A Message From the President

Earlier in the year, a handful of golfers were unable to play in a couple of tournaments (the Ryder Cup and Match Play) because these tournaments filled up before they entered. I received a few phone calls from disgruntled members who couldn't understand why they were unable to play even though they called before the sign-up deadline. They felt that they had a right to play since their $125.00 membership covers tournament entry fees. They were not appeased when I reminded them that we had explicitly stated in the first newsletter that entry into each tournament was not guaranteed and that early sign-up was strongly encouraged.

In the case of the Ryder Cup, the staff at Coal Creek underestimated the tendency of our membership to procrastinate until the last minute. The number of early sign-ups was woefully light, so the course released tee times to the Miner's Club. As for the Match Play Championship, we deliberately set the size of the field to 64 because we didn't want there to be any unfair "byes" in the first round. There was no way we would get 128 entrees (to eliminate byes you need the size of the field to be a power of two). This was made very clear in the newsletter announcing the tournament and on the flyers distributed at the course, but people still waited over two weeks to sign up and were then disappointed.

After the Ryder Cup, we asked Coal Creek to block off 128 slots per tournament. Of course, since getting this allotment we have had only 80 people or less sign up for the last three events. You just can't win.

At any rate, the moral of this sad tale is sign up early!

David Ewing

Match Play Championship

The Match Play Championship is down to the final match. Steve Crowe and Jeff Gallant are the finalists. Steve defeated the 1995 champion Rick Maier in one semifinal match and Jeff upset the pre-tournament favorite Matt Call in the other semifinal. Other golfers who made it to the quarterfinals were David Adair, Bryan Durrett, Howard Hankey and Adrian Tapia.

How did the golfers at different handicap levels fare in this tournament? The results were surprising. Golfers are always complaining about having to give shots. As it turns out the golfers giving the shots (i.e., the golfers with the lower handicaps) won a vast majority of the matches, with a record of 35 wins and 18 losses. What was even more interesting was that in the matches where one contestant was giving his opponent ten or more shots, the lower handicapper won an astonishing 10 of 12 matches! So next time someone whines about giving you five pops a side, tell him he still probably has the edge.

The Club Championship

It's time to start thinking about the Club Championship. Here's the important information:

• It will be held Saturday August 23^rd and Sunday August 24^th(morning tee times).
• The deadline for sign-up is Friday August 15^th at 6:00 p.m.
• To be eligible to enter, you must have played in three weekend tournaments.
• There will be an awards banquet on Sunday night (around 7:00 p.m.) Everyone playing in the tournament (as well as those playing in the Senior Championship) isinvited and may bring one guest.

Please note the deadline. In order to perform the extra setup that is required for this event and to ensure that the course can allocate enough tee times for everyone who enters, we need to make the deadline over a week in advance of the tournament.

Attached to this newsletter is an entry form that contains more information about the tournament. Please read it carefully, fill it out and bring it to the course before the deadline. You will be required to pay your two days of greens fees at that time. Additional copies of the application will be available at the course.

The Senior Championship

The CCMGA Senior Championship will be held Wednesday August 13 (morning tee times). The tournament is open to all members of the club (both Strokers and Full Members) who are fifty years of age and older. The Senior Champion will be the low gross winner. Number of flights and paying places will depend on the number of entries. Play will be from the white tees.

The deadline for signup is Sunday August 10^th at 6:00 p.m.

Other Upcoming Events

Sunday August 3^rd (morning tee times). This is the tournament originally scheduled for April 26^th that was snowed out. For those of you who originally signed up, you can apply the money toward a different tournament, re-sign up for the August 3^rd tournament, or get a rain check for a round of golf at the course. Please note that you are not automatically still entered in the August 3^rd tournament. You must re-enter.

Saturday August 9, morning tee times. This unusual tournament pits you against the other three golfers in your foursome in a traditional Skins Game (one tie/all tie, carryovers, etc.).

Sunday September 7, morning shotgun. The format is two-man best-ball. To enter, CCMGA members must have a partner from another club with a current GHIN number. Your guest's course handicap must be within eight shots of your handicap or the higher handicap will be adjusted downward accordingly.

When signing up, be sure to give the Coal Creek staff your partner's name and GHIN number. Since this is a shotgun start, the field must be limited to 128 players (that's 64 teams). So sign up early!

Saturday and Sunday September 13 & 14 (morning shotguns). This is the annual match play event against the heathen scum from Thorncreek. Round one will be played at Coal Creek and round two at Thorncreek. As you know, we lost the Cup for the first time last year, so we are determined to win it back. Our 32-man team will be put together initially by invitation (based on top performers in our Match Play Championship, Club Championship and overall Player of the Year standings). Any remaining spots will be open to the club at large. Details forthcoming.

Sunday September 28, morning tee times. This popular tournament – among masochists – is individual stroke play from the tips. And if that's not challenging enough, the pins are all tucked in the most fiendish positions on each green.

Sunday October 12, morning start (tentatively). This tournament will only be open to the top 20 players in the final Player of the Year standings. The format is like the PGA tour shootouts in which everybody tees off together on the first hole. Players are eliminated at each hole until only the champion remains. This is one of the most fun events of the year, so enter as many tournaments as you can to rack up those POY points. See below for the current standings.

The CCMGA Needs You!

We will be conducting our elections for next year's CCMGA officers during the awards banquet following the Club Championship. If you are interested in running for an elected office - Vice-President (becomes President the following year), Secretary, Treasurer, or Board Member – please contact current Vice-President Phil Gates at 530-9531. Phil, being next year's President, will also be in charge of appointing the following chairmen: Tournament, Handicap, Tuesday Night League and Wednesday Strokers.

Rules Rule!

There are three options when going into a water hazard, as defined by yellow stakes (like the creeks on #6 and #10):

1. Play the ball where it lies. (Good luck)
2. Hit it again from the original spot, adding one penalty stroke.
3. Take one penalty stroke and drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping the point where the ball crossed the margin of the hazard directly between the flag and where you drop the ball (you may go back in a straight line as far as you like).

If the water is a lateral hazard, like the pond on #10 or the dreaded creek separating the 14th and 18th holes, it should be marked with red stakes and you get two more options:

1. Drop within two club-lengths from where the ball entered the hazard, no nearer the hole.
2. Drop within two club-lengths on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant from the hole.

Note: You cannot drop the ball along the "line of flight" (unless the guy you’re playing with doesn’t know the rules).