Dale Watson hole in one!

Dale Watson struck gold on Wednesday, recording the first hole in one in several years.  Dale aced the 185 yard par 3 fifth hole and received the $1616 pot for his efforts. 

Everything else that happened on Mens' Night takes a back seat to Mr. Watson's efforts...so this week's blog is all about him.

Congratulations Dale!

British Open pool winners

The British Open pool has wrapped up.  Congratulations to the prize winners:

$140   Wes Arnfinson
$40     Chris Kimpinski
$20     Ken Stewart

British Open pool – final standings:

Team points are shown on the link to the left.

1. Wes Arnfinson 307
2. Chris Kimpinski 285
3. Ken Stewart 281
4. Dallas Malchuk 268
5. Jamie McCutchins 250
6. Luke Funk 236
7. Scott Maynes 226
8. Darren Ostash 223
9. Brad Benton 215
10. Brodie MacEachern 205
11. Daddy Derhak 204
12. Rob Kimpinski 197
13. Mike Susinski 193
14. Stephen David 192
15. Brayden Stewart 192
16. Ron Susinski 182
17. Peter Ostash 180
18. John Derhak 140
19. Jason Hunter 137
20. Hubey 133

Horse Race on Saturday

Our Horse Race tournament is this Saturday.  Information is found in the links section to the right.

Previously I mentioned an incorrect number for the limit of entrants.  We are accepting 72 golfers...and right now we are over 40.

Contact Scott Maynes at 365-6458 to enter.

Don't blame the greens

Forty three golfers enjoyed what is becoming somewhat routine...beautiful weather for mens' night. I write this on a sunny afternoon in which I am looking forward to nine and dine tonight.

Incredibly, there were some who complained about the conditions, saying it was either "too hot" or "too humid". A few even lamented the green speed on a day in which the course had a trial run with a green roller. Let's be realistic. The biggest variable causing variations in scoring and trouble with ball striking is the beer cart. When it comes around, we feel happier...but that joy usually fades after the deteriorating motor skills impact our play. Green speed has less effect than drinking speed...although if both are fast you might be really screwed.

Skins went on four holes on Wednesday. Winners included the father /son combination of Blake and Theoren Hunter ($64 on #2), Devin Allen and Pete Ostash ($64 on #7), Wes Arfinson and Devin Stewart ($64 on #8), and Dave Gill and Stephen David ($159 on #9). That last skin was the largest in recent memory.

Pete was low man of the week carding a 36. Closest to the pins were recorded by Mike Susinski on #5 and Blake Cramer on #9. Like the Hunters, the members of this trio are all related.

After 5 deuces last week, there were none on Wednesday. That will likely put our next deuce pot just under $200.

The British Open draft was popular this year with 20 entrants. Payouts will be $140 for first, $40 for second, and $20 for third. Teams are posted on the links section on the left side of this page. Final results will be available Sunday evening.

I hope to see you all next week, both at Mens' Night and the Horse Race.  Speaking of the horse race, we are no up to about 40 entrants with a cap of 72.  Contact Scott Maynes if you have yet to enter.  For those involved, you will get to try your game against the winner of this year's Grey Owl tournament in Clear Lake, Jay Thiessen.

Blue skies, red tees, and pink shirts

It was a tough night to golf, especially if you didn’t like warm weather with minimal breeze.  For those who liked nice weather, it was the perfect evening. 

Despite the excellent conditions, or perhaps because of them, there were lots of pushes and only two skins won. Theoren Hunter and Jason Hunter cashed in for $42.50 on #1 while Scott Maynes and Dick Edgeworth won the same amount on #4. 

Five deuces were recorded. Congratulations to Brad Benton, Wes Arnfinson, Ron Susinksi, Cody McLaughlin, and me for our collective efforts and good fortune.  As is customary when there are over four winners, or when Milt is one of the winners, the prize of $64.50 was donated back to fatten up the pot even more for next week.  That should make it about $130 if recent attendance continues.

Tom Gibson recorded his third closest to the pin of the year on #5. Meanwhile, Brad Benton was tight on #9 after hitting the stick from the tee and almost holing it. 

A few new rules were implemented last night.  Effective immediately, if you are over 90 you may play from the red tees on 3 and 4 during mens’ night.  Those players 90 and under must use the whites. This rule passed with overwhelming consensus.  A second rule which stated that golfers only get two pieces of garlic toast passed but was received with less enthusiasm.  A third motion was made to ban pink shirts on Mens’ Night.  Unfortunately, this motion was defeated.

Forty-three golfers this week wasn’t bad…although we have yet to hit fifty this year. Let’s make 50 our goal for next week. Tell your friends, neighbours, and relatives. Email them, instant message them, post to their Facebook walls, or drive your tractor over by their tractor to talk to them.  Let's make 50 a reality. If we get past that number, we will do two random draws for additional prizes.

A reminder that the Horse Race tournament is fast approaching.  Check out the details on the links section to the left or talk to Scott Maynes to register.

Father's Last Golf Drive

Robert Kimpinski has been recently diagnosed with late stage 4 prostate cancer. His son Robin has organized a cool fundraising campaign in his dad’s honour.

The proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to support the local community owned golf course which Mr. Kimpinski helped to build.

More information is available at:
     http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/133808

Independence Day

This week we golfed on the same day as our American neighbours celebrated July 4th.  If you think about it, golf is all about independence. One person decides what club to hit, one person hits the ball, and one person tracks their own score. Most of what happens on the golf course is up to you...and the pleasure or pain that golf induces is generally a personal experience. 

In a way, Mens’ Night is kind of like our version of Independence Day. We will start with the most basic analogy…of how Mens’ Night is sort of a weekly independence for the golfers from work and home. We had our own version of fire works, when two groups on adjacent holes fought over the beer cart girl. Like July 4^th celebrations, we had barbecues, with people overindulging in food and drink.

Like our jingoistic cousins, our finest red, white, and blue colours were on display on Wednesday. There were guys who were red with embarrassment from some of their wayward shots.  One of those guys was Robin, who after hitting two or three balls into the bush on #1, sculled another shot and threw his wedge into the trees. There were others who felt blue after their round, such as myself when I saw that my partner and I had no combined pars on our scorecards. And there was a bunch of aging white guys….which made me realize we need some more diversity in our group.

There was ceremony. In fact, like the American Independence Day, our founding fathers figured prominently, with two of our senior members doing very well. Hubey and Clayton Hunter tag teamed to capture the elusive skin on #5 which was worth an incredible $161. Hubey also got closest to the pin and a deuce on #5…a feat matched by Wes Arnfinson on #9. The boys shared the $105 deuce pot for their efforts.

Our American friends look at the melting pot of cultures as a symbol of their independence. Mens’ Night is no different. Two immigrants (out-of-towners) worked together for the only other skin of the night, getting $21 for their efforts on #6. Congratulations to Phil Ostash and John McMillan. It is worth noting that like the American experience, golfing immigrants get paid less than people that were born and bread there.