Norm Ott
Happy New Year, SunBird, from the SunBird Men’s Golf Association. As we move into January, more of our snowbird residents and renters will be returning for a joyous winter in the Valley of the Sun. The association, aka the Men’s Club, wishes to welcome all back, as well as those who are new to the community.
For those who are new or unfamiliar with the club, it is an organization whose purpose is to promote, encourage, and advance men’s golf in the community. This is done by providing an opportunity for golfers of all skill levels to play competitive golf on a weekly basis. These weekly tournaments, held on Thursday mornings, consist of various formats, including individual stroke/net play, four-person scrambles, two- or four-person low gross/low net team events, and others, at the discretion of the tournament committee. In individual play, foursomes are made of up of players with similar handicaps, and in team formats, with balanced handicaps. Regardless of skill level, all players have a chance to win weekly prizes.
Participation in club events requires a membership in the club. The nominal annual membership dues include a membership in the Arizona Golf Association’s GHIN handicap system. In addition to Men’s Club events, having a handicap allows the player to participate in other non-club tournaments and groups. If you are new or have not otherwise participated, the Men’s Club invites you join in this weekly fun and camaraderie. For questions or more information, you may contact Fred Garmeson, membership chairman, at 480-895-9363, or you are invited to attend a club meeting held on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in the clubhouse.
Looking at tournament results in November, there were two events reported: a gross/net play on the 14th and a two-man scramble/shoot out on Thanksgiving Day. The gross/net was divided into three flights according to handicaps. The gross score winners by flight, respectively, were Wayne Onyx, 65; Howard Anderson, 71; and Gary Whistler, 77. On the net score side, the winners were Gerry Tomlinson, 61; Dave Fischer, 61; and Jim Anderson, 58.
The event on the 28th was a nine-hole, two-man scramble/shoot out combination. Five two-man teams teed off on the back nine. Each team scrambled to the hole, and the team with the highest score was eliminated. The surviving team after the last hole was declared the winner. The winners, thanks to a 25-foot putt made by Gerry Tomlinson, were Gary and Earl Walker. Finishing second and third, respectively, were the teams of Gary Whistler/Clair Jacobson and George Jones/Terry Leeper.