Betty Linzy, outgoing president, presided over the annual installation of officers and awards presentation of the Bidwell Park Women’s Golf Club last week. The event was held at the Bidwell Bar & Grill and included lunch provided by Misty Brown and the rest of the restaurant staff. Awards were handed out to those members who achieved success in various categories, as well as demonstrating service above self throughout the year in promoting the club.
Debi McDermont was named Woman-of-the-Year for her tireless efforts in support of the club and volunteering for the many duties essential for the betterment of the Bidwell Women’s Golf Club. In presenting the award to McDermont, the list of her numerous accomplishments, as noted by Melodie Johnson, the presenter of the award, was long and involved almost every aspect of the clubs’ activities.
Jolene Nixon was awarded the 2023 Most Improved Player-of-the-Year trophy. Nixon lowered her handicap 6 strokes during the year. Awards were also presented for several other categories. Most birdies: 1, tie, Kelly MacKinnon and Shelly Connolly, 12; 3, Beck Callas, 8. Most chip-ins: 1, Susan Pease, 10; 2, McDermont, 9; 3, tie, Jill Circo and MacKinnon, 8.
The Pro-Points awards were presented by PGA Professional and General Manager, Courtney Foster. A Pro-Points Tournament is held once a month and points are earned based on a player’s finish, and accumulated throughout the year. 1, MacKinnon; 2, McDermont; 3, Linzy; 4, Nixon; 5, Pam Coleman.
The Ringer awards are the result of those players that improved their score on each hole during an 8-week Eclectic Tournament. The overall Ringer winner was Liz Mosher, with a final net score of 52. First flight: 1, tie, Gayle Aylward and Sandy Sample, 56; 2, Callas, 58; 3, Gail Johnson, 58. Second flight: 1, Sandy Anderson, 53; 2, Coleman, 54; 3, Barbara Albers, 59. Third flight: 1, Melodie Johnson, 53; 2, Joan Patton, 57; 3, Sue Blizman, 59.
Some of the members were also recognized for the number of rounds they played during the year. The top five were: 1, Joye Smith, 167; 2, McDermont, 133; 3, Coleman, 108; 4, tie, Cindy Bell and Karla Dreiss, 103.
The incoming 2024 officers installed by Linzy, are: President, Coleman; Vice President, Linda Mowell; Secretary, Pease; Treasurer, Sheila McMurphy; Membership, Aylward; Handicap, Dreiss; Tournament, Callas; Assistant Tournament, Bell; NCGA Representative, MacKinnon.
Butte Creek Country Club: The field was small and the weather cold, but the Butte Creek Women’s Golf Club managed to play its weekly outing in spite of Mother Nature. The game was a three-player, blind draw, “1-2-1”, wherein one best-ball was counted on the par 3 and par 5 holes and two best-balls were counted on the par 4 holes. Joan Hart, the 2023 Most Improved Player-of-the-Year, may be on a path to repeat the honor. Hart shot a net 64, most likely her best ever tournament score, to propel her team to a decisive win by 7 strokes. 1, Hart, Irma Jenkins and Helen Deatsch, 104; 2, Sally Hayes, Karen Beckman and Joan Bequette, 111; 3, Vicki Ellcessor, Janet Alves and a blind draw, 112.
Spectacular shots: Michael Castro had to rely on the nice 4-point buck that hangs around the 2nd hole at Bidwell to verify his recent hole-in-one. Castro, playing by himself (never play by yourself when you intend to score a hole-in-one, just saying) aced the 2nd hole at Bidwell last week, for his first ever single digit on his score card, and a nice way to start the New Year. Castro’s club selection of choice was a pitching wedge for his perfect 120 yard tee shot. Congratulations!
