Holy Heatwave Batman!

The suns rays shine through the trees on the 17th green.

I'm going to hazard a guess that our round of golf tonight was one of, if not the hottest nights of golfing we've had in all my years of playing in the league. Perhaps someone older and wiser can recall a round that was more hot and humid without a breath of a breeze in the past but I can't imagine it being any worse. On the positive side, although we might have finished the round soaking wet, it wasn't due to any rain storms. Actually, some precipitation would have been welcome. And surprisingly the deer flies and mosquitoes were noticeably absent as well. They were probably drinking beer in the shade some place watching and laughing at us.

Lyle Williams grabs a seat in the shade on Tom St.Denis.

The hot weather seemed to work to some players advantage tonight while others struggled to keep their grips dry and hold on to the golf club. Okay, I'm talking about me. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Sandy McLeod shot the low round of the night posting a one over par 28. The Closest to the Pin winners were Matt Couperus on hole #13 and Jim Conley on hole #4. For the second time in two weeks Benny Brock won the 50/50 prize.

It was almost an all or nothing night for the matches as five teams swept all six points up for grabs. They included the Dubbers, CCCP, Whizbangers, Southpaws and Wedgers. The Rolling Stones earned 4 points and the Fat Shafts grabbed two points.

Lyle Williams and Mark Kennedy rest in a shady spot.

We've Been Lucky

The boys share some laughs after a hot night of golfing.

I think it's safe to say that we've been very fortunate this season to avoid the nasty weather on Wednesday nights so far. I hope I didn't just jinx us. Once again, threatening skies and a severe thunderstorm watch never developed into anything and other than the dampness caused by the humidity, it was another hot and dry night for golf.

The standings are still crowded in the middle of the pack with several teams competing for the last spots of the "A" division but time is running out to make a move. If the top teams keep playing well then jumping divisions could be a difficult task.

Improving their chances tonight by taking six points were the Latecomers and Fat Shafts while the first place Southpaws also grabbed six in their match. The KGB and Wedgers each earned five points while the Rolling Stones took four points. Also earning points tonight were the Hackers with two while the Fivesome and Dubbers each grabbed single points.

Andy Koetstra turned in another low round of 26 coming shy by one stroke once again of tying Norm Toyne for the Individual Low Gross.

Lyle Williams tee shot on hole #3 barely crept past Mark Kennedy's shot to take the Closest to the Pin on the front nine while Norm Toyne stuck his shot close on hole #12. This weeks 50/50 winner was Jeff Istead.

Welcome Back Humidty

I think we finished the weeks of 18 holes just in time as the summer humidity appears to have finally made it's sticky return to the area. It makes for a bit of an uncomfortable round but I think we can all agree it's still better than rain. However, we end the round just as wet.

Al Wilkinson had the low round of the night as he shot his way to a 28. I also heard that Marty MacDonald had a strong outing with a 30 which was made all the more exceptional by the bank shots he made off several trees in the process. That's what you call "course knowledge."

Three teams took all six points up for grabs tonight as the KGB, Dubbers and Rolling Stones won their matches. The Fat Shafts had a five point night as the Fivesome earned a single point. Elsewhere the CCCP took four points, the Wedgers and Southpaws each grabbed three points and the Hackers earned two points.

Ron MacDonald was the Closest to the Pin winner on Hole #2 while Kyle Wilkinson took the honour on Hole #11. This week's 50/50 winner was Benny Brock.

Brian Moelker, Steve Powell and Andy Koetstra relax on the deck after a warm round.

18 Holes - Week Three

The first place Southpaws turned in an impressive nine hole round tonight shooting a team total of 87 which was good enough to take over the Team Low Gross lead by themselves. However, their match versus the Dubbers was fairly even with the Southpaws taking 7 points and the Dubbers 5.

The Whizbangers were the only team to take all 12 points up for grabs during this final week of 18 holes. The Wedgers came close to doing the same but fell short taking 11 points in their match with the Fat Shafts who earned a single point. The Bogies grabbed 10 points from the CCCP as the Russians earned two points. Elsewhere the Latecomers took 8 points, the Rolling Stones and KGB split their match earning 6 points each and the Hackers took 4 points.

The low round of the night went to Norm Toyne of the Wedgers with a 25 which matches his previous lowest of the season and good enough to hold the lead for Individual Low Gross honours.

The Closest to the Pin prizes were won by Paul Scobie on Hole #1 and Andy Koetstra on Hole #10. Marty MacDonald was this weeks 50/50 winner.

Just a reminder that starting next week we're back to playing nine holes for the rest of the season.

18 Holes - Week Two

With Summer only hours away we've hit the halfway point of our season with the round tonight and once again it was a perfect evening for our second round of 18 holes. The clear skies made it possible for all groups to get in their full 18 hole round, even if one group tried their best to play the last couple of holes with Glo-Balls.

Andy Koetstra putts from off the 9th green.

Andy Koetstra of the Fat Shafts had an excellent second nine and shot a 26. Had he not three-putted one green he would have tied for the Individual Low Gross. Maybe next week Andy. Meanwhile, Norm Toyne who is the current ILG holder with a 25 had some impressive shots when it counted. Norm managed to walk away with both Closest to the Pin prizes on Holes 9 & 18. Don Vance was this week's 50/50 winner.

The Fat Shafts appear to be making a move in the standings as the only team to take all 12 points in their match this week to move them out of "C" flight and into the grouping in the middle of the pack. Only four points separate fourth place and the eighth spot. The first place Southpaws increased their lead slightly with an 8 point night. Both the Wedgers and Bogies took 10 points. The Whizbangers had a 9 point night while the Dubbers and Latecomers split their match earning 6 points each. Rounding out the nights scoring, the Rolling Stones had 4 points, KGB 3 and the CCCP and Fivesome both had 2 points.

The Whizbangers had an impressive 9 hole round of 88 which moved them into a tie for the Team Low Gross.

We have one more week of 18 holes next Wednesday night. See you then.

18 Holes - Week One

One thing about playing these few weeks of 18 holes, we all get to enjoy the setting sun. Of course, that also means the last few holes of play can test our eyesight in following the balls flight to the green. But it's nice to have these long days upon us again so lets enjoy it while it lasts.

With 12 total points up for grabs tonight there was plenty of opportunity for teams to start making moves as the first half of the season is nearly over.

Only one team took all 12 points in their match as the Southpaws swept the KGB and moved back into first place. The Fat Shafts leapfrogged the CCCP to move up in the standings taking 10 points in their head-to-head match. The Hackers and Rolling Stones each earned 8 points. The Dubbers, Whizbangers, Latecomers and Fivesome split their matches for 6 points each. The Wedgers and Bogies each had 4 points while the CCCP had 2 points.

Peter Hughes had an excellent nine hole round of 26, one stroke shy of tying Norm Toyne for the Individual Low Gross. However, Peter's score helped his Dubbers team to a total of 88 for one nine and a share of the Team Low Gross.

The Closest to the Pin awards went to Coady McGillvary on Hole #8 and Kyle Wilkinson on Hole #17. Art Cross was the nights 50/50 Winner.

See you next week for another 18 holes.

A Strange Night

After giving a quick glance at the scores and team totals for the evening, it would appear that almost everyone had an off night on the course. I think only two teams shot in the 90's and the rest were over 100 which doesn't happen all that often. At least we were all in good company.

The Southpaws, who were in first place heading into the round, had a rare off night and managed only one point against the Whizbangers which dropped them to third place in the Standings (provided my totals are correct). Both the Dubbers and the Rolling Stones edged ahead of them.

Points won tonight were as follows... The CCCP and KGB were the only two teams to earn all six points up for grabs. The Whizbangers and Rolling Stones each took five points. The Dubbers and Wedgers managed four points in their matches and the Fat Shafts and Hackers took two points each. The Southpaws and Latecomers each earned single points.

There was only one Closest to the Pin winner tonight on Hole #16 as Peter Hughes dropped his shot tight and made the easy birdie putt. The front nine Closest to the Pin was not won by anyone due to an error. It was decided that the prize money would be donated by the league towards the fundraising efforts for the bench to be placed on the course in memory of Don Kovanen. The 50/50 Winner this week was Eric Korver. That's Eric's second win in three weeks.

A reminder that starting next Wednesday night (June 12) we play three weeks of 18 hole rounds from the White Tees. See you then!

That Was Nice For A Change

I don't know about the rest of you but I actually thought tonight's round was a little on the muggy side. I'm not complaining of course. I was actually quite glad to feel some warmth for a change on Wednesday night. Maybe the cold weather has finally left us for a while. I hope I didn't just jinx us.

The rise in temperature agreed with five teams as they swept the points in their matches. The Dubbers, Wedgers, Southpaws, Rolling Stones and KGB all took six points. The Fivesome earned four points on the night while the Hackers took two.

The Closest to the Pin winners were Matt Kenell on hole #6 and Don Muldoon on hole #15. Glenn Lonergran was the nights 50/50 winner.

Bugs In Our Game

Dave Walker in deep thought prior to his tee shot on Hole 17.

Its taken a while but those pesky bugs have arrived again. For some of us the bugs aren't just in our game. Rather, tonight the mosquitoes made their triumphant return to annoy us each and every shot. I kept reminding myself it's still better than the long winter we had. On the plus side, we managed to get the round in prior to watching another strong Spring storm system roll into the area.

Teams sweeping all six points in their matches tonight included the Rolling Stones, Southpaws, Latecomers and Bogies. The KGB and CCCP each earned four points while the Dubbers and Whizbangers took two points each.

The Closest to the Pin winners this evening were Nick Vangemeren on hole #5 and Tyler Donaldson on hole #14. Eric Korver was this weeks 50/50 winner.

Toyne Tears It Up

Steve Powell adds up his match totals for the night.

There was no questioning who had the hot clubs tonight. Norm Toyne of the Wedgers became the new Individual Low Gross Leader by turning in a tremendous 2-under par round of 25. Among his pars, Toyne also had three birdies and even had a bogey on the final hole to shoot his impressive round.

Not surprisingly, the Wedgers took all six points in their match. Also sweeping their matches were the Fat Shafts, Whizbangers, Southpaws and Latecomers. The Dubbers took five points from the Rolling Stones who earned a single point.

The Closest to the Pin winners for the night were Kevin Wadsworth on hole #4 and Coady McGillvary on hole #13. Rick Turtle was this weeks 50/50 winner.