We play from the white tees at the Valley Golfers Club and Manteca Park Golf Course gives you plenty of challenges from that venue. Problem is that some of our members don’t enjoy playing from the whites as much as others. Why? Cause they don’t stand a chance of reaching most greens in regulation and are usually putting for bogeys or worse. After all, just like bowling and other sports, handicap systems were established to equal the playing fields for all. In golf, most of us are familiar with the black, blue, white, red, and gold tees. Many of us now play from the white tees while women normally play from the reds. Even in the Wendy’s three tour challenge they play from different tees and, lo and behold!, the play becomes even for all and everyone is able to enjoy the game equally.
So why would anyone be against 80+ year old golfers playing from the reds while everyone else plays from the whites? I have some thoughts but I’ll keep them to myself for now. Allowing 80+ members to play from the reds would give them a better chance to reach the green in regulation and enjoy the challenges of putting for a birdie now and then. Some say that it wouldn’t be fair to have them play from the reds but their handicaps would be lowered accordingly and therefore equalize the playing field. If we were to adopt playing from the reds for elder members that doesn’t mean that you have to. Those that choose not to could still play from the whites. Heck, for those fighting this logical idea – Why don’t you play from the blues? If you’re in your 60s and 70s and can still hit the ball far enough, then play from the blues and let those that still want to play and enjoy the game play from the whites and/or reds if they want to. There’s enough distance separating the whites and blues that maybe those of you fighting to prevent others from playing from the reds should find out what it’s like to minimize your ability to reach the greens in regulation. Then maybe you’ll see the light and opt for fairness.
The least thing we can do is bring it to the membership for a vote. After all, the Valley Golfers Club is governed by bylaws and a majority vote rule, not by the will of one of two individuals. If I’m still able to play golf at 80 it would be nice to be able to enjoy the game as much as others and play from a distance that is more manageable. Course, a lot can and will happen in the next 21 years but by then the will of the people should have prevailed against the opposition of a few. One can only hope.
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January 19, 2009 - 8:55 am
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duffer
I coulda shot my age net today if only the ball woulda dropped on the back side and in retrospect, I shoulda done it. Kind of ironic that just yesterday I was talking about how difficult it will be to shoot my age – even shooting my age net and then I had high hopes of accomplishing that feat today. Started out playing lights out and at the turn I had a 39 (Manteca’s front side has 3 par 5s and scratch is 37 not 36). Had a toilet ringer on 9 for a bogey but all in all I was ecstatic considering that on 7 my tee shot barely passed the red tees. Managed to eke out a bogey and was fortunate to have that.
So there I was at the turn thinking … ummm, I think that might have been my wrong doing since I was approaching my personal Amen Corner (10, 11, and 12). Shanked my tee shot on 10, played hide and seek in the trees and started the back with a double bogey. Managed a bogey on 11 and then put 2 in the water on 12. After 2 over on the front, my Amen Corner greeted me with 5 over !!*%$#!
Curses, foiled again …
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January 16, 2009 - 7:36 am
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duffer
NOT … I figured that my first round of 2009 would bring me high hopes for the year to come. Alas, 2009 did not start the way I hoped it would. Duck hooking my drive into the net on the first tee and playing hide-and-seek with trees helped to produce a double-bogey. I really did check the kcra weather radar on the web and not only were there no clouds to be seen but their forecast called for showers later in the day. So what were those rain drops doing getting my clubs and Sonocaddie GPS wet? I had the forethought to bring my Adams golf umbrella for my clubs but not one for me. Bummer. I should have brought 2 umbrellas. Anywho, I shook off the first hole, took a deep breath and promptly duck hooked my second tee shot in the woods. Took a 9 iron over the trees and one putted for a bird! Ya baby, now we’re talking. That hole will bring me back. The rest of the round consisted of 4 pars, 1 bogey, and 2 double bogeys. Manteca Golf Park actually has 3 par 5 holes on the front and I wound up shooting a 6 over 43. All in all, not bad. My best shot of the day resulted in a mudder par. We’ve all heard of sandy pars but I’ve never had a muddy par. On the par 3 #8 I pulled my tee shot into a pine tree and it fell back into what normally is the lake. For some reason, the water level was way down today and the ball sat up nicely in some mushy mud. I was wet, cold, and miserable cause it rained all day and I figured that I didn’t come here to paint. Took out my gap wedge, hit behind the ball like a sand shot and the mud projected the ball within 12 inches of the cup. Nothing but net and I had my first mudder. Life is good. Even the double on #7 and #9 couldn’t damper my spirits after that shot. We only played 9 holes today which was good cause I had made up my mind to end it at the turn. Once I get wet and miserable only a hot shower can help. I actually did good today coming in 2nd. Like I said, Life is good …
I do see hope for my game yet. The last 2 times out, I was able to string along some pars and a birdie now and then. I just need to play smart and stay away from those doubles or worse. Course, knowing what I need to do and doing it is two different things. Maybe being a year wiser will do the trick. What do you think?
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January 5, 2009 - 7:47 pm
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duffer
We all know why they call it golf. No, it doesn’t stand for “Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden”. They call it golf cause all the other 4 letter words were taken. Today was one of those memorable rounds that will go down in infamy! Hadn’t played in almost 2 weeks and I knew it was going to be feast or famine. Just didn’t know that it was going to be feast and famine. Started with a par 5, par 4, par 4, par 5, birdie, bogey, and a par 4. After 7 holes, I’m sitting there playing even par for the first time ever that I can remember at Manteca Park Golf Course. It’s always like that after a layoff – either you shoot a great round or a lousy one. Little did I know that the golfgods were about to humble me again and whip me back to reality!
So there I was facing the number 8 par 3 hole. My GPS shows me that I’m about 140 to the center and 120 of that is over water. Pull hook the shot, second shot into the beach with a fried egg lie, third shot barely out in the second cut, fourth shot is chunked leaving it in the rough, fifth shot on the green, and a wonderful two putt for a mere 7 on a par 3. The 9th hole was too painful to reflect on consisting of 1 in the water and 1 OB. Managed to eke out an 8 on a par 5. So let me get this right … after 7 holes I’m playing even par and at the end of 9 holes I’m 7 over !#&@%%.
Now I’m thinking that like any reasonable golfer I can overcome this and make a fresh start at the turn. I take a couple of deep breaths at number 10 and the old duffer in me takes complete control. I shank the drive and no, I didn’t get past the red tees. I know what I shoud be doing but by now I don’t think that my manhood can be defended. I’m whipped, play tag with trees a couple of times and walk off the green with a snowman on the 10th par 4. The rest of the round was bogey, bogey, double bogey, double bogey, bogey, double bogey, bogey, and bogey. When I was down for the count my tally was a lovely 94.
Like I said, the round was memorable … Now you know why they call it golf. Have you ever called it “golf”?
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December 29, 2008 - 8:32 pm
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duffer
We’ve all been there at one time or another. Those magical words still echo in my ears – “… pick it up, that’s a gimme …”. I say magical cause there’s been days when I couldn’t buy a putt and my playing partner is generously giving me a putt. It sure is tempting and for the most part I opt not to pick it up cause I need the practice and lets face it – the sound of the ball dropping in the cup is sweet music to my ears. There are many days when it takes me too many strokes to hear that sound. There really are some putts that are gimmes. But the problem is some people give too much and take away from the game. Nothing worse than playing animals with you holding the snake only to have someone award a gimme. What are you gonna do? Bad mouth the guy preventing you from passing the snake to someone else? Wish that I could …
I’ve seen a lot of 6 to 12 inch putts missed. That’s why you should always putt everything out. Especially, if you happen to be playing for some cash. Doesn’t matter if it’s a side bet of a quarter or serious bucks, you just don’t allow gimmes. I don’t even need to mention that it’s against the rules of golf unless you’re playing in match play. Ever played in a scramble where gimmes are allowed? Course not. It wouldn’t be tolerated. Some people say it speeds up play but that’s pretty lame. Oh, and by the way, if you’re given a gimme and you opt to putt and miss, well you count that stroke and all the next ones. I’ve seen people who were given gimmes and missed the putt and figure that any additional strokes won’t be counted … Wrong!!
At the Valley Golfers Club we putt everything out. That’s just something we do even if some of the boys may not agree with it. You just never know who is doing what against who. Greenies, sandys, fairways, putts, etc. all come into play if and when someone voices those words “… pick it up, that’s a gimme …”.
Are you a gimme kind of duffer?
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December 17, 2008 - 1:31 pm
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duffer
You drive for show and putt for dough … True enough except you still have to get there in regulation in order to putt for dough. I for one have wasted more good drives than I care to think of with my second shot. Most duffers can often drive the ball far enough from the white tees to reach the green in regulation but we somehow can’t manage to execute that dreaded second shot. Chunk, blade, hook, slice, shank, short, long – do these sound familiar? If so then I have the secret formula that will guarantee you’ll never miss that second shot again and will always get home in regulation – no really, just send me 3 easy payments of $19.99 and I can do that for you – well in my dreams of dreams. I connect on enough shots to keep me coming back but more often than not, no matter what I try, I just can’t get there.
Before I started playing golf, I considered watching golf on TV as exciting as sitting around listening to my beard growing. I never appreciated how the pros could consistently execute shot after shot. Now, I’m awed at some of those shots and even think that I can perform those magical shots but alas I rarely succeed. Such is the game of a Duffer …
Before anyone starts sending me all those training aids and instructional booklets let me save you time and money. Been there and tried that. It’s a demon we all have to overcome. Last time I took a lesson, it took me 2 months to get what little game I have back. Ever take a lesson only to see your game go down the tubes? What about your second shot? Mike, a buddy of mine drives the ball like a gorilla – well just cause his knuckles drag on the ground doesn’t make him a gorilla right !? Anywho, Mike easily flies my best drives but he just can’t hit that second shot. Nobody said life was fair but it doesn’t keep me from ragging his sorry behind. That’ll teach him to outdrive me …
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December 11, 2008 - 2:34 pm
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duffer
Ever notice how sometimes you never get to use certain clubs during a round? That happened today on the front 9 at Manteca while playing with the boys of the Valley Golfers Club. For some reason, I never used my 3, 4, or 5 hybrid. I either launched a good drive deep down the fairway, the old duck hook, or the dreaded slice into the woods forcing me to use a higher lofted club to put the ball back into play. Playing Army golf (left – right – left) does wonders to my self esteem and leaves me wondering why I got out of bed early to tee off at the crack of dawn in the fog. I love to use my hybrids and finally got the chance to use them on the back side only to wish I hadn’t needed them today. The duffer in me reared it’s ugly head and made me wish I could figure out why I have so much trouble with my second shots. Nothing like wasting a good drive … but then that another story. Turns out my partner for the day was on fire and couldn’t miss a putt. Bill and I ham and egged it pretty good in the best ball format and wound up shooting a net 58. Our closest rivals shot a net 65. Eat your heart out boys …
Looking back, I noticed that the tee boxes were up front today which probably played a big part in keeping certain clubs in my bag. That’s one of the great things about golf – no matter how many times I play a course I never hit the same shot twice.
What club(s) have you noticed covered with cobwebs in your bag?
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December 10, 2008 - 9:20 pm
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duffer
The only thing consistent about my game now days is that it’s consistently bad. Take my round yesterday – no please take my round – that way it won’t influence my index but then again, the NCGA will throw this one out since it wasn’t one of my finer efforts. I started out with a double bogey, followed by a par, then a triple bogey, followed by a par, bogey and a par. You get the picture, I couldn’t win for losing. Course I could probably blame it on the fact that I hadn’t played for a week but then that’s not out of character for an old duffer like me. Started out putting for par from 4 feet and winded up three putting for that lovely bouble bogey start. Duck hooked my second drive into the trees and managed to keep the ball low finding the green in regulation on number 2. Two putt for a ho-hum par. Started burning the edges, playing dumb, playing smart and not executing, too firm, too soft, quack, quack, quack, etc. No matter what I tried it didn’t work. Even my short game which normally defines my game decided to abandon me – I’m pin high on the third hole about 15 feet from the pin and the dreaded shank rears it’s ugly head and send the ball 15 feet past the green on the right. Line up again and you guessed it – the shanks sends the ball back to it’s original spot. Here I was facing a chip and a putt for par and wind up with a triple bogey. Go figure. This is about the time that you take a deep breath and remind yourself that it’s only a game … It really is just a game and the world as we know it will not cease to exist cause we play bogey golf or worse. You just laugh if off, shake your head, and walk to the next tee box.
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December 9, 2008 - 2:48 pm
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duffer
That first round after not playing for a week or two (or even longer for some Duffers) usually brings one of two extreme scores. I either shoot 8 to 10 strokes over my handicap or 8 to 10 under. Course, with my normal scores, 8 to 10 under my handicap does not mean I’m going to shoot a 59 or anything. It usually means around 80. I can’t put my finger on it but I think it has something to do with my melon. When playing regularly, I tend to start thinking too much during my pre-shot routine instead of just playing within myself. I start to tweak things in my head and concentrate on a small portion of my game and/or swing. The end result is usually a bad shot cause while concentrating on something I thought needed to be changed, I forgot to do all the other things. As Homer Simpson would say … “D’oh!” … But after not playing for a while I must not think much cause I often wind up striking the ball well. That is until I again convince myself that I need to tweak my game and I start to fall into the old trap again. It really amazes me how Vijay Singh can change his game overnight and still perform at that level. Heck, the way he changes putters alone make me wish I had the contract to restock his bag.
A good friend of mine usally plays lights out after a layoff but days later, he can’t buy a shot. Guess when I call him if I need a player for a scramble? Your first two guesses don’t count. Go figure! There’s a reason why they call it golf … all the other four letter words were already taken! … What’s your experience been after layoffs?
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December 4, 2008 - 7:55 am
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duffer
Guess when “winter rules” apply? Yup … in the winter, you wascawwy wabbit … You just gotta love winter rules since it gives you an opportunity to lift, clean, place and/or replace the ball or maybe just bump it a few inches and improve your lie without penalty. What? You have a problem with winter rules? Well, you should since winter rules once were not codified in any of the 34 rules that make up the Rules of Golf. It defies golf’s most sacred imperative of ‘playing the ball as it lies’. Someone once said that playing golf with preferred lies is like playing poker with wild cards. However, the 2004 rules edition now simply treats winter rules as another local rule, no different in status than any other local rule. Winter rules are not the infamous use of the foot wedge – that’s another story.
I’m not here to debate the merits or evils of winter rules. I’m here to say that the Valley Golfers Club adopted winter rules for play today and I for one appreciated the ruling. Nothing worse than driving the ball down the middle only to find it covered with mud, grass, or in our case this time of year – Canadian geese feces. These items tend to have an affect on the ball flight and realistically should never be allowed to interfere with my shot. Course, the way I played today no rules would have helped my game. There’s a reason why I’m just an old Duffer. Today I played Army golf, left – right – left … I played bogey golf but it was a struggle. Bottom line is that I advocate winter rules but only under strict guidelines.
What are your opinions towards “winter rules” – good, bad, indifferent?
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December 1, 2008 - 5:18 pm
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duffer
