Men’s Golf League
On Aug. 20, 14 men of Leisure World’s Monday-Friday Men’s Golf League braved heat and humidity at the David L. Baker Golf Course, a 4,000-yard, par-62, 18-hole course in Fountain Valley that is fairly flat but has numerous water hazards and diabolical sand traps. The course is well-maintained, and the golf club has several large practice areas, including two large putting/chipping greens and a grass/mat tee box driving range.
At tee time, the morning was sunny and humid with no wind. Though temperatures remained constant, humidity was an issue. The golfers hammered the course, which has narrow fairways and large greens, and generated nine at- or under-par rounds and seven birdies.
All scores are net. A Flight handicap is 0-20; B Flight, over 20.
A Flight Winners: First place: tie between Dave LaCascia and Larry Hillhouse, a well-played 7 under 55; second: Clay Fischer, a nice 4 under 58; third: Bill McKusky, 3under59;fourth:SamChoi, 1 under 61; fifth: tie between Tim Looney, Gary Stivers and Fujio Norihiro. Choi had fewest putts, a birdie and was closest on the 140-yard, par-3 12th hole. LaCascia was closest to the pin on the 100-yard, par-3 third hole and had twobirdies.Hillhouse,Looneyand McKusky also had birdies.
B Flight Winners: First place: Chris Lankford, an excellent 9 under53,plusfewestputts;second: Ron Sommer, a sweet 8 under 54 and a birdie; third: Lowell Goltra, a terrific 6 under 56; fourth: Bob Meripol, a nice 2 under 60, plus a birdie; fifth: tie between Gene Vesely and Bob Munn.
Ten Leisure Men’s League golfers competed on Aug. 23 at the par-70, 6,000-yard Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana. It’s the oldest golf course in Orange County, as well as one of the longest. The greens were once again in excellent shape, but the tee boxes and fairways were not well-manicured.
It was an overcast, humid morning, with cool temps. The course had been well-watered overnight, but with no sun and high humidity, the fairways and greens were wet, plus there was standing water and muddy spots on nearly every hole. The wetness usually translates to receptive greens, but only three players were under par, and there were just two birdies.
A Flight Winners: First place: Fischer, a superb 8 under 62; second: Stivers, even par 70; third: Norihiro, 2 over 72; fourth: LaCascia, 3 over 73, plus a birdie; fifth: tie between Choi and McKusky. Choi also had a birdie, and Norihiro and Fischer tied for fewest putts.
B Flight Winners: First place: Bob Munn, a marvelous 9 under 61, plus closest to the pin on the 150-yard, par-3 12th hole; second: Lankford; third: Vesely, plus fewest putts; fourth: Bill Zurn.
Friends, ladies, spouses and family are all welcome to play and/ or join. The league plays at four local courses, all within 15 minutes of Leisure World. The courses the group play are always quite full, so advance reservations with the league have become the norm, with a sign-up sheet available at each round.
There is a prize pool for each round that players are not obligated to enter. Rewards are given for low net, birdies, closest to the pin on two par-3s, and the lowest number of putts in each flight. Holes-in-one and eagles (2 under par), although infrequent, are generously rewarded. If interested, contact Gary Stivers at (714) 3133697orLaCasciaat(801)674-5975.
—Dave LaCascia
