Hillhouse scores a hole-in-one

MEN'S GOLF LEAGUE

By Dave LaCascia

LW contributor

A very cloudy and cool morning greeted nine members of the Men’s Monday Golf League, as they played on Nov. 23 at the David L. Baker Golf Course in Fountain Valley, a par-62, 4,000-yard, 18-hole course. With tees set far forward, it was a day for flag hunting and low scores. With such great conditions, every player was under par that day.

On the 140-yard, par-3 15th hole, Larry Hillhouse netted a rare hole-in-one. His shot was hit low, rolled onto the green, then seemingly disappeared. Approaching the green, the trio of players thought the ball had rolled off the green, but they could not find it. But when they looked in the cup, there it was.

Some interesting hole-in-one (a.k.a. ace) odds (compiled from various sources):

• Professional-tour player making an ace: 3,000 to 1

• Low handicapper making an ace: 5,000 to 1

• Average player making an ace: 12,500 to 1

• Two players from the same foursome acing the same hole: 17 million to 1

• One player making two holes-in-one in the same round: 67 million to 1 Also of note: A hole-in-one on a par-4 course is called an albatross. An ace is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds.

All scores are net (actual score minus handicap). A Flight handicaps range from 0-20, while B flight is higher than 20.

A Flight Winners: First place: Hillhouse, 8 under 54; second: tie between Bill McKusky and Dave LaCascia, 7 under 55; third: Fujio Norihiro, 6 under 56; fourth: Sam Choi, 5 under 57. Hillhouse had two birdies, and LaCascia and McKusky had one each. Hillhouse was closest to the pin on the 100yard, par-3 third hole, and Norihiro was closest on the 120-yard, par-3 15th hole. LaCascia had the fewest putts.

B Flight Winners: First place: Marv Ballard, with an exceptionally good 14 under 48; second: Tom Ross, 13 under 49 and one birdie; third: John Meyer, 9 under 53, plus a birdie; Bob Munn, 3 under 59. Ross and Meyer tied for fewest putts.

The league did not golf on Nov. 27, the day after Thanksgiving, but a very bright and cool but damp morning greeted the 12 men and one woman of the Monday Golf League. They played the par-70, 5,600-yard, 18-hole Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach on Nov. 30. The cool/damp conditions made the course tricky, and club selection was particularly important. The group welcomed back Gary Stivers, who was returning after knee surgery, and a new player, Glenn Barry.

A Flight Winners: First place: John Petersen, 70, plus closest to the pin on the 150-yard, par-3 15th hole; second: tie between Gene Vesely and Norihiro, 73, plus Norihiro was closest to the pin on the 140-yard, par-3 seventh hole; third: tie between Hillhouse and Stivers, 74, and Stivers had fewest putts; fourth: LaCascia; fifth: tie between Jim Goltra and Barry; sixth: McKusky. Both Goltra and Barry had a birdie.

B Flight Winners: First place: Meyer, 72, plus a birdie; second: Munn, third: Keiko Sekino; fourth: Bill Zurn, who also had fewest putts.

Another bright and cool/ damp morning welcomed nine men and one woman of the Friday Golf League on Dec. 4. The round was played at the par-71, 6,000-yard, 18-hole Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana, the oldest in Orange County. Weather conditions made the course longer than usual, and accuracy was the most significant part of the day’s play. As a result, there were four birdies but only three rounds at or under par. The group also welcomed back Liz Meripol after a three-month absence.

A Flight Winners: First place: LaCascia, 2 under 69, plus fewest putts; second: Goltra, at par 71, plus a birdie; third: Stivers, 74 plus a birdie; fourth: tie between Vesely and McKusky, who also had a birdie and was closest to the pin on the 140-yard, par-3 fourth hole; fifth: Barry, plus a birdie and closest to the pin on the 140-yard, par-3 12th hole.

B Flight Winners: First place: Meripol, 4 under 67, second: Ballard, 1 over 72; third: Ross, plus tie for fewest putts; fourth: Munn, plus tie for fewest putts.

LW Men’s Club membership is not required, and friends, ladies, spouses and family are all welcome to play and/or join. There is a prize pool for each round that players are not obligated to enter. Handicaps can be determined using local course handicap numbers and adjusted for the longer, more difficult courses outside Leisure World. Contact Dave LaCascia at (801) 674-5975 for more information.