Men’s Golf League Aug. 19 and 22 results

Friday Golf

Fourteen golfers and one guest (Henry Mesa) from the Leisure World Men’s Golf League played Aug. 19 at the 4,000-yard par 62 David L. Baker Executive Golf Course in Fountain Valley. The weather was initially overcast and humid. Greens and fairways were very wet and choosing the right club for the approach shots was very important.

For the first nine holes, putting was difficult due to slow greens. By mid- morning the temperature got warmer and the sun came out, making it a better last half of the round.

The course is being maintained decently with several newly spruced up tees plus well-manicured fairways and greens. As has been the recent norm, the men’s tees were way back and the ladies’tees way forward. With the initial difficult playing conditions it was not expected that the course would permit 11 of the 14 rounds to be at or under par and yielded only three birdies.

A Flight (Handicaps 0-19): First place: Larry Hillhouse, a very nice 4 under 58; second: Tim Looney, a hardearned 3 under 59; third: tie between Gary Stivers (with a birdie) and Gene Vesely (plus fewest putts), a nice 1 under 61; fourth: Dave LaCascia; and fifth: Glenn Barry, who was closest to the pins on both the par 3 third and twelfth holes.

B Flight (Handicaps 20 and over):

First place: Fujio Norihiro, a spectacular 11 under 51, plus a birdie, tie for fewest putts, and a greenie on the 140-yard par 3 seventh hole; second: Bob Munn, a remarkable 8 under 54; third: Liz Meripol, a very respectable 7 under 55; fourth: tie between Lowell Goltra and William Hillhouse (plus tie for fewest putts and a birdie), a sweet 6 under 56; fifth: Digna Vesely, a well-played 4 under 58; and sixth: tie between Ron Jackson and Mike Looney, a very good 4 under 58.

Monday Golf

Nine golfers from the Leisure World Men’s Golf League played Aug. 22 at the 6,000-yard par 71 Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana. Willowick is a long, fairly flat course with no water hazards. It relies on its length (2 par 5’s

are over 520 yards) and large, undulat- ing, sloping greens as the significant challenge. This week the fairways were again in poor condition. Due to the high grass, plus numerous grass clumps and gopher mounds, valuable yards were shaved off on drives and approach shots, making the course seem even longer. Sadly, many of the greens seemed to have been seriously marred either for maintenance reasons or possibly maliciously.

The weather was overcast for the entire round with wet greens and such high humidity that the distance of shots was affected dramatically. Considering the very unsatisfactory playing conditions, it was not surprising that the course only permitted four of the nine rounds to be at or under par and yielded just three birdies.

A Flight (Handicaps 0-19): First place: Gary Stivers, very nice 7 under 64; second: Chris Lankford, a well-played 3 under 68, plus two birdies; third: Gene Vesely, a sweet 1 under 70; fourth: Dave LaCascia, a hard-earned even par 71, plus fewest putts and closest to the pin on the 140-yard par 3 fourth hole; and fifth: Larry Hillhouse, 1 over 72, plus a birdie.

B Flight (Handicaps 20 and over):

First place: Tom Ross, a terrific 5 under 66; second: Digna Vesely, a super 4 under 67; third: Bob Munn, at even par 71, plus tie for fewest putts; and fourth: Mike Looney, plus tie for fewest putts.

The Monday and Friday Golf Leagues play at four local courses, all within 15 -20 minutes of Leisure World.

The courses the group plays are always quite full, so advance League reservations are becoming 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 in each flight, birdies, closest to the pin on two par threes, and for 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 (714) 313-3697 or Dave LaCascia (801) 674-5975.

—Dave LaCascia