September golf

September golf is fun...except for the leaves. I have played yellow golf balls for most of this year, trying to be cool like Scott Martin.  Those balls have been harder to find as of late.  I have had a few just off of fairways or greens that required small search parties to locate.  I probably should play white balls for the remainder of the year.

Last week, we had 16 golfers which was pretty good for this time of the year.  Skins went on three holes.  Winners included Jason Gorrell / Brad Benton ($20 on #1), Robin Kimpinski / Barry Twerdun ( $53.00 on #5), and Charlie McNabb / Theoren Hunter ($20 on #9).

Charlie had a good evening, scoring the only deuce for $24.  His tee shot on #9 landed about 15 inches in front of the pin and stopped about 7 inches behind it.

Charlie was closest on #9 and Jason Gorrell was closest on #5.  Both won a bottle of Jim Beam for their efforts, courtesy of Iam Rambally, a friend of Mr. Benton.

This coming Wednesday is our final official Men's Night of the year. The Club House is closed for the season as of Thursday.

There's still time

Mens'  Night is still planned for this week.  Our general rule of thumb is it ends when people stop showing up.  That usually corresponds to when the weather turns significantly enough so that even the diehards don't come out. That isn't the case yet...so hopefully we will see you at 6:00 pm on Wednesday. The forecast looks promising.  For reference, our final round of the year in 2016 was September 28th.

Last week we only had 10 golfers but it was a good evening. It was our 20th Men's Night of the season.  Only one skin was won by Robin Kimpinski and Ian Paterson who received $20 for their efforts.  Closest to the pins were Brad Benton on #5 and Scott Maynes on #9. Only Maynes birdied to claim the $36 deuce pot.

Usually near the end of the summer, I note some highlights of the year that was.  So here are some of the interesting happenings of 2017:
- Our season started on May 3rd and so far it has spanned 21 weeks.
- We had one lost evening due to rain, wind, and cold.
- Jamie McCutchin edged out Scott Maynes on the last night of the ringer board.
- There were multiple nights when no one recorded closest to on a par 3.
- We had a great feature about the golf course in the Brandon Sun.
- Our campground has a new playground.
- Robin Kimpinski has run away with the season money total.
- There have been 50 people who won money during the season.
- We didn't have a single night with more than 40 golfers. That was the second year in the row in which this has been the case.  Our single best turnout in 2017 was 35 golfers.
- Chris Kimpinski was the Horse Race champion.
- High score for the year was a 59 and low score was 33.
- There were no holes-in-ones with the last one recorded in 2012.

There are some interesting developments with respect to the golf course.  For example, our bathroom facility on the golf course is being completed as we speak.   It will have male and female washrooms with showers as well as a central utility room with a washer and dryer.

Also, on September 30 we have our second annual NHL Hat Auction fundraiser.  There will be a roast beef supper prior to the auction.

Lost balls don't define a round

I don't like to look for golf balls.  I lose my fair share but I can't really be bothered looking for them.  I usually take the perspective that if I hit one in the bush or water the penalty is fair.  I either hit a provisional or take a drop if it is appropriate to do so.

Some people seem to love looking for a missing ball.  Often they have a good round going and feel that if they just find that one ball the universe will align and their perfect play will be sustained.  Frequently, these aren't always the best golfers.  Instead, they are people who play expensive golf balls.

I hit new golf balls, but moderately priced new golf balls.  I can understand why it is hard for someone to stop looking for a $6 Pro V1.  I also know it is much easier to give up on the $1 balls that fill my bag.

The impact of the loss of a golf ball seems to be compounded for those that hate to lose a single ball.  They look a little longer than they should and it frustrates them.  Usually they haven't even hit a provisional so they end up making that long trek back to the tee box to hit another.  Frequently, the next one isn't much better.

The lost ball stays with some people longer than it should.  They are tight on the next tee box, still thinking about that shot that went astray.  They lament how those one or two unlucky shots ruined their score.

The loss of a beloved ball is hard on others in the group.  They have to wait until their playing partner finally gives up the desperate search.  They stand by their own ball while that guy goes back to rehit.  And they often get to hang out with someone who talks about that bad hit for longer than they should.

Giving up on a lost ball doesn't mean that you also give up on your round.  In fact, moving on quickly seems to free you up to play more loosely and with more joy. On Wednesday I lost three balls. All were completely my fault.  Two were dead from the club face so no search was required.  One seemed good off the tee but I hit a provisional just in case.  I drove up and my first shot wasn't where I though it should be.  I scanned the edge of the bush quickly before jumping into my cart and heading over to my provisional.

I had three bad holes on a pretty good round.  More than usual but not life ending. Even better, I finished just in the high pot and ended up winning three skins when I paired with the low score of the night.

Those three skins were on #4, 6, and #7.  Thanks to Robin Kimpinski for the help in winning a shared $77.50.  I also had a couple of other holes that went okay and we pushed those so no one got the skins.  On one of those holes I should have lost a ball but it hit a tree and came back into play.  You take the good bounces with the bad and simply hit the next shot.  The only other win of the night was Ian Paterson and Wes Arnfinson who made $20. from #8.

Closest to the pins on #5 and 9 were Scott Martin and Blake Hunter.  There were no deuces.

Numbers were still down due to the farmer still being busy.  Hopefully some get finished soon so we get even more people enjoying the great weather forecasted for this week.

Spectacular shots often follow bad ones

If you think of the times that you have hit spectacular shots, it usually required a great recovery from some bad position after the previous hit.  For example, there have been a few spectacular 4's on the first hole after a lost ball.  You yank one in the bush then get up thinking if you hit it perfect you have a chance.  Then just as you hoped the ball sails right up the middle, gets a good bounce, and ends up on the green.  Then you drop the putt for a par.

Another spectacular shot opportunity is now possible on #7.  You hit it into the bush straight away from the tee.  You walk up and see that the middle area is hard and dry rather than the small pond that existed early in the season.  You figure you are only about 200 yards from the middle of the green and you have a good lie...albeit on dirt.  You grab your club and hit the spectacular shot onto the green from the middle of a hazard.

Sometimes the spectacular shots are simpler saves for par after initial trouble.  You hit the reeds on #3 and take a drop and leave it short of the green on your next shot.  Now lying three, you chip a ball a bit hot which travels 50 feet before hammering the pin and dropping in for four.

Spectacular shots are fun and you get fired up when you make them.  However, they often require trouble before them. It is better to have a boring round where you hit it up the middle, then get to the green in regulation, and two putt for par.

Speaking of spectacular...it is pretty sweet how well the farming season seems to be going in the area.  Farmers and related businesses are in the middle of harvest, so Mens' Night numbers were lower than usual for this time of year.  Fourteen golfers played and skins went on five holes.  Winners included Dayce Roulette / Joe Shwaluk ($20. on #1), Brad Benton / Stephen David ($20. on #2), Scott Martin / Darcy Kowalchuk ($73. on #3), Sonny Blackbird / Jason Gorrell ($40. on #5), and Wayne Griffin / Terry Brandon ($20. on #9).

Closest to the holes were Sonny on #5 and Dayce on #9.  Only Dayce converted the birdie and he shared the deuce pot with Darcy Kowalchuk and Terry Brandon.

The weather still looks good for September...so you still have some time for spectacular shots.  There are those pessimists out there that are talking about how soon it will be cold.  Some are even talking about how the Farmers Almanac is predicting frost by the end of September.  I say who cares.  It is only the start of the month and there remains several weeks of spectacular shot opportunities.