Men’s Golf League

Friday Golf

On March 17, 14 golfers challenged the 5,800-yard, par 70 Riverview Golf Course in Santa Ana. Due to the severe rains, the riverbed that runs through the middle of the course (normally water-free) was flooded and flowing quite fast. Since it was impossible to cross the riverbed to get to the back nine, the course morphed into a par 60, 4,000-yard course by playing the front nine twice and by using different tee boxes on several holes as well as turning one par 4 and one par 5 into two par 3’s and two par 4’s.

The grounds were wet, plus the day was cool, overcast, and misty. The greens remain in great condition and overall, play was shortened but not dramatically affected.

Sam Choi and Fujio Norihiro tied for fewest putts in the “A” flight, and Ron Jackson had the fewest for the “B” flight. Bill McKusky was closest to the pin on the par 3 second hole, and Sam was closest on the par 3 ninth hole. Three birdies were carded by McKusky, two birdies were shot by Sam, and Elicc Vaden had one. A special competition was held where a greenie on either the difficult par 3 third or seventh holes were rewarded. Only Ron met the challenge.

Winners: A Flight: First place: Choi, a terrific 8 under 51; second: Norihiro, a well-played 4 under 56; third: Gary Stivers, a nice 3 under 57; fourth: a tie between between Chris Lankford and Jim Goltra, a solid 2 under 58; fifth: a tie between Clay Fischer and Dave LaCascia, a sweet even par 60.

B Flight: First place: Vaden, an excellent 10 under 50; second: Bob Munn, a terrific 9 under 51; third: a tie between McKusky and Tom Ross, a sweet 8 under 52; fourth: Gene Vesely, a very fine 7 under 53; fifth: a tie between Jackson and Lowell Goltra, a good 3 under 57.

Monday Golf

On March 20, six hardy golfers and a guest confronted the 5,600-yard, par 70 Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach. It was a cold, misty, overcast round. Due to the early morning rains and after the storms from previous weeks, the course was already extremely wet and “cart path only” rules applied.

Winners: Gary Stivers had a banner day with first place at 3 under 67, three birdies, was closest to the pins on the par 3 seventh and sixteenth holes, and had fewest putts. Bill McKusky was second at a really good 1 under 69. Larry Hillhouse came in third at a nice even par 70. Sam Choi, Clay Fischer, Elicc Vaden (with a birdie) and Bill Zurn tied for fourth.

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 (2 under par), although infrequent, are generously rewarded. If interested, contact Gary Stivers at 714-313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at 801-674-5975.

—Dave LaCascia