Saturday Morning Scramble Time

10am

Bits and Pieces for a Friday Morning

-Interesting stuff about double eagles and aces here at about.com.  I know we have had our share of aces at Lakeview but I remember only one double eagle.  Ron McMasters dropped a 200+ yard shot in the hole on #4 back in the mid '90's.  Don't remember if it was during league play (Thursday morning) or a Sunday outing with Jerry Lynch and myself.  Anybody out there have an albatross of their own or know of another who did? at Lakeview?

-Hope the new head of the LPGA can right the ship and get the ladies back playing again.  I see that they are playing over in Incheon, South Korea, this week at the Hana Bank - Kolon Championship.  Incheon has changed a little bit, like a whole bunch, since the last time I was there back in the early '60's (US Navy).  The boom times of the '80's and '90's were still decades away and the memory of the Korean War was all too vivid and the devastation and recovery still very much a fact of life back then.

-Played 18 holes with the boys yesterday - Jack Lents, Jack Butcher and Kenny Hudson.  Jack Lents, for the second time in a row, took five of the six flags up for grabs.  And that made him a big winner in the partners-skins-flags game.  He garnered ten of the nineteen quarters that were in the pot at the end of play.  Plenty of February like golf shots out there on my part - been too much rain and too much not playing for a game to be sharp.

-October weather this year is like last year's - wet and cool.  Hope November brings a prolonged Indian Summer.

Tuesday Afternoon Scramble Start Time

4:30.  Expect the rain will have passed through by then, or at least be ready for a break.

Monday Golfers

Kay Sheetz planting the flag after making her birdie putt (?!) at #8. She was out for nine late in the afternoon with Susie Chanley and Steve Sheetz.

One of the Bloomfield Belles taking a shot at a hole-in-one at the ninth hole this afternoon.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

9am.  Bring something to keep you warm.

The Big Boy Awards

Tiger Woods is going to get a lot of awards this year and that is just right and proper since he played like the best player in the world just about every time he put a ball on a tee. Now in reading this article, I see that some are arguing that he should not be considered for Comeback Player of the Year since he won four out of six starts back in 2008 even though he only played have the year. Steve Striker, twice a Comeback Player of the Year himself, is quoted as saying "Where did he go?" This, it seems to me, is very backwards since a year ago some were arguing that Tiger, who had stats that easily qualified him for the Player of the Year Award, should be declared ineligible because he only played half the year. Hmm. Could we ask for a little consistency in our reasoning, guys? Btw, do you remember who actually won the POY in 2008? Answer here. And another btw: Don't expect TW gives a hoot about all this.

Tyler Kidwell and Greg Potts Fire a 32 to Win Tuesday Scramble

The results of this afternoon's 4:30 scramble:

1. Tyler Kidwell and Greg Potts: 32
2. Dave Wininger and Rob Sterling: 34
2. Doug Denson and Mike Bird: 34
4. Trenton Kidwell and Tarry Bratton: 35
5. Terry Butcher and Kevin Byron: 37

Tin Cup Challenge Cancelled

Just a reminder: The Tin Cup Challenge scheduled for tomorrow and the following Monday has been canceled. Best just come on out to Lakeview and enjoy some good weather and, no doubt, some good golf.

Line bound putters' putting tip

For those of us that are more line bound than distance bound, and to go along with the 'listen-for -the-click' tip of the other day, put a line on your ball (there is a little gadget with a slot in it that you place over the ball to make such a line!) and than line it up with the line of your putt. Then strike and listen. Works.

Bits and Pieces

-At the President's Cup on Sunday, Tiger yanked Yang's chain and even spotted him a hole with a poor chip on the first hole.

-Johnny Miller kept telling Yang to keep his head down and then he (I think it was JM) said "listen" for the sound of the ball going into the hole. In other words, keep your head still and don't peek. Jack Lents tried that out yesterday morning when playing with Jack Butcher, Morris Cornelius and Ken Hudson. Said it worked like a charm for the first several holes and then his putter head (the glue) loosened up on him and he didn't fare so well from there on in. First time I've heard that excuse from a golfer. I tried it, the listening for the click, clack, cluck, here at home last night and found it worked as well.

-Mike Kidwell mentioned recently that a Thursday evening two person scramble league next year might be fun. You partner would stay with you the entire season just like in the other Lakeview leagues. Any thoughts?

Tuesday Afternoon Scramble Start Time

4:30 and call if you need a few more minutes but still want to play.

Sunday Afternoon Golfer

Woods-Yang Rematch

So who wins the rematch? Just saw the clip with Yang being asked what he thought of playing Tiger again - not necessarily something he is looking forward to but if Greg (Norman) asks him to do it, he'll do it. I like his moxie. A draw? Nah. Tiger wins like he's been doing all week, in twelve or thirteen holes. Well, except for that one yesterday morning where he rolled in a twenty-five foot putt on the seventeenth hole for a win to draw the match to all square (big assist from Weir who missed a five footer to halve the hole) and then put a 203 yard shot to eight feet for the win on eighteen.

Dan Steiner Outing at The Oaks

Wonder what happened down the road at the Oaks yesterday afternoon with Uncle Dan and his fundraiser? Maybe someone will let me know in the comments. Btw, I did make posting comments easier - try it out.

Denson, Kidwell and Wininger Win Saturday Scramble

Doug Denson, Trenton Kidwell and Lee Wininger found five birdies and an eagle in the first seven holes and posted a round of 28 to win the Saturday Morning Scramble yesterday. The team of Dave Wininger, Mike Bird and Greg Potts finished at five under, a thirty, to come in tied for second with the team of Mark Potts, Mike Kidwell and Tarry Bratton.

Scramble Start Time

9am

Rain, Rain, Go Away, President's Cup, etc.

Lots of rain yesterday and looks like it is going to stay with us for most of today. I did get out and open the course briefly yesterday afternoon when the rain stopped and it looked like the stuff might move west and north of us. But, not to be. Hey, it's good for growing grass and filling up the water table and giving us all a chance to catch up on other things in our lives.

-Did catch the President's Cup via the internet - Jason Sobel's live blog at espn.com. Guess the two top players in the world lived up to their billing: TW with Steve Stricker were hot from the get go, while PM with Anthony Kim took a while to find the green pace but finally getting a string of birdies on the back nine to get their one point. Good start for the USA though don't expect Jimmy Leonard felt too good after missing the last putt from three feet and settling for a halved hole that made the final score 3.5 to 2.5. The Internationals very much within striking distance.

-Yesterday's Resident's Cup at Lakeview was rained out - guess you figured that out though Leroy Streepy did come down and catch me in the clubhouse a little after nine. He was also bringing in a repaired club - he does that, you know - replaces broken shafts, reglues, regrips.

-Btw, both Leroy and Morris Cornelius are now among the elite group of 80 somethings that play golf at Lakeview. That kinda came in a hurry and surprised both Diane and me, not the golfing at Lakeview but that they are now in their 80's. Jeesh, time - it is a-flying.

Trenton and Mike Kidwell Win Tuesday Afternoon Scramble in Overtime

Trenton and Mike Kidwell two putted from about twenty feet for par on the first extra hole to beat Dave Wininger and Greg Potts who couldn't get their par putt from six feet to drop. The two teams each scorched Lakeview Golf Course on an overcast Tuesday afternoon firing five under par to end in a tie in the nine hole scramble. Dave and Greg got off to the early lead by finding birdies at holes one, two, four, five and six. Trenton and Mike, on the strength of Trenton's very hot putter, found a birdie at four, eagle at six, and then birdies at seven and nine. The latter three were claimed with putts from about thirty feet, ten feet and then twelve feet. Two other teams participated: Mike Bird and Tyler Kidwell, who finished at four under, shot themselves in the foot on the very first hole with a bogey but came close with a birdie at four, eagle chip in from thirty yards on five (MB), and then with twenty foot putts on seven (MB) and nine (TK). The fouth team, Doug Denson and Kevin Byron, posted a two under score.

Tuesday Afternoon Scramble Start Time

4:30. Call and sign up if you want to play but need a few more minutes.

Thursday Morning Game - 18 Hole Residents' Cup

Not exactly the President's Cup but Lakeview's version. Starting at 10am on Thursday, the 8th, we'll have an 18 hole game with the locals, or residents, going up against the out-of-towners, the non-residents. First nine holes will be a scramble with the second nine an alternate shot affair. Match-ups will be by skill as much as possible but by handicap if necessary to even the table. Call the clubhouse to sign up. Don't forget to identify yourself as a local (Loogootee and near area) or a non local. (We'll adjust as necessary to make the sides as even as possible.)

The Wie Lass and the Irish

In case you missed it:

-Michelle Wie came in tied for second behind Lorena Ochoa in the Navistar LPGA Classic this weekend. And she did it playing on a sprained ankle, something that kept her thinking of just finishing over the last nine holes. She might want to try to capture that mental mood as she claimed five birdies over those nine holes. Impressive.

-Did you watch the ND-Washington football game on Saturday (instead of golf)? It was a humdinger as the Irish caught and passed the Huskies with a last minute touchdown and a marvelous two point conversion, then let them have a field goal to send the game into overtime where the Irish prevailed easily. Here's a link that blogged the game - pretty neat way to catch up on the antics of the college kids last Saturday afternoon.

Short Jeffers, Tyler Kidwell, Brian Ader Win Saturday Scramble

Short Jeffers, Tyler Kidwell and Brian Ader found five birdies and three pars to come in a thirty in the Saturday Morning Scramble. That was good enough to edge by one stroke the team of Trenton Kidwell, TJ McAtee and Lee Wininger who found birdies at two of the par threes but were unable to get one at either of the par fives, usually for sure birdie holes. Five other teams participated bringing in scores from three under to even par.

Saturday Morning Scramble Time

9am

Pieces of String and Putting Speed

Here's what looks like an effective putting drill to improve your putting speed (from about.com and Neil Wilkins). The method uses three foot pieces of string placed at different intervals on the putting green. You then roll your golf balls so that they stop between the strings. The author mentions the drill taking your mind off of the line and shifting the emphasis to the speed, referring to some golfers as "line-bound". He also quotes Loren Roberts as saying that he feels he can make any putt if he can get down the speed. That's interesting because Stan Utley pretty much believes get the line right and that will get the ball to the cup - get the ball started on the right line, you 'intuitively' know how far to hit it. I'm one of those 'line-bound' golfers so the drill will be an interesting change. Of course, such change does bring challenges of its own, like what am I going to do with the strings when I'm done?

p.s. Guess one wouldn't have to use strings; tees and pocket change could mark the spots. Maybe that is frowned upon because that would bring the 'line' back into play in a very direct fashion.

Thursday September Challenge Results

Joe Gray and Junior Byron shot a 29 in the Best Ball portion of the September Challenge to finish at 14 under for the three week tournament and easily take the championship over second place finishers, Wayne Souerdike and Richard Swayze.

Wayne and Richard claimed second place with a not so bad three week total of 97.34, seven plus strokes below par.

Wayne shot a career best 32 with birdies at two, five and six to go along with six pars in his attempt to catch the Gray/Byron team in the morning's play.