Winter Weather is Coming!

Always a good lie with snow!

The upcoming week of January 19 looks to be a cold one. A very cold one--which means ASGA will be cancelling our Tuesday January 21 event. Here are some of the details regarding why--from our partners at GolfATX (edited).

"Due to the current forecast, GOLFATX will deploy putting green covers beginning Saturday the 18th at Jimmy Clay, Roy Kizer, Morris Williams and the Balander Short course.  Kizer and Morris Williams will be closed for play, we will have availability at Jimmy Clay until 10:00 AM on Saturday.  Lions, Hancock and the practice ranges will be unaffected on Saturday.  We anticipate greens covers remaining in place thru Wednesday the 22nd but the situation could change based on weather.  Lions and Hancock will be opened intermittently with the approval of our agronomy staff during this weather event.  

"We do not know exactly how long it will take to cover the greens but we know we have over 8 acres in the 64 greens we are covering and the task will be significant.  The reason for deployment early Saturday is to get in front of the north winds arriving early Saturday afternoon.  We appreciate your understanding during this necessary disruption.  The only way this plan changes from Saturday morning is a major change in the forecast.

"We have another irrigation pond project scheduled for Lions at the end of January bleeding into February.  The pipe going from the pond into the irrigation house needs to be repaired requiring some excavation work in the pond itself.  We do not know exactly what we are going to find nor the impact on play but we will do our best to communicate those disruptions and adjust fees accordingly when they occur.  

"Materials for the lighted driving range at the Clay/Kizer should be arriving next week and work will start shortly thereafter.  We look forward to having a wonderful "after-hours" spot for you to continue working on your game.  Operation hours on that driving range will be communicated at the end of the month.

"In our last communication, our par threes (and all other holes) are getting pitted with pitch marks, cleaning up your marks is a vital ingredient to the healthy future of the turf, please enjoy this short video on proper pitch mark repair.  

"An additional way to limit visible damage to the course is thru cart traffic.  When you are entering fairways from the path and see a worn spot, avoid it and take another route.  If we all take the same entrance point, we create roads.  Roads on golf courses are not good.  When around tees and greens, all 4 tires on the path will limit those nasty ruts that we all see, traveling carts can go around you.

"Steve Hammond

"GolfATX Division Manager"

Hopefully this will be the worst of the winter weather--

Bruce Jones
ASGA Admin

December News

Mo Willie at Dawn

Have you renewed for 2025? If you’re late (after 12/31) it’s $5 extra and frankly causes headaches to manually insert you back into current status, unless you’d like to wait a week to become current once again. See the notice on our home page where you can check to see if you’ve renewed. Your webmaster thanks you.

Using our Tee Times as a guideline (PLEASE READ)

We continue to have conflict where players roll in according to the “Pace of Play” initiative, and their fourth drops in 10 minutes before published Tee Time with disappointment for all.

Most of us wish to play early rather than late, and teeing off ahead of our tee times, allows a 10 a.m. player to tee off up to 30 minutes or more earlier, avoiding summer heat and drive-home Austin traffic. This information is posted in our “Pace of Play” item at the top of the home page of our website. If you show up 15 minutes before your 9am tee time, and check in for the event, you may find the rest of your group has already left, thinking you are a “no-show” (which actually occurs every week). If you plan your arrival and Tee Time using the Pace of Play initiative, it will make for a better day for all of us.

Show up early, tee off early. 

Member Passing

Stacy

Many of us knew Stacy Holt, who joined us in 2021. Typically in a group with Karen Walsh, Joe Noon, and usual partner Grady Morris, Stacy actively participated in over 80 events with us, enjoying the golf and the fellowship. Thanks to Mike Dodson for letting us know.

 A link to Stacy’s obituary.

 

Please Don’t Abuse The Cart Privilege

Please keep carts on path in and around tees & greens.  Avoid any puddles or wet areas within fairways & roughs.  As a rule of thumb, use the 90 degree rule when entering and exiting fairways.  Allow maintenance & beverage carts to pass on cart path if possible.  During the winter months, grass is slow to grow, and we’ve all seen the “paths” taking off from the pavement to cut a corner. Don’t take the short cut. Use the cart path. 

And a note to those who have handicap signs for our carts. Remember to stay 30 ft. from the greens AT A MINIMUM. If it’s Cart Path Only due to winter weather, you too need to stay on the cart path. Thanks.

Remember your correct position on the course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you.

 

And lastly, a bit of humor…

Golfer's dilemma (stolen from Bob Anderson) 

You're playing a match for the club championship. After 17 holes, it's all even.  You have the honor and hit a perfect drive 250 yds down the middle.  Your opponent hits his ball dead right into the woods.  You help him look for the ball and finally he says "Why don't you go hit your ball and I'll keep looking for mine for a couple of minutes.  If I don't find it, I'll head back to the tee and hit my 3rd shot.  You head back to the fairway and hit your 2nd shot.  It's perfect!  Lands 10 feet from the pin.  Just as your ball lands on the green, you hear...."Found it!!!"  A minute later....the ball comes flying out of the woods.  It hits the green and nestles 5 inches from the cup for a gimme. 

Here's the dilemma...do you take the cheating SOB's ball out of your pocket and confront him with it...or do you just keep your mouth shut???😀

 

Happy Holidays!

Gabe Padilla Wins Another One!

Gabe (courtesy of V. Padilla)

Congratulations to Gabe Padilla, who won this year's ASGA Championship. Gabe led the first day with a score of 70 for the two-day annual event, but Jeff Brown pulled even after the second day with a 71-72 to equal Gabe's 70-73. 

The usual playoff did not occur directly after the second day, so it was played the following Tuesday, with Gabe securing the win and a $100 credit at GolfATX. This was not the first time Gabe took the prize. He also won in 2023, 2015, and 2013, thus becoming the first four-time winner of this prestigious event!

View all the ASGA champions at this link.

Well done Gabe!

The ASGA Championship Is (almost) Complete and a Well-known Member Passes

 Member Passing

Sadly we announce that longtime Austin Senior Golf Association member William Miller, age 70, passed on September 16, 2024 just after finishing a round with the (in)famous “Hudgens Group” at Mo Willie. It happened as he was beginning his shift with Golf ATX, with whom he had a long association. 

As an ASGA member since 2017, Will played in over 100 events, many with Shawn Higgins.

“Will was a former partner of mine and one of the really good guys.  I always enjoyed his company and will miss him dearly.”--Shawn

The memorial service for William will be held Wednesday 09/25/2024 at the Corinth Missionary Baptist Church at 1:30 PM.  It is currently planned to gather at Mo' Willie after the funeral for food, music and to hit a few range balls.  Your challenge will be to beat Will’s longest drive.

ASGA Championship

After two weeks on the new, impressive greens at Jimmy Clay and Roy Kizer, we have ended up with a very tight finish for Champion. Barkley Edwards and Mark Dungey tied with 128 for Net Champion. In accordance with our rules, starting at #18, looking for the lower score—Mark Dungey took the prize with a net “three”.

For the Gross Championship, Jeff Brown (71-72) and Gabe Padilla(70-73) ended up tied at 143. Their playoff has been delayed, but will be played soon.  

Hats off to all our participants—the prizes for Closest To the Pin and Longest Drive will be handed out to the various winners at our Annual Match Play/Annual Meeting and Banquet coming up next month. Stay tuned--lots of info coming soon!

ASGA CTP/LD Finishes

Hole-In-One Last Tuesday at Lions!

 

Congratulations to Turner Lewis who aced the 15th hole at Lions!  This was the 2nd ace at that hole this year!  Turner pulled out his trusty gap wedge and landed his shot a few inches from the cup.  The ball hopped up slightly and landed in the jar!  And in more good news (to everyone but Turner), the HIO Jackpot is safe because Turner wasn't in the pool.   This was Turner's second hole-in-one.  

The jackpot currently stands at $410.  And as Turner would say later that day....."Ya gotta pay if ya wanna win!"