I must say that I hate to offend anyone, especially Andrew Biggadyke and David Ober, but I had a spot of lunch on the deck of the half-way house at No. 11 of the Dunes and as far as I was concerned the wind was not especially disturbing at all. I think it was just a normal June day zephyr!
Bob
Bob-- Just returned from NoCal, and read this thread. The wind conditions almost made the courses unplayable in the afternoons, especially # 14 on the Dunes Course (it did have a little to do with hole location--we expected a different wind direction when the hole locations were selected).
I was Rules Chair on that course and seriously considered suspending play on a couple of occasions because the ball would not remain at rest on the putting green (I have suspended for rain and delayed for fog, but suspending for wind in Calif would have been a first)--
On at least two occasions Rule 20-3d was involked (look it up) and I was required to impose a two stroke penalty on John McClure for attempting to stablize his ball on the putting green while it was oscillating (breach of 1-2, see 20-3d/2) which put him into the playoff which he survived (thank God) by chipping in on the 3rd playoff hole to take the last match play spot-
Had the pleasure of reffing matches including the one with your Chef, who is a terrific guy, and two of Mr Anderson's matches, including his 19 hole win over Casey--
Bob, your courses are magnificent and the membership could not have been friendlier to the CGA and the contestants--
It was a great event made possible, in large part, by the hospitality of MPCC. We thank you!
Dennis,
If you knew me, you should have realized that when it comes to trying to lessen the egos of the good players that join me for a game on the Peninsula, I invariably pooh-pooh their complaints about windy conditions. Huckaby and Benham will confirm this. However, as just ordinary folk, we do play in worse from time to time.
Tuesday, as I am the first to admit was brutal.
The last three days of the Tournament were played in ideal conditions. On Sunday we teed off after the finalists and it was like playing in Palm Beach.
Thank you for your comments on the Club. We enjoyed the event and the superb golf that was displayed by the contestants.
I had one regret after the event and that was when I discovered that Joe Greiner, the young man that had 22 birdies in 40 holes of Match Play, had no family or groupies supporting him in the 36 hole final. The winner, an even younger player had his professional and coach on the bag plus other family members. There was one other blemish on an otherwise perfect day was when Greiner, using a golf cart as he had no caddie, was impeded in his progress in getting to the next tee by the spectators in their own golf carts blocking his way. I think the CGA should issue an edict that the player be allowed to move first.
Adam,
This summer will see us host the California State Amateur, The California Girls Championship, The Trans-Missippi Two Ball, as well as three Charitable Events. There is even one more event to which I take the most strenous exception and that is the California Seniors Championship. This is not open to the public at large and is a private group of Seniors from all over the State. A large number of members in this group are from the toniest clubs in Southern California but their own clubs never host this boondoggle.
Bob