I got the biggest kick last Sunday when a corporate person I know (not from here) commented on how many of my fellow employees were into golf and were irked when the local television signal went out – albeit briefly – during last Sunday’s final round of The Masters.
Many people do not follow golf, but there are plenty who do. Some watch The Masters just because of its beautiful scenery, and there is a lull in sports right after March Madness.
Many of us cling to as much information about the event as possible and with the Internet can find all kinds of tidbits.
There was a special moment in a Masters’ video gallery on their website where a CBS reporter walked a section of the course with three former golfing foes and friends. Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player reminisced about their experiences at Augusta National.
Palmer, the elder statesman, put in a few well-placed jabs at his fellow linksters. However, you could not help but feel this trio would like to turn back the clock one more time and give it a go at Amen Corner.
It is hard to imagine what kind of mental pressure goes through the current players as they approach the back nine on the final day, and hats off to Bubba Watson for holding steady and true to win his second green jacket in the last three years.
Hillcrest Golf Club will tee off its 2014 tournament schedule with the JTM Music A-B-C-D Blind Draw Scramble on Saturday. There is a $500 added prize purse and an entry fee of $35 per person.
Coffee and doughnuts will be served at 7:30 a.m., followed by team drawings at 8 a.m. A shotgun start will commence at 9 a.m.
Ninety-percent handicaps will be used with net scoring only for this event.
Call the Hillcrest pro shop at 247-1499 to see if there remains room to enter. This tournament also qualifies as part of the season-ending Sieger Shootout, a cumulative collection of the top 20 money winners.
This year’s Todd Sieger Shootout is Oct. 4 at Hillcrest.
I wanted to drop a quick note on a couple of events coming up at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez. The Dolores High School Invitational, which also will feature the Durango High School girls golf team, will be held April 23, followed by the Conquistador Men’s Golf Association Ice Breaker tournament April 26-27.
Give the Conquistador pro shop a call at 565-9208 for sign-up information.
The 21st annual Hopin’ We’re Open tournament was held at Dalton Ranch Golf Club on Saturday, and it was a full field of 100 golfers for this opening tournament event.
The event paid out for 13 spots, including ties for 11th- and 13th-place finishes.
Hopin’ We’re Open
1. John Betka, Chris McClure, 60.6.
2. Denny Brennan, Chris Engle, 61.4.
3. Neil Johnson, John Thrasher, 61.5.
4. Mark Buono, Fal Wood (good to see the former Dalton Ranch Golf Club club professional in civilian golf clothes), 61.7.
5. Jeff Trujillo, Arnold Valdivia, 62.
6. Bob Carruesco, Pete Guerra, 62.5
7. Mark Hanson, Brett Shaffer, 62.9.
Dave Bray has covered the local golf scene for 33 years. He can be reached at dbray3751@gmail.com.
