Like life...golf goes on...

Much to my surprise, mens’ night and graduation night not only can coexist; they can actually both flourish at the same time. You may recall a few weeks ago when we discussed whether or not to switch the golf given the commitments of many to attend grad. Thanks to the wisdom of Keith Martin, we didn’t change it.  And last night grad was extremely well attended and there were almost 30 guys at Mens’ Night.

While I was one of the grad attendees, I didn’t mind given a bunch of the other regulars were in attendance. Wes and Blake were beaming as their kids completed their high school education. Brad Benton was all dolled up in a suit and tie and hair gel.  I almost didn’t recognize him without the ball cap. Even Robin didn’t seem to mind being there instead of the golf course. Our young golfers like Devin Allen and Theoren Hunter appeared to enjoy grad as well, both picking up a couple of high school awards before sitting back to acknowledge their respective brother’s rite of passage. And then there was poor Neuf, who didn’t go to either. He had to work at the hotel because all of his work colleagues wanted the night off to attend the school ceremony. Good job Neuf!

In terms of the golf, 28 guys enjoyed a relatively nice but windy evening. Among their ranks were two who made their first appearances of the year, Dallas Malchuk and Tom Gilson. The low round of the night was a 41 carded by both Dale Newton and Ron Susinski.

Skins went on five holes, including #! (Tom Gibson / Jason Gorrell - $20), #2 (Ken Ostash / Carey Findlay - $20), #4 (Joel Ostash / Bob Moffatt - $20), #6 (Dale Martin / Cubby $20), and #7 (Dallas Malchuk / Sport - $73). Thankfully for those of us who were away, the two big skins on the par 3’s remained intact. The fifth hole should be worth around $150 next week while the ninth should be in the $115 range. Also, we have over $2500 in the hole-in-one pots.

The previously mentioned Tom Gibson was dialed in, recording closest to the pin on both #5 and #9.  Thanks to our hole sponsors Shoal Lake Hotel and Susinski Farms / Kimp Services.

Of the 10 people who won skins, an incredible eight of them were first time winners. This year, 44 people have won cash. The top earners of the year to date are shown below.  Check out the prize winner link to the left to see how much cash each has brought home.
1. Brad Benton  
2. Blake Cramer
3. Robin Kimpinski
4. Scott Maynes
4. Stephen David

Thanks to Luke Funk for taking care of things while we were away. And thanks to everyone who golfed for honouring the request not to win the big skins on the two par 3’s.

Fuel efficiency, good husbandry, and rainbows

Recent studies found average golfers travel 900 miles a year. Another study found golfers drink 22 gallons of alcohol a year. This means, on average, golfers get 41 miles to the gallon.

The study actually stated that golfers “walk” 900 miles per year. Not many people walk at our course…and almost no one walks on Mens’ Night. This isn’t because of laziness; it is because of caring, efficiency, and safety. All us Mens’ Night guys need to be on call in case our work or our wives need us. If they phone we need to be able to abandon golf in an instant and rush to our vehicles to get home quickly. Also, we need to ensure that Mens’ Night is finished before night fall, so driving ensures that is the case. This has the added benefit of getting us home to our significant others earlier. Finally, there is the safety factor. Last night, for example, some of us were playing when a couple of powerful sun showers hit. Had we stayed exposed on the greens and tee boxes we risked serious health issues such as wetting of thinning hair and pruning of fingers. Luckily, we had the roofs of our golf carts to provide us with shelter.

The forty golfers who showed up enjoyed a mostly sunny and clear evening, with the exception of the previously mentioned burst of rain. Plus there was a double rainbow which provided a calming backdrop as I finished with double on my final hole.

Skins went on four holes including those won by Keith Martin / Robin Kimpinski ($20 on #1), Chris Kimpinski / Dale Newton ($20 on #4), Stephen David/Cody Cornwall ($59 on #6), and Tyler Martin / Kevin Headland ($59 on #8). The deuce pot of $60 was split by Jamie McCutchins and Devin Allen.

Jamie was closest on #5 while Ken Stewart won the honour on #9. Thanks to our hole sponsors Shoal Lake Motor Inn and Susinski Farms / Kimp Services.

In other news, there was no other news. No one told me anything, although Benton was wired early on about something that happened...but then he forgot to fill me in with the details. Maybe it was the story he told us later about how Robin is so awesome and how Robin is the greatest user of computers and technology ever.

My group was relatively quiet. The most exciting thing we dealt with was Wes’ new haircut, which apparently included Milt gel (insert your own joke here). We were so dull that even Gorrell stopped hitting the big slices and went straight...and he hasn't been straight since '97.  Neuf was quiet and almost went the whole night without raising his club while uttering profanities toward the heavens. Scott Maynes complained on every hole regarding how poor he was golfing but ended up taking eight pars and one bogey for a horrible round of 37. I recommend that we all buy him a drink next time he is out, and see how he does on Mens’ Night with a slightly fuller tank. His score will likely go up but I bet that he has more fun.

Mr. Maynes did ask me to remind you about the Fundraising Tournament on July 6th as well as the Horse Race Tourney on July 28th.  Contact him for further information or to register.

As you know, many of us will be away at Shoal Lake grad next week. I ask only that you have fun, play your best, and stay away from the skins on #5 and 9.

US Open draft

US Open pool picks are in the links section on the left side of this page.

1.     411  Darren Ostash
2.     390  Stephen David
3.     372  Robin Kimpinski
4.     357  Chris Kimpinski 
5.     346  Mike Susinski      
6.     331  Jason Hunter          
7.     319  Ken Stewart           
8.     290  Jason Neufeld        
9.     287  Austin Hunter        
9.     287  Brad Benton       
9.     287  John Derhak     
12.   278  Wes Arnfinson  
13.   251  Darcy Kowalchuk
14.   228  Kevin Bartram   
14.   228  Ron S. / Doug K.  
16.   219  Luke Funk

What are the chances...?

Thirty-five golfers took their chances with some ominous looking clouds...and got in nine holes as rain and lightening seemed to hit everywhere in Shoal Lake except for the golf course. There was a scary moment when I was teeing off on the third hole and heard the ambulance. I thought for sure someone had been struck by lightning.

Most golfers like numbers and statistics so here are some interesting ones for consideration.  The odds of getting a hole in one are approximately 12 500 to 1 for an amateur...and around 7 500 to 1 for a professional golfer. The odds of being struck by lightning are closer to 600 000 to 1. So, as an amateur, you are 50 times more likely to score an ace then being hit by a bolt from the sky.

Before you get too excited about the hole in one odds, 12 500 to 1 is similar to your chances of winning an academy award for acting.  It is actually more likely that you will be fatally injured from a slip in a shower or bathtub (3500 to 1) then going from tee to cup in one shot. Hole in ones are random.  Sure the better you play the better your chances. But there are hackers who have holes in one while some PGA pros are still awaiting their first.

In terms of local odds, your chances of winning a skin last week were approximately 6 to 1. That was because six guys out of 35 made cash. They included Ken Stewart and Clayton Hunter ($20 on #1), Brad Benton and Dick Edgeworth ($39 on #2), and Blake Cramer and Jason Hunter ($121 on # 4).  The big prize for the last pairing was the largest single skin this year. If we use the skin winners as our sample, the odds of someone over 50 winning a skin compared to someone under 50 were 2 to 1.  All of the first four winners qualify as senior golfers.  In other evening odds, it appeared you had approximately a 12 to 1 chance of getting a deuce.  We had three (Brad, Austin, Ken).

Closest to the pins were recorded by Austin Hunter on #5 and Joel Ostash on #9.  Thanks to our prize sponsors - Murray Farm Supply and Kim Services / Susinski Farms.

There were a couple of important decisions made by the mens' night which are worth noting.  Firstly, the 7:00 pm experiment is over after one week.  We will be going back to 6:30 pm tee-off times this Wednesday. Secondly, golf will continue on the regular night on June 27th despite Shoal Lake grad the same evening. Thanks in advance for Luke and Neuf who will run things then.

One more comment about lightning. In North America, about 5% of deaths due to lightning strikes occur on golf courses. Remember always to make safety a priority. If you must golf in inclement weather, play with someone taller.

7:00 pm next week

You know I don't have alot to write about when the title references something happening next week.  We will push the start time back to 7:00 pm starting June 13th to accomodate the guys who work later and those guys who want to golf until it is dark. 

Forty three golfers enjoyed reasonable conditions on a relatively warm but somewhat windy evening. Starting off it appeared that it would be a night of great scoring.  Unfortunately, that was not the case for many.

There were three good skins that went on Wednesday including #1 (Joel and Hubey $43.50), # 3 (Stephen and Butch $88.50) and #5 (Dave Gill and Scott Maynes $88.5).  Looking ahead to next week, that means six skins with some nice cash attached, including #5 which will likely be about $125.

If cash prizes appeal to you, the hole in one prizes are sizable as well...at $1616 and $792.  Just to clarify, any hole in ones on any hole (including par 4's) claim the first prize.  If by some stroke of good fortune, there is multiple hole in ones on the same evening, you split it like the deuce pot.  The intent of the $792 is to have another reasonable pot ready to replace the first one should it fall.

The low score of the evening was Wes Arnfinson, whose 39 won on a countback against Mike McLennan's similar score.  They were the only two sub 40 rounds of the evening.  Wes said it was the first time he was ever the low guy.  Meanwhile, Brad and Robin rolled their eyes while glaring at him. On the other end of the scale, there were some 60's as well.  Out of respect for those golfers and their families, names are being withheld.

Wes also had closest to the pin on #9 and Dick Edgeworth hit it tight on #5.  Only Dick was able to successfully convert the birdie.  He split the $64.50 deuce pot with Cody Cornwall.

Looking ahead to the future, there are a couple of things worth noting.  Next week is the US Open, so we will have a draft for anyone that is interested.  It will be one of those in which you select one golfer in each box for a $10 entry fee.  Also, Shoal Lake grad is Wednesday, June 27th and many of us will be involved or attending.  We will propose a different night for that week...and we will chat about it on June 13th.

Until next week, may all your putts be true, and may all of your found balls be Robin's mishit Pro V1's.