Hello to all and welcome to the 2000 season! Spring is right around the corner so it’s time to dust off those clubs and get to the range to prepare for the first tournament. And for those of you who never put the clubs away, take a break, relax and let the rest of us catch up.

We have an exciting tournament schedule planned this year with similar events and dates as last year with one major exception. We have decided that due to a lack of interest bordering on contempt we will not play the Creek Cup this year. Sorry to anyone this disappoints but we promise to replace it with an event of equal stature.

The schedule is enclosed in this newsletter but experience tells us that there will be a few changes before it’s final so look for a revision soon.

The club fees will remain the same this year ($125.00) which must be paid before signing up for any tournaments (the signup deadline for the first tournament is March 31st, so pay before then). The rules for tournament signup will also remain the same so make sure to read the "Tournament Savvy" article below for a rules-refresher.

We look forward to seeing you this season and hope that old man winter didn’t do too much damage to your game. You still have plenty of time to practice before the first tournament so get out there and "Be the Ball", and then make sure to pay your dues and signup before March 31st.

Steve Tourault
CCMGA President
tourault@rmi.net

Below is list of the rules for tournament registration, please follow these rules when registering for CCMGA tournaments:

1. The deadline to sign up for a tournament is at 6:00 p.m., two Fridays before the tournament. So for the tournament on May 6th, the sign up deadline is at 6:00 p.m. on Friday April 28th. Also notice that the revised tournament schedule included in this issue now lists the tournament entry deadline!
2. For individual events, you may sign up over the phone prior to the deadline. Please make sure to have your local number handy so the guys at the course don‘t have to look it up for you. Your local number is listed on the address label affixed to this newsletter.
3. For team events you must sign up and pay in person. If you are signing up the whole team, you must pay for the whole team when you sign up, you may, however, sign up and pay as an individual and a team will be found for you. Note that you must also fill out and turn in a two-man team entry form. Three of these are included on page 5 of this issue.
4. The field for each tournament is limited to 80 players (this number can vary and is printed on the schedule). So your best bet is to Sign Up Early!
5. Remember to check in at least 15 minutes before your tee time on tournament day. You should always check in at the pro-shop and the "scorers table" in the grill.

—Good Luck!—

Welcome to the Wednesday morning Strokers. Our season will start, weather permitting, on March 1. Play will start at 7:30 a.m. Sign up at the pro shop seven days in advance in person or call 303-666-7888. Tee times have been changed to 10-minute intervals. Also the time you sign up for will be your start time. So if you want to play with your buddy be sure to sign up for the same time. You can sign up Wednesday through Saturday close.

Check in with Don Johnson or his helper in the lunchroom to pick up your score card and pay your prize money fee of $5 for low net and $5 for skill holes and skins. We will pay 5 places in gift certificates and a hole in one will net you $200.

Following play do not enter your score in the GHIN computer. The scores will be entered for you. Score cards must be exchanged between players. Sign your card and turn it into Don Johnson or the pro shop if he is not available.

This will be our second year as an independent entity. We will have a Strokers only championship on august the 9th. We are also planning several trips to other courses during the season to be announced later. Dues are $50 for Strokers only and $145 for combined members. Remember to play from the white tees (with the exception of #5, #7, #11, #1 6, and #1 7). Looking forward 'to seeing all of you on March 1 2000 for our first' game of the season. We will start at 7.30 am.

Don Johnson
Chairman CCMGA Strokers

Some changes are in store for the Tuesday Night League this year. Bill Leuschel will be the league chairman this year as Jim Young has retired from this duty.

We are again going with the 2 season leagues this year with the first 12 week season from April 4 through June 20th. June 27th will be the playoff week to determine the winner of the early season. The second season will run for 12 weeks as well, from July 4th through September 19th. The playoff to determine the winner of the second season will be on September 26th.

Also, in order to be able to finish the matches before darkness, we must limit the number of tee times, and tee off no later than 5:20 p.m. Thus, in each season, the Tuesday Night League will be limited to 16 teams, eight teams in each division. Teams may play in either the first or second season, or both. We had to turn away some teams who wanted to play last year.

Hopefully, with these changes, we should be able to accommodate all who wish to play. Entry forms will be mailed soon. In the meantime, form your teams and decide in which season you wish to play or if you wish to play in both seasons.

Bill Leuschel
TNL Chairman
bill@exabyte.com

From the Course...

The course has undergone another significant change in the pro shop this year with the addition of the new head professional Russ Clark. Russ was hired to replace Jim Hughes who we lost to the private sector. So please make it a point to introduce yourself the next time your in the clubhouse to make him feel welcome, and also to make the CCMGA members look polite.

Other than that not much has changes at the course, but the new cart paths are now complete and some new foliage has been planted in various places. We expect the greens to continue their annual improvement which means they should really be top-notch this year.

Get those flat-sticks ready!

When posting a score into the computer, you must first adjust that score using Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). Equitable Stroke Control sets a maximum score that a golfer may record on a given hole for handicap purposes. The maximum number is based on the golfer’s Course Handicap.

Here are the steps for adjusting and posting your score:

1. Find your course handicap for the appropriate set of tees. For rounds played at Coal Creek, you can look it up in the computer - enter your local number or look up your name using "last name lookup", then hit the Exit/Escape key. Your course handicap for the various tees will be displayed. If you don’t yet have a handicap, but a trend is displayed, use that trend for your course handicap. If you have neither a handicap nor a trend (less than five scores posted), your handicap index is temporarily considered to be 36.4 (the maximum allowed by the USGA). You can then convert this index to a course handicap using the chart posted on the club bulletin board (42 from the blue tees). All golf courses have a chart similar to this for converting your handicap index to a course handicap. If you are playing at an "Away" course, find their handicap chart to convert your handicap index to a course handicap.
2. Use the table below to determine your maximum score.
3. Reduce any hole scores above your maximum hole score.
4. Post your adjusted score.

For example, a golfer with a handicap index of 12.0 has a course handicap of 14 from the blue tees at Coal Creek. The maximum score he can record when posting is seven, regardless of the par of the hole. If he shoots an 87 with a nine and an eight, he would reduce those two holes scores to seven and post an 84.

Note: The adjusted score is just used for handicap/posting purposes. In a stroke play tournament, every stroke still counts!

If you have any questions about this or any other handicapping matters, please feel free to send me e-mail.

David A. Ewing
CCMGA Handicap Chairman
davidewing@mindspring.com

Important! The entry fee for people who are joining as both full members and Strokers members is $145.00 before April 1st, $165.00 after April 1st (basically if you do both, it's an extra $20 for Strokers).

About the schedule: there are still a few tournaments and dates that are subject to change including the Olds Scramble. Also, some tournament fields may be limited to fewer players if darkness poses a potential problem. So, expect a revised schedule with the next newsletter.

Steve Tourault
CCMGA President
tourault@rmi.net