LW Men’s Golf League
Seven members of the Leisure World Men’s Golf League competed March 15 at the Riverview Golf Club in Santa Ana on a sunny, but cool morning. Temps were in the mid-50s at the 7 a.m. tee time but barely approached 65 by rounds end.
With the Santa Ana River running down the length of the course, fairways were severely damaged by winter rains, and in some cases completely eroded by the torrent of water released from an upstream dam.
The players competed on a shortened course of about 4,000 yards, par-60, and everyone played under par. Just nine holes were used, and the course was played twice. This configuration is fun to play with different tee boxes and several new greens.
Fujio Norihiro was closest to the pin on the difficult, downhill 160-yard par-3 second hole. Clay Fischer was closest on the treacherous, all over water, 100-yard par-3 ninth hole. Gary Stivers had fewest putts in the A flight and Daniel Mahoney had fewest in the B. Mahoney also had two birdies and Fischer had one.
A flight winners (handicaps
of 0-19): Norihiro, 8 under 52, first place; Stivers, 5 under 55, second; Dave LaCascia, 3 under 57, third.
B flight winners (handicaps over 19): Mahoney, 10 under 50, first place; Lowell Goltra, 8 under 52, second; Bill McKusky, 7 under 53, third; Fischer, 2 under 58, fourth.
The league played Huntington Beach’s Meadowlark Golf Course on March 18. Nine golfers confronted a drying course on a cool, but sunny morning.
The December and January rains decimated many fairways. Soggy and muddy areas are drying up which allowed mostly full course access with carts.
Many of the holes were being aerated and sanded leading to four temporary holes that were considerably shorter than the usual holes. Special league rules applied in cases of sanded or temporary greens. With these rules in effect every golfer gained some advantage and played net under par.
Closest to the pins on the 140-yard par-3, all over water, seventh hole was Dave LaCascia. Sam Choi had fewest putts in the A flight, and Lowell Goltra had fewest in the B. Chris Lankford carded two birdies, Clay Fischer and Choi had one each.
A flight winners (handicaps of 0-19): LaCascia, 8 under 62, first place; Lankford, 5 under 66, second; Norihiro, 4 under 67; third; Choi, 1 under 70, fourth.
B flight winners (handicaps over 19): Bob Munn, 8 under 62, first place; Lowell Goltra, 6 under 65, second; Tom Ross, 5 under 66, third; Clay Fischer, 4 under 67, fourth; Bill McKusky, fifth.
The Monday and Friday golf leagues play at four local courses, all within 15-20 minutes of Leisure World. These courses 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 in playing can contact Gary Stivers at 714-313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at 801-674-5975.
—Dave LaCascia
