SunBird Men’s Golf Association

Noman Ott

The month of February usually means that, by now, just about all of SunBird’s winter residents, owners, or renters have settled in. The month of February also means that the Men’s Club 2019-2020 season is rapidly reaching its half-way point. Be that as it may, if you are a golfer, there is still time to join up and enjoy the remainder of the season and beyond. Men’s Club events are scheduled each Thursday of the season. Various formats are played and are handicapped so that players of all skill levels have a chance to compete for prizes each week. Nominal membership dues in the club includes a membership in the Arizona Golf Association and its GHIN handicap system. While members are encouraged to play each Thursday, it is not mandatory. They can play as often or as little as desired. Also, if you are over 80, you need not have to worry about having to compete with the “big boys” who hit from the white tees. You will have the benefit of moving up to the red tees, which may improve your chances of hitting the elusive green in regulation and, of course, a chance of winning weekly prizes. For more information, please contact Fred Garmeson, membership chairman, at 480-895-9363 or you are welcome to attend a club business meeting held on the first Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. in the clubhouse ballroom.

Due to the deadline of submitting articles for the paper, the reporting of tournament results is a month behind. At the time of this writing, there were only two weeks’ results available for reporting. The gross/net event on Dec. 19 was divided into three flights. The gross score winners, respectively, were Dale Stokke 68, Dean Huyghebaert 70, and Gary Whistler 75. The net score winners were Dean Tucker 59, Todd Brautigam 60, and Ross Bennett 59. The winner of the two-man scramble held on Dec. 26 was the team of Dale Stokke and Duane Dub.

It is always fun to report members who have had recent holes-in-one, and we had a bunch in November and, to date, in January. Finding the bottom of the cup on their drives were Fred Nixon, hole 5 on Nov. 29; Bob Johns, hole 14 on Dec. 5; Dan Carroll, hole 8 on Dec. 30; and Dan Carroll, hole 17 on Jan. 1. No, friends, this is not a misprint. Dan actually had holes-in-one two days apart. The odds of a hole-in-one are quite long, but within two days, astronomical. Congratulations to all of the above.