Men’s Day Equal-Opportunity Transcends Through The Ages

Each week I witness numerous individuals blossoming into the golf spotlight. The Stratford Country Club offers more opportunities for its members to win than most every other golf club utilizing this computer program. Simply read the blogs from the other clubs. Our men’s day offers draw-showdown prizes, most improved golfer of the week, pot-of-gold putt-off, beat the pro, low net and gross winners, closest to the markers and the par three holes, monthly team winners and a dinner with draw prizes and contests at the end of the year.

 Today, did we all witness how nearly impossible it was to beat the closest markers on the par three greens?  I hit within four feet of one of the ninth-hole markers only to find out it was third best. The net scores most weeks bubble into the twenties. The bear-bones fact is that each week, here at Stratford, you have to be damn good to win a prize. This week Geoff Grimes led the believe-it-or-not crew with a net 27 followed closely by Elmer Dredge and Ross McPherson with super net scores of 29. That is another flower in our collective bonnets. Even the really old golfers can shine here. It’s like The Country Club is a second retirement home away from home.

 Pot Of Gold Putt-Off Pool

 Our Pot of Gold Putt off next week will be slightly less than three million dollars. The amount is seventeen hundred and something. It does not matter because those lucky individuals, who do get a chance to try, treat the pot like is three million dollars. Not one of tonight’s putters was remotely close. It might be the sandals that most putters wore. Maybe we could help by adding the sound of waves crashing onto a shore. Next week I might try a Pot-of-Gold Putt-Off Pool. It could cost participants $2.00. Poolers would write the name of another member who they felt would be called. If the individual you choose is a putting contestant you have a chance to win the pool. Tonight I would have been in the running as my participant pick was Bill Preston.

 Team Standings

Last week ended a four-week segment. Team one rocketed to the top of the monthly standings with an eighty-eight point increase. Many felt it was because the team captain, John Tafts, was missing for half the dates. They might just be half right. Team nine finished second with team eight third.

 The computer program picks out the pairings for the week and it is the luck of the draw. This week, for example, team three scored 203 points. That would have bested a number of teams but not their chosen opponent who scored 200 points. Team four’s 205 points was smoked by team ones’ 198. Our team standings do involve a certain luck of the draw.

 Draw Showdown:

This week’s final round picks included all the captains. The top low-net score was a super 31 fired by Captain George Brown. He will receive the final $15.00 draw showdown prize.

 Meltdown Report

Today everyone on the course remained safe from a Randy Benjamin meltdown. He bounced back with a fine 33 net total. Dave Lee found himself sharing top spot with David Laing on the low-gross scoring podium Just like the oil leak in the Gulf, the flow of beer this week dried up. This good news week does not mean there were not some golfers in need of a hug. Mike Stanley requires one after his meltdown of a 46 net, landed him as this week’s most useless bastard. Maybe next week he’ll explode onto the prize parade as the most improved golfer as Geoff Grimes did this week.

The closest to hole today on hole four was Brian Blowes and hole eight was Mike Maslen. We also recognize those golfers who landed closest to the markers on the hole-nine drive. Today’s winners were Sean Atkinson, Geoff Grimes and Elmer Dredge.. Next week we play off the white tees. Please check in with the pro shop before your pre-played your round.

Ken Hundert