Golf League Results
A very dreary, overcast morning greeted seven intrepid golfers on March 15 at the David L. Baker executive golf course. It’s a tricky, par-62, 4,000-yard course with no par-5s, but plenty of water hazards and troublesome bunkers. With the threat of significant rain, the players teed off at 7 a.m. with hopes of getting most of the round in before the heavy precipitation arrived. The avid golfers came prepared, carrying umbrellas and dressed in ponchos, slickers and other necessary gear.
Unfortunately, after four holes, the rain came; it persisted until the next-to-last hole two hours later. By rounds end, everything was very wet: clubs, bags, rain gear and persevering golfers. A hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate, plus a long, hot shower were clearly in the cards.
All scores are net (actual score minus handicap). A Flight handicaps range from 0-20; B flight is higher than 20.
A Flight Winners: First place: Dave LaCascia, 3 under 59, plus fewest putts; second: Fujio Norihiro, 1 over 63, plus a birdie; third: Bill McKusky, plus a birdie and closest to the pin on the 100-yard, par-3 third hole.
B Flight Winners: First place: Tom Ross, a very nice 10 under, plus fewest putts; second: Marv Ballard, 3 under 59.
In a reversal of fortune, a nice, sunny morning greeted six men, one woman and one guest four days later at the Riverview Golf Course in Santa Ana. Riverview is a par-70, 5,800-yard course, with sloping fairways, lots of water hazards, numerous elevated greens and strategically placed bunkers.
Twice a year, every golf course aerates and sands its greens and tee boxes to keep them well-drained and in good grassgrowing condition. This week was when Riverview performed that task. The greens are sandy (and very slow) until the sand is worn or pressed into the grass, as well as rough and uneven from the aeration holes. Therefore, no fewest putts were counted, and as long as players were on the green, two putts was the maximum taken.
A Flight Winners: First place: tie between Jim Goltra and Norihiro, 3 under 67; second: LaCascia, even par 70; third: Larry Hillhouse. Jim had two birdies, and Norihiro had one. Jim was also closest to the pin on the 145yard, par-3 second hole.
B Flight Winners: First place: Lowell Goltra, 4 under 66; second: Liz Meripol, 1 over 71. Guest player Mike Looney had the closest to the pin on the 100yard, par-3 ninth hole. Looney has now played three rounds with the league and qualifies to enter the prize pool.
Both the Monday and Friday Golf Leagues play at four local courses, all within 15 minutes of Leisure World, starting between 7-7:30 a.m., except holidays. The courses are David L. Baker in Fountain Valley, Meadowlark in Huntington Beach, Riverview in Santa Ana, and Willowick in Garden Grove. In general, masks are required at the pro shops, but optional while waiting to tee off. No masks are required on the putting greens, driving range or the course itself. Golfers are respectful of one other’s personal space, social distancing is observed, and there is no contact with others’ equipment. Golf carts are single person only unless riders are from the same household.
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. Prizes are awarded for low gross in each flight, birdies, closest to the pin on two par-3s, and lowest number of putts in each flight. Holes-in-One and eagles, although infrequent, are generously rewarded. If interested, contact McKusky (562) 430-8618 or LaCascia (801) 674-5975.
Handicaps can be determined using local course handicap numbers and adjusted for the longer, more difficult courses outside Leisure World. Contact LaCascia for more information.
—Dave LaCascia
