Week 13 Recap - Hit the Ball!

Summer's waning. Know how I know? I couldn't see my golf ball on #9 (the ONE shot I hit straight) after I hit it last night because it was too dark out. It was dark out because it was so late. It was late because it took forever to finish nine short holes. It took forever because we had to wait to tee off on every single hole. We had to wait because of people not playing ready golf. There was a very sizable gap last night between the first and second groups, which seems to have slowed the eight groups behind.

I guess it's time for a not-so-friendly reminder that slow play is one of very few things that can make golfing less fun. I've heard from multiple people that they've quit the league or stopped subbing because our league is just too slow. Please help "encourage" your teammates to play ready golf while you're out on the course. I want this to be fun for everyone.

Following these few tips makes a big difference.

• Hit the ball!
• Tee off on time. The first group almost always has a wide open fairway at 4:52. Hit the ball!
• Obviously, keep up with the group ahead of you. They're how you should measure your pace. If they're pulling away from you, you need to take steps to catch up.
• Be ready to hit when it's your turn! That means get to your ball, figure out the distance and the club you need, envision your shot and get into your stance while others are shooting. There is no need to wait until every ball stops rolling before you can begin your pre-shot routine. Hit the ball!
• Even if you're not out, hit if you're ready. Sometimes the player who's out is struggling and needs time to rake, find a ball, get a different club, etc. If you're ready, hit the ball.
• Limit yourself to one practice swing! It's not the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits - hit the ball!
• Give the gimmes (read more about it here). If your opponent's ball is within the leather of the putter, tell him to pick it up. If there are new golfers or subs in your group, tell them about the gimmes. They really can speed up a round.
  
• TAKE the gimmes. I am now diverging a bit from the rule I laid out last season, which says you have the option of putting anyway. For the sake of pace, if someone gives you a putt, pick up the ball, count your stroke (and your blessings). In other words, don't hit the ball!
  
• Watch where your ball is going so you can find it. (I'm not the best at this one.) Lots of time is lost looking for a ball in the wrong place.
• Chat when you're walking to your balls. According to PGA metrics (I'm not making this up) there should be about 49 minutes of just walking to your ball on this course. Between that and the tee box, that's plenty of time to talk. When it's time to get ready to hit, shut yer yap for a minute. Then hit the ball!
• If you have trouble walking quickly, consider using a cart.
• If you're already behind, be judicious about when you solicit the refreshment cart. When possible, hit first, then quench your thirst.

Interesting article about slow play
Amusing commentary on slow play

Rant over.

As for results, the Loescher team swept their way into first, with the help of the Kraus team, who knocked the Moritz team down a peg (two, actually). Andy Taylor led all golfers with a season-low 35, and Dave Rieves was close behind with a 36. There was quite a mix of good scores and bad scores this week, as our league average increased for the second straight time. Just because it's the dog days of summer doesn't mean we have to play like dogs!

Here are updated standings in the race for the Dave W . . . er . . . Sy Brandt Sportsmanship Award. I decided to be sporting about it and let Paul feel good for another week.

1. Paul Schuettler 21.03
2. Dave Wolfe 20.03
3. Tom Weber 19.00
4. Steve Smith 18.63
5. Brad Nelson 17.63
6. Mike Sanders 16.78
7. Mike Warren 16.63
8. John Loescher 15.98
9. Ed Molter 15.75
10. Bob Moritz 15.47

Week 13 Pairings - July 27

Here are Tuesday's pairings. Pace was pretty darn slow last week. Let's pick it up! Should be a warm one Tuesday. We're all gunning for the Moritz team.

4:52 & 5:00	Williams vs. McGettigan
Matt Blouin	16		Chris Weber	9
Bob Crowe	19		Tom Weber	22
Dave Rieves	6		Scott Gomez	8
Ron Weiss	24		Shawn McGettigan	13
5:07 & 5:15	Nelson vs. Miller
Steve McDonnell	10		David Miller	14
Brad Nelson	17		Charlie Hoslet	16
Mike Williams	9		Doug Hoerr	13
A Tomaszewski	20		Ed Meachen	14
5:22 & 5:30	Moritz vs. Kraus
Bob Moritz	11		Lynn Paulson	7
Paul Schuettler	13		Steve Smith	13
Steve Moritz	9		Andy Taylor	12
Tom Hidde	14		Mike Kraus	13
5:37 & 5:46	Loescher vs. McEvilly
John Lobe	27		Pat McEvilly	13
John Loescher	17		Herb Stanford	26
Ed Molter	16		Dave Delveaux	10
Rob Zimmerman	23		Ed Corcoran	15
5:53 & 6:00	Dvorak vs. Wolfe
Matt Raymer	10		David Wolfe	16
Jeff Dvorak	13		Mike Sanders	18
Mike Warren	9		Paul Barnett	14
Taylor Devalk	New		Adam Hopkins	17

Week 12 Recap

Sorry I didn't get these out sooner. I was busy watching Big Break Sandals Resorts on the Golf Channel. I only watch it for the golf.

Last week's top three teams kept the pressure on each other Tuesday night, with 5, 5, and 6 points. The Moritz lead is now 1.5 points over the Loescher team, and 2 over the Kraus team.

Lots of good scores again this week, led by Lynn Paulson's 34 and Chris Weber's 34. 25 of the 37 golfers with handicaps shot under par and another six were at par. Two golfers had back-to-back birdies on Tuesday - Steve Smith (1 & 2) and Steve Moritz (7 & 8). Next week I'm going in the score book as Steve Wolfe.

The flight tournament starts in three weeks. More news coming in the next couple weeks.

I handed out most of the prizes last Tuesday, but still have balls and cash for those who weren't there.

Below are the most recent standings in my inevitable march to victory in the Sy Brandt Sportsmanship Award. It will be an interesting battle for second place!

1. Paul Schuettler 18.90
2. Dave Wolfe 18.79
3. Steve Smith 18.13
4. Brad Nelson 17.63
5. Tom Weber 17.06
6. Ed Corcoran 15.70
7. Mike Sanders 15.21
8. Mike Warren 15.13
9. Doug Hoerr 14.38
10. Bob Moritz 14.38