Close the books on another successful RSG Cincinnati Golf Classic. Each year is better than the last and this year was no exception. I had a great time this year and I hope that everyone who participated feels the same way. I’d like to thank everyone who attended and I hope you all can come back next year!
There are a lot of stories to tell and there is not enough time to tell them all. I will, however, try to give my highlights of the weekend.
Photo Galleries:
Rob Pyle
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockpyle/The Host’s
http://www.pbase.com/jpflumjr/rsg_cincinnati_2008Friday
The event opened at my home course – Hickory Woods. It is a nice parkland style course on the east side of town. It won’t get any awards for breathtaking design or Augusta-like conditions but it a fun course and the staff are excellent.
I had my “Shot of the Weekend” on my approach into the par 5 18th hole. I busted a drive right down the middle and had only 200 yards into the green. I was in the last group and all of the other players gathered around the last green (as in tradition after all the rounds). The approach shot plays a club extra since the shot is all carry over a deep valley. I nutted a three-wood right that landed on the front of the green and trickled just off the back edge. I missed the eagle chip but I had a nice tap in bird.
After the round we gathered around the car of one Mr. Rob “Rock” Pyle, home brewer extraordinaire. He brought a sampling of excellent home brews: a light wheat, a dark wheat, and a super delicious stout.
The Friday afternoon round was just a five minute drive down the road at O’Bannon Creek Golf Club. This is a GREAT private club that we play just about every year. My father has been a member there for about five years and they are very accommodating to my event. The course conditions are always excellent and it is a stern test of your game.
I renounced my US citizenship for 4 hours and joined the Canadian side for the traditional Pesky Canadian vs. USA match. The USA team jumped out to a quick one up lead thanks to a nice birdie on the first hole and cruised from there. We Canadians were four down at one point but came back to making it a respectable 2&1 loss.
Saturday – Tournament Day
The Tournament is the highlight of the event and it also causes me the most stress. There is a lot to get done prior to teeing off and I rarely get any spare time. This year was no exception. I handed out the last of the scorecards to the competitors and headed for the first tee. It’s my event so I always play in the first group and I always tee off first. I thinned one down the left side of the fairway and we were off.
It was brutally humid for the first few holes. It is typically damn hot for my event but that is the trade off I get for the lack of water falling from the sky. At least you can play when it’s hot. <smile>
THE RESULTS!!!!!!!!
The 2008 RSG Champion Golfer for the most Net Stableford Points is:
Mark Georg from Pennsylvania
Mark played a fantastic round. He had NO net double bogeys the entire round. He is truly a deserving Champion.
The full net standings:
1. Mark Georg
2. Keith Torrance
3. Dave Osborne
4. Rob Pyle
5. William King
6. Gary Hayenga
7. Nick Mock
8. John Pflum
9. Mark Koenig
10. Joe Pflum
11. Jack Pflum
12. John V. Mock
13. Bert Robbins
14. David Sneddon
15. Thor Himself
16. Joe Darmogray
The 2008 Supreme Golfer for the most Gross Stableford Points is:
Mark Koenig from Texas
Mark now holds both titles for the RSG events held in Ohio however they were not won in the same calendar year. Does that count as the “Ohio Slam”? Discuss amongst yourselves.
Full gross standings:
1. Mark Koenig
2. Keith Torrance
3. Mark Georg
4. William King
5. David Sneddon
6. Gary Hayenga
7. Dave Osborne
8. Rob Pyle
9. John Pflum
10. Nick Mock
11. Jack Pflum
12. Joe Pflum
13. Thor Himself
14. Bert Robbins
15. John V. Mock
16. Joe Darmogray
Epilogue
We played another round of golf on Sunday morning but there were no matches and beers on the line. It was hard to get motivated to play well and there were not any good scores in my foursome.
I’d like to thank everyone who made the trip to attend my little event. Even though it is a lot of work I love doing it so I can play golf (by definition) with my friends. A few people deserve special thanks:
• Mark Koenig – he developed a fantastic spreadsheet and without his help there is no way I could use the scoring system I have.
• Rob Pyle – for brining plenty of his wonderful home brew beer. It was amazingly delicious and I can’t wait to taste the Dead to Pflumenweissen. <smile>
• Bert Robbins – I think that Bert had the longest trip (time wise) and he donated a couple of awesome Cleveland Hybrids for the prize table. Thanks, Bert!!!!
• Thor Himself – for doing his usual job of keeping the rain away.
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The Traditional “Things I Learned at RSG Cincinnati 2008”:
• Whacking yourself in the ankle with your putter leaves a nasty bruise. (I did this on Friday morning and it still looks pretty nasty.”
• Overheard in the parking lot on Saturday afternoon: “I know a lot of strippers…..”
• Wager placed: Mark Koenig will caddy for Michelle Wie on the LPGA tour within the next` ten years. Loser has to buy a round of golf at Spyglass or some other kick ass course.
• Criss Titschinger will now be known as “Creamer” after playing a pink driver with a pink shaft. He knocks the crap out of it.
• You know it’s going to be a good weekend when Bill-O shows up on the first tee with doughnuts for everyone.
• Three etiquette violations will get you DQed in next year’s event (Keith Torrance). <smile>
• Rob Pyle gets darn serious in a Meat vs. Bones match as he yells at his opponent’s ball to nestle down in the rough.