I hope you all will enjoy the change from my long-standing Wednesday column to a Thursday feature. The change now allows me to get more timely results from earlier in the week and get them to you faster.
One big advantage will be the posting of the winners in the Chili Pepper Challenge, which annually falls on a Tuesday. I have straddled the fence for years, wishing to get the results of this huge regional ladies event to you when it is fresh in everybody’s minds – and now I can.
So, pass this day-change along to your friends, especially those who finish near or at the top of scheduled tournaments. You know how they love to see their name in print.
Last week I worked in a nine-hole round of golf and had a small battle with a few flying insects on a couple of holes. This was not unlike last year when I came close to getting stung when I reached into the cup on the green and was greeted by several stingrays.
Last week, on the PGA Tour stop, a pro had to don his best aqualung to escape a band of hornets. With as little moisture as we have seen this spring, some of the best hiding places very well could be at the bottom of the end result of a two-stroke putt.
There has been a date change for the Mercury Two-Person Scramble at Hillcrest. To allow the Hillcrest grounds crew time to aerate the greens and let them heal, Mercury Payments Systems graciously moved their namesake tournament back one week, and it now will be played May 10-11.
The Hillcrest Women’s Golf Association Opening Night Dinner will be held May 5 in the clubhouse dining area. The cost of the dinner is $9, and activities will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a social get-together, followed by the dinner and meeting at 6:15 p.m. The highlight of this year’s activities is a reduction in membership fees to just $20 and the addition of a 9-hole fun social group to go along with the traditional 18 and nine-hole Tuesday weekly events.
Dalton Ranch Golf Club will have its first Unofficial Ladies Play Day on April 30. The first Official Play Day will be May 14. The first Dalton Ranch couples event will be held May 4, with a limit of 48 players, or 24 couples.
Ladies, mark May 8 on you calendar as the fourth annual Green Chili Ladies Classic will be held at Hidden Valley Golf Club in Aztec. The fee is $60 per player, which includes golf, lunch and prizes.
The JTM Music A-B-C-D Blind Draw Scramble
Saturday at Hillcrest:
1. Mike Butterfield, Lucas Laudick, Jim Rodefer, Scott Schemeke, 53.
T2. Cheryl Carson, Art Gallegos, Marc Goldfarb, Michael Thomas, 54.
T2. Kristi Barnett, Phil Gunn, Mike Hannigan, Micheal Howe, 54.
T4. Randy Archuleta, John Ball, Morgan Miller, Michelle Peterson, 56.
T4. Dean Despalmes, Pam Leisle, George Sheridan, Terrell Strauss, 56.
T4. Marcia Baxter, John Francis, Russ Jones, Bryan Schlicter, 56.
Dave Bray has been covering the local golf scene for 33 years. He can be reached at dbray3751@gmail.com.
