The headline tells us it is that time of the year when the counting is done and the rewards dispensed. Both the 17 week League and the 2009 Play-off concluded just as the frost began to show on the pumpkin. In such a miserable summer overall, the MWL was fortunate to enjoy 17 consecutive Wednesdays of fine weather - no rainouts. Competition was closer than it had ever been with only one of the top five teams actually winning its final league match although Team 1 did manage to beat its opponent in the Play-off final, Team 8.

So, it was a bumper year for Team 1 (Snyder's Budgies) which won both the League and Play-off Titles, the first time that has been done, in the current format. It was a virtual wire-to-wire performance as it was only out of first place for four weeks in July/August. It's 12 - 5 - 0 record speaks for itself as does it's participation points record of 168 out of a possible 170. An all round excellent performance and congratulations to captain Russ Snyder and his careful construction of a true team of enthusiastic participants in Messrs. Kevin Adam, Lee Burtenshaw, John Conti, Mark Cunningham, Dan Goodwin, Jim Lawn, Max Patterson, Gary Rankin, Gary Smith and Rex Stephenson. A #1 team in every sense of the word! The pot at the end of the rainbow contains $1,323 for the League win and $1,053 for victory in the Play-offs.

In second place, just 18 points behind the leader, was Team 5 (Baird's Bairns) whichfought all summer long to get into that spot and by doing so earned a team prize of $756. Third place went to Team 2 (Saunders' Sandbaggers) who hung aroun the upper echelon and will be rewarded with $661. Alone in fourth spot was the surging Team 8 (Mike Turczyniak's Turtledoves) @ $586 and the fifth and final money position, worth $454, went to Team 6 (Fox's Terriers). As Play-off runner-up, Team 8 also picks up a team prize of $567. And that, gentlemen accounts for the $50 entry fee each participant paid at the start of he year.

The weekly competition concluded with Teams 2 and 3 (Urban's Boundaries) in a tie for first place worth $28 per player. Third place was taken by Team 9 (Kudlats' Koalas) and was good for $20 for each team member. This side of the MWL competition paid out some $13,781 in pro shop credits during the year, with another $750 earned in Tombstone and another prize pool to be offered in the forthcoming Closing Day's extravaganza, "Swat-fest". These activities are funded out of the weekly $10 fee, each member pays. It also pays for the weekly use of the computer system.

Any funds left over are, or will be, used to offset entry fees into special events and prizes thereof. They will also contribute to the prize table on Closing Day, so that's another reason to make it for the Dinner at least, even if you are unable to get away early enough to join in "Swat-fest". Beverage tickets will be distributed to members, who are there for either or both. How many more reasons do you need to get you out next week?

We had 88 players tee off this week out of a current total of about 106 remaining members. A few were eliminated by physical ailments along the way but the average attendance has been in excess of 90% every week, which makes this season the best supported of any. The MWL is a team oriented competition but that does not prevent us from recognizing individual accomplishment. We recommend that you look at the table of Low Gross and Low Net players on the web site, or in the Men's Lounge. Although our pros feature in the low gross table, as one would expect, our amateur stars give them a good run for their money with 2 or 3over average scores for the season. On the Net side, the top ten all have scores very, very slightly over par, which suggests that their handicaps are well in line with their performances. It seems to be a validation of the MWL handicap system.

Every player earned some of the prize money during the year. Considering the common entry fee of 17 weeks @ $10, 35.5% of the players made a profit of varying degrees, 7.5% broke even and the remaining 57% lost money, again in varying degrees, but nobody was shut out for the season. The 'winningest' teams were 2 (Saunders' Sandbaggers) with $213 followed by Team 3 ( Urban's Boundaries)at $211 and Team 6 (Fox's Terriers) at $176, per person that is. Some individuals at the top of the money tree have larger totals due to the inclusion of their Tombstone winnings.

This week Dave Read's (9) net of 32 led the field, closely pursued at 33 by Jim Henry, Ian Hamilton and Jim McDonald. Rob Petrie led the grocers with a 37, just ahead of an angry mob of members, at 38, led by Gary Tuff, Vince Marchesano, Rick Trainor and the 'almost double man' Jim Henry. Mark was in this group also to back up his colleague. While we have to concede this  victory to the Pros, they are so far behind on the season that it is a courtesy to them to permit this triumph to be published!

2009 was a 17 week season and it is noteworthy that 20 of the players turned out every week. You can see their names in the sidebar on the web page. Thank you, gentlemen.

We also have a last category to draw your attention to; players whose scores have counted towards their team total every time they have played. There are three such individuals in the MWL. Louis Levy went six for six, Vince Marchesano went 14 for 14 and Brad McFadden went 16 for 16 and, while he also topped the table of low net averages, he also was one of his team's low gross scorers on occasion. Clearly a strong candidate for the League's MVP (if we had one!).

The year ends, gentlemen. I hope you have enjoyed the MWL and will find the closing information to be a wrap-up of the goings on. I suppose its inevitable that you will want one more story, so here goes:-

A man is standing at the gates of heaven. To his right is an attractive woman and to his left a ladder. The woman says, "Come with me through this gate and spend eternity with me, or climb the ladder to success." The man, who had always been eager to get ahead in life, chooses the ladder.

When he gets to the top, he finds an even more beautiful woman standing in front of another gate. Next to her is another ladder. The woman says,"Come with me through this gate and all your fantasies will be realized in perpetuity, or climb the ladder to success".

This time, the man is tempted by the lovely woman but his ambition takes over and he climbs the ladder. He again encounters a woman and this time she is the most breathtaking creature he has ever seen. She says,"Come with me and I will satisfy your deepest desires forever, or climb the ladder to success."

Oh... what to do? He'd love to stay and gratify his carnal desires - but is just so driven by greed and ambition that once again he decides to climb the ladder.

He comes to another gate but this time there is no woman waiting for him. Instead, a chubby and rather unkempt, elderly man with a scruffy white beard approaches him.

"Are you God?" the man asks.

"No, I'm Sess."

Take the rest of the year off - after next Wednesday, that is.