Myrtle Beach 2012

So few posts, so little time. Or something like that. Suffice it to say that it's hard to believe we are already upon the annual golf trip. Late February in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Nothing like it. When it's warm anyway. When it's not, and it hasn't been most of the twenty years we've been going, there's still nothing like it. And with all this global warming, we've got to be in for some good weather.

Anyway, golf is hard enough. Add to the challenge the sea level thing, the February thing, the wind thing, the cold thing, the beer thing, the high slopes thing, the abundant water thing, the narrow holes thing and the OB thing and it gets a lot harder. Or at least is has, at least for me. Practice helps. Sometimes. For some of us. A couple years ago I tried Tommy's no practice approach and won a lot (for our group) of money and earned a nice room. Last year, while basking my successful application of Tommy's approach, I again avoided all range, dome and putting time. This year I'm in the Nemo Suite. So I'm back to the practice. Once a week I hit a small bucket of balls at the dome. And I hit 6-8 foot putts while talking on my bluetooth in my office. This year I'm sure to do better. Right.

The MB12 format is familiar and comfortable. Best balls every day. Closest to the pin on every par three. Good friends. Good location. Good venue. Good courses. Destined to be a winner. Now if I can just muster some good golf...

Stay tuned to the CMGC Blog for revised course and format information. Till then.

2011 Closes with Club Championship

Better late than never. Last Sunday dawned clear and crisp with a thick layer of frost adorning the Links at Groveport. October 30th is the CMGC's second latest Club Championship and the scores reflected the late date, but that did not keep the competition from being close. John Kempton won the 2011 title in a playoff with Jeff McCorkle at net 75.

The field was close at the turn, but trees and OB took their toll and one by one those in the hunt fell by the wayside. Tom pushed an iron into the trees on 15 that was the beginning of his end and Steve flew his approach on 18 long. Not getting up and down meant it was just John and Jeff in the playoff. John won the playoff at +1.

On a personal note, I ran out of balls (both literally and figuratively) after chucking two OB and one in the lake on the 14th tee and had to withdraw. It was a Tin Cup moment, except I was playing horribly laying 98 on the 14th tee. It was a scene I hope never to repeat. Thankfully it didn't appear to impact my group of John and Base too much as John went on to win. Whew!

Here is the final leaderboard. Note that while Handicap Season officially ended on Monday, October 31st, Mother Nature may permit a lot more golf before winter closes in. Next on the CMGC calendar is the North Coast Golf Show and Myrtle Beach 21.

1: John Kempton; +3 (87 gross)
2: Jeff McCorkle; +3 (87 gross)
3: Steve Hawley; +4 (83 gross)
4. Tom Kirk; +5 (96 gross)
5. Rich Jenks; +9 (98 gross)
T6. Scott Kern; +11 (98 gross)
T6. Ed Hawley; +11 (105 gross)
8. Scott Basinger; +12 (100 gross)
9. Vince Resor; WD at +24 net

Myrtle Beach 20th Anniversary Edition

Wow, so it's been twenty years since the humble beginnings of the Myrtle Beach experience. After seeing the bargain prices for golf weekends in a 1991 copy of Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, Vince, Scott K, John and Scott B set out through the snow one cold February morning in a rental van for warmer climes in South Carolina. Condotels Surfside hosted the inaugural event that was punctuated by courses like Deer Track and Island Green, freezing rain, discovering cheap shirts at the old yellow roofed Martins, and playing euchre on a floating cooler lid in a hot tub shared with Pete Rose.

From those humble beginnings rose a great tradition. Today things are far more comfortable and luxurious. Not only do we no longer eat Taco Bell (well, at least not for every meal), but we each have our own bedroom. Back in the day we shared bedrooms and yes, even a bed now and then. Today most everyone even gets their own private bathroom. Gone are the converted motel rooms we'd pack in to like sardines. In their place are palacial 8 bedroom condos with big screens, wrap around verandas and gourmet kitchens. I guess that's what twenty years earns ya. Our 2010 house will be hard to beat, but the Century 21 condo above looks pretty nice.

Travel has changed over the years too. For some driving yielded to flying and gave rise to the Fly Boys. Entertaining quirks about. Who could forget the demise of Southeastern Airlines and the ten hours Vince and John spent in a one way Yugo rental? Or the MYR computer shut down that led to the two hour ride to Charleston with Meat Loaf? Or the incessant buzzing of the strap that held on the Turtle? Or the voice message "Visibility zero, confidence low." Or the Hooters Air year? Scotts renting the car? Priceless.

The 2011 courses include an all-star cast from the best of the last twenty years. Missing are some notable courses that have either closed or fallen into disrepair. Who could forget the early visual impact of Brick Landing and Oyster Bay? And we collectively mourn the passing of greats like Marsh Harbour and Ocean Harbor. In their place are these winners.

• World Tour, 02/25/11 Fri 12:00
• Tidewater, 02/26/11 Sat 10:06
• Prestwick CC, 02/27/11 Sun 09:30
• Glen Dornoch, 02/28/11 Mon 07:16

Over the years we have tweaked the tournament format for the better and for the worse. "Innovations" come and go and while the Roommates Tournament has disappeared along with sharing bedrooms, we have as strong a tournament schedule as ever for 2011. In addition to $8 for closest to the pin on each par 3, each day will feature a two man best ball event.

Travel day is February 24 and that's coming up fast. For those not in my travel group, see you at the beach!

Tommy Passes The Challenge

On a warm June day in which the entire field rode the hilly Tree Links course, Tom Kirk emerged on top of the list after tight battles in both groups. The Challenge historically produces some high scores and the 2010 edition was no exception with two thirds of the field failing to break a hundred.

Ed and Scott both played strong in the second group, but it was the first group that produced the drama and the winning score. Tom pulled through with solid shots in the closing holes to win the second Columbus Metro Golf Club tournament of the 2010 season. Congratulations Tom.

Tom Kirk: 98/80/+7

Jeff McCorkle: 94/82/+9

Richard Jenks: 102/83/+10

Ed Hawley: 105/84/+11

Scott Kern: 106/87/+14

Vince Resor: 114/97/+25

Steve Hawley Wins 2010 Lobsterfest

The sun shone brightly on the 19th annual Lobsterfest at new venue Safari Golf Club. Sunshine is a trait uncommon to the event and marginal weather has long been part of the landscape including the inaugural event back in 1992. Today Richard Jenks, Scott Kern and Steve Hawley all crowded the top of the leaderboard, but it was Steve who persevered down the stretch closing out Richard on the final hole.

The renovated Safari was in very good shape, although the hole routing proved quirky, almost random and more conducive to carts than walkers. Top marks went to the new holes and even the old holes had a fresh look.

Jill and Tom Kirk hosted the Feast at the Flower House. The intimate setting was ideal and capped a smooth day. Mother Nature held off showers until after the event ended. Tom's shrimp boil was a hit and despite strong appetites, we were unable to finish the entire batch. Thanks Tom and congratulations to Steve.

In an unusual departure, the CMGC shortened the 2010 Lobsterfest from its traditional 36 hole format to a one day, 18 hole event. While preliminary feedback was positive, more formal hearings will be held on the format change prior to the 20th anniversary event in May 2011.

Myrtle Beach 2010

The CMGC's 19th Annual Myrtle Beach Adventure has been in the books for nearly a week. I'm enjoying the last of the Fat Tires I brought home from South Carolina while typing up this report. This morning I finished assimilating the many photos from everyone who brought a camera. Much like MB10, it is among our best work. The 2010 trip lacked two of our regulars, but what it lacked in attendance it more than made up for in entertainment, good times and harmony.
















MB10 got stirred up right off the bat with a venue change to the Tropical Breeze. After several years at the big condo in North Myrtle Beach, we got a last minute upgrade to a house in Cherry Grove when Jeff pushed the hot tub issue. "Would any of these suit you?" asked from Elliott. Why yes, this one would be fab. Private house, private bathrooms for (almost) everyone, huge kitchen, great veranda overlooking the surf, easy access, and the hot tub worked. Home run. Nice job Jeff.

Pre-trip deals with Mother Nature paid off and rewarded us with possibly the best weather ever. The golf wasn't bad either. There were several sub-par net rounds, a round in the 70s, birdies and dogballs, and the final round in Jeff's quest to play every course on the Grand Strand.

• 2/19, Acadian Shores, 6055/69.2/126, 10:00 am
  
  
• 2/20, Pine Lakes, 6305/70.5/128, 9:57 am
  
  
• 2/21, Grande Dunes, 6272/70.0/126, 10:00 am, dinner at Rioz
  
  
• 2/22, Sandpiper Bay, ~6200/69.5/120, 8:33 am

The Competition Committee has finalized the tournament structures and stakes. Par 3s will still be $8, but other things are a little unusual with only seven competitors. Every Man Is A Diamond will still determine the pairings for days 1-3 with the winning team splitting $40 each day. The last day will pay $20 to the low net in each group reverse seeded by current winnings. Low net for the trip will still get first choice of rooms in 2011 with subsequent choices made by ranking. There may be no repeat winning Best Ball teams and all redraws will be from scratch. Best Ball Tie Breakers will be played on course if possible, and regression from 18 based on net scores if not. Par 3s will carry over to next day except on Day 4 where cash distributed among that day's Par 3 winners. If a round cannot be finished, results will be calculated based on last universally completed hole. Simple, eh?

Please stand by for the big 2009 update...

I wish I had a better excuse, but I don't. Call it apathy, distraction, altered states, dunno. Regardless, a lot of time has passed since the last CMGC website update. So much that the website has closed down and moved on to Google's Blogspot. In the process of searching for a new host for the CMGC, stops were made at Twitter and Facebook, each of which involved their own excursion off the beaten path. In the end, the blog format best fit our style, so here we are. Stay tuned for a long overdue update.