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SEPTEMBER 2020 ISSUE: 7

THE MAGAZINE OF HIDDEN VALLEY CLUB

In this month’s issue 1 BIG FLOP TOURNAMENT RESULTS BUYER BEWARE members will come to see and appreciate the From The President’s camaraderie that the offers. While everything we do at HVGC orbits golf, the real Desk value many of us get is the fellowship, friendship and family aspect of our games, tournaments and social events. For me, as I am sure with many of you, I think of golf as a sport To put it mildly, this has that has gotten me through a lot been a memorable of highs and lows but when I summer at HVGC. really think about it, it's the people I am playing with that In September, I'd like to provide that support, guidance make it a point to ask and oftentimes mentorship. So everyone to take as much for our long time members, take sand as you can out onto a minute to introduce yourself to the course and fill divots. the new faces you see around the We all want the course to club in the coming weeks and be in better shape and months. They are the future of everyone has their ideas HVGC. And to the new members on how to make this all I can say is listen, learn and happen (those board most importantly participate. meetings don't go three Most of the time it might seem hours for nothing) but one like just another round of golf thing we can all do is take but after awhile you'll find that out a sand bottle or ten Eric Kranz when you need a hand, the members at and fill a fairways worth of our club are always happy to help. divots. When you get the President, HVL Golf Club You'll discover that those tournaments, fairway done, fix some skins games and emergency nines have ball marks on the greens. grown into a support system every bit If we all respect the course as strong and close as any family. we can improve the conditions without spending a dime. We all need to get back to Last bit of advice for all of our new members treating this like it's our home away under 30... cash is king. No one knows what from home. Venmo is! Which reminds me of something a friend said last week during an outing. She mentioned how great it was that we had such a great group of people to enjoy a hobby with. It got me thinking about the past few weeks at Hidden Valley. We've sadly had a few deaths over the summer, held an incredibly touching memorial and dedication ceremony for Dan Stewart, seen some long time members move away and on the flip side have seen an influx of newer younger members. I hope and trust that these new

2 clubs and try new brands of balls. Use this time From The to venture out of your comfort zone and hone in on what works best for you. This is a perfect time to experiment with new gear, new Fall is actually a great time to play HVGC. The techniques and pick up skills you’ve been afraid golf course is usually in its best shape. It’s also a to try. perfect setting to improve your skills and prepare for DON’T FORGET TO WARM-UP next year’s season. The AND STRETCH following are some Fall The colder weather can affect golf tips that you might your game if you aren’t want to consider as you adequately warmed up and brush up on your skillset prepared for the activity. during the colder weather. Remember to take a little bit more time warming up before LAYER CLOTHING the game, focusing especially The Fall brings a variety of on your limbs. Injuries can weather conditions that happen quickly when you can change unexpectedly. aren’t properly warmed up You’ll want to be prepared and golfing injuries can take a long so you aren’t caught off- time to heal, which would really Brian Krinsky guard, especially if you’re impede your Fall golfing intentions. underdressed for the afternoon. The best PGA Pro, HVL Golf Club USE A SOFTER solution for this time of Temperature can certainly affect your year is to layer your golf ball. The colder it gets, the less clothing. We still see plenty of warm feel you have. By playing with a softer ball, you afternoons, so shorts and short sleeve shirts can retain some of the feel that you are used to might be a great option, but bring a light-weight around the greens. You might not hit the ball as jacket and some long pants, just in case. Check far as normal, but you might score by retaining out the HVGC Pro Shop for some great options! your touch and feel. Check out the HVGC Pro Shop for some great choices! PLAY SHORTER GAMES MORE OFTEN With the daylight hours decreasing, it limits the CLUB UP hours you can play. If you want to make sure Cooler temperatures don’t allow for the ball to you get your practice in each week, consider travel as far, so if you are in-between-clubs on playing shorter games more often. Perhaps an approach shot, always club up so you can get playing 9-holes four days a week makes more it there. Also be aware that colder weather will sense and you’ll still get the practice time you’d firm up the course, and you will get plenty of normally get during the long days of summer. roll off of your drive - you could be playing from unfamiliar places. Just remember this TRY SHOTS YOU NORMALLY DON’T TAKE when you are approaching the green—your ball With less people on the course, you’ll have more can roll through and off the green. time possibly at each hole, less pressure to move the game along quickly. Try those shots you’ve dreamed of taking, practice with new

3 BRING HAND WARMERS, WEAR EAR WARMERS AND And finally, look around. The Fall colors here WEAR HATS are incredible. Take a deep breath of the crisp There is no need to worry about looks and fall air and remind yourself why you love living whether you will be ridiculed for using hand here. Enjoy the round—it could be your last one warmers - you are already a golf warrior for for a while. being out there. You should have hand and ear warmers in your golf bag just in case. You want to be comfortable and not think about your September Pro Shop Hours frozen ears during your back swing. Keeping your hands warm between shots is a good idea for better feel on the club. Also be sure to keep September 1 - 20: the top of your head warm and wear a hat so you won’t lose any additional stored heat in the Weekdays: Open 7.30am body. Weekends: Open 7.00am KEEP THE FEET WARM September 21 - 30: Look into acquiring waterproof leather shoes to help keep your feet dry. The sock game has Weekdays: Open 8.00am stepped up as well and should absolutely be a Weekends: Open 7.30am part of your plan. Pro tip: Double up on socks on cold or wet days to keep your feet warm and dry.

WALK FROM TIME TO TIME No matter your age, staying loose in fall weather is hard to do, unless you are moving. Forget the cart and walk the golf course (if you can). It keeps the muscles limber and you will stay warm. Try to play your round during mid- day when sun is warmest.

4 cannot water everywhere so this limits our CourseTalk ability to reseed everything at the same time so please bear with us and follow the on-course instructions to avoid reseeded areas. Plenty to talk about this month as we head towards the Fall. On the topic of the irrigation system, we have either completed or we are in the process of First and perhaps the most obvious completing repairs to 24 breaks in the lines! development since last That obviously takes a lot of time and month has been the effort but more importantly, it clearing of margins around prevents the maintenance crew from the course. undertaking other work around the course. Again, please understand Thanks to the POA, we that we are all working incredibly gained the use of heavy hard to keep the quality of the course duty brush cutting as high as possible for everyone. equipment that allowed us to tackle getting some of We will be aerifying the greens on our playing areas back! October 5 and 6. Aerification of the aprons and It’s been about 20 years fairways we will since work of that scale Jason Gadd try to get done took place and we will reap in late the benefits of the work Course Superintendant September or done during August for early October. many years to come. Now my big ask to everyone who plays at It has allowed us to restore many of the original Hidden Valley. Please fix ball marks on the sight lines on the course, readjust the greens and fill divots on the fairways. and OB markers back to their historical positions. Don’t just fix your own ball marks or divots, fix any that you see! Every cart is equipped with It also, importantly, improves airflow to the sand/grass seed bottles so please use them. It greens and sections of fairway. will make enormous differences to the quality of We have been treating the crab grass on the our playing surfaces if you just take a few fairways and aprons and we will continue to seconds to repair the damage that golf shots keep a close eye on it to ensure we try to stay make to the course. ahead of its emergence. We did treat it earlier Check out the article in the GolfTalk section of in the year but heavy rainfall certainly washed this month’s Drive for more information about out some of that pre-emergent treatment. the importance of repairing divots. That’s nature and while we have been very lucky with the weather this year, sometimes it does Thanks and see you out on the course. work against us.

Looking ahead, we will be reseeding greens, aprons and fairways in October. Given the limitations of our current irrigation systems, we

5 One Big Flop

This month we continue our look inside the With pitching wedges typically lofted from 42 to golf bag with a focus on wedges. 46 degrees, the gap is so-called because it closes the "gap" in loft between the pitching

Wedges feature the shortest shafts and wedge and . A typical highest lofts of any golf clubs. In fact, wedges might might be lofted from 48 to 54 degrees. are often identified by their loft rather than The gap wedge also goes by the names A-wedge, their name. A might instead be called attack wedge and approach wedge. a "60-degree wedge," for example. In the early 2000s, a fifth wedge—usually called Sand wedges were invented (generally credited an X-wedge—started showing up in the bags of to ) to make shots out of sand some low-handicappers. X-wedges have the bunkers easier. Typically, sand wedges have highest lofts of all, 64 to 70 degrees. Today they lofts from 52 to 56 degrees. We will talk a little are still rare outside of the professional ranks, more about Sarazen and his sand wedge and even most pros don't carry one. revelation later in this article. All irons, including wedges, feature a design As lofts on irons have decreased over time - a 5- property known as "bounce angle," often just today might be lofted at 26 degrees, called "bounce." Bounce is a physical property whereas 30 years ago a 5-iron would have been of the sole of a golf wedge. And bounce is a lofted at 32 degrees - it has become more concept that even golfers who have been playing popular to carry additional wedges. for decades may not understand, or may misunderstand. So no beginner should worry A typical lob wedge might have a loft of 60 too much if he hears other golfers talking about degrees to 64 degrees. As its name implies, a lob "bounce" and doesn't have a clue what it means. wedge allows a player to "lob" the ball high into You're not required to at this point. the air, from where it will drop steeply down onto the green, with little or no roll. So the short version: The amount of bounce a wedge has can make the club more or less resistant to digging into the turf when the club hits the ground in the swing. Different golf

6 course conditions, different uses for the wedge, fact, Wilson Sporting Goods began different types of golf swings require more or manufacturing them en masse in 1933 as the less bounce. You can dig into the details, if you Wilson R-90. wish, in our examination of the role of bounce in wedges. Although he never patented his club, Gene Sarazen had an endorsement contract with Before the 1930s, you’d be in a lot of trouble in Wilson that lasted 75 years, perhaps the longest the bunkers, but thanks to a clever golfer, we in golf history. He was still under contract with now have the modern sand wedge. No matter the sports giant when he died in 1999. Over the what wedges you play, you probably owe a big years, he helped refine the sand wedge and also thanks to Gene Sarazen. contributed the “reminder” grip, which showed players where to place their thumbs on their Before the early 1930s, golfers had only one clubs. wedge in their bag: a , commonly called a “jigger.” Golfers had been building homemade prototypes to help get themselves out of the sand long before this, but most didn’t conform to golfing regulations and were banned due to concave or deeply grooved faces.

But one fateful day during this time of heavy wedge experimentation, Sarazen went flying with Howard Hughes. He had an epiphany while he watched the We all owe a debt of gratitude to Gene Sarazen, flaps on the wings as they lowered on take-off to Howard Hughes, and their fateful airplane ride. help create lift for the aircraft. Why couldn’t If not for those special little flaps, Sarazen that same concept be applied to a club, he would have never figured out how to get more wondered — so he took a club similar to a golfers out of the sand. modern 9 iron, and added extra lead to the sole to increase the mass while adding about 10 WHICH WEDGES DO BEGINNERS NEED? degrees to the sole’s angle. As a beginner, you will not need to concern yourself too much with wedges other than the Sarazen debuted his wedge at the British Open pitching wedge. Gap wedges and lob wedges are in 1932, after sneaking it in past the officials common in the bags of better players, and sand because he was sure it would be deemed illegal. wedges are fairly common for all players. But He won the British Open that year, and his sand beginners should not feel obligated to pick up a wedge’s legality wasn’t called into question — in sand wedge right off the bat. These are

7 specialized clubs for specialized uses, And these clubs will, when properly struck, remember, and you'll want to learn how to use produce a very high, arching shot. So if you the basic clubs first. Once you expand your need to get over a tree, for example, a wedge wedge use, however, the sand wedge should be comes in handy. Or if you're off the green with a the first addition. big bunker right between you and the flagstick, a high, arching shot with a wedge is a good If you do not purchase a sand wedge right off choice. Because wedge shots have such a high the bat, you'll want to use your pitching wedge trajectory, they tend to roll very little once they for sand shots around the green. hit the green. More accomplished players can WHEN TO USE A WEDGE FOR A GOLF SHOT produce a great deal of backspin with a wedge, As for the appropriate time to use other wedges, causing the ball to back up (or "bite") once it that will, of course, be determined primarily by hits the green. the yardage of your shot. On full shots from the Any wedge can also be used for chipping around fairway, a typical recreational male golfer might the green. hit a sand wedge about 65-75 yards yards; women, 45-60. A lob wedge would be 40-50 yards for men, 25-40 for women. A gap wedge would fall in between your pitching wedge and sand wedge yardages.

8 TournamentTalk Men’s Senior Club Champion Tom Walsh

Men’s Singles Championship Women’s Senior Club Champion Julie Townley Semi Finals Women’s Net Club Champion John Sparks bt. Barry Howard Julie Townley

Final: Men’s Super Senior Club Champion

John Sparks bt. Lance Hensley Walt Shroyer

Men’s A Flight Champion

Ladies Singles Championship Randy Lyness

Semi Final: Men’s B Flight Champion Sharon Voelker vs. Carmen Margeson Tom Walsh

Final: Voelker/Margeson vs. Julie Townley Board of Governors Tournament

1st Place: 2-Man Best Ball Championship Tom Scheidt, Matt McCool, Ken Townley, Craig Johnson Semi Finals nd Hayden/Barton bt. Fox & Nesmith 2 Place: Ev Brackett, Errol Mayle, Bob Hertsenvberg II, Final: William Pluto Hayden/Barton vs. Hensley/McCool 3rd Place:

Dave Dulle, Barry Weber, Chuck Dearing, Club Championship Gerald Bruns

Men’s Club Champion

Brennen Walsh

Women’s Club Champion

Sharon Voelker

9 Upcoming Events

123 Tournament September 5. 4 Person Register at the Pro Shop

Greenkeeper’s Revenge September 19. 2 Person Register at the Pro Shop

Pinehurst Tournament October 3. 2 Person Register at the Pro Shop

10 2020 Tournaments

March 21 3 Challenge 4 Person Blind Draw

April 4 Step Aside Scramble - CANCELLED 4 person Blind Draw

April 18 & 19 Victors Tournament - CANCELLED 2 Person

April 21 Matchplay Championship begins Singles

May 2 4- Person Tournament - CANCELLED 4 Person

May 5 Two-Person Best Ball Championship begins 2 Person

May 16 666 Tournament - CANCELLED 2 Person

May 25 Memorial Day Flag Tournament Singles

May 30 Shamble Tournament 4 Person

June 13 Alternate Shot Tournament 2 Person

June 27 Captain & Crew Tournament 4 Person

July 4 Flag Tournament Singles

July 11 & 12 Victors Tournament 2 Person

July 17 Men’s Invitational 4 Person

July 25 4-3-2 Tournament 4 Person

August 7,8 & 9 Club Championship Singles

August 22 Board of Governors Tournament 4 Person Blind Draw

September 5 1-2-3 Tournament 4 Person

September 19 Greenkeeper’s Revenge Tournament 2 Person

October 3 Pinehurst Tournament 2 Person

October 17 Year End Tournament TBA

November 6 Year End Meeting

November 7 Deep Freeze Tournament 2 Person

Click here for all tournament details

11 Golf Talk bad for the turf but has a potential negative

Welcome to Our New Members

August was a bumper month for new members so please take time to welcome our new faces:

Barry Schilling James Bell Chad Banschbach impact on players that follow. Don McKenzie Jalen Obertate Just as ball marks require a certain technique to Tom Wagner correctly fix, divots also require attention to Alex Himmler detail for proper repair. So, the next time you Ken Brock take a divot please keep the following in mind: Jacob Schornick Angela Packer • Watch where your divot went. As you Sean Powell admire your shot – or look away in Mike Coghlan disbelief – always keep in mind that you Paul Dennison Dylan May may have displaced a small piece of turf. Marc Noble Replacing your divot is always the best Brett Bondurant option for repair, assuming it has some Jim Faehr soil attached. If the entire divot explodes Josh Swaney into pieces, look around for any other Craig Curk usable divot that can fit in your scar. Paul Meyers Beth Baylor • Take your time fixing or filling divots. Kelly Shelton Regardless of the club used, replacing a Dan Doogs divot is a simple act: find the dislodged Spencer Jacobs turf and replace it, making sure to push the divot back into the scar with your foot Fix Your Divots and Pitch to enhance rooting. However, if the divot explodes into pieces and cannot be Marks! replaced, fill the divot with the divot mix provided by the maintenance staff. There are many ways golfers can impact play, When using divot mix, it is important to avoid not raking footprints in a bunker or improperly over or under filling divots. Under filling a divot fixing ball marks immediately come to mind. will result in a depression that affects golf ball While ball marks are sometimes difficult to find lie. On the other hand, overfilled divots will and can have a major impact on ball roll, there damage mowing equipment and create poor is no excuse for not fixing a divot. Failing to do playing conditions. To properly fill a divot, bend this simple act after hitting a shot is not only over and directly place divot mix in each divot, making sure the divot mix does not spill onto

12 undamaged turf. Add divot mix until it is even Individuals throughout the country have been with the base of the adjacent turf. Finally, just receiving emails claiming to be from the USGA as with replacing divots, use your foot to offering them a weekly paycheck if they are compact and level the divot mix. This will willing to use their car to promote the provide better soil-to-seed contact to enhance upcoming US Open. germination and seedling survival. Naturally, the individual has to share important Every cart at Hidden Valley is equipped with a personal information to allow that payment to bottle containing a sand/grass seed mix. Don’t be made. That in itself should ring alarms bells just fill your own divots, fill any that you see. for most people.

You can easily use a full bottle on your first nine The USGA confirmed that it is a total scam and holes, refill it at the turn and then use a new anyone receiving that email should contact bottle on your back nine. Just a few seconds of them at [email protected]. your time will improve the course not only for you and your friends but everyone that plays the Valley. It’s Never Too Late Beware the Scammers An inspiring story hit the headlines recently that underlines the old adage that it is never too There’s always someone out there trying to part late to do anything. you from your hard earned cash or savings. The world seems to be full of scammers these day For the last 20 years, Jonathan Shuskey has plying their illegal trade either over the dutifully served his country, re-enlisting four internet, via your email inbox or over the times since he joined the Army in 2001 and telephone. completing five combat deployments.

The USGA is not immune either. A group of scammers have targeted the upcoming US Open What’s next for Shuskey, who is set to retire from the military next fall at the age of 38, is to turn his plus-3 into a collegiate golfer.

I may even be older than the head coach of the team in some situations,” Shuskey told .com’s BethAnn Nichols, “but after 20 years in the military I’m pretty good at following orders. It doesn’t matter where they’re coming from. If that guy outranks you, you listen.”

Shuskey won’t just bring maturity and a strong personality resume to whatever squad gives him a chance, he’ll bring some serious game as well. at Winged Foot Golf Club in New York from September 17 to 20. Although the pandemic has lightened his playing schedule, he expects to compete in

13 some high-level events over the next few his time and expertise in helping improve the months, and his game has turned some heads club. already. He and his wife, Theresa, are relocating from “He’s got it and he doesn’t even know he’s got their home here in Hidden Valley to Florida. it,” Adam Cooper, a former Columbus State player and Georgia State Mid-Amateur We will miss them dearly but we wish them champion who plays regularly with Shuskey, every happiness in this new chapter of their said. lives and they know they are always welcome back at Hidden Valley Golf Club. After all, with 20 years of infantryman service under his belt, this whole golf thing is easy.

“In the back of my mind, when you’re standing over a 5-foot putt that matters,” said Shuskey, “I’m thinking how hard can this be? There’s nobody shooting at you right now.”

That’s good advice for all of us. Remember, golf is just a game. It’s not life or death.

Want To Earn Commission?

If you introduce a new member, you can receive Pictured left to right: Steve VanWassenhove, 10% of their membership fee as commission. The offer applies to anyone - member or non- Fred Kerth, Bill Lambert and Steve Guthrie member - who introduces a new member to Hidden Valley Golf Club. Buyer Beware If you know someone who is thinking of joining, don’t miss out on that commission. Contact All of us look for a bargain and golfers are no Brian Krinsky in the Pro Shop for more details. exception. And while some of us hang on to our clubs long past their sell by date, other players look are the all the latest technology to Good Luck and Goodbye to Steve help improve their game. and Theresa Guthrie And there’s no better place to check out what’s out there than the internet. But be very careful what you choose. Farewells are always sad and saying goodbye to Steve and Theresa Guthrie was particularly The US Golf Manufacturers Anti-Counterfeiting hard for many of us at Hidden Valley. Working Group in conjunction with Shanghai Police seized over 120,000 pieces of fake golf Steve was a long standing member of the . club and participated in many, many events over the years. He was always quick to donate

14 The raid took place in 10 separate Chinese While Tiger was competing at the PGA locations and included fake Titleist, Championship, his 11-year-old son, Charlie, was TaylorMade, PXG, , Callway and XXIO taking a US Kids Golf Junior Tour event by equipment. storm.

The working group estimates that more than 2 Charlie shot a bogey-free 3 under par 33 to win million counterfeit golf clubs are produced each his division by five strokes. year. The proud father commented: “I wish I had his Remember, if something looks too good to be move. I analyze his swing all the time. I wish I true, it probably is. So, stick with your local Pro could rotate like that and turn my head like that Shop where you know you will get great service, and do some of those positions, but those days genuine goods and attractive deals. are long gone and I have to relive them through him.” Fall Membership Special Job Opportunities at Hidden Valley Golf Club Now is the time to join Hidden Valley so don’t delay or you could miss out. The club is hiring seasonal cart and range staff. We have welcomed 24 new members in the last You must have a drivers license or permit, be four weeks so what are you waiting for? willing to work late afternoon and early morning shifts and be a reliable, self starter. If you join now, you will be able to play for the rest of this year and the entire 2021 season for If you are interested, please contact club Pro, just $1,600 and that covers either a family or Brian Krinsky at 812 537 5033. single membership. A Chip Off the Old Block? Golf Fashion Designer Better Like Orange… They say apples never fall far from the tree and that seems to ring true when it comes to the The founder of golf apparel brand, G/Fore, famous Tiger family. Mossimo Giannulli, is likely not too keen on adding neon orange to his product line any time soon.

Giannulli is going to be wearing a not so attractive orange jump suit after he was found guilty of paying half a million dollars in bribes to get his daughters into the University of Southern California and sentenced to five months in prison.

His wife and actress, Lori Loughlin, received a two month prison sentence for her part in the scam.

15 Congratulations…

August usually sees us crown some new Hidden Valley golf champions so we take out collective hats off to the following winners…

Men’s Club Champion

Brennen Walsh

Women’s Club Champion

Sharon Voelker

Men’s Senior Club Champion

Tom Walsh

Women’s Senior Club Champion

Julie Townley

Women’s Net Club Champion

Julie Townley

Men’s Super Senior Club Champion

Walt Shroyer

Men’s A Flight Champion

Randy Lyness

Men’s B Flight Champion

Tom Walsh

Men’s Singles Champion

John Sparks

16 This space could be used for private parties or special Board of Governors events. Social Committee The club’s Board of Governors met on July 28 2020. The date for a night golf event is still being discussed Participants were Rob Bates, Mike Gardiner, Paul an input is required from the POA legal advisor Fox, Jason Gadd, Fred Kerth, Brian Krinsky, Eric regarding insurance liability. Kranz, Dan Kroeger, Dave Hafner (HVL POA), Ted Richardt and Steve VanWassenhove. Board Structure POA Report Paul Fox presented a new Board structure proposal that would create several new positions and provide The club currently has 225 members. Finances formal voting rights to representatives from the POA. remain solid with a cash balance in excess of The document will now be amended with input from $140,000. the Board and presented at the September meeting Course Report for approval. The club is looking to hire additional people for Course Committee coarse maintenance. Two ash trees close to the 18th green need removal. Major work has been undertaken to remove Jason Gadd advised that he was talking to an outside overgrowth from the sides of the course. The last tree removal company to undertake the work. time this work was undertaken was approximately 20 Currently, the lack of on-course manpower prevents years ago. This will restore line of sight, improve air the return of water coolers on the course. Alternatives flow and restore boundaries. to using the maintenance team to undertake this Aeration of the greens is scheduled for October 5 and work will be investigated. 6. The next meeting is scheduled for September 30, The Board agreed to support the purchase of a new 2020, at 6.00 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Golf Club turbine blower for the course. clubhouse. Pro Shop A total of 2,642 rounds have been played so far in August and it is expected this will exceed 3,000 rounds making this month a record for the club.

The club has hosted four golf outings during the month that were highly successful. Treasurer’s Report The balance in BOG funds is $9,199.43, Food and Beverage Report Steve VanWassenhove reported that beverage profit since mid July had exceeded $26,000. He advised that there were no plans to staff the Fringe Bar.

17 I began to think that the days of writing sevens Mulligan on my scorecard had gone. My stash of golf balls seems to be steady as I no longer pounded them into the woods or sent them to a watery I have to tell you that I’m not happy right now. grave.

And by golly, who could blame me with And then it happens. It’s like overnight some everything that is going on around us. evil spirit takes over your body and the guy that turns up on the course the following morning First, there’s this pandemic that has us all may look like masked up and you but he wondering what life has no idea used to be like. More how to play importantly, praying golf. that life at some point returns to what it used Your shot to be before this plague dribbles a was bestowed on us. few yards and you are But it’s not COVID-19 left with an that irks me. impossible It’s not the thought 270 yards to that for the next few make the months we are going to green in witness seemingly regulation. intelligent individuals devolve into playground The second shot bounces along the path and antics as they fight for the highest office in our still leaves you a good 160 yards to go. Just land. when you pull yourself together and focus on Roll on November when all that will be over. getting it on the green, two putting and walking off with a bogey, the body snatcher who has What is driving me crazy right now is how on invaded your body duck hooks the next shot any given day, I have no idea how I am going to into the water. play golf. A humbling eight on the first hole signals that Just to be clear, this is not about trying to find something is not right. time to play golf. That’s not what I mean. I mean how well am I going to hit that ridiculous Next hole, it’s putting that no longer bears any little ball. resemblance to what you have been doing for weeks and weeks. You stub the and the Tell me, please. Tell me how after more ball rolls halfway to the hole. Next, you hit it on decades than I care to consider that I appear to what you thought was the line except it goes left be no better at this game than I was when I first or right and definitely not where you intended it swung a club? to go. You pull yourself together and mark the I actually thought I was getting better. My 10 inch putt that remains. Normally, you would scores were consistent and my handicap had have tapped that in without a second thought. started to fall.

18 OK, you look down. The ball. The hole. The 10 By the time you finish the front nine holes, you inches of manicured grass between the two. have convinced yourself that the back nine will Just hit it. So you do and it misses down the be better. I mean, it has to be better. It simply left side and leaves you a two-footer for another cannot get any worse and I have had so many seven if you are lucky. people tell me that the back nine is easier than the front nine. And so it goes on. You know the front nine is going to be real ugly as a score. Maybe I can It’s at this point that the cruelest part of this keep it under 50 but that’s probably just wishful game gets played out. thinking. You tee it up on the 10th and pound it right It’s somewhere around the 7th hole that you down the middle. That ball soars over the decide you are going to quit golf. fairway like a missile and comes to rest less than 150 yards out from the green. It’s a stupid game or more OK. accurately, it’s a Whatever game that makes was going me look stupid. on was clearly I begin to think exorcised by what I might do the hot dog with the four or at the turn. five sets of clubs I There’s still have collected a chance over the years. here to Sell them but rescue clearly they don’t something work properly so from this who would buy outing. them? Better to Maybe I can dig a pit and bury break 40 on them where in the back? 2,000 years some archaeologist will discover Maybe I could even shoot an even 36 for the them and conclude that he or she has unearthed next nine holes. the remains of some before unknown robotic organism. They say positive thought can actually make things happen. I can see the pity in the eyes of my playing partners. It hurts to see anyone melt down. Don’t believe it. I have been thinking positively Unless you happen to be playing them in a about winning the lottery for years and it’s singles match in which case you cannot believe never happened. I haven’t even come close. your luck and give silent praise to the golf Gods for at last answering your prayers. And it definitely does not work for golf. The only positive thing I can think or say is that if But you still feel just a tiny bit bad for their this round doesn’t turn around real quick, I will woes. positively wrap a club around the trunk of a tree.

19 Anyway…back to the second shot of the 10th The 16th hole has a pond by the green. I’m hole and my rescue from the purgatory of a actually not thinking about whether the ball will terrible nine holes. end up there because I suspect that’s inevitable. No, I am wondering White flag giving a about the depth of shot of about 160 that pond. There’s yards to find the no fence around it middle of the so you can build up green. Uphill too. enough speed on Don’t want to be the fairway in a golf long but want to cart that I think you avoid being short can probably launch and not having a yourself into it and putt for birdie. land close to ten Seven iron. feet from the bank.

I flush it. I mean That would seem to that ball jumps off a fitting end. that iron and Drowned in a water hurtles towards hazard. the green. It passes the hole at In the end I decide a height of about to stay dry, finish 30 feet and out those last three bounces out of holes and grab a bounds into the beer in the yard of an clubhouse. unsuspecting home. My playing partners buy the drinks, Oh yes, the Golf smile and tell me Gods can have a that they have seen lot of fun with my me play a lot better. game. First, they We all have days ensure that for like that you know, nine holes I cannot they say. And they’re hit a ball more than 30 yards. Then, they right. We do always have days like that and bestow on me the raw power of Bryson sometimes it doesn’t even involve playing golf. DeChambeau and the ability to smack a seven iron more than 190 yards. Sometimes stuff just happens. It’s life.

And so it goes on. On the hardest hole of the What’s more important is what we do about it back nine, I get my first par of the day. Huh? and how we bounce back. That old boxing That’s soon forgotten with a double bogey on adage sums it up perfectly. What matters is not the next par 3 and an 8 on the par 5. how many times you get knocked onto the canvas. What matter is how many times you pick yourself back up.

20 Green Reading

Each month we’ll offer our suggestions from the pantheon of excellent writing on and about our favorite pastime

Hank Haney's candid, surprisingly insightful account of his tumultuous six-year journey with Tiger Woods, during which the supremely gifted golfer collected six major championships and rewrote golf history. Hank was one of very few people allowed behind the curtain and observed Tiger in nearly every circumstance. There's never been a book about Tiger that is as intimate and revealing--or as wise about what it takes to coach a star athlete.

From 2004 to the spring of 2010, Hank Haney was Tiger Woods's coach, and Tiger was Haney's only client. In that period, Tiger won more than a third of the tournaments he entered and six of his fourteen major titles. Haney felt hugely honored to help Tiger with his every circumstance: in the locker room; on the swing, and he approached the job with intense course; with his wife, Elin; and relaxing with absorption and attention to detail. Haney was friends. Haney was there through it all, with Tiger 110 days a year, spoke to him over observing how Tiger's public identity 200 days a year, and stayed at Tiger's house up sometimes meshed awkwardly with the roles of to 30 days a year--sometimes affording him husband and friend, and how the former child more contact with Tiger than either the athlete's prodigy came to have a conflicted relationship agent or caddy. Haney saw his student in nearly with the game that made him famous.

21 My suggestion is to have on hand in the MemberTalk cart barns Clorox or lysol wipes available and when sanitizing the carts, use wipes on the steering wheels. With increased play by non-members, the pro shop needs to provide instruction Another suggestion which write a few on where to return the rented cart after people are not aware of and should be play. Also, it would be good to remind announced is when you are finished with members that have a private cart where your round, park the carts in a single line that cart should be parked before and beside the cart barn so they can be wiped after play. (V. Shroyer) down after each use. (V. Shroyer)

A cart return sign will be made and situated so The carts are wiped down with disinfecting players know where to return club carts. wipes and also power washed after each use so Private cart owners will be reminded to park what you experiences should not have their cars in the marked areas in front of the happened. We will ensure that the cart crews practice green. are reminded to double check every cart.

How about cutting the walkway from #5 Disinfecting wipes are already available in the green up to #6 tee box? Better yet, put cart barn. down some gravel bordered by landscape We will be placing a cart return sign so players timbers. (G. Goodin/W. Lambert) know where to return club carts. That walkway will get cut and maintained. We will look at the cost of creating a gravel path to the 6th tee box.

Tee markers should be on the edge of the tee box to utilize the entire tee box especially on the smaller white tee boxes. Most of the markers are several feet in from the sides which wears out the 2020 MEMBERSHIP RATES middle. (W. Shroyer) 7-day Single $1,428.00 The maintenance crew will set up one of the markers at the edge of the tee box to see 7-day Family $1,836.00 whether this makes a difference to wear and tear on the tee boxes. Young Professional (22-35 years old) $1.122.00

I experienced an unpleasant situation. I Student (18-21 years old) $500.00 used on the golf club carts a couple of Junior (under 17 years old) $200.00 weeks ago. The steering wheel was sticky. I used a Clorox wipe and was Corporate $3,672.00 amazed of the dirty wipe. I talked to Brian Krinsky regarding this issue and Check in at the Pro Shop for full details of he said that the carts are sanitized each membership and payment terms. evening. Oops, they missed one!

22 Brock Restoration Mansfield Insurance Agency Thank You To Cabana on the River NAPA Auto Parts, Cleves Civista Bank Premier Properties Real Estate Craig Distributing Co Inc. Ravenna Heating & A/C Our Sponsors Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce RJM Consulting Don Bacon Appliance Service Sales unlimited Duffy insurance SPCA Cincinnati Hidden Valley Lake Golf Course Dearborn Savings Bank State Farm insurance 19775 Alpine Drive, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 IORI Insurance Steele’s Hometown Tire and Auto Service T: 812-537-5033 JTM Food Group TG Young Contracting inc E: [email protected]

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