READ THE TRUE STORY OF GOLF HAPPENINGS IN FLORIDA!

By Jock MacKenzie


As Peter Finch stated in a recent Golf Digest magazine, playing a golf course to your liking including private golf clubs want to make it happen.
Too many of us sit back and say to ourselves, “We can’t play there, it’s a private course and they don’t want us.” 

The truth is they do want you.  Prices generally may be higher than what you would like to have but that is not always in play. Take Pine Lakes and Cypress Knoll, for instance.  These are beautiful golf courses, a treat to play, but just like any golf course in the United States they have to act according to the general outlook of times in this era.  Sure they would love to have you as a full time member.  But the truth is they have to make the cash register jingle.Arnold Palmer designed Pine Lakes.  Gary Player put his heart in making Cypress top notch and his work shows.Or, like Grand Haven, another private golf course where Jack Nicklaus did a beautiful job in making this a beauty just as he did at Hammock Dunes on the ocean side.True, these are private golf courses and you just don’t walk in, plunk down a few bucks and head to the first tee.  But you can give a call and bingo!  You may have hit the exact time when a beautiful private golf course has opened up its arms for you.Try it.  These courses are in Palm Coast, FL with a population of nearly 90,000 people, a huge number – young and all the way to 90 – and may prove to be the best selection you’ve made in golf.  Check them out.  Already more and more golfers are coming down from Canada, Montreal to Prince Edward Island, and they return year after year because they like what they see and are treated very well.

FLORIDA GOLF SCORES

Deb Crowley grew up in Massachusetts.  Then New Hampshire became her home for a month or two out of a year.  But in reality, Palm Coast, FL is the site where she serves and belongs, still the best female golfer to come down the Turnpike. Crowley is a Golf Hall of Famer, one of the few named to that prestigious position by the Grand Club for her performances at Pine Lakes and Cypress. There is rarely an outing where Crowley doesn’t finish first and should that occur it’s never higher than second place.
To this day I silently wonder why this New Englander never took a shot at the ladies pro league especially where for years they played 20 miles or less away from Palm Coast.

Anyhow, in the recent Beat the Pro game at Cypress Knoll Crowley did her usual thing, 1^st place over Jan Graham and everyone else.  Those who did themselves proud on this occasion, all others beating the pro, were Rita Miller, Ginny Nicewonger, Judy Ivey, Nidia Farrell, Marie Mento, Mavis Moen, Carol Ross, Gloria Wilkins, Alice Manthey and Pat Kawa.

FOLLOW UP

Beat The Champ (Deb Crowley)

Cypress Knoll: Ginny Nicewonger, Helen Perlman & Sonya Sapp.  Birdies: Debby Crowley No. 16, Helen Perlman No. 5, Pat Kawa No. 6.

                                                            THE CHAMPIONS!

When you go up against the proud Grand Club players in the 2013 Club Championship you had better be alert and on your toes because you have some top-notch players driving you out hole after hole.
The Championship went to Harry Davis, easily a pro golf player if he had not elected to stay in the amateur ranks and at home where he and spouse Lucy could offer a brilliant beginning for each their children.  One such is in Hollywood today playing in some of the best TV Shows month after month.
Davis cleaned the clocks of competitors with scores of 78 & 74.  Jack Brockdortf took 1^st Low Net on scores of 73-36 and Phillip Paul 2^nd Low Net with counts of 76-74. 
Shelby Lee won the Low Gross honors in the Men’s 1^st Flight scoring 89 and 86.  Ron Dacuk was the 1^st Low Net shooting 81-72 and Dave Erbe 2^nd Low Net with counts of 84-71.
The 1^st Gold Flight went to Rich Kawa, 86-82, Frank Vignati (one of the Grand Club owners) shot a brillian 67-70.  John Iocovozzie took 2^nd place with scores of 68-75.
Want to take a guess on the Ladies Champion?
If you said Deb Crowley with counts of 77-81 you are right on the button.  Patte Garofalo won 1^st Low et on scores of 70-69 and a card match from Rita Miller who won 2^nd firing brilliant scores of 66-73.
In the 9-Hole Flight, Bonnie Brunson took honors with a Low Gross count of 57-53.  Pinky Wulf won low Net with scores of 40-32 while Rikki Davis took 2^nd place by shooting 38-39.
Whether or not you can match the play of these golfers – men and women – come on down to Palm Coast Florida as so many Canadians have recently done and give the course a pretty good whack of your own.
In other words, let’s see just how good you are at this wonderful game we call golf.

GRAND HAVEN WOMEN

With Appreciation to Marsha Hayton

On this day in May the team game was in play and some outstanding lady golfers made it work.
Flight 1 and 1^st place went to Sandy Pearson, Joan Crockett and Susie Samson with a total score of 55. Next in line with another outstanding performance were Sharon Downes, Mary Culver, Marcia Munsterman and Camile Hinsch one score off the winner’s mark with a 56.  Another shot back and in 3^rd place were Donna Alexander, Marcia Goldsmith, Sheilia Tebbano and Maryanne Guiglotto.
The trio of Sue Gump, Marcia Schile and Louise Dycke did a good effort but had to settle for 4^th spot on a score of 59.
Two more teams were in a battle of Matching Cards at scores of 60 but the 5^th place victors were Joan Callahan, Liz Denby, Meredith Johnson and Kathy Feldman.  Missing by the turn of a card were Carol Olsen, Patty Baldini and Marilyn Gingles.

GRAND RESERVE

If you have missed this sensational golf course on your tour of Palm Coast golf don’t wait.  This is the best golf course my eyes have seen for comfortable play by men and women as a team or singles.
Wouldn’t it be nice to go with a gorgeous golf course that is kept in perfect condition by the staff, one that invites you to play at summer rates, a golf course that can be easy on the golfer here and there but then can take out the hammer and make you earn your score?  Simply said, Grand Reserve is one beautiful golf course and both men and women love to play it week after week.
Just give a call to Bryan Hill in the pro shop for a tee time and you’re on your way.
The number is 386-313-2966.  Oh yes, it’s easy to get to, just off Route 1 on the way to Bunnell and well marked.
The golf course enjoys having ladies leagues twice a week and the men each Wednesday.  They also engineer a 9-hole group in play Monday mornings in addition to the popular regular play on both Monday and Friday.
Honestly, you’re missing out if you don’t give Grand Reserve a try especially at these low rates and the quality of the grass with thanks to those who are make this work as a top golf course day in and day out.

WEDNESDAY LEAGE PLAY

Grand Reserve

POINTS WINNERS: Flight 1: 1^st Steve Thompson 42, 2^nd Steve Quartarone 41, Ray Epperson 40. Flight 2: Marty Popi 41, Walt Fraedrich 39, Andy Curley 37. Green Tees: Paul Dean 42, Bob Stanton 41, Jerry DeGiovanni 39. Closest to pin: Steve Sprehe No. 4, Jerry DeGiovanni No. 10, Marty Popi No. 13. 

NINE & DINE

This popular event takes place on Tuesday at Cypress under the leadership of Pro Erick Gonzales.  When rain doesn’t pour down at a rate of four straight days and nights the event is packed, up to 90 to 100 golfers and more from all over the Palm Coast region and beyond.
Despite soggy conditions, Rich & Mira Gueren along with Roger and Sylvie Fisher won the Est Flight low gross with a card match score of 34.  Low Net in this group went to Frank and June Vignati on a count of 27.2.
Victorious in the South flight low gross were Tony Bellanton, Steve Bickel, Fred Robinson and Ron Smith with a score count of 33.
Closest to the pin winners were Joan Gray at No. 5 and Tony Bellantoni at No. 9.

PINE LAKES M.G.A.

Chicago Points at Hole. 1^st Flight: 1^st Harry Davis – Eagle on the Par 5 seventh Hole, 45 points, 2^nd Mickie Mann 37, 3^rd George Pollio 35. Flight 2: 1st Harvey Lydecker 37, David Kaufman 36, 3^rd Leo Blessing 34, 4^th Celso Samaniego 33. Gold Flight 1” 1^st Ed Namen 43, 2^nd Don Bach 41, 3^rd John Maino 39, 4^th Bob Sieling 37. Gold Flight 2: 1^st Frank Hopler 40, 2^nd Russ Brown 38, 3^rd Bill Cavanaugh 37, 4^th Jere Dorney 36. Golf Flight 3: 1^st Dick Hoover 42, 2^nd Tom Clutter 41 m/c, 3^rd Paul Martini 41, 4^th Tony Forte 40.  Closest to pin: Mickie Mann No. 2, Celso Samaniego No. 8, Leo Blessing No. 12, Tom Clutter No. 16.

PALM HARBOR

Men’s Golf AssociationNo Alibi: Green Flight 1: Rodney Russell 61, Larry Guidi 62, Tom Loney 64. Flight 2: John Raybon 58, Charlie Fiske 63, Garry Soppe 65. Flight 3: Richard Brodeur 58, Walt Schaaf 61 m/c, Anthony Martiez 61 m/c. Flight 4: Mike Jackson 60, Frank George 64 m/c, Don Toupin 64 m/c. White Flight 1: Jim Spencer 56, Pete Loglisci 59, Harry Leipold 60 m/c. Flight 2: Bill Ilavsky 51, Dave Berry 56, Bill Tuohey 57. Flight 3: Walt Lerian 49, Ed Gonzalez 64 m/c, Bob Palmer 64 m/c RodneyRussell No. 17.

Closing ScrambleTeam 2: Laura Amara, Addie Bosco, Bonnie Brunson 36         m/c. 3^rd: Elaine Studnicki, Elaine Baytala, Norma Good, Audrey Garrison 37 m/c.

                                  Niners Championship Winner:
Laura Amara, two Day Score 99. Flight 1: 1^st Gross Winner: Shirley Sheridan 100. 1^st Net Winner: Norma Kappel 72. Flight 2: 1^st Gross: Ann Leide 103. 1^st Net Winner: Isobel Harvwatt 70. Flight 3: 1^st Gross Winner: Jean Seavey 111. 1^st Net Winner: Pat Anomanni 68.

                                 Stableford Tournament Flight 1: 1^st Mimi Lenio 41 pts, 2^nd Kathy Devanna 39. Flight 2: Jane Sturgis 47, 2^nd Carol Ross 39.