a thing against golf. Most likely she is into indoor sports like bowling, racket ball and contract bridge.

Bidwell Park Golf Course

The Bidwell Women’s Golf Club was able to sneak in its monthly Pro-Points tournament in spite of the saturated course conditions before Mother Nature took charge again.

First flight low gross: Becky Callas, 91. Low net, Debi McDermont, 73. Second flight low gross: Jolene Nixon, 107. Low net: Margie Rice, 81. Third flight low gross; Susan Pease, 115. Low net: 1, Joan Patton, 85; 2, Linda Mowell, 86; 3, tie, Deena Cooper and Molly Barnum, 87. Closest to the pin on No. 16: Mowell.

Joan Patton turned 99 years old the day of the tournament and took first place low net in the third flight. Definitely one for the ages. I’m sure Elsie is smiling down on Patton’s accomplishment. Congratulations!

Canyon Oaks Country Club

The Canyon Oaks Women’s Golf Club managed to complete its 10-week long, 2-person, Eclectic Scramble Tournament on Valentine’s Day, just before the rains came.

Gross division: 1, Karen Escott and Konnie Marskey, 62; 2, Kim Chappell and Mary Wallmark, 65. Net division: 1, Cathy Edgar and Karen Olson, 60.45; 2, Linda Alworth and Cynthia Paulo, 60.5; 2, Vickie Spelts and Nancy Vieira, 61.25; 4, Gina Snider and Nan Wysong, 61.5. Wow! The net scores are close.

Spectacular shots

Although the local tournaments have been few and far in between these days, there has still been plenty of excitement on several local courses.

Debi McDermont garnered her first career hole-in-one on the 4th hole at Bidwell. McDermont selected her 8-iron for a perfect 96-yard tee shot as witnessed by her playing companions, Sandy Sample, Jolene and Richard Nixon.

Jim Barrett was out playing golf on Valentine’s Day, but I’m sure he was forgiven by his wife, Sally, because he earned a $100 stipend from the El Rancho Chico Golf Club for recording his second career hole-in-one. But, unfortunately, he most likely graciously gave most of it back to the Bidwell Bar and Grill in order for the dozen or so members of his playing group, the Bandits, to toast his achievement. Witnessing Barrett’s perfect 108-yard, 9-iron tee shot on the 2nd hole at Bidwell were his playing partners, Jeff Nedved, Don Sturt and Dan White.

There’s little doubt that Don Krysakowski is on a roll. A couple of weeks ago Krysakowski aced the 12th hole at Butte Creek and significantly increased his golf shop credit in the process. Last week he scored an eagle on the par 5, 13th hole at Butte Creek. His 115-yard, 7-iron approach shot finding the bottom of the cup, for a 3 on the score card, was witnessed by his playing partners, Ed Anderson, Gary Crane and Denny Varley. Krysakowski followed-up the eagle with a birdie on 14 and narrowly missed another birdie on 15 by mere inches, because of bad advice from one of his teammates (3 guesses, first 2 don’t count).

Kevin Peppas also scored an eagle at Butte Creek last week. Peppas’s 7-iron, 160-yard approach shot to the 8th hole, disappearing into the cup, was witnessed by Bob Collier, Aaron Rogers and Billy Rogers (the reigning men’s club net champion).

Looking back

With minimal golf news last week, let’s step back 15 years to March, 3, 2009 to see who was winning back then and getting aces.

Butte Creek CC Women’s Golf Club

The team of Irma Jenkins, Barbara Joronen and Ruth Younger won the Butte Creek CC Women’s Golf Club A-B-C Best Ball Tournament last week with a net score of 56. Taking second place, at 64, was the team of Linda Boone, Pay Sayer and Darlene Thomasson.

Skyway Golf Park

Mitch Padula took home all the money Tuesday evening following the Skyway Golf Park weekly skins game. Padula birdied No. 11 for the only skin. Jeff Fowler won closest to the pin contest.

Tuscan Ridge GC

The Tuscan Ridge Thursday Golf League played another round of Mister “X” verses the field for their weekly tournament. This format pits one player (selected by a draw) in a match play contest against all the other players in the field. Tom Kitchen drew the “lucky” card. Kitchen was unable to pull out a win on any of the holes and subsequently went home empty handed. Jim Palmer, Lon Denison and Bob McCormick won two holes each and split the pot three ways.

Canyon Oaks CC

Two weeks ago the Canyon Oaks CC Women’s Golf Club played a scramble format tournament. Lorraine Rupp, Fran Wedow, Karry Drobny and a blind draw took first with a score of 59. The team of Bev Paull, Linda Arellano, Nancy Dooly and Lenora Chapman finished second with a score of 60. Closest to the pin: 1, Elvie Blanchard; 2, Arellano.

Last week the club held a Two Best-Ball Guest Day Tournament. The team of Blanchard, Arellano, Joy Smith and Vickie Spelts took the top spot with a score of 131. Shooting a score of 137 for second place was the team of Sherry Cole, Patty Dummel, Carol Grimes and Karen Hilleman. Closest to pin winners: 1, Arellano; 2, Cole; 3, Blanchard.

Spectacular shots

There’s been a rash of holes-in-one at Bidwell recently. I guess I had better get out there for a round or two and try my luck.

Les Perkins lofted a perfect 7-wood tee shot on the 150-yard, No. 16 hole for his ace. His shot was witnessed by Richard Whitehead and Sam Davis.

Craig Fellner decided the No. 2 hole at Bidwell was too easy and proceeded to put his 112-yard, 9-iron tee shot into the cup. His perfect shot was witnessed by Hal Thommen, Dick Dobkins and Larry Fetchner.

Then along comes Joe Galloway on the difficult, No. 12 hole and (according to Joe) hit a “fat” 7-iron into the hole for his hole-in-one. Hey, I’ll take luck over skill any day. Rich Attinger and Gary Pederson attested to his great tee shot.

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