There is an old adage that says, “Time flies when you are having fun.” This adage is really exemplified as the Men’s Club moves into the month of February with the realization that the 2018-2019 season is already half over. Where did the time go? We trust that the first half was fun for everyone and that the rest of the way will also be filled with much enjoyment.
February also means that, by now, most of SunBird’s winter residents, both owners and renters, have settled in. If you are a new resident or one who has been here and likes to play golf, the Men’s Club would like to invite you to consider joining the club. Membership in the Men’s Club provides a membership in the Arizona Golf Association GHIN handicap system, which is necessary to play in the weekly tournaments and other special events that are held throughout the season. Having a handicap also allows you to play in other clubs, groups or events throughout the season that are not part of the Men’s Club schedule. Players of all skill levels are welcome to join. The handicap system levels out the playing field, so everyone has a chance to win. There are also Super Senior Discount Tees. Any member who is 80 years old or above may play the events from the forward (red) tees. This will also improve the chances of winning for those in this age bracket. For more information on the club, you may contact the membership chairman, Fred Garmeson, at 480-895-9363, visit the Pro Shop or attend a Men’s Club meeting held on the first Tuesday of the month at 9:00 a.m. in the ballroom.
On the news front, December saw the first of the club’s special events, the net score SunBird Cup which was played on December 6 and 13. The 65 players who participated in this two-week tournament were divided into five flights according to handicap. The individual final scores were the accumulation of both weeks’ net scores. The player with the lowest score in each flight was declared the winner of that flight; however, the SunBird Cup is won by the player with the lowest score out of the 65 players, regardless of which flight he was in. As mentioned above, the handicap system does level out the playing field. The SunBird Cup Champion for 2018 and playing out of the first flight was Ron Jackson with a two-week net score of 114. His gross score was 2 over par 134. Good job, Ron. Flight 2 through 5 winners, respectively, were George Richardson 118, Russ Bower 124, Ross Bennett 121 and Ken Cross 120.
The month was rounded out with a Modified Stableford event on the 20th and a four-man scramble on the 27th. Please check the club bulletin board for the February schedule of events.