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!