It is hard to break a habit or say goodbye to old friends, but this is just what I am doing this week.
No, I am not talking about living and breathing creatures. After 28 years – shame on me – I am getting rid of my golf clubs and upgrading to a more modern set. I can hear it now from some of my friends thinking I have upgraded to wooden shafts, but I, too, can change to graphite.
To make this transition a legacy trail, I plan to donate my old friends (golf clubs) to the regional Junior Golf Foundation. As I do not endorse any particular brand of clubs, I can say for a fact that I have Dunlopped off these clubs to give to a junior member shorter in stature than myself.
Tournament play will heat up this weekend at Hillcrest Golf Club as the Advantage Alarm “Ryder Cup Format” event will arrive Saturday and Sunday. There is $500 in added purse and an entry fee of $35 per person.
There are four 9-hole formats: alternate shot, best ball, scramble and team total, which makes for a very interesting event. You can choose your own partner, provided the handicap spread is no greater than eight strokes between partners. There also is a skins game sidebar with an added $200 purse. Tee times will begin at 8 a.m. both days, and gross and net prizes will be awarded.
Dalton Ranch Golf Club will host a Member/Member tournament July 13-14.
The Choker
And speaking of Dalton Ranch, The Choker was held Saturday at DRGC, and 27 teams competed in this popular event.
1. Jim Foltz, Steve Foltz, Jim Bowen and Russ Smith, 131.
2. Pat Palmer, Hop Lee, Stewart Williams and Al Prendergast, 134.
3. Jon Kuchin, Mike Graves, Tony Lynn and Craig Davis, 135.
T4. Doug Sitter, Chuck Kuehn, Bob Hill and Jim Williams, 137.
T4. Mark Epstein, Bernie Welle, Mike Kane and Pat Lott, 137.
T6. Rick Rathjen, Dave Ganevsky, John Saer and Robert Riskin, 138.
T6. Aaron Sinberg, Jason Castles, Mike Balster and Rex Doyle, 138.
T8. Bob Ariano, Jim Hollingsworth, Andrew Medley and Joe Sposi, 140.
T8. Bob Barnhardt, Pete Guerra, Kurt Rohren and Brett Englund, 140.
T8. Andrew Dougherty, Jerry Dickenson, Cameron Bass and Cynthia Dougherty, 140.
A funny thing happened recently to the foursome of Gail Aalund, Kerri Smoak, Diane Smith and Amy Brunvand on their way to finishing hole No. 7 at Dalton Ranch: A black angus yearling ran across the fairway and the putting green; this sudden event did not, however, steer them in the wrong direction.
Ladies Day
Cha-Cha-Cha, June 26, at Dalton Ranch.
1. Amy Harlow, Dolly Turner, Marlene Gebhardt and Jeanne Busson, 123.
2. Lih Kinoshita, Nannine Reynolds, IIona Cofman and Cathy Gaskell, 126.
Hillcrest Women’s Golf Association Ladies Day, medal play, June 25, at Hillcrest.
1. Patty Crigler, Jan Smith, Judy Berkholz and Shirley Crom, low gross, 18 holes.
1. Laurie Simmons and Sandy Hartnett, low gross, nine holes.
Dave Bray has been covering the local golf scene for 32 years. He can be reached at bray3751@gmail.com.
