Men’s Golf League plays at multiple courses

Ten golfers from the Leisure World Men’s Golf League, including guests Steve Tierney and returning player John Mayer, played Oct. 27 at the 5,800-yard par-70 Riverview Golf Course in Santa Ana. The weather was cool and very damp with no sun until the last few holes. This meant that wet fairways and greens persisted right through to the end of the round. The course is well-kept, and the greens are large.

With many elevation changes and several difficult crossings of the Santa Ana riverbed, positioning for second shots is paramount. Surprisingly with just average playing conditions the course yielded seven of the eight rounds at net under par and four birdies—one each by Chris Lankford, Sam Choi, Dave LaCascia and Gary Stivers. Choi had fewest putts in the “A” flight, and Bob Munn and Daniel Mahoney tied in the “B.” Choi was closest to the pin on the 100-yard ninth hole, and Mahoney was closest on the 150-yard second.

A flight winners (handicaps 0–19): Lankford, 9 under 61, first place; Choi, 7 under 63, second; LaCascia, 3 under 67, third; Stivers, 2 under 68, fourth; Bill McKusky, fifth.

B flight winners (handicaps 20 and over): Mahoney, 5 under 65, first place; Lowell Goltra, 4 under 66, second; Munn, even par 70, third.

Twelve golfers plus guest John Mayer played Oct. 30 at the 5,600-yard par-71 Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach. The weather was initially cool, but the usual dampness and wet conditions were not present partly due to extremely low humidity and weak Santa Ana winds that increased somewhat as the round progressed. As the sun rose the temps went up and the humidity went way down.

Meadowlark has been kept in great shape for a long time. Many elevation changes, inverted pie plate (turtle back) greens, plus large sand traps and numerous water hazards challenge everyone.

Even with the good playing conditions, only four of the 12 rounds were net under par in part due to the on-and-off winds. There were just three birdies—one each by Clay Fischer, Larry Hillhouse and Chris Lankford. Gary Stivers had fewest putts in the “A” flight and Tom Ross in the “B.” Dave LaCascia was closest to the pin on the 140-yard over water seventh hole, and Bob Munn was closest on the 140-yard into the wind 16th.

A flight winners (handicaps 0–19): LaCascia, 3 under 68, first place; tie between Stivers and Fischer, 1 under 70, second; tie between Hillhouse and Sam Choi, third; Lankford, fourth; Bill McKusky, fifth.

B flight winners (handicaps 20 and over): Bob Munn, 1 under 70, first place; Ross, 1 over 72, second; Daniel Mahoney, third; Lowell Goltra, fourth; Gene Vesely, fifth.

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 required 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 (two under par), although infrequent, are generously rewarded. Those interested should contact Gary Stivers at 714-313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at 801-674-5975. — Dave LaCasia

Leisure World's Turtle Lake golf course is a 1,658-yard 18 hole par-54 course and often hosts the men's and women's golf leagues.

Paul Kryczko