Saturday Morning Scramble - Shamble - Golf Game: Time for change

In this season of change: It's been over a dozen years that I have been running a nine hole golf game on Saturday mornings and I think that is more than enough for any one person to be holding the baton. It has been a lot of fun playing with a multitude of players with all different levels of skill. Over the last several months, my own interests have changed and that has resulted in a change in the kind of golf games being organized on Saturday mornings. They, too, have been fun as well as challenging in different ways than the traditional scramble. But that has resulted in a mixed reaction from the Saturday morning participants. So, in order to make room for other enterprising individuals, and I know there are several out there, I am placing the baton on the podium to be picked up by whomever. I appreciate and am thankful for the many games that have been played all these Saturday mornings over the last dozen or so years, and , of course, for the many chances to share a few hours with a pretty good bunch of guys.

Senior Game Results

Ray Shaw birdied #9 to seal a win for himself, Dave Strange and Mike Bird in a the Thursday afternoon senior game. The trio bested Jack Lents, Rex Hudson and Jack Butcher in a '345' game where the players played their own balls on the par threes, scrambled on the par fours, and did alternate shot on the par fives. The winning team ended up shooting par in a three stroke victory over their opponents.

Wednesday Golfers

Kenny Hudson gets his putt on the 18th hole to curl around to the back of the cup and then drop in for a birdie. That, along with a Rex Hudson four footer for bogey, gave them a come from-behind-on-the-last-hole win over Jack Butcher and Rick Hudson in a golf game played at Lakeview yesteday.

John Feinstein's Tales from Q School

Here's a book, Tales from Q School: Inside Golf's Fifth Major, that's worth reading if you are a golf fan and a golfer. Finished it this morning. Saw a lot of golfers in the book who have made a splash here and there on the PGA. What the author does is follow a bunch of golfing aspirants through Q school. That school is a grueling three event (for some only one) test to claim exempt status in the Bigs. And that's important because in the Bigs you play in $5 million tournaments and get courtesy cars and free food and lots of television exposure and the chance to play with Tiger Woods (!) rather than $500000 tournaments as in the Nationwide Tour, or even further down the golfing pipeline. The year is 2005 but the author updates the whereabouts of his stars though 2007. I found it pretty easy to see how they all did in 2008 with espn's Money Leader Board. From the book link at amazon.com:

What makes this account so compelling is the way Feinstein drives home the point recreational golfers know all too well: golf is, above all, a humbling, even humiliating, game. Bill Ott

I would add that it is grand and rewarding and fun as well.

Thursday Senior Game

Supposed to be beautiful today and tomorrow and the next three days as well. Better come on out and get some golfing in. On Thursday, a Senior Game of nine holes will be played at 1 pm. Everybody is invited.

Age and Accuracy Trump Youth and Distance in Tuesday Scramble

Joe Doyle, George Templin and Mike Bird gave away twenty-five years in age and twice that much in driving distance but still came in with the low score in the Tuesday afternoon scramble at Lakeview. Their score of minus three bested by one scores posted by the team of Dave Wininger and Curt Johnson as well as the team of Doug Denson and Buck Holland. Joe Dolye started it all off with a 'safe' shot on the first tee, a drive which gave the three a 150 yard shot to the pin but which was followed by a twenty foot Mike Bird birdie chip from just off the green. George Templin finished it off at #9 with a tee shot to eight foot which allowed for a relatively straight in birdie putt by Mike. In between, the trio used a variety of shots from all over the course, truly scrambling on the majority of the holes, to battle the cold and the wind on their way to the low score of the day. Birdie putts on #6 - George T's from thirteen feet, and #7 - Mike B's from twenty feet, offset the lone bogey the group got on #3.

Tuesday scramble

It's windy, cloudy and cool. Anybody wanna scramble at 4:30? The course is open.

Tee Box drilling and sanding

Eric got out in the cool of yesterday morning and got started on the aerating and sanding of the tee boxes. Fertilizing and seeding up next.

Jack Lents and Senior games

Caught up with long time golfer (and good neighbor) Jack Lents resting at his home this morning. He's on the mend and looking forward to playing some golf when the weather moderates, probably this Thursday. Look for some kind of afternoon Senior game that day when temperatures are supposed to get back in the 60's.

Tribune article for the week

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Lakeview Golf Course News for the week of October 27:

Kevin Byron, Curt Johnson and Mike Bird Win Super Shamble

It wasn't pretty but it was better than the others and that got the win for Kevin Byron, Curt Johnson and Mike Bird in the Saturday Super Shamble out at Lakeview. The three came in with plus two on both the par threes and the alternate shots, and one under on the scramble holes for a plus three. That was an improvement of two and three on teams who came in at plus five and plus six. Dave Strange, Dan Steiner and Dave Wininger made up one team while Mike Arvin, Joe Allen and Noah Callahan made up the third team.

Almost Even in Thursday Senior Skins Game

The cool and windy weather didn't restrain Wayne Souerdike, Dave Strange, Ray Shaw, Ken Hudson and Mike Bird from playing at Lakeview this morning. The nine hole Skins match came up even with five skins taken off the table but the final distribution was just a little askew. Kenny Hudson carded a net birdie on five and then an actual birdie on six to take two of the skins. Wayne Souerdike got a birdie on two for his skin and Dave Strange got a net birdie on seven to earn his skin. Mike Bird took the easy route on the very first hole and removed a skin with a par. Ray Shaw went home empty though he was instrumental in thwarting skins taking on holes three and nine.

Johnson, Johnson and Nolan Win on Cards

The Tuesday afternoon scramble was won by Kevin Johnson, Curt Johnson and Don Nolan with a score of five under par. They were tied by the team of Dave Wininger, George Templin and Jim Murphy who lost on the tie breaker, a card drawn by Joe Allen. Mike Bird, Joe Allen, Mark Jones and Joe Doyle came in at three under while the team of Doug Denson, Dave Strange and Tony Wease came in two under. The win by Curt and Kevin and Don was their second in a row.

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Kevin Byron, Curt Johnson and Mike Bird Win Super Shamble

Mike, Joe and Noah after the super shamble.

Dave and Dan coming in from a tough nine holes that did not end in a win.

It wasn't pretty but it was better than the others and that got the win for Kevin Byron, Curt Johnson and Mike Bird in the Saturday Super Shamble out at Lakeview. The three came in with plus two on both the par threes and the alternate shots, and one under on the scramble holes for a plus three. That was somewhat better than the two other teams who came in at plus five and plus six. Dave Strange, Dan Steiner and Dave Wininger made up one team while Mike Arvin, Joe Allen and Noah Callahan made up the third team. A good time was had by all (?).

Saturday's Golf Game - Something New

Tomorrow's Manager's golf game will start at 2 pm. That allows for the weather to moderate (warm up) and for the volleyball game between the Vikings and the Lions to get put in the books.

George and Joe on a Thursday Afternoon

George Templin and Joe Doyle, long time Lakeview golfers, came out and got in 18 holes today. Here they are finishing up on their last hole and sporting smiles. Joe must have been telling one of his stories, a funny one. Or something.

Almost Even in Thursday Senior Skins Game

The cool and windy weather didn't restrain Wayne Souerdike, Dave Strange, Ray Shaw, Ken Hudson and Mike Bird from playing at Lakeview this morning. The nine hole Skins match came up even with five skins taken off the table but the final distribution was just a little askew. Kenny Hudson carded a net birdie on five and then an actual birdie on six to take two of the skins. Wayne Souerdike got a birdie on two for his skin and Dave Strange got a net birdie on seven to earn his skin. Mike Bird took the easy route on the very first hole and removed a skin with a par. Ray Shaw went home empty though he was instrumental in thwarting skin taking on holes three and nine.

Late afternoon golfers

Dave Wininger and Mike Arvin out playing golf after a day of work with the wind blowing, the temperatures dropping and the sun thinking about setting. I left them at hole number four where they were tied two holes apiece in a friendly match where Dave was giving Mike a stroke a hole.

Thursday Senior Game

10 am start for tomorrow's senior game. Nine holes and all are welcome to join in on the fun.

Johnson, Johnson and Nolan Win on Cards

The Tuesday afternoon scramble was won by Kevin Johnson, Curt Johnson and Don Nolan with a score of five under par. They were tied by the team of Dave Wininger, George Templin and Jim Murphy who lost on the tie breaker, a card draw by Joe Allen. Mike Bird, Joe Allen, Mark Jones and Joe Doyle came in at three under while the team of Doug Denson, Dave Strange and Tony Wease came in two under. The win by Curt and Kevin and Don was their second in a row.

Tuesday afternoon scramble

Start time of 4:45 for the scramble tomorrow afternoon.

Josey, Tarry and Frank photos

Josey brought her dad out to play golf and had a new hair color and style to show off. Frank also brought out his dad and then beat him by two strokes in a nine hole game where good old Dad gave him a stroke a hole. Turned out to be a few too many

Tribune article for the week

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Lakeview Golf Course News

Souerdike, Arvin and Arvin Win Super Shamble

Wayne Souerdike called it a "super shamble" and then joined up with brothers Mike and Doug Arvin to win the Saturday morning golf game out at Lakeview. Playing their own ball on the par threes, scrambling on the par fours and then hitting alternate shots on the par fives, the threesome finished their round at plus one. That was one better than the team of Dave Wininger, Kevin Byron and Joe Doyle; and four better that the team of Mike Bird, Joe Allen and Tony Wease. Tony, borrowing from a John Feinstein title, had only one thing to say while walking back to the clubhouse after he and his teammates flailed around the course finding zero birdies and picking up five bogeys: "That truly was a good walk spoiled."

Pam Byron's Sand Save Decisive Shot in Senior Win

Pam Byron followed a par saving five foot putt on hole #8 with a four foot putt for a sand save on #9 to propel her team to a one stroke win in the Thursday Senior game. Along with Diane Bird, Clyde Wake and Mike Bird, the team shot a plus three in the nine hole "shamble" where each golfer played his own ball on the par threes with two scores counting as the team score. The team played even par on the six scramble holes. Two other teams participated in the game: Jack Butcher, Rex Hudson and Ray Shaw got the only birdie of the day with a four on #6 but played the par threes in plus five for a final score of plus four. Junior Byron, Ken Hudson and Dave Strange also finished the day at plus four.

Johnson, Johnson, Allen and Nolan Take Tuesday Scramble

They didn't birdie either of their first two holes but ran in six in the last seven to come in at six under. And that got them the win in the Tuesday scramble. That would be Kevin Johnson, dad Curt Johnson, Joe Allen and Don Nolan who started on hole six with a disappointing par and then did the same on the short par three number seven. But from then on, everything came up roses, or went down for birdies, with the exception of a par on hole number three. Second place went to Trenton Kidwell, Mike Bird and Joe Doyle who came in at minus four. Doug Denson, Mike Breeden and George Templin came in at minus three while Dave Wininger, Rob Sterling and Jim Murphy fired a minus one on their round.

Crane Flies Plentiful at Golf Course

Had a multitude of flying insects out at the golf course this past week. The majority of them are Crane flies. Shirley Jeffers referred to them as wheat bugs but they are also know as gollywhoppers and jimmy spinners. Back when I was a youngster up in South Bend, we called them mosquito hawks. They are harmless though they did have a clumsy habit of running smack dab into our faces every whipstitch. By the end of the week, most of them had disappeared.
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Souerdike, Arvin and Arvin Win Super Shamble

Wayne Souerdike called it a "super shamble" and then joined up with brothers Mike and Doug Arvin to win the Saturday morning golf game out at Lakeview. Playing their own ball on the par threes, scrambling on the par fours and then hitting alternate shots on the par fives, the threesome finished their round at plus one. That was one better than the team of Dave Wininger, Kevin Byron and Joe Doyle; and four better that the team of Mike Bird, Joe Allen and Tony Wease. Tony, borrowing from a John Feinstein title, had only one thing to say while walking back to the clubhouse after he and his teammates flailed around the course finding zero birdies and picking up five bogeys: "That truly was a good walk spoiled."

Saturday Golf Game start time

Might be a little cool tomorrow morning but we'll still start at 9am - just for the fun of it.

Pam Byron's Sand Save Decisive Shot in Senior Win

Pam Byron followed a par saving five foot putt on hole #8 with a four foot putt for a sand save on #9 to propel her team to a one stroke win in the Thursday Senior game. Along with Diane Bird, Clyde Wake and Mike Bird, the team shot a plus three in the nine hole "shamble" where each golfer played his own ball on the par threes with two scores counting as the team score. The team played even par on the six scramble holes. Two other teams participated in the game: Jack Butcher, Rex Hudson and Ray Shaw got the only birdie of the day with a four on #6 but played the par threes in plus five for a final score of plus four. Junior Byron, Ken Hudson and Dave Strange also finished the day at plus four.

Thursday Senior Golf Game

Tomorrow's senior golf game will start at 10 o'clock.

Johnson, Johnson, Allen and Nolan Take Tuesday Scramble

They didn't birdie either of their first two holes but ran in six in the last seven to come in at six under. And that got them the win in the Tuesday scramble. That would be Kevin Johnson, dad Curt Johnson, Joe Allen and Don Nolan who started on hole six with a disappointing par and then did the same on the short par three number seven. But from then on, everything came up roses, or went down for birdies, with the exception of a par on hole number three. Second place went to Trenton Kidwell, Mike Bird and Joe Doyle who came in at minus four. Doug Denson, Mike Breeden and George Templin came in at minus three while Dave Wininger, Rob Sterling and Jim Murphy fired a minus one on their round.

Tuesday 5 o'clock scramble

Scramble at 5 in the afternoon tomorrow, weather permitting.

Crane Flies

I think all those flying insects out at the golf course are Crane flies. Shirley Jeffers referred to them as wheat bugs. From the link:

Numerous other common names have been applied to the crane fly, many of them more or less regional, including mosquito hawk, mosquito eater (or skeeter eater), gallinipper, gollywhopper, and jimmy spinner.

I like the term 'gollywhopper'. They are harmless and birds like them.

Tribune article for the week

This week's Loogootee Tribune article:

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Rayhill, Arvin and Bird Winners in Saturday "Shamble"

The team of Tracy Rayhill, Mike Arvin and Mike Bird shot a plus one on the par threes and a minus four on the scramble holes to go low at minus three and get a win in the Saturday morning golf game at Lakeview. Tracy Rayhill used his short game with up and downs on holes three and nine and also got a twenty-five foot putt to drop on hole five to lead the charge. Three other teams competed for the prize: Dave Wininger, Joe Allen and Kevin Byron coming in at even on their round; Trenton Kidwell and dad Mike along with Gary Webb shot a plus one; and Junior Byron, Larry Hembree and Bryant Trambaugh finished with a plus two.

K of C Winners Lap Field and Then Some

Dave Wininger, Mike Arvin, Scott Wallace and Karry Stoll were the winning team at Sunday's K of C scramble at Lakeview. They shot a sterling 15 under par to rout the competition. That competition included eight other teams with the closest to the victors coming in at seven under par.

WCC Retains Tin Cup with Singles Mastery

On Wednesday, October 8th, sixteen Washington Country Club golfers overwhelmed a like number of Lakeview Golf Course golfers in the singles matches by a score of 12.5 to 3.5. That overcame a four point lead that Lakeview had opened with a 5.5 to 2.5 win in the Alternate Shot competition earlier in the day and concluded this year's fight for the Tin Cup trophy. The Lakeview golfers had come out of the October 1st games, the Scramble and the Best Ball portions of the competition, with a thin one stroke lead. For Lakeview, singles winners included Jack Butcher, Dave Strange and Ray Shaw with Bryant Trambaugh halving his match with Bob Gould. Players for the victorious WCC team included Phil Stiles, Dick Smith, Bill Summers, Dave Gingerich, Joe Catt, Bob Gould, Joris Gee, Neil Smith, Tom Doyle, Nick Nolley, Glen Stoll, Dave Carie, Steve Granger, Bill Taylor, Larry Dinkens, and Bill Joyce. Players for the Loogootee team included Mike Bird, John Chapman, George Templin, Bryant Trambaugh, Junior Byron, Morris Cornelius, Wayne Souerdike, Ward Smith, Ray Shaw, Dave Strange, Leroy Streepy, Jack Lents, Gary Webb, Vic Wallace, Jack Butcher, and Herb Roach. Kenny and Rex Hudson played in the first week's competition for Lakeview. The full scoreboard for the event can be seen at www.golflakeview.com.
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K of C winners lap field and then some

The winners at today's K of C 18 hole scramble out at Lakeview shot a sterling 15 under par. Second place scores were at seven under par while Susie Chanley, Shirley Jeffers, Jerad Butcher and I came in at five under par. A good time was had by all.

Saturday golfers

A large group of Jasperites finish up on nine while a couple of twenty somethings wait their turn.

Knights of Columbus Scramble

Tomorrow starting at 9am - 18 holes.

Shamble Definition

The meaning of 'shamble' - it is a golf game...

Rayhill, Arvin and Bird Winners in Saturday Shamble

The team of Tracy Rayhill, Mike Arvin and Mike Bird shot a plus one on the par threes and a minus four on the scramble holes to go low at minus three and a win in the Saturday morning golf game at Lakeview. Tracy Rayhill used his short game with up and downs on holes three and nine and also got a twenty-five foot putt to drop on hole five to lead the charge. Three other teams competed for the prize: Dave Wininger, Joe Allen and Kevin Byron coming in at even on their round; Trenton Kidwell and dad Mike along with Gary Webb shot a plus one; and Junior Byron, Larry Hembree and Bryant Trambaugh finished with a plus two.

Knights of Columbus Scramble this Sunday

It starts at 9am and is an 18 hole scramble. You can sign up at the KofC or here at the golf course.

Saturday morning golf game

The Manager's Saturday golf game will start at 9am tomorrow and be for nine holes.

Senior Games

Photo: In case you haven't noticed, the leaves are changing colors. Photo taken this afternoon from up on #1 tee box.

In the Senior games this morning, five of us went out and played for a skin pot using our existing handicaps. Kenny Hudson with a net par on three, Wayne Souerdike with a net birdie on six, and Clyde Wake with a net par on nine came in with skins and feasted on Diane Bird's and my entry fee. We were in the hosting mode, I guess, as each of us missed short putts to hand away skins to Wayne and Clyde. Kenny has every right to scream a bit as he watched his pot get divided three ways with those missed putts. Lovely morning for golf though we did have to un-layer as the cool of the morning disappeared with the rising of the sun.

Senior Golf Game today at 10am

Pick up game for those who show up with a yen to play a little golf. Nine holes of fun on a beautiful Fall morning.

Tin Cup Scoreboard

Singles matches were the final event of the four game challenge.

Alternate Shot started out the competition this morning.

Final scorecard with Lakeview enjoying the upper hand in the team events and Washington the much stronger hand in individual play.

Tin Cup Photos

The winner!

Complete Washington team prior to play this morning.

Complete Lakeview team before play.

WCC Retains Tin Cup with Singles Mastery

The results are posted here. WCC overwhelmed the LGC golfers in the singles matches by a score of 12.5 to 3.5. That overcame a four point lead that Lakeview opened with a 5.5 to 2.5 win in the Alternate Shot competition that preceded the singles matches at the Washington Country Club this morning. Photos and more comments later.

Tin Cup Challenge is a go...

...at the scheduled tee off time of 9am. See you at the Country Club in just a bit!

Some of the boys in silhoutte

That would be Jack Butcher, Morris Cornelius, Leroy Streepy and Jack Lents teeing off at #9 tee box yesterday afternoon.

Tin Cup Pairings for October 8th

Tomorrow's pairings for the second leg of the Tin Cup Challenge 2008 are posted here. Play starts at nine in the morning and is followed by lunch and trophy presentation. On weather: we have our fingers crossed and hope that the rains will be done by tee time. Will up date early in the morning once we see what the skies look like.

Game reminders

-The Denson pick-up scramble is scheduled for a 5 o'clock tee off this afternoon. Doug will be putting together the teams shortly before that time and we'll do what we can to minimize the expected rain, at least temporarily.

-The Tin Cup Challenge 2008 wraps up tomorrow at Washington Country Club with a 9am start. The Lakeview roster is the same as last week with the addition of Wayne Souerdike, Jack Lents and Denny Wagoner (update: make that Vic Wallace rather than Denny) and the deletion of Tony Wease, Rex Hudson and Kenny Hudson. Expect to post the pairings later today along with rain options (though we will again ask both the Rain and the Golf godesses to look favorably upon our requests for a delay or a temporary cessation in the expected downpour).

-The Thursday Senior game will start at 10 am.

Tribune article for the week

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Lakeview Golf Course News for the week of October 6:

Byron, Potts and Johnson Triumph

Junior Byron, Greg Potts and Curt Johnson had four under on the scramble holes and a plus one on the par threes to come in at minus three and a win in the Saturday modified scramble. The scramble ('shamble', as it is known in some circles) was played under beautiful Fall skies and a field that included three other teams. Two teams finished one stroke back: Mike Bird, Larry Hembree, Kevin Byron and Tony Wease; and Dave Wininger, Mike Arvin, Joe Allen and Joe Doyle. Coming in at plus one was Wayne Souerdike, Karry Stoll, Bryant Trambaugh and Gary Webb. The Wininger team had the most birdies on the scramble holes at five while the victorious Byron team along with the Bird team tied for the low scores on the par threes at plus one.

Tin Cup Challenge Results Week 1

Sixteen golfers from Washington Country Club were at Lakeview last Thursday to engage in the second year of The Tin Cup Challenge. They took on sixteen golfers from Lakeview Golf Course in a local version of the Ryder Cup. In this week's matches, the WCC eight two person teams played the LGC golfers even in the Scramble format, four matches won on each side. In the Best Ball matches, the Lakeview players came out ahead by winning four and tying a fifth. Hole prizes were won by George Templin, Leroy Streepy, Neil Smith and Joe Catt. The Lakeview Golf Course crew will take a slim one point lead into the Alternate Shot and Single matches that will complete the challenge this Thursday at the Washington Country Club. The results of the individual matches can be found at www.golflakeview.com.

Tuesday Scramble Winners

Two different scrambles were held at the golf course last Tuesday: In the first one, a two person handicapped modified scramble was won by Greg Potts and Tracy Rayhill with a net score of 42.67. Three other twosomes participated with net scores ranging from 43.67 to 46.33. In the second, the Denson pick-up scramble was won by the team of Terry Butcher, David Strange, Scott Arthur and Mark Jones with a score of 31. Two other teams also had 31's but lost on the tie breaker. A fourth team came in at 32. Complete listings of the results are at www.golflakeview.com.
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Late afternoon golfers

Kim, Kay, Susie, Mike, Scott, and Danny. Richard was along to chaperone or something...

Byron, Potts and Johnson Triumph

Junior Byron, Greg Potts and Curt Johnson had four under on the scramble holes and a plus one on the par threes to come in at minus three and a win in the Saturday modified scramble. The scramble ('shamble', as it is known in some circles) was played under beautiful Fall skies and a field that included three other teams. Two teams finished one stroke back: Mike Bird, Larry Hembree, Kevin Byron and Tony Wease; and Dave Wininger, Mike Arvin, Joe Allen and Joe Doyle. Coming in at plus one was Wayne Souerdike, Karry Stoll, Bryant Trambaugh and Gary Webb. The Wininger team had the most birdies on the scramble holes at five while the victorious Byron team along with the Bird team tied for the low scores on the par threes at plus one.

Saturday Morning Scramble

Starts at 9 am and is a nine holer.

Chipping from high grass video

Well, I think we could have used this earlier in the season but, what the heck, still plenty of golf left in this season and maybe we'll actually make a good shot or two. From about.com, a video on chipping from high grass here.

The Tin Cup and lunch photos from Lakeview

Tin Cup Results Week 1

The results for the Scramble and Best Ball matches at Lakeview are posted here. The Lakeview Golf Course crew came out of the day with a 8.5 to 7.5 point lead over the Washington Country Club crowd.