Strategizing for Tuesday--Jack Scruggs Memorial Service Scheduled

 Strategizing for Tuesday's Scramble

 

So far this year we’ve played two 4-person scrambles—one at Jimmy Clay, one at Morris Williams.

The Jimmy Clay results (from February) showed the usual tight scoring. The lowest among the flights was 47, while the highest score in the money was 53. That 53 would only have won money in one of the three flights—the others required a 51 or 52. But that was cold weather shooting.

The Morris Williams results in June were tighter still. 49 was the lowest, and 51 was the highest. Was it the heat or the course?  We’ll know more this Tuesday as we take on Jimmy Clay once again. By the way, in September, 2022 we played Jimmy Clay--the low score was 48—the highest money winner was 53. Bring your ‘A’ game!

 Jack Scruggs

 A memorial service for Board member Jack Scruggs has been scheduled for July 28^th. Details may be found here.  Our heartfelt sympathies go to Jack’s family.

Jack & friends at the course

 

 

Notes from the 19th Hole

Hole In One

At our last event at Morris Williams, Robert Amaro had his first Hole-In-One on #14. As he had entered the Hole-In-One Jackpot Contest, he will be collecting the substantial pot.

Robert collecting his ball
after his Hole-In-One

If you wish to partake in the next Hole-In-One Jackpot, contact Shawn Higgins, Event Director

Drinking Water to Be Added Back to the Courses

According to GolfATX, “A decision has been made to re-introduce water jugs back on our courses.  You should see the water houses by mid-July.  This is not an overnight process as we have to make some ice machine and water house repairs.  Small cone cups will be provided but in an effort to reduce waste, we encourage you to bring your own reuseable bottles.  You have made it 41 months without them, hang in there for a couple more weeks.”

In addition GolfATX is asking us to help out when using carts: “With the elevated temperatures, our courses are drying out quickly.  Dry grass is delicate grass--anytime you have the opportunity to keep your cart on the path and/or utilize the 90 degree rule, please do so.  It will go a long way to ensure we maintain excellent playing conditions through this sweltering summer.”

Tuesday July 11, 2-Person Best Ball

Starting Wednesday, July 5, Tee Time Registration will once again be open to sign up for our next event. You will be part of a 2-person team where for each hole, the best net score will be used, then totaled for a final score. You will need to complete each hole, as we will be using your individual gross score for handicaps. We will assign you a partner if you don’t have one. Remember that if the total number of players is an odd number, one person will need to hunt down a partner!

Modified Pinehurst is Back!

My turn!

Next week we play the two-person team Modified Pinehurst format at Jimmy Clay. For those of you who do not remember or are unfamiliar with the format here is an overview:

This is an alternate shot format with one added step. On each hole, both players drive the ball from the teeing area. From this point on, one ball will be chosen for alternate shot play. The player whose drive was NOT chosen hits the second shot. Handicapping and flighting are based on 60% of the low handicap plus 40% of the high handicap.

Shawn Higgins, our Event Chairman, has put in a lot of work this year coordinating and working with the city regarding their course maintenance and green aeration schedules ensuring our events are affected as little as possible. Not only that, he inserted many different formats trying to keep play entertaining, challenging, and interesting. I think he has done and continues to do an amazing job and if you agree, please tell him the next time you see him.  Thanks for everything Shawn.

Member Travis McWhorter is on the city PARD (Parks and Recreation Division) advisory board. At our recent ASGA board meeting, Travis informed us that plans are being developed and a vendor should be chosen soon to cover the exposed tree roots on hole #1 at Lions. There will be a lot of soil added and a new grass that grows well in the shade will be used to avoid erosion again. This is to be done in the July and August time frame this year. In addition for Lions, a vendor has been selected and soon the netting along #14 should be replaced. Personally, I like the current set up on 14 but understand why they want to get back to playing its intended design.  Travis is always working to improve not only ASGA but the Austin golfing environment. We appreciate everything you do Travis.

Pace of play is always important but it is becoming even more important as our temperatures continue to rise. One group last week took over FIVE hours to complete their round, finishing 40 minutes behind the group in front of them. The expectation for every group is to complete play within 4 hours and 15 minutes.  You are out of position if you cannot see the group in front of you. If your group is playing slow and a group behind you is waiting on the same hole, please allow the group to play through. It is important for all of us to be aware of our pace of play and strive to keep everyone moving forward. While we have not yet heard from a course regarding slow play, if we do we will have to take action to deter this.

Monday is Memorial Day and our membership has many veterans who sacrificed so much for us and our country.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts and we hope every one of you have a safe and happy Memorial Day.

May all your drives be straight and long and all your putts find the bottom of the cup. See you on the course.

 

Lewis
President, ASGA

Spring Two-Day Event is Coming Soon!

Get Ready for Tuesday AND Thursday Next Week! 

TUESDAY

Our annual Spring event is next Tuesday and Thursday (April 25 and 27) at Morris Williams. The Spring event is a two-day team competition.

The first day (Tuesday) we will play 2-person Best Ball Net.  Both players play their own ball for 18 holes and record their GROSS score for each hole. The scores will be adjusted for handicap (hole by hole) when turned in, to create a NET score. The player with the lowest NET score for each hole will be added together to create a total team score. Results and adjusted Thursday tee times will then be posted. There will be no handicap updating at this point.

THURSDAY

On the second day (Thursday) we are playing a two-person scramble. Each player tees off and a best shot is selected. Both players then hit their next shot from the selected spot (within one club length, or 6 inches on the green) and continue to do this until the hole is completed and a score is recorded.

You will keep your same team for each day. You will also have the same (or very close) tee time for Tuesday and Thursday. When you check-in on Tuesday expect to pay course and Event fees for both days. If you are riding in a cart, you will pay cart fees each day separately. 

Keep in mind that for this event, prize money is DOUBLED. So bring your best game to take home the big bucks (actually credit in the pro shop for various goodies)! We look forward to seeing everyone at the course. 

As a final note: no doubt everyone will be proudly wearing their white ASGA golf hats for this annual event. If you do not have one, just email the president and we will get one to you at the course. The cost is $20 and the inventory is down to single digits, so do not miss out. Good luck!

P.S. If you ever wondered what to do with a ball on the rocks, in the woods, and other info, check out the FAQ section under Golf Information on our website.

Final, final note: In the water on your #3 tee shot? Drop zone is the Red tee area.

Golf ATX Updates

 Upcoming Activities at the Four Austin Courses We Play

From GolfATX,

Morris Williams Driving Range will be closed April 17th - April 21st to replace the mats and resurface some eroded portions of the landing area, as you know, those mats have taken a beating over the last two years and it is passed time. Clay/Kizer mats are next and we do not anticipate a closure for that replacement.

The Lions Spring Partnership is scheduled for April 22-23 and that facility will be unavailable for open play until close to 5pm on those days. This is a really fun event and some of the best teams in the State will be battling it out on those historic grounds. We have also secured the appropriate bids to have the netting replaced on #14 and hope to have that work complete in a month.

Morris Williams greens are going through a rough transition. The poa annua grasses (bad stuff) have been taking us over the last couple of years and it is back this year as well. Combine that with the temperatures in the 40's/50's last week and that creates a bad combination. We are seeing progress and have full faith those greens will be really good again in the near future. The message to you is that they are ugly but ok.

The phone queue experiment went well at Morris Williams and we plan to get the same system in place at Clay/Kizer and Lions in the next month. We are going to continue with Morris Williams and work out the kinks.

Our closure list is long in May, we have the opportunity to make some applications that will control our summer weeds and will continue to have a positive effect into the fall and next winter.

Planned Closures: 

April 17--Lions--General Maintenance

April 24--Kizer--Aerification, solid tine and will be good by the weekend.

May 1--Clay--General Maintenance

May 2--Kizer--Application

May 8--Morris Williams--General Maintenance/Application

May 9--Kizer--General Maintenance

May 10--Application

State High School Tournaments are coming back to the Golf ATX Courses. Clay and Lions will be unavailable until after 2:00 on:

May 15-16 and May 22-23