Season Finale?

It's not often we get to play this late into the year and even less often do we get a 50 degree day on November 29th.  The day started cold with a frost delay but by 10:00 A.M. temps had risen quickly and we were off. With the weather predicted to finally start turning more seasonable eleven players were ready to go today.  Regulars Schantz, Mason, McAreavy, Lyon, Bronson and Teegardin were joined by Tom Blank, Ron Mack, Ed Kay, A. Kay and Mike Schwert.  With the large field we decided to cap carryovers to a max of two holes and eliminate strokes on #18.  As it turned out we only had one stretch of more than two holes without a win.

The action got off to a quick start as Tom Blank drained a 25 foot birdie putt on #1 for a team win with Andrew Kay.  The normally reserved Mr. Blank was chastised for his excessive celebration when the putt fell.

The 2nd, 3rd & 4th holes were halved.  The team of Doug Lyon and Jim Mason then captured a two-hole win on the 5th when Doug holed out his 12 foot birdie putt.

Jim found himself on the losing end of a two-hole carryover on #6 when he was selected by Ron Mack.  Of course Jim & Ron had to admire the way they went down - to an eagle by Maryland golf star Andrew Kay.  AK reached the green in two with a sold drive and a 253 yard 3-wood and then ran in the 30-footer from the upper level to a front left pin.  The young Mr. Kay shows up for Thanksgiving weekend and records two firsts in two appearances.  A  4 mark sandie eagle on #12 West and the first eagle in Captain & Crew on #6.  Unfortunately for AK the eagle on the 6th was about all he had to write home about today.

The field took down the team of McAreavy-Teegardin on #7 as Ed Kay stiffed his second shot.  He missed the putt but 4 ofr 3 was good enough.

The team of Schantz and AK was defeated on #9 as we both played the hole rather poorly and the field had not one but two birdies.

So the front side ended with no carryovers to the back and a total of 12 marks.

The mark game got a big kick start on #11 with a combination of birdies, sandies and even a sandie birdie for a total of 6 marks. 

The second best shot of the day and once again proving that "chicks dig the long ball" came on the 12th as Brad McAreavy's towering drive found the green and he 2-putted for a team win with Dylan Bronson. If you a re keeping track that's three wins for the team against the field through 12 holes.  It would be the last.

The 13th was played from one-foot-in-the-rough blue tee territory.  The team of Kay & Kay were defeated when Ron Mack ran in a 15 footer for a 4 net 3.  Did I say chicks dig the long ball?  How about "chicks dig older men who can still get it in the hole in regulation".

There were some fine tee shots on #14 played from 225 yards with Brad winning the greenie when his shot finished 12 feet from the hole.  In the end the hole was halved.  The team of Doug Lyon and Ron Mack went down on #15 when Ron could not get the ball in the hole in regulation.  Hey, older guys can be good; just maybe not as consistently reliable as younger guys.

The 16th was halved with a bevy of birdies by Schantz, Schwert, Blank, AK and none more important than Doug Lyon who bailed out Ron when he poured in a 15 footer for the team.  Mike Schwert just missed out on his second eagle of the week.

The 17th and 18th were halved.

Since I keep the records I might just call it the "official" end to the season.  Plus, if I call it now I get to finish an otherwise poor season on a two game winning streak.   And what a difference the West Course makes in the mark game as we totaled 27 marks today.  Nobody was shut out of the mark game and only one player had fewer than two marks.

Think snow - I WANT TO GO SKIING!!!!!

Game Summary:

West Course
Players 11 !!!!!!!!
Carryovers to next hole capped at 2

Total Marks 27

Mark Leader - John Schantz 5
Overall Leader - Brad McAreavy $24

Welcome Back Mr. Schantz

It was a cold and windy day and we managed to scrape together five players for the day - Jim Mason, Bill Schuler, Brad McAreavy, Jim Mason and myself. Both Jim Mason had bailed on playing Friday.  The weather today was worse but it turned out at least I made the right decision.

With only five players that game was back and forth with the biggest winner +$3 and the biggest loser -$4.50.  The biggest excitement in the game was my attempted loner on the 14th.  Playing 225 yds. I hit it to 4 1/2 feet but failed to make the putt and could only tie the hole.  Crap.

Bill Schuler followed my attempt with his own on the 15th.  Unlike me he was successful carding a 4 net 3 for the win.

The other big news was my return to the mark game.  Over the last five games I carded a grand total of three marks and that included a 55 hole markless stretch (but who's counting?).  The mark game was getting a little expensive.  I somewhat made up for that today by capturing 7 of the 9 total marks - birdies on 1,6,10,12 and two greenies got me to the 16th with 6 marks on the day.  My approach on 16 was just short of the green leaving me with a 30 footer for the eagle and (I was thinking about it) a chance to tie Jim Mason's mark record.  Missed it by "that" much.  Rats.

Two players have made a run at Mason's single day mark record in two games and both fell short.  Maybe he is right.  We can get close but we all choke down the stretch!

    
Game Summary:

West Course
Players 5
Carryovers to 9 & 18

Total Marks 9

Mark leader - John Schantz 7
Overall Leader - John Schantz $22

Turkey Shoot at The West Course Corral

Having returned from a 3 day jaunt to Florida I had no intention of playing golf on Thanksgiving Day.  Then I woke up,  looked outside and thought "what the hell were you thinking?".  It was sunny and temps predicted into the upper 40's and no frost overnight.  A quick text to Brad McAreavy confirmed a game was afoot.  Be there at 9:00. Along with Brad and Jim Mason the group included University of Maryland golfer Andrew Kay, his father Ed and newly minted Duke graduate Mike Schwert.

Walking off the first tee provided some excitement and comical relief today.  As I was walking down the hill I heard Ed call my name. Assuming he was teeing off I waived my hand and didn't bother looking.  That was a mistake because the next time he called my name I did look and was promptly run over by his pull cart.  I suppose "run over" is a little strong.  I turned, looked, jumped, the wheel clipped my foot  I flew up in the air and flat on my back.  If  I had stepped on a banana peel it would have been a cartoon scene.  Either way it proved to foreshadow my entire day as I pretty much crashed and burned on the golf course as well.

This was our first trip back to the West Course in over a month and what a difference.  With only six players we tallied 22 marks including three eagles.  Throw in a couple of loners and it was a shootout today.

AK kicked off the mark game on #4 and went alone when his 195 yard tee shot finished just 5 feet from the back right pin.  Four of the five field players were on the back level of the green but no one could hole out.  AK dropped the putt for the birdie, greenie, loner trifecta.

After years(?) of making Jim my partner on #5 he finally returned my unwavering faith and made a birdie for a team win.  Of course if I could make a birdie on #5 every once in a while I wouldn't have to lean on him so much.

AK netted a sandie on the 5th and a greenie on the 8th. Jim followed his birdie on 5 with another at 8.  That completed a Mason / Kay sweep of the marks on the front nine (6 total).

Jim came back with another birdie on the 10th for a team win with AK.  Inexcusably, there were no birdies on the 11th.  However, things were about to get fired up on the 12th.

I was captain and as usual (and to a fault) I waited for Jim and ignored AK's drive into the front left bunker.  After our approach shots we all waited for AK to hit his sand shot.  AK stepped into the bunker, lined it up and nipped it perfectly.  The ball flew three feet short of the hole, skipped, checked ,spun right  and went into the cup!  The first sandie, eagle in C & C history setting a new individual single hole mark total of 4 marks.  It also put AK at eight marks on the day and Jim's single day mark record of nine marks was in serious jeopardy.  There have been a few people who have made a run at the record but Jim will say they all choke down the stretch.  But at this point in the round it was hard to see how the record could stand.


The team of AK and Mike would win #13 followed by a father and son team loss on the 14th. Jim made a sandie on 15 to bring his mark total to four on the day.  Next up the always exciting 16th hole.  With this group of hot golfer there was sure to be some action, and there was.

Jim, playing for the field ran in a 25 footer for eagle to put the pressure on Mike who was looking at an 8 footer for the team.  It was a straight forward putt but with bumpy greens it was no sure thing.  To his credit Mike calmly ran it right in for his own eagle and first mark (actually three) on the day. I managed a birdie to bring the hole total to seven marks.

On the 17th we had another loner attempt.  This time by Ed "The Ghost" Kay. From the back of the tee to a front right pin Ed knocked six feet from the hole and then made the putt for the second greenie, birdie, loner trifecta of the day.  You have to appreciate the 7 handicapper who is willing to give up his strokes and slug out the mark game with our crowd.  Well done.

The 18th was halved and Jim was right.  AK could not manage another mark down the stretch and finished the day with 8 marks.  The longer the record stands the better it looks.

Game Summary:

West Course
Scratch Game
Players 6
Carryovers to 9 & 18

Total Marks 22

Mark Leader - Andrew Kay 8
Overall Leader - Andrew Kay $31

The Wall Comes Down

Bill Schuler and Mike LaBue rejoined the flock today with predictable results.  Bill on the plus side again and Mike on the minus side.  The weather today was more seasonable - dreary with low hanging clouds and temps in the low 40's.

There were lots of wins today and we did not reach three carryovers until the 16th hole.  The action got off to a quick start as Brad McAreavy and Dave Fries went down to a net 3 on the 1st.  Mike LaBue (who else) and Jim Mason went down on the second as Doug Lyon chipped in from just off the back fringe.

Brad got going on the 4th and 5th hitting it close and making birdie, once for the field and once as the team.

With seven players missing the green Doug went alone on the 6th but failed to make birdie and settled for the halve.

After extending his markless streak to 27 holes Jim finally put one on the board at 10 with a birdie then followed it up with a sandies at 11 and 16.  The slump was nice for the rest of us while it lasted.

Dave Fries finally got on the mark board at 16 knocking down a 15 footer for birdie and team with - very timely since it was the only 3-holer of the day.  After being down $14 on the front it also capped a nice back nine that finished at plus $12.  Of course that still put him on the drink check but it could have been worse.

The action finished up on 18 with Mike and Rob Turner teaming up. Playing from the blue tees left everyone (except Brad) with long second shots and no strokers were able to hit the green.  Rob and Mike both failed to get up and down for par.  The fate of the field rested in the hands of Doug Lyon who had hit a fine shot from the right rough 62 yds short of the green.  Doug knocked down his 4 1/2 footer to eek Mike into the minus column for the day.

Mike may have finished on the minus side (just barely) but we were all winners today as the flock was reunited.

Game Summary:

East Course

Players 8

Carryovers to next hole

Total Marks 11

Mark Leader - Jim Mason, Doug Lyon 3 each

Overall Leader - Jim Mason $15

Scratch Game

On yet another mild November morning six mid-am players and one college boy assembled for the first ever scratch game of Captain and Crew.  Rob Turner didn't seem too thrilled about giving up his four strokes but then again he has cleaned-up in his two appearances this year so there was little sympathy going his way.  We did declare "no black tees" allowed except for the par 3's and #17.

The first three holes were halved and the action heated-up on the 4th as five players carried the bunker and were in the fairway or right rough.  However, no one nutted their second shot and then no one could stick their third shot in close.  The result was no birdies and a halved hole.

There were a number of solid drives on number 5.  Rob Turner hit his approach to 14 feet and for the second day Andrew Kay (playing as Brad McAreavy's partner) hit it right over the top of the flag to about 6 feet.  Rob ran his put in for the field to put the pressure on AK who could not answer.

The 6th was played from the championship tees at 170 yards.  I lead off as captain and hit it to 10 feet.  Dylan Bronson followed-up with a fine shot that turned out to be 4 feet.  Inexplicably, I passed on Dylan (what the heck was I thinking?).  I managed to make my downhill 10 footer and Dylan made his putt as well. So no loss but a good opportunity was missed as Dylan and I had the only birdies.

Through ten holes there had only been one win (the 5th with three carryovers).  Jim Mason captained number 11 and played from the Championship tee - 235 yards to a back left pin.  Everyone missed the green and the only pars were recorded by Jim and his partner AK (sandy).

The 13th was captured by John Schantz (as captain) and Andrew Kay when John ran in a downhill 18 footer for birdie.  AK was again chosen as partner by Rob Turner on the 14th.  In a surprising turn of events AK made the only par (another sandy) for his third team win on the back nine.

AK was able to play in the field on the 15th but was chosen as partner on 16 and 17.  Andrew saved himself on 16 with an 18 footer (yes, another sand save) and dodged Jim Mason's 12 foot birdie putt. 

AK took it all the way back on 17 and teamed with Jim.  They could not match the birdie 4's by Dave Fries (who hit the green from 237 yds) and John Schantz (up and down from 60 yds).  That closed out the scoring on the day as the 18th was halved with pars.

Special mention today for the play of Andrew Kay.  AK played in the twosome at least nine times and came out on the plus side of the game (3 wins, 2 losses).  While he could not manage any bridies, he had plenty of good looks and finished with 16 pars and 2 bogeys playing the course from all the way back except on 1,5,7,9,&18.

The crew would be disappointed if I let this milestone pass without mention:  For the first time in known history (and we are all getting a little older so our memories aren't what they used to be, or at least mine isn't) Mr. Mark himself, Jim Mason, was markless.  Was it a case of cat scratch fever or was he still reeling from a loss in the Saturday night couples euchre tournament?  We'll never know but it beats a sharp stick in the eye or more accurately, Jim's normal 4 mark (or better) performance.

Game Summary:

East Course
Players 7
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3

Mark Leader - John Schantz 4
Money Leader - John Schantz $21.50

Détente Update

Grievances and demands have yet to be heard and no date for peace talks has been determined.

 

Без перевода (DEFECTION!!)

In a scene not seen since the days when Eastern Europeans risked their lives to escape the tyranny of Soviet rule several long time members of the flock defected to the West.............course that is. Maybe it was an attempt to celebrate the recent 20 year anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall?  The General Secretary and head of the Politburo issued the following public statement:

"No comment"

The remaining members of the Party, John Schantz, Brad McAreavy and Jim Mason were joined by the president of the University of Maryland Young Socialists Student Association  - Andrew Kay. We goose stepped our way around the front nine playing a game of left / right.

Highlights from the front nine included birdies by Mason on #2, Schantz on #4, Kay on #6 & #7. Best shot honors go to Jim Mason for his 160 hook shot around the trees from just over the bridge on #5. His shot bounced onto the green and ended up 30 feet from the hole for an easy 2-putt par. Honorable mention goes to my 3-wood from 20 yards left of the fairway and 220 yards out on #9 that ended up on the green for a 2-putt par also from 30 feet.

On the back nine we were joined on #10 by up and coming party member Dave Fries.  One day Dave hopes to lead the party so he can institute his much sought after reform agenda.  Dave paid his party dues by putting himself on the losing end of the 5 holes that were won on the back.

Jim Mason proved he was not willing to give up his leadership position just yet by racking up 4 marks on the back: chip-in birdie on 12, sandy on 13, another birdie on 14 and another sandy on 18 from the right greenside bunker to a pin on the left side of the green.

Party CFO, Ed Kay joined the group on 14.  Not only does Ed know double entry accounting and he knows how to double up on marks.  On 17 Ed's second shot found the left cross bunker from where he hit the 80 yard shot to 4 feet and made the putt for a sandy, birdie and field win.

There was a brief moment of international tensions where East meets West (i.e. the 17th tee) when I snapped my tee shot into #15 West fairway.  Fortunately, I made it over and back without attracting the attention of the party faithful. 

Life does look a lot easier over in the West.

Game Summary:

East Course
Players 4 - 6
Carryovers to 9 &18
Total Marks 16

Mark Leader: Jim Mason 6
Overall Leader: Jim Mason $13

The Biggest Loser

This post is for the game played Sunday November 8th.

I'm really too disgusted to report much today.  The results say it all.

Game Summary:

East Course

Players 7

Carryovers to next hole

Total Marks 11

Mark Leader - Rob Turner 5

Money Leader - Rob Turner $40

Biggest Loser - John Schantz  ($35.50)

Memo to Mike LaBue:

A: I am not quitting

B: Stop poaching our players

It would be unfair to let my foul disposition prevent me from reporting the fine results of Rob Turner.  Rob stiffed it to 2 1/2 feet on number 6 from the black tee for a greenie, birdie, loner win, parred 7 from the back of the blue tees for a team win, made a 35 footer for sandie on 8 and then made a birdie on 9 from the black tees to halve the hole for the field.

"I'm Done"

This post was for the game played on Saturday November 11th.

I called it quits after 13 holes since Julie (my wife) was in a car accident. I know, that was out of character for me, I must be getting old.  There weren't any great stories to report through those 13 holes.  So the big story of the day as reported to me:

Mike LaBue, who has suffered through 10 years of losing seasons as a Buffalo Bills season ticket holder, decide that after a loss of $31 he was done playing Captain and Crew.  News flash Mike - you spend more on gas driving to Bill's games.

So, please come back and join us.  We all marvel at how you can walk out of the car to the first tee and paste one down the middle with no warm-up.  I've got you beat by 10? years and I need a 1/2 hour of stretching and 20 minutes of hitting balls before I can go to the tee and hit it 5 yards short of you.

Game Summary:

East Course
Players 7/8
Carryovers to 9th on front, to next hole on back
Total Marks 13

Mark Leader - Mason 5
Money Leader - Mason $21

There's Snow in The Bristol Hills

The golf season is thankfully winding down. Even in this area a 1000 of elevation change does make a difference at this time of year.

No Bills

 

This is Upstate NY and we are Bills fans around here.  Mike LaBue and Dave Fries are even season ticket holders.  So I had to pass this along when Mike sent me the photo.

After this year's opening debacle against the New England Patriots I swore off the Bills.  My resolution: I will not watch another Bills game until they make the playoffs.  Through 8 weeks of the 2009 season, so far so good.  I haven't missed anything and saved myself a lot of disbelief (not that anything the Bills do should cause disbelief anymore) and frustration.

I'm still rooting for the Bills and can't wait to catch that playoff game.  But I'm not holding my breath.  Ralph Wilson is getting up there but he's not going anywhere soon (and I'm not going to hope he does).

Update November 2017:

Ralph Wilson is dead but the Bills still haven't made the playoffs since I wrote this 8 years ago. Although they are 5-3 halfway through this season. I'll admit I've watched some games this year.

 

RTO

This post was for the game played Sunday November 1st.

RTO as in Rob Turner Overdrive.  Saturday was a washout so we had a nice turnout today. 

Every hole that was won today was won by the field, except for one team win.  In fact the 18th was a team loss so all 18 holes were in play. Guess where Mr. Turner spent his day?  That's right, in the field.  Except for that one team win.  That happened to be won by Rob and Phil Yawman.  The second clean card by a player in as many games. Just for good measure Rob threw in 4 marks and if I recall correctly three of them were for greenies on the par 3's.

It was nice to have Phil along for his annual appearance and Ron Mack also joined the group today.  With the generally warmer temps this fall we've had consistently good turnouts.

Bill Schuler joined the fun on the back nine and maintained his winning streak for two more wins before finally suffering a team loss on #15.  That made 23 straight holes played before having a loss.  That might be some kind of record but then again I probably won't spend the time going through years of scorecards to find out.

Oh, I almost forgot.  In this case I did go back over the records and yes history was made today.  Someone actually sufferred their all-time single biggest loss in the game - $35.  I wouldn't make a big deal about it if it wasn't Jim Mason.  Of course he did have 7 out of the 19 marks so he only lost $9 on the day.  Rats.

Game Summary:

Players 8 on front, 9 on back
Carryovers to next holes, capped at 3
Total Marks 19

Mark Leader - Mason 5
Money Leader - Turner $27

Halloween Treat

This post is for the game played Thursday October 29th

I've been delinquent in my postings and it's been almost two weeks since we played this game.  So this will be a short post.

With the end of daylight savings time this weekend a marginal forecast for Saturday the call went out for our last weekday afternoon round for the season.  It was supposed to be a really nice day but in reality it was only so so.  The turnout, however, was strong with 9 players in action.  The field even included former Oak Hill club champ Tom Blank making his first ever appearance. We haven't seen Shawn Baker since he played so maybe Tom would have enough fun to join us again.

The main story of the day was Bill Schuler.  There were six wins today, three by the field and three by the team and Bill was on the winning side every time.  All team wins on the front nine and all field wins on the back nine.  In total Bill was on the winning side for 16 holes as 17 and 18 were halved.  Talk about being in the right place at the right time! That's a nice Halloween trick to pull out of the goodie bag.

Unfortunately for Mr. Blank, he was not treated very well losing twice as the team and three times in the field (offset by one field win).  He did manage 4 marks so we might see him around again.

Game Summary:

Players 9
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3
Total Marks 19

Mark Leader - Mason 5
Money Leader - Schuler $29

Hall & Merkulov Receive Rolex All-American Honors

It will be interesting to keep an eye on these two young guns from Rochester:

The following is copied from the AJGA.com web site.

Headlining the boys on the Rolex Junior All-America First Team is Jordan Spieth of Dallas. A two-time first-team selection, Spieth ascended to the No. 1 spot in the Polo Golf Rankings after winning the U.S. Junior Amateur in July. His 2009 season also included runner-up finishes at the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods and the Junior PGA Championship. In all, Spieth posted top-10 finishes at each of the eight national tournaments in which he competed.

For the record-setting fifth consecutive year, Andrew Yun of Chandler, Ariz., has earned Rolex Junior All-America honors. A first-team selection in 2006, 2008 and 2009, Yun joins Justin Leonard as the only five-time Rolex Junior All-Americans in AJGA history (Leonard’s run includes two years as a Rolex Junior All-American in the 11-14-year-old boys division). Yun, who is currently a freshman at Stanford, has 19 AJGA top-five finishes and four victories in his six-year junior career.

Patrick Cantlay of Los Alamitos, Calif., is the third returning member to the Rolex Junior All-America First Team. Previous Rolex Junior All-Americans earning first-team accolades for the first time are James Back of Cerritos, Calif., Michael Hebert of Orlando, Fla., Jeffrey Kang of Fullerton, Calif., and Bobby Wyatt of Mobile, Ala.

Additionally, five first-time Rolex Junior All-Americans are making their debut on the first team: Emiliano Grillo of Resistencia, Argentina; Shun Yat Hak of Lake Mary, Fla.; Gavin Hall of Pittsford, N.Y.; Yaroslav Merkulov of Penfield, N.Y.; and Patrick Winther of Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla.

More about the First Team

Gavin Hall, Pittsford, N.Y.  (pictured above)

Hall, 15, was named a first-team Rolex Junior All-American on the strength of four top-15 finishes in 2009. With a final Polo Golf Ranking of 10, Hall posted runner-up finishes at the AJGA Cliffs Championship and the Rolex Tournament of Champions. He also competed on the Canon Cup East Team in 2009.

Yaroslav Merkulov, Penfield, N.Y.

Merkulov, 17, ended the season No. 3 in the Polo Golf Rankings. He had four top-10 finishes in national tournaments in 2009, including a second-place finish at The Junior PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Merkulov also posted a tie for fourth at the Western Junior Championship and advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur. He also competed on the Canon Cup East Team and has verbally committed to play golf at Duke University next fall.

Welcome to the Game Mr. Baker

John Schantz's tee shot on #15 - birdie, greenie, loner

A full field of 9 players showed up today for an early 8:30 tee time on a cool but otherwise very pleasant late October day.  Making their maiden appearances today were 2008 club championship finalist Shawn Baker and his father Gary.  Our normal tradition is to let the newcomers make a few bucks and try to suck them in for future appearances.

After a quick explanation of the game Gary led things off.  Play was on the East due to aerification on the west.

Gary immeadiately, as almost every rookie does, violated the first rule of captain and crew - "never let the stroker beat you" - by selecting his son while 6 of the next 7 players were getting a stroke. On the other hand father son teams are supposed to play together.  Shawn did not let his father down as he dropped a 12 footer for birdie.  The field escaped with a halve when Dave Fries put it in on top of Shawn.

Shawn used his power game on #4 reaching the left green side bunker in two and then hit a superb bunker shot to a tight left pin for the gimme birdie and 3 hole carryover team win with Dave (who, as captain, had put his tee shot on Kilbourn Road).  So far so good for the rookie - 4 holes, 1 win, 3 marks.

On #6 only two players would hit the green, Shawn and Jim Mason.  Jim made the birdie and Shawn had the greenie for another 3 hole team win.  Darn rookie got the hang of this game too quickly!  If nothing else he should be taking money from Mason not helping him!

John Teegardin and Doug Lyon teamed up for another 3 hole team win on #9 to complete a front nine sweep by the team over the field.  A few timely birdies or a stroke hole can do a lot for the team on the East Course.

Doug and Gary Baker both made birdies on #11 to a back left pin (playing 184 yds into a gusting wind).  Unfortunately, Brad McAreavy's fine tee shot and potential greenie was not rewarded as he 3-putted (matching Dylan Bronson's 3-putt on #3 to give back the greenie there as well).

The team of Schantz and Lyon lost a 3 hole carryover on #14 when they failed to match the birdies by Dave and Dylan.

At this point I was down big with no marks and no wins.  But, sometimes all it takes is one good shot at the right time. Jim was captain on #15 and promptly put it in the water.  He called for someone to hit it close, but not  close enough for a loner.  Brad followed and missed the green as well.

So, with 158 yds and the wind in our face I hit a solid knock-down 5 iron to 3 feet and told Jim to get lost (he's waiting for the chance to get me back).  I was more than a little nervous as there were still 6 players to hit and with a 3 hole carryover on the line a loss would cost me $48.  Three more players would hit the green but none with good chances and all missed their birdie tries.  I made the putt and my day.

On the minus side I gave part of it back on #17, teaming with Shawn losing a 2 hole carryover.when Dylan made a nice 2-putt birdie from 40 feet.  At the end of the day I finished down $3.50.  You can decide if that's good or bad considering I won $38 on one hole.  All I know is that without one good shot it would have been ugly.

The other main highlight of the day would be the running 12 hole debate (13 including the 19th hole) as to whether one could, should or would stand in their opponent's putting line in a team format.  Let's just say some members of our group thought it was perfectly acceptable.  Gee wiz, and I thought we were all friends.

Stay tuned next week to see if Shawn can tear himself away from the bar circuit and join us for another day of fun and games. Is he a one hit wonder, hate to win and run boys but I gotta go type or can he back it up? He was pretty successful for a rookie but then again he's a good player.  I'm not so sure we'll see his father out there again :)


Game Summary:

East Course
Players 9
Carryovers to next hole capped at 3
Marks 18
Mark Leaders - Shawn Baker,  Dylan Bronson & Dave Fries 4 each
Game Leader - Shawn Baker $26

Parent's Weekend

I was away at Syracuse University for Parent's Weekend and to see the riviting matchup between SU and the Akron Zips.  A long way from the old days of a sold out Carrier Dome for Nebraska, Miami, Va. Tech and other powerhouse football programs.  At least SU won (unlike last year).

On hand for the Saturday edition was Ron Mack.  Ron always has some good stories to tell so I'm sorry I missed him.  Apparantly, the highlight of the day were 5 of 6 balls in the water on #15 East.  If I heard it right, Ron, as Captain, put it in the water and then took Brad as his partner (second hitter).  If only Brad had know the next 4 balls would follow Ron into the pond he would have had a no brainer loner.

Game Summary:

East Course

Players 6

Carryovers to 9, then back 9 played a double points

Marks 13

Mark Leader - McAreavy 4

Game Leader - Mason $11.50

Payback's a Bitch

One day after lighting up the back nine for 5 marks, 6 overall and winning all the big carryover holes Jim Mason couldn't make a break and came out on the losing end in both the game and marks.  The good news there were only 5 players today so the damage was minimal.

The hot hand today belonged to John Schantz with 4 back nine birdies and a greenie to go along with a front nine sandie. Of course with only 5 players...................

The other theme for the day went something like "nice drive but that puts a wedge in his hands" as Brad McAreavy continued his off and on struggles with the wedge missing greens at 1,5,6,9 and 15.  Yet somehow managed to hit the green on #3 from the right rough by hitting it under, around or through the right hand trees, easily hit #11 and #16 from the 170 yard range and also hit a fine 6 iron to 14 feet on #17 for the greenie (to beat me by an inch - we measured!). Go figure.

On the plus side the missed wedge on #9 was the only costly one as John Teegardin violated a cardinal rule by passing on Jim Mason.  Brad missed the green from 40 yards while Jim made birdie from 100 yards for a 6 hole field win.  As I've always said I'd rather lose with him than to him.

I spent most of the front nine moping around mumbling profanities, letting a few clubs "slip" from my hands and basically just being a grump. After missing birdies from 4 and 6 feet on #9 & #10 I finally got my act together with birdies on 11,12 and 17 for field wins over Jim and assorted partners.  A birdie on #16 was good for a halve and a chance for a loner failed when Brad made a nice up and down to match my par on #14.

For the second day in a row all the excitment was on #18 where a 5 hole carrryover was at stake.  Jim was captain and took John Teegardin, again the only stroker.  From 200 yards Bill Schuler hit a perfect "wind cheater" (a.k.a. thin to win) 5-wood to 4' putting the pressure on JT.  John did not make solid contact and left it 15 yards short of the green. A so-so chip left him 7' which he calmly knocked down.  Bill ran in his short birdie for the halve.

Note: We returned #16 to it's traditional status as a par 5 today.

Game Summary:

Players 5

Carryovers to next hole

Marks 18

Mark Leader - John Schantz 6

Money Leader - John Schantz $19.50

'Tis The Season

The leaves are changing color, the days are getting shorter, and colder, the Bills are losing, the Yankees are in the playoffs, Tiger wins the FedX Cup, Democrats are trying save everyone by taxing and spending (this time into oblivion) and the big winner in Captain and Crew - Jim Mason.  New season, same story.

For some reason it's still not offical "flocksome" season so with a questionable weekend forecast I put out the call for an outlaw game of Captain and Crew.  There were only two responses but by 9:00 AM we had 8 players and off we went.

By the time we reached the fourth hole there were three carryovers and, you guesssed it, Jim Mason was captain.  Bill Schuler hit it 12 feet, pin high to a back pin and made the putt for the first two marks of the year and a win for Captain Mason.  Schantz and Mason teamed for a 2-hole loss on the sixth when Mike LaBue made birdie.

It looked like the field might give it right back on number seven when Doug Lyon and Brad McAreavey teamed-up for a net 3 but Rich Johnson buried a slippery downhill 12 footer for the halve.

A front pin on the eighth had Jim predicitng our first ever C & C ace.  John Teegardin was captain and almost made Jim a prophet hitting it to 20 inches.  Good enough to go it alone.  But not good enough for the win as Bill Schuler, Rich Johnson and Doug Lyon also made birdie.

Rich picked Brad McAreavy on the ninth but Bill made a nice 15 foot downhill birdie putt for a field win worth 3 holes.  At least Brad was able to recoup the loss when he drove it pin high just left of the 12th green and was chosen by Jim Mason. Him? Again?

Brad hit a good chip but was nice enough to lag his 10 foot uphill birdie putt and let Jim run in his 8 footer. Holes 13 - 17 were all halved.

Oh, did I forget to mention that in addition to the birdie on 12 Jim birdied 13, had the greenie on 14 (as my partner, of course he missed that putt!!), and had a sand save on 17.

So, back to number 18.  Brad was captain, fanned his drive right and took JT (the only stroker) and Jim drove it long and straight then hit it to 6 feet. Then, out of nowhere from 15 yards short of the green comes a ball that takes two bounces, bites, and rolls..........into the hole for birdie.  When did Brad finally learn that shot?  Very nice.

Of course Jim made his putt.  What else did you expect?

Game Summary:

Players  8
Carryovers  to next hole
Total Marks an impressive opening day total of 22
Mark Leader - do I really have to spell it out for you? 6
Money Leader - ditto. $44

Smith Sinks Spitz in USGA Mid-Am Final

     Tim Spitz celebrates his 3 & 2 semi-final victory (John Mummert-USGA).

Rochester amateur and Monroe Golf Club member Tim Spitz provided area golfers a week long thrill by qualifying for match play and making a deep run at the 2009 U.S. Mid Amateur Championship.  The competion took place on the Cassique Course at The Kiawah Island Club in S.C.

The champion receives a gold medal, custody of the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Trophy for one year, an exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Mid-Amateurs, and, historically, an INVITATION TO THE NEXT MASTERS TOURNAMENT!!!  Both finalists are also exempt from qualifying for the 2010 U.S. Amateur.

Unfortunately, Spitz could not keep up the fine play that carried him through his first four matches falling 7 & 6 to 2003 champ Nathan Smith in the scheduled 36 hole final.

Spitz, who brought his wife and three young children with him on the trip, has accrued many local victories in his hometown of Rochester (3-time winner at the Tournament of Champions and the Brook Lea Invitation). En route to the final, he defeated 2005 Mid-Amateur champion Kevin Marsh in the first round and four-time quarterfinalist Pat Carter in the semifinals. He stressed that making the final is his biggest golf accomplishment “without a doubt.”

Spitz, a reinstated amateur who graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C. in 1997, realized that he gave Smith an early opening.

“I’m disappointed that I didn’t play better,” said Spitz, a municipal bonds specialist. “I hit it just as good as him and he putted well and I putted horribly. I hit a lot of very bad first putts this morning and he made a few. My putter really let me down this morning.”

A key turning point in the morning 18 was the par-3 fifth hole where Spitz’s tee shot went into the hole and rebounded out for a conceded birdie. However, Smith delivered a 35-foot birdie putt from the fringe to halve the hole and remain 3 up.  Smith played the morning 18 holes without a bogey on his way to an 8-up lead.

Despite the one-sided final match it was great fun following Tim's run through match play. I'm sure many local golfers had the same reaction as I did to this accomplishment - WOW! That's cool! Congratulations to Mr. Spitz for the finest performance in a USGA event for a Rochester golfer in a generation (or maybe two).

The U.S. Mid-Amateur is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are for amateurs.

(portions of this posting were taken from the USGA Mid-Am web site)

Welcome to Our World

The following was sent to me by Wade Sarkis a competitor in the recently completed John R Williams Four Ball tournament at Oak Hill:

My Oak Hill experience can be summed up by 8 and 9 on Saturday (note: East Course - Black Tees)

Big drive on 8 with 135 to the pin.  Pulled it left to about 30 feet, pin high.  Hit the putt left edge and it stayed there rolling over the left edge about 3 inches long.  Never even fluttered at the hole.

Crushed the drive on 9.  171 to the pin.  Hit 7 iron to the middle of the green right at the flag.  Got up there and it was 6 inches long, buried in the gnarly grass.  Chopped it out and it rolled over the hole to about 8 feet.  The putt curled back at me.  4 good shots and a bogey. 

What a course!  I love to hate it.

Wade

Welcome to our world Mr. Sarkis.

Long Gone?

Some people, well, let's narrow it down to Dave Fries, think Oak Hill CC is in danger of not hosting another major championship after the 2013 PGA. Why? Because the course will not be long enough. My initial reaction is, that's a little bit of a stretch (ha, ha, pun intended). But if we had to lenghten Oak Hill is there room? And how much? So here are some thoughts, with no consideration of the cost in doing so or whether I think these are good or bad ideas:

# 1 - Might be able to push the tee back another 10 yds

# 2 - Extend tee to edge of creek - 10-12 yds

# 3 - Cut down tree next to white tee and go back, could probably stretch to 230 yds or extend current back tee another 10 -15 yds

# 4 - Flatten tee and go back probably at least 30 yds or move green to old #5 green adds 150 yds or do both for 180 yds

# 5 - Room to extend tee another 10 yds

# 6 - Add another tee to golfers right could add 10 -15 yds

# 7 - Room to extend tee another 10 yds

# 8 - Extend tee 5 yds

# 9 - Extend tee another 10 yds, probably room for more

#10- Relocate driveway, loading dock and part of the clubhouse and go back 20-30 yds Ok - I'm just kidding on this one

#11- Could probably add another 10 yds

#12- Go back across the 9th fairway and put a new tee in behind Tony Cotroneo's backyard Ok - just kidding here too

#13- No joking around here, this hole is a masterpiece

#14- Ignoring traffic flow you could find a way to add 10 yds

#15- You could add 15 yds if you really wanted to

#16- Flatten tee and go back 15 yds

#17- It's already too hard so what's another 25 yds? There's room to do it.

#18- Pick a number, there's room. Let's say 15 so we don't finish with two 500 yarders

Add it all up and realistically we should be able to add 300 yards. That puts the scorecard at 7445 yds. Or we could just go "Let's not and say we did" and put it on the scorecard anyway. It's just a number. Grow the rough, speed up the greens, pick pro pin positions and take your best shot. No one has ever torn up the East Course. Not for four rounds.

Tuesday Nights with Johnny or Skins 101

Or any other night for that matter. One of the highlights of my golf season has been a seemingly regular Tuesday night skins games with Jim Mason and Brad McAreavy. As the season progressed we even slipped in a few extra nights here and there.

The format: 9 holes, East course (more often than not), confirmation required. The outcome: Brad and Jim winning holes, failing to confirm and then on the 9th hole Schantz shows up to take home most of the skins.

The details: Brad picking up 3-footers he "thought" were conceded and then dissing everyone (well actually just me) for stinking up the place but winning all the cash. JUST KIDDING BRAD! I had to throw this out there to pull your chain! Just so you don't feel lonely there was also the fact that Dave Fries would show up after 5 or 6 holes and try to get in on the action. He did try to explain how it would be fair if we let him. Hey, I might be just a home builder, Brad's in the car game and Jim is "just" an internist but we're not dumb enough to fall for Dave's convoluted reasoning!

Really, it did get rather ridiculous after a while. And I did kind of stink it up a few nights but somehow I would show up on the 9th hole, someone would miss a 3-footer and I would win. Just the way they teach it in Skins 101 - win the holes that matter.

Can we change the format of the club championship to a skins game? Actually, I think I'll quit while I'm ahead because the only person whose luck can hold up for any length of time is Jim Mason (probably because he's good, not lucky).

Gold Update

Well it looks like I lost my dollar back to Dr. Mason. Gold made an intraday move above $1,000 today. It did close under $1,000 but I did clearly state in a previous post that intraday moves would qualify. Why do I insist on specifying everything? Now I can't even wiggle out of paying off!

Seventeen Again - 2009 Club Championship Round Up

The last time we saw Dr. David Fries roaming the 17th fairway of the East course on Labor Day he was marching to victory in the 2007 club championship. In a comeback for the ages Carter Lucas defeated David 2 up for his eighth club championship title.

The weekend featured perfect weather with light winds, sunny skies and temps in the low 70's. The East course was in perfect condition with firm greens running at 12+ on the stimp meter. The crew placed four players in the championship bracket - Brad McAreavy, David Fries, John Schantz and Jim Mason.

Brad bowed out early in a match-up with Carter Lucas. David defeated Matt Kaul, Jim took down Mark Dugan with a classic display of putting and John Schantz defeated George Kavanagh (where I closed out a 1 up victory with a 35 foot downhiller for 4 on the 18th hole). The Fries and Mason victories setup a quarter final showdown between the two former club champs.

While Cater Lucas was battling back from 3 down to Jamie Lamb, Jim and David were locked in a free-for-all match. With no halved holes from the 6th hole in David fought back from one down to win the last three holes for the victory. With Schantz, Mason and Fries all in the same quarter final bracket a Schantz victory would secure another spot in the finals for the crew. I obliged by defeating Brendan Glavin 4 and 2.

In a rematch of the 2007 semis Schantz and Fries squared-off again. After running in a 20- footer for par on #1 and a 1-up lead I watched David play one over golf for the next 14 holes. David's fine display was highlighted by a holed bunker shot for birdie on #8 and tee shot on #15 to 18" to close out the 4 and 3 victory.

The championship match between Lucas and Fries threatened to become one-sided after the opening 18 holes on the West course. In what can only be described as a stunning display of golf David shot a 68 to take a 4-up lead into the afternoon round. Dr. Fries's round was punctuated by a brilliant stretch where birdied 7,8,9,10 and eagled 11 to go 7-up on the match. His bid to take an 8-up lead failed when his 12-foot birdie putt at #12 would not fall. Dropped shots at 13, 15 and 17 lead to the final margin.

As the afternoon round began David extended his lead to 5-up with a fine sand save on #2. The turning point of the match may have come at #3. Hitting first David's tee shot finished 8-feet from the hole after nearly going in - no small feat considering the rock hard green. When Crater missed the green and his chip shot finished 20 feet from the hole it appeared David would take a 6-up lead. However, David misjudged the speed of the slippery downhill putt and the resulting 3-putt lead to a halve.

Carter then reeled off wins on 4, 5, 6 & 7. Game on.

Carter's momentum was shaken when he 3-putted 8 for bogey. However, the favor was returned on #11 as Carter made a fine par from the back fringe while David 3-putted from 40 feet. A missed fairway at #14 lead to another bogey for Fries and suddenly, improbably the match was all square. Both players found the green at #15 and the hole was halved with pars.

Was one of these champion golfers going to step up and hit the big shot or could one grind out four pars hoping it would secure the victory?

The answer would come on #16. David's tee shot just found the long rough right of the fairway and his approach shot would release to the back of the green. Carter's tee shot stayed in the first cut and his high, spinning approach to the tucked front left pin hit the green took one hop and rolled to 3 feet. David's 60 foot downhiller came within an inch but missed. Carter holed-out and now took command of the match.

Both players hit poor drives at 17 but solid second shots left each 35 yards from the back right hole location, Dave from the fairway, Carter in the front left bunker. Dave's chip shot bit up too quickly while Carter hit a fine bunker shot to 12 feet. Dave's 60-footer did not go in and Carter now had a putt to win the championship. He calmly stepped-up and ran it in, center cut. Carter deserve all the credit in the world for not giving up. But Dave fought every step of the way and carried himself like a champion. As his lead disappeared he didn't lose his cool and kept on marching forward.

Maybe next year?

Schantz is Club Champ!

No, not me. But congratulations to my son, Jason, who captured the 9-hole boys title. It's about time someone in the Schantz household brought home some hardware.

White Men Can Jump

In what can at least be termed a small surprise, Brad McAreavy elevated his game in club championship qualifying this past weekend.  After opening with an 81 on the West course Brad came back with solid 77 on the East and158 total (Brad gets extra credit for being the only person to come out of the pack and make the championship bracket). That was good enough to earn a spot in a 4 for 1 playoff for the 16th seed.

The prize? A date to play seven-time and current defending club champ Carter Lucas next weekend.

Brad made a smooth par on the 1st hole to defeat Kieth Knight, John Post and Dave Pelusio and earn his first trip to the championship flight. Just remember, Brad, once upon a time in a galaxy far, far away Mark Collier took down Mark Dugan in an opening round match. You to can earn an automatic spot on the Harmon Cup team with a victory over Carter.

Brad will be joined by fellow crew members Dave Fries (78,75 - 151) John Schantz (78,76 - 154)and Jim Mason (79,77 - 156). Dave was co-medalist (but lost the title in a playoff to Matt Weins).

With the new West course blue tees scores were expected to be higher this year so it was somewhat surprising to see a 158 total playoff when 160 or higher played-off the past few years.

Thanks to Dave Fries for reminding me on the range that no one on the range had ever shot a better score than me on the East course.

One

Fourth hole, West Course, new Blue tee, 195 yds, 3 iron. Who else? Jim Mason. Congratulations. Thanks for the drinks and letting me witness my first ace.

Spring Fling

The official flocksome season ended last week. A number of games were played starting in mid-March in both good and foul weather. I did not post any summaries since I was mostly busy skiing. That and I don't believe we've ever included spring results in the Captain's rankings. But, if I had to guess, I would say that:

1. Jim Mason, despite a bad back and crooked driver, probably won money.
2. Brad McAreavy and Mike LaBue probably got more than their share of bad breaks.

I do know that Jim McLaughlin made his maiden appearance and walked away a winner and Rob Turner made and appearance and also came out ahead. Dave Fries was rumored to be playing some fine golf (a little shaky with the putter but everything else is strong) and Doug Lyon has also displayed fine early form, especially with the driver. And nobody can play worse early season golf than myself. I need a few thousand range balls under my belt before my game resembles golf. Another reason the ski slopes look really good in March.

Dow 6XXX

On today's open the Dow crashed through the 7000 barrier. It's nice to take a dollar from Jim, but I don't really feel better.

"The Bet" - Chapter II or Gold $675

Well, it's been three months since the big "Dow 6000" bet between Mason and Schantz. Yesterday the Dow came within 115 points of the magic number - 6999 - but today it's heading back and further delaying my victory parade. Jim even sent an email implying the inevitable was now only a matter of time. I, of course, sensed an opportunity to double down (that I haven't even won yet) with a bet on the price of gold. So here it is - the price of gold (closing at just over 1000 on Feb 20th) currently at 968 will fall to 675 or less before it goes to or over 1000 again. Intraday moves are acceptable. The stakes - $1.00.

Still Skiing!

The dog days of winter are upon us and ski season is still going strong. But there was a brief period this week when green grass was visible. So, on President's day (no we haven't changed it to Barack Obama Day yet) as I strolled around my house looking out the windows wondering if I should pay some bills, do some chores or make dinner I realized "what the heck am I thinking!?" I could be hitting golf balls! So it was out the door across the frozen pond that is my backyard right now and onto the 5th hole for a short practice session. It wasn't as much fun as Monday night gate training at Bristol but it beats paying bills. It's been a great ski season so far - lots of fun watching my little girl turn into a racer and it looks like plenty of base to last through March!