October 2020 ISSUE: 8 DRIVE

THE MAGAZINE OF HIDDEN THE MAGAZINE OF HIDDEN VALLEY CLUB VALLEY GOLF CLUB

1 In this month’s issue CLOSE YOUR EYES THE GREATEST EVENT TOURNAMENT RESULTS ON EARTH? booming. Our tournament participation in From The President’s September nearly doubled that of 2019 and the new system has allowed all of us to Desk play on equal footing.

It’s safe to say that in a year of global turmoil, golf has been a rare bright spot and beacon of hope that we can return to “Golf, like the measles, normalcy. should be caught young, for, if postponed to riper Golf has offered people the years, the results may be chance to safely reconnect both serious.“ with the outdoors after endless zoom calls and shut downs and with their friends. P.G. Wodehouse It is clear that the perception of Hidden Valley GC has rapidly shifted. The fish & game folks What an incredible year were blown away by our for golf 2020 is turning hospitality, our new young out to be! members are rapidly Golf assimilating into the Foundation recently tournaments and daily games released a report showing and the food and beverage that year over year rounds Eric Kranz operation is humming thanks to Steve of golf played in the VanWassenhove’s expertise. United States are up 21% President, HVL Golf Club As the golf season winds down here in in August! This follows a October, it is safe to say that all things year over year increase of considered 2020 was a special season at 14% in June and 19% in July. HVGC and one we can be proud of and build This national trend is definitely not missing us upon. here at Hidden Valley as the golf club has seen record numbers of rounds played in both August and September. The surge in new members continues as we have added memberships across the spectrum of demographics which should keep the course lively and spirited going forward.

Overall, Hidden Valley Golf Clubs prospects continue to look bright, brighter than ever in many ways. The course is in tremendous shape, membership is increasing to levels that offer us options on how to proceed with capital improvements and play at the course is

2 diminishes physical contact with surfaces that From The Pro Shop could host unwanted germs.

At the risk of going a little stir-crazy, being I can say as of the date of this publication, outdoors and getting some exercise can do a HVGC has done very well navigating the current world of good. Covid 19 Pandemic. From the early stages in A lot is still uncertain about how this will all Spring with heavy restrictions to the current play out, but we do know that open and well situation presenting itself ventilated spaces are not today, the club has conducive to a virus surviving survived and even and/or spreading. That flourished through this makes golf courses seem like period of uncertainty. a great place to get away While we should all take without risking too much the necessary precautions when it comes to your health. to keep the spread of the In fact, the fresh air, exercise, Coronavirus at bay, I and limited social contact believe the game of golf is could boost overall physical one of the few sports that and mental health. can actually thrive during I understand the severity of a quarantine as evidence Brian Krinsky the situation we are in, and would never recommend going against how of our own membership. PGA Pro, HVL Golf Club This year despite the the professionals tell us to handle this pandemic our rounds of pandemic. With that being said, golf play are up and we have surpassed our original does seem like a perfect sport that goal set in the beginning of the year. We could do everyone good while we all deal with currently sit at 246 members with only 170 the realities of the world today. That is why members at the start of the year. That’s quite an HVGC is achievement and bodes well for golf moving the perfect place for our members and future forward especially at HVGC. Why? Our club members moving forward into the future. Golf offers a host of reasons, from a great golf as a sport course, great membership and a fun environment to a great value. Obviously golf is is here to stay as evidence of golf rounds up all also an individual sport over the country. Golf has been rediscovered in a sense. Our club is prime for good things to played outside, so social distancing should be come. Now would be a great time to solicit any quite do-able. Even playing in your normal new prospects for membership. We are group shouldn’t be an issue, as you can just growing as a club during an unprecedented walk or take individual carts (currently) for time and who would of thought that at the your group. Everyone beginning of March. Let’s us all keep the club plays with their own equipment and golf balls, surviving, growing and flourishing! Lets do it! and even leaving the pin in is completely legal Finally, this pandemic event has been (thanks USGA). All of the above greatly challenging to most throughout the entire world. My wish is for everyone to be safe,

3 healthy and happy as we work our way through this pandemic. Take care all! October Pro Shop Hours

Weekdays: Open 8.00 am

Weekends: Open 7.30 am

4 Once we complete the annual top dressing of CourseTalk the greens, we will be focused on raising the canopy of some of the trees, repairing bunkers and placing sod on fairway bare spots. Maintenance of the golf course and its environs is a 365-day-a-year and while golf is beginning We will be also tackling leaf removal which will to wind down as Fall approaches, our work be almost a daily task until the Fall season is seems to intensify. over.

We completed the I hope you enjoy your time on the aerification and reseeding course. This is truly a beautiful time of the fairways and tee of year as the Fall colors transform boxes at the end of our course, the shadows lengthen September and we will and the air turns crisp. complete the greens by the early part of October. That will be followed by application of starter fertilizer to give the new grass a head start once a new growing season begins. Jason Gadd Big thank you from the maintenance team to the Course Superintendant POA and the Board of Governors who secured a new blower that we will use to help the top dressing process, remove leaves, clippings and dew.

I also want to call out Dave Freking for his help in landscaping around the club house and the course. Thanks to Fred Kerth for stepping up to handle hole positions and Steve VanWassenhove for helping fix divots on many of the fairways.

Obviously, I would ask every member and visitor to bear with us while we reseed and top dress. Continue to fix your divots on the fairways and your ball marks on the greens. These simple acts have a profound impact on the way the course plays.

Since the last magazine, we have removed two large trees from the side of the 18th hole.

5 The Greatest Sporting Event On Earth?

Every September, every two years it seems that but rather between the French and the U.S. It the entire world stops for a few days and was 1913, the first big breakthrough year in golf focuses itself on a very specific patch of green as 20-year old amateur wonderland somewhere in defeated the two leading players either Europe or the USA. in the world, Brits and , in an 18-hole Considered by many to be playoff for the U.S. Open at The the greatest sporting event in Country Club just outside of the world, the Boston. But in an event halfway captures the imagination of around the world several months almost everyone - golfer and later, a four-man team of French non-golfer alike. professionals soundly defeated Over the course of three an American squad, 6-0, at days, it becomes a Titanic Versailles. This proved to be the clash between the best of the “grand daddy” of all USA and their international matches – older European counterparts. than the , the Curtis Cup, the Canada Cup and the In this issue of Drive, we take Ryder Cup. a look at the history of this very special event. The concept of an international team event percolated further as The history of the Ryder Cup is a fascinating journey – a real metamorphosis if you will – from halting efforts at an international match in the early years to American dominance after World War II and finally to restoring competitive balance with the addition of players from Continental Europe.

THE FOUNDING AND EARLY YEARS Interestingly, the first true international team golf match did not occur between the U.S. and Great Britain,

6 the PGA of America first gave it serious fortune selling penny packet of seeds to the consideration early in 1921. Later in the year the British public through the mail, ran a series of circulation manager of Golf Illustrated golf tournaments for the British pros in an promoted what was supposed to be a match effort to promote his company, the Heath and between the U.S. and Great Britain at Heather Seed Company. Totally smitten with Gleneagles, as a follow on to the the game, Ryder hired top-notch British golf professional to teach him the game at the princely sum of 500 pounds a year. In discussions with Mitchell and his fellow pros Ryder thought that an international match between the two major golfing nations would encourage international understanding, get more American players to (and conversely more British professionals to the U.S. Open) and help promote Ryder’s penny packets of seeds.

Thus the first Ryder Cup matches were scheduled for Wentworth Golf Club in 1926 as a prelude to the qualifying the next week at Sunningdale for the British Open to be held at Royal Lytham. However, due a strike that shut down most travel into Britain, many of the American players weren’t able to get into the country and the American side had “replacement” players, mostly from British Commonwealth countries. Although the American side, led by , was soundly defeated, 13 1/2 - 1 1/2, it was a start. As such, Ryder decided to hold the trophy until ’s Ted Ray presents the Ryder Cup to the next year when the two sides would Walter Hagen in 1927 contain native-born players on each side. Thus the first “official” Ryder Cup, featuring Glasgow Herald’s 1000 Guineas tournament to four foursomes on the first day and eight singles help build circulation for the magazine. It was on the second, was held at Worcester Country not a success as there were few in attendance, Club in Worcester, Mass. in June of 1927 as the but interest was kindled. 10-man U.S. team won decisively, 9 1/2 - 2 1/2. At about the same time, Sam Ryder, a successful British seed merchant who made his

7 With the matches alternating between the U.K. But the matches were still fiercely contested. On and the U.S., each side won on their native soil the eve of the 1947 Ryder Cup the British over the next four Ryder Cups: Great Britain captain, the feisty and combative , won at Moortown in 1929, the U.S. won at claimed that certain American players – most Scioto in 1931 (with Charlie Nicklaus, Jack’s notably – were playing irons whose father, in attendance), the Brits winning at grooves were too sharp, thus making their balls Southport in 1933 and finally the U.S. winning stop abruptly on the greens. Cotton insisted at Ridgewood in that the 1935. But it American’s clubs wasn’t until be inspected. As 1937, with the a result, all the cup at Southport American’s irons again, that a were found to be non-home team conforming. So won as the on the eve of the American side next Ryder Cup prevailed for the in 1949, non- first time on playing British soil 8-4. American And, adding captain Hogan, some spice to still recovering the matches, it Ben Hogan from the horrific was Hagen who accident that nearly took led the U.S. his life some 10 months side from the beginning in 1927 all the way up earlier, made a similar claim about the Brits’ to 1937. In 1939 the Ryder Cup was halted for clubs. Upon inspection, however, the clubs of World War II. However, the American side two of the British players were indeed found to named several teams during the war, playing be nonconforming. As a result, the host pro at numerous exhibition matches against challenge Ganton spent the evening filing down the teams – once against a team led by the great offending irons so as to be ready for play the amateur – for the benefit of the next morning. But the American side won this USO and War Relief. Ryder Cup, just as they did in 1947, thus starting an era of almost complete dominance THE ERA OF AMERICAN DOMINANCE in the transatlantic competition after World With the conclusion World War II, both War II. America and Britain hungered mightily for normalcy – and the resumption of golf. But the The American side went on to win 17 of the next Brits, worn out financially by the rigors of war, 19 Ryder Cups, right up through 1983, with a tie couldn’t muster the necessary funds to make coming in 1969 as Ryder Cup “rookie” Jack the trip to Portland, Ore., for the Ryder Cup in Nicklaus conceded a 4-foot putt to Tony 1947. Into the breach stepped one Robert Jacklin, thus ending the competition in a tie. It Hudson, an Oregon industrialist, who literally was one of the great shows of sportsmanship in saved the Ryder Cup by bank rolling the Brits’ the annals of sport, as the U.S. retained the cup trip to America. It was a gesture that showed having won it two years earlier. The only the best of the Ryder Cup spirit, one that Sam American loss, in 1957, was an aberration as a Ryder would have certainly saluted.

8 clearly outclassed British team upset a far- It’s been said that the essence of the Ryder Cup stronger American team at Lindrick. is pride and passion and raw emotions. I’d agree, but for true golf aficionados – and the THE EUROPEAN RESURGENCE competitors too – it’s almost existential, a little In light of the continued dominance of the bit of life and death. American side, interest in the Ryder Cup appeared to be waning. So, Quite simply, what Sam Ryder began in 1926 suggested in 1977 to Lord Darby, the head of the has grown to become the grandest event in the British PGA, to expand the British team to game. include players from Continental Europe to add And that game was set to be played in 2020 at competitive balance. It was the one move that the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in eventually elevated the Ryder Cup to the first Kohler, Wisconsin. However, like so many rank of all of golf’s major tournaments. major sporting events in 2020, it fell victim to With players from continental Europe allowed the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the event will to compete in 1979, the Ryder Cup has become be held over the same course from September far more competitive – the European side has 21-26, 2021. won 11 Ryder Cups outright, retained the cup in Team USA will be captained by another with a tie, while the American side has while the Europeans will be led by Padraig won eight, but only one of the last five. Harrington.

The respective teams will not be finalized until the end of August 2021 but the US has already introduced an interesting change.

The top six points earners by end of August next year will get automatic places on the team. That leaves Stricker with the chance to pick six additional players rather than four as has been the case in prior matches.

Jack Nicklaus captained Team USA in 1983 Who will win? You have to say the odds favor the Americans. They are without and 1987. He was instrumental in expanding a win since 2016, they are on home turf and the the tournament to include mainland European US team is going to be packed with the top players. players in the world.

Over almost 100 years, the Ryder Cup teams Still, golf is golf and anything can and does read like a who’s who go golf. In a sport where happen. individual prowess and talent usually means One thing I can tell you for certain is that I everything, suddenly we find fierce competitors know what I am doing over three days in late rooting for each other and only caring about September next year. whether it is a US or European victory.

9 TournamentTalk 4th Place: Phil Cooper, Barry Howard, Ken Gessner, Ken Townley

Men’s Singles Championship 5th Place:

1st John Sparks Tim Rohrer, Tom Flynn, Chuck Dearing, Jeff Wiedmann 2nd Lance Hensley 3rd Steve VanWassenhove Green Keepers Revenge Barry Howard Flight A Ladies Singles Championship 1st Place: Sean Powell, Brett Bondurant 1st Sharon Voelker 2nd Place: 2nd Julie Townley Chris Bedford, Randy Lyness 3rd Place: 2-Man Best Ball Championship Ted Bertaux, Andy schoeff

1st Lance Hensley/Matt McCool 4th Place: 2nd Pay Hayden/Ron Barton Sharon Voelker, Ed Park 3rd Paul Fox/Steve Nesmith 5th Place: Mac Buren/Tom Cullen Bob Hertsenberg II, Tom Scheidt Flight B 123 Tournament 1st Place: Paul Fox, Steve Nesmith st 1 Place: 2nd Place: Steve Baitz, Dennis Richter, Chuck Thomas, Ed Steve Baitz, Chuck Thomas Gemperle 3rd Place: 2nd Place: Mick Fiorini, Bob May Larry Harrison, Chuck Brandel, Bob May, Mick 4th Place: Fiorini Tom Flynn, Paul Meyers 3rd Place: 5th Place: Julie Townley, Heather Hann, Pam McCreary, Rob Yake, Spencer Jacobs Kris Stoelting

10 Upcoming Events

Year End Tournament October 17. 2 Person Register at the Pro Shop

Year End Meeting November 6. HVGC Clubhouse. All members and partners welcome. 6 p.m.

Deep Freeze Tournament November 7. 2 Person. Register at the Pro Shop

11 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 Stableford 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 Ryder Cup 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

November 6 Year End Meeting

November 7 Deep Freeze Tournament 2 Person

Click here for all tournament details

12 “I’ve gone on and off, but like Augusta, I won it Golf Talk playing with my eyes closed every single putt and some of the other wins, too,” Garcia explained. “I feel like it gives me a little more Just Close Your Eyes! freedom to feel the stroke. Sometimes we get too focused on trying to make it perfect and There’s many a time that I think lots of us close kind of following with the eyes and everything. their eyes after a bad shot. The pain of So this way I feel like I just feel it and I just let watching that ball soar out of bounds or into a me natural ability kind of take over instead of pond is just too much! telling myself what to do.

But closing your eyes while you take a shot. “I think it was probably me just practicing and Now, that’s something totally different. trying to feel something. But it was a while back. It was probably almost four years ago. You know, I would love to putt with my eyes open, but I feel like my stroke is more consistent when I kind of try to forget about it and just kind of feel it. That’s what I’ve been doing.

“At the end of the day we all try to find a way to feel comfortable. Jordan used to putt looking at the hole. It’s kind of like the same thing. Just And that’s the revelation we discovered about kind of forgetting about the stroke a little bit Sergio Garcia last week. and just kind of feeling and letting your natural He was asked directly about it by a reporter athletic ability to take over, I guess.” covering the Sanderson Farm Championship. Garcia has always been known as an “Would you believe me if I told you I’ve been exceptional ball striker, but his putting has let doing it for about three years?” Garcia him down on various occasions over the course responded. of his career, which he blames for being too mechanical and less feel-based, and while his That’s when everyone started taking a closer season-long statistics do not bear out an eye- look at Garcia on the green, and it’s clear, he popping trend of improved numbers, when he does close his eyes while stroking his putts. plays well — and wins, as he did this weekend — What’s more? He said he putted the entire 2017 he putts pretty solidly. Masters with his eyes closed. You know, the one he won. “These greens obviously help because they’re very fast, so yeah, I felt like I’ve hit a lot of good putts,” Garcia said, who finished the week

13 +2.830 in strokes gained: putting. “I made a mud is. If the mud is on the left side of the ball, few, I’ve obviously missed a few, but the feeling your ball is going to tend to move to the right. overall is very positive.” Conversely, if the mud is on the right side of your ball, it’s going to tend to move to the left. So, the question becomes can Sergio’s putting technique help you? Why not? “Yeah, why not?” Garcia said when asked if Pandemic Spurs Golf Boom recreational golfers should try putting with their eyes closed. “If they feel like they struggle with it, maybe. I don’t know. At the end of the For the second consecutive month, Hidden day, you do what you feel is best for you. It’s as Valley set new records in terms of the number simple as that. There’s no right or wrong. of rounds played in the month. But, our success Obviously, everyone wants to do it perfectly and is not unique. It looks like the pandemic is the way it should be. It doesn’t mean that it’s creative a resurgence in the game throughout the right way or not. But the way it kind of the country. should be. But we’re all different. We’re all The latest report from the National Golf different players, and everybody feels different Foundation and Golf Datatech has further things, and you’ve just got to try to see what solidified the theory that the coronavirus feels best for you.” pandemic has aided in a renaissance for the Mud, Mud…Glorious Mud game of golf. The August report, released during the last week of September, shows that rounds were up Mud balls are particularly frustrating because 20.6% year-over-year. That sets another record more often than not, they occur on a wet day for the biggest increase in a peak season month when you’ve found the fairway. The issue is that since Golf Datatech began tracking rounds two the mud can be a bit unpredictable in how it decades ago.

To put a number of actual rounds the 20.6% increase signifies, the NGF has estimated an increase of roughly 10 million more rounds were played in August 2020 over August 2019. This comes on top of reports that saw 17% year-over-year growth in June and July, all of which does plenty to offset the 42.2% drop in April 2020 versus April 2019 as COVID-19 put much of the United States into lockdown. affects your golf ball’s flight. And the NGF is bullish on the continuation of the golf boom as we enter the final third of the However, there is a rule of thumb that we can calendar year. follow that will allow us to figure out what our golf ball is going to do depending on where the

14 “There’s good reason to believe that the Beyond an increase in rounds played by avid momentum will continue, given anecdotal golfers, the pandemic has seemed to bring new reports from course operators, record and returning golfers back to the game. equipment sales and continued spikes in online searches for the game’s ultimate consumable: According to golfweek.com's interpretation of golf balls,” the report said. the report, “NGF research shows the number of golfers ages 6 to 17 could rise by as much as 20 As COVID-19 continues to linger and the threat percent this year, with the increases occurring of a fall wave is ever-present, the question being since pandemic lockdowns began. whispered about in golf circles is an interesting Approximately 2.5 million kids teed it up in one: did the pandemic save golf? 2019, so 2020’s increases could mean half a million more juniors giving the sport a try.” Ted Bishop, an outspoken former PGA of America president, isn’t shy about his opinion It’s not just a participation boom, either. The on the question. NGF reported $331 million in equipment sales in August, up 32% year-over-year and crushing “I think that’s a pretty accurate statement,” the all-time August mark of $287 million in Bishop told Gary Van Sickle of the Morning 2006. August’s retail numbers followed $389 Read. “Here’s what I saw: there was nothing million in sales in July, which was the highest else to do. High school sports shut down. for any month Golf Datatech has ever tracked Restaurants and bars were limited or closed. since 1997. There has been nothing else to do or even watch on TV.”

15 “I’m optimistic that this excitement for golf However, given the protagonists of this story carries on into 2021,” Bishop told The Morning are an actor known for his humor and a band Read. “More than anything, I’m optimistic named after a popular recreational habit, about going forward. I would not have felt that the legalese of the cease and desist message way even two or three years ago.” matched the mood given by each of the two sides.

After a relatively straightforward preamble Want To Earn Commission? laying out that the firm was writing on behalf of their clients, who had written and performed the song Listen to the Music. From there, it got No matter what he does, there is something just into a bit of unfamiliar territory as far as these plain funny about Bill Murray. Some letters go. comedians just ooze smiles and there’s nothing you can do to stop that grin breaking out across “It’s a fine song. I know you agree because you your face. keep using it in ads for your Zero Hucks Given golf shirts,” Paterno Yes, he’s been in wrote in the letter iconic movies such first obtained by as Groundhog Day, The Hollywood Ghostbusters and, Reporter. of course, “However, given Caddyshack. that you haven’t So it might not paid to use it, come as too much maybe you should of a surprise to change the discover that there company name to are laughs to be ‘Zero Bucks had in the middle Given.’” of a legal battle he Paterno referenced has found himself other instances of in. Bill Murray music being used by William In the year 2020, nothing is normal, Murray Golf without the proper including cease and desist letters from lawyers rights procedures being followed but failed to representing two of the world’s most beloved mention which specifically. That’s when things entertainers, Bill Murray and the Doobie got a little loose with the legal writing. Brothers. “This is the part where I’m supposed to cite the Last week, the Doobie Brothers’ lawyer, Peter United States Copyright Act, excoriate you for Paterno, sent a legal warning to William Murray not complying with some subparagraph that I’m Golf, the irreverent apparel company founded too lazy to look up and threaten you with and modeled after the laid-back golf stylings of eternal damnation for doing so. But you already Bill Murray, that the company needs to either learned that with those Garfield movies. And pay for using the Doobie Brothers’ music in you already know you can’t use music in ads their advertisements. without paying for it,” Paterno wrote, taking a shot at a less-than-proud moment in Murray’s

16 career. “We’d almost be OK with it if the shirts made about the company’s “ugly” shirts, and weren’t so damn ugly. But it is what it is.” finished with a peace offering.

The last line was the kicker for fans “Your negative comments about (the shirts) of Caddyshack, perhaps Murray’s most iconic fashionableness are especially disconcerting to role, “So in the immortal words of Jean Paul all of us, especially considering 75% of my Sartre, ‘Au revoir Golfer. Et payez!’” wardrobe consists of William Murray polos, shorts and pants,” Yoffe wrote. “In the immortal The William Murray Golf brass didn’t take long words of Mr. Murray – the more relaxed you to formulate a response, tweeting their rebuttal are, the better you are at everything … so let’s on Friday in a similarly lighthearted tone. pour one up and unwind with a listen of the recently-released ‘Quadio’ box set and plan to cross paths at a Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary show in 2021 when some level of normalcy resumes.

“As your client so aptly stated in this classic song in question, ‘What the people “First, I would like to compliment you on need is a way to finding levity in the law at a time when the make them smile’ — which both Bill and the world and this country certainly could use a Doobies have been doing for decades, as world- laugh,” Lawyer Alexander Yoffe wrote, before class entertainers. incorporating a number of Doobie Brothers “Please provide us with the shirt size for songs into his next sentence. “We would also yourself, Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, like to confirm that both our firm, and the good Michael McDonald, and John McFee, along folks at William Murray Golf, are indeed fans of with which of our client’s shirts you find the Doobie Brothers’ music, which is why we the least offensive and we will happily upgrade appreciate your firm’s choice of ‘Takin’ It to the your wardrobes and hopefully win each of you Streets,’ rather than to the courts, which are over as new fans of the brand. already overburdened ‘Minute by Minute’ with real problems.” “At least that’s ‘what this fool believes.'”

Pointing out that a member of Paterno’s firm If only all legal battles could be this was in a similar rights scuffle in recent years entertaining. and used the defense of no harm, no foul, Yoffe transitioned to the disparaging remarks Paterno

17 Board of Governors

The club’s Board of Governors met on September 30, Food & Beverage Report 2020. Participants were Rob Bates, Mike Gardiner, Steve VanWassenhove reported that beverage sales at Paul Fox, Jason Gadd, Fred Kerth, Brian Krinsky, the club generated a profit of $7,188 for July and Eric Kranz, Dan Kroeger, Dave Hafner (HVL POA) $12,000 in August. and Steve VanWassenhove. Social Committee POA Report It was agreed to stage two night golf events in 2021 - The club currently has 245 members. Finances one in the Spring and one at Halloween. remain solid with a cash balance in excess of $188,000. Board Structure Course Report Paul Fox presented a revised Board Structure report. It was agreed that members should be able to The turbine blower has been purchased. continue to propose themselves for Board positions Two dead ash trees have been removed from the side but their nomination would be reviewed by the of #18 green. The fence on #5 hole has been proposed nominations committee. The proposal will repaired. now been amended and presented back to the Board at its October meeting. The tee boxes and fairways have been aerated and reseeded. Financial Review The greens will be treated at the beginning of A new process for tracking the financial success of the October. club was reviewed by the Board. The monthly report will track key performance metrics including, course A total of four leaks have been repaired in the utilization, maintenance, membership, food and irrigation system. beverage. The report will now be used to set the 2021 budget. Pro Shop The next meeting is scheduled for October 28, 2020, The club set another new record in terms of rounds at 6.00 p.m. at the Hidden Valley Golf Club played per month. A total of 3,091 rounds have been clubhouse. played so far in September.

Participation in club tournaments is up compared to last year with the Hidden Valley Fish and Game club staging its golf outing on the course with 144 participants.

Merchandise sales from the Pro Shop increased during the month. Treasurer’s Report The balance in BOG funds is $9,199.43,

18 According to a Desert News story, the lawsuit Mulligan claims the backer paid for the Finau family mortgage payments, medical insurance, a new car and other golf related expenses for Finau I’ve done it and I bet this same thought has and his brother including their living expenses crossed your mind at least once and maybe for the family to live in Florida while as juniors more times than that. the brothers were receiving lessons from David Leadbetter. The thought comes after a better or outstanding round of golf. Your mind wanders to begin Those expenses totaled more than $592,000, thinking about whether you could have or the suit claims. Additionally, the backer claims maybe even could still make it on the pro tour. he was promised 20% of future professional earnings which is where the $16-million bill Maybe, if you had applied yourself at an earlier originates. age, you could have already made it by now. Sure…then OK…nearly you woke up $600,000 and had investment your for a return breakfast! that runs into the But what multi- does it take millions to make that seems like leap from a turning your reasonable hobby into a bet to multi- Mulligan million dollar career? Tony Finau There was an interesting insight into what it costs to make this move this week through a rather unusual source. but it’s going to take more than just money to make it on the tour. Tony Finau is a well known name on the PGA Tour but he found his name on a lawsuit this Generally, you are going to have to start early. week. His former backer is suing him, his , and Rory McIlroy family and his team for upwards of $16-million all started when they were toddlers. Yes, there are exceptions. Y.E. Yang picked up golf at 19 At 31-years-old, Finau has already won on tour and went on to win the 20o9 PGA and accrued close to $20-million in earnings. Championship. won three major Now, a Utah businessman is looking for tournaments but didn’t start playing until he payback from those earnings having bankrolled was 21 years old. Finau and his brother, Gipper, on their quest to turn pro. Those are exceptions. If you have the talent and the passion, you are going to be playing in

19 school if your school has a golf team and you will face on their quest for professional ranking. will almost certainly be looking to play at And there will come a point where parents will collegiate level. You are going to want to play need to let go and get some help for their son or

in local, regional and national amateur daughter. Unless you are already a professional tournaments. The top tournaments in that golfer, there’s only so much a parent can do category include the USGA Amateur before they do need to hand their budding pro Championship, USGA Amateur Public Links off to a mentor that can help steer them towards Championship and the North/South Golf their eventual goal. And that’s going to cost Championship. someone money.

That’s a grueling schedule for any young golfer. But if you have battled your way on the amateur Exciting, yes but still intimidating. As any circuit, you now potentially face the even more parent knows who has taken their kids to daunting task of the PGA Tour Qualifying endless football, baseball, track or soccer Tournament - or otherwise known as Q School. matches, there comes a time when the kid just gets burnt out. They either quit the sport or Q School is split into four stages - Pre- they certainly don’t want to think about Qualifying, 1st Stage, 2nd Stage and Final Stage. collegiate play. Pre-Qualifying is a three round tournament while the remaining stages consist of four round Young golfers are going to have to push through tournaments with no cut in the event. Good that barrier - the first of many barriers that they news is that the early stages are regional so that

20 cuts down on some of the expense and If you finish in the top 45, you will probably get traveling. 8 starts the following year.

Pre-Qualifying is held at six different locations. Finish outside the top 45 and there’s still a good Most have between 50-75 players vying for a chance you will get to play a few Web Tour top 30-40 spot. Bottom line, you need to finish events. What you do after that is all up to you! in the top half to stand a chance of moving forward. Average score for those moving And if you don’t get through Q School? You can forward was +4.5 for three rounds so not crazy still participate in ‘minor league’ golf

low but remember everything counts so the tournaments or you can sign up again for Q pressure is significant. School the following year.

Get through Pre-Qualifying and you face 1st Before you despair at what looks like an almost Stage. Have no doubt. Stage 1 is huge. impossible journey, just remember what one Monumental in fact. person can do, another can do. Ask or - neither of them 1st Stage is full of players. Really good players made it though Q School the two times they and scores are going to be ridiculously low. tried! Usually, it takes double digit under par scores to advance to the next stage so this is where a whole lot of hearts are going to be broken.

If you do advance to 2nd Stage, you can almost taste success and players are so close to achieving their dreams. The trouble is that everyone that gets to this stage deserves to get through to the 3rd Stage. But they won’t and only about 125 will advance. The average for four rounds at 2nd stage is 19 under par!

If you do get to the Final Stage, it is pretty certain that you will be playing some professional tournaments the following year.

The overall winner will receive full Web Tour status for the following year. If you finish in the top 10, you will get about 16 starts next season.

21 Green Reading

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

One of my favorite daily golf reads (and listens) is Andy Johnson’s TheFriedEgg.com, a website about golf that is mostly dedicated to golf course architecture and in-depth golf course reviews. It is here that I found out about two of my favorite golf courses (Lawsonia Golf Links and Spring Valley Country Club) and started learning some of the ins and outs of course design.

If you have any interest in course layout (and if you are a member at HVGC you should because we have a great one!) then The Fried Egg is a wonderful resource. They have in-depth videos of most course hosting majors, deep dive interviews with architects and superintendents, and two introductions to golf course architecture (Golf Course 101 and School of Golf Architecture) that can help bring you up to speed.

One of my favorite features is their “Bang for Your Buck” guides which are “a guide to affordable and architecturally interesting golf courses in X location.” It’s how I decided to play the two courses I named above and is a key resource as I plan a fall trip (oh no it’s already October?!) to Michigan to explore some Mike DeVries courses.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention that Andy also hosts the best podcast focused on professional golf, The Shotgun Start, a thrice weekly rundown of all things pro golf. Definitely worth a listen.

22 MemberTalk

Welcome to our new members

A very warm welcome to our new members of the Hidden Valley Golf Club family:

Jacob Hornberger

John & Peggy Tisch

Richard Bauer

Richard McDowell

Tom Himmler

Chris Knosp

Mike Seipel

Don Braunwart

Logan & McKenzie Williams

Linda Schroeder

Eric Johnson

Landon Bartlett

Timothy Ridner

William Richard

Marc Drapp

William Goodridge

Can we update all the plaques in the club house?

We got behind on that task so thanks for staying on our case! We collected all the updates from the Pro Shop and we will be sending that to the engravers. Hopefully, we will have everything updated this month.

23 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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