News and Calendar

On the afternoon of June 29th the peace and quiet of a relaxing day of golf at Castle Creek was disturbed by a 100-acre brush fire just east of the fifth green. A towering plume of smoke could be seen from the clubhouse and flames were visible from the 6th fairway. Once again, as has happened many times in the past, the lake at the seventh hole provided water for the fire fighting helicopters. Throughout the afternoon two choppers extracted water from the lake to drop on the nearby fire. Golfers on the fourth, fifth, and sixth fairways seemed to be somewhat unconcerned by all the action and played on. Those on the seventh tee had to wait to tee off until the choppers had cleared the lake. Players putting out on the sixth green were undisturbed by the aircraft flying over their heads and the spray of water coming their way from the hovering helicopters. Old Castle road was closed for a few hours forcing members on the sixth fairway to use their golf carts for transportation to the clubhouse. Fortunately, none of the homes adjoining the golf course were threatened and the houses in the brush land nearby escaped destruction, primarily due to the quick response of the CDF firefighters, the fire retardant carrying aircraft and last, but definitely not least, the readily available water provided by Reflection Lake at the Castle Creek CC golf course.

NEW WOMEN'S CLUB CHAMPION

On Tuesday, June 27th, Mother Nature in the form of swirling wind, thunderclaps, and lightning shortened the last round of the Castle Creek Women's Club Championship Tournament. The lightning sent all but the bravest (or foolish) golfers to the Clubhouse for cover. At the start of the last day of the Tournament, Irene Fideli with a two-day total of 165 held a 24-stroke lead over her nearest competitor, Hanalei Sun. This made for an easy decision by the Tournament committee of Joyce Brown, Jan Salisbury and Betty Wood to call the tournament completed after the second day and award the Championship to the leader, Irene, with Hanalei declared the first Runner-up. Congratulations to Irene Fideli!

Manager’s Report

I have been approached by members voicing their concern about our new dinner hours. The comments all have been along the lines that we are cutting back and reducing our services. The truth of the matter is that we have been, are, and will be committed to providing the best possible service to our members, neighbors, and guests, as well as returning a modest financial return for our investment. Here are 3 key points I would like you to consider:

The new dinner hours are the same as last year. The restaurant hours were increased from 3 days to 5 days last October. We patiently tried to expand the hours for 8 months and found that what was happening was that we served the same number of people on a weekly basis, whether it was for 3 days or 5 days. It has become economically impossible for us to remain open the same period of time with a 60% increase in overhead.
Both Vista Valley CC and Escondido CC (the closest private clubs) also are open for dinner 3 nights only.
The lounge hours have not changed- it is still open daily and closes as business warrants.

As always, my door is open for your comments and suggestions.
Larry Taylor-General Manager

Oh’s Tee Shots

You have noticed that our nursery green between #1 and #9 have turned brown. Don’t worry, we are killing the turf on purpose to re-sod the green with 100% bent grass. Through the years, noxious Bermuda grass has infiltrated the plot, making it unusable. I know a lot of you are upset with the growth of the reeds on #3 creek, and would like us to trim them back. I consulted with the Mission Resource District and was told that we cannot cut back, grow, or change anything in the Moosa Creek Bed. We are contemplating raising the tees, in particular the green and red, so our golfers can see their ball land. Finally, we are entering the dreaded hot summer months when are greens are most susceptible. We will be doing our best to maintain turf, and appreciate your patience. With our poor soil and salty water, it will be a challenge. Thank you for your understanding! Tee Oh-Superintendent

New Member - A warm Castle Creek welcome to Chandler Deyo, who is the 193rd member to join. Only 7 more to go

Hole In One!
Congratulations to Kim Haessly, who returned from a 3 month sabbatical from golf to record an ace on #17. His 4 iron from the white tees was straight and true, ending in the cup for a 1, net 0! Kim shot a net 62, ruining the old adage that practice makes perfect!

Castle Creek Country Club's 1st Annual Employee/Members Golf Tournament and B.B.Q.! July 10th 2006
Come play Golf or Just Eat, You Choose.
9 hole Golf Tournament Starts at 2:30pm
BBQ After at 5pm
Come join us for Lots of Fun & Prizes!!!
Full Members $10 - Social Members $35
Spouse/Non Golfers for BBQ $10
Sign up with Harmony or at the Pro Shop

First Annual Circle R Fishin’ Tournament
Mark your calendars for Friday, July 21st for our first annual Fishin’ Tournament. The contest will be held at 6:00 in the evening with all members and their families invited! Reflection Lake on #7 will be our fishin’ hole, providing plenty of room for all to throw in their lines! Prizes will be awarded for the largest fish, smallest fish, oldest “catcher”, and the youngest “catcher”. Sign up sheets will be available in the Member’s Room, Pro Shop, and office.

Castle Creek Members

This letter comes to you today with bittersweet emotion, as it is my intent to inform you of my resignation of employment at Castle Creek Country Club.

As life would have it I have been offered and accepted a position at the California Oaks Golf Course. My last day of employment with Castle Creek will be Monday July 10th 2006.

In the 8 years I have spent at Castle Creek I have made some of the most valuable friendships and relationships that I will cherish forever. The members at Castle Creek have provided me with exceptional support through the many management changes.

Josephine Development remains committed to the improvement and growth of Castle Creek and its members.

Thank you once again for the opportunity to serve you. I wish you good luck and continued success. Sincerely, Harmony Lopez

A little bit of golf history: Golf as an organized game in the United States, is dated from the founding of the St. Andrew's Golf Club at Yonkers, N.Y. in 1888. Its progenitor was John Reid, a Scot from Dunfermline who became known as" the father of American golf". Reid, on learning that fellow Scot Robert Lockhart was returning to the old country on business, asked him to bring back some golf clubs and balls. This done, Reid and his friend John B. Upham tried them out on Feb. 22 1888, over an improvised three-hole layout. That fall, five men formed the club and in the spring moved to a course in a apple orchard. There, it is said, they hung their coats and a jug of good Scotch Whiskey in a convenient apple tree, and they subsequently became known as the "Apple Gang”. The club made its final move in 1897 to Mt. Hope in Westchester County, N.Y.
Art Lynch, President Men's Club

Steve Gjorkovski, following his strong showing in last months Championship tournament, continued with his torrid scoring pace recording a net 63 on the first day of the Sweeps tournament and a net 66 on the second day to come in first net over the field. Myron Vanetsky with a 134 came in second in A flight. B Flight winner was Mick Lowe with a 134 followed by Art Lynch with a 136. There was a tie for C flight with Lee Estes and Bill Shiba each shooting a net 141.

The Castle Creek Men's Club Sweeps is an annual tournament played in the month of June. Any member of the Men's Club may qualify to play in the event by entering the monthly sweeps tournaments at least 13 times during the year.

RULES

Our new Habitat Protection rule has continued to cause a lot of confusion. One recurring question: Is it legally permissible to enter the Habitat Protected areas to retrieve a ball?
Decision 33-8/42 answers the question very clearly. There is no rule of golf that prohibits a person from entering the protected areas to “retrieve” a ball. There may be legal issues that are the concerns of the authorities (Environmentally-Sensitive areas) or there may be maintenance concerns of the Management/Owners (Habitat Protected areas). But those are separate issues from rules enforcement.

Note that the issue involves an effort to “retrieve” the ball, not to play it. Our local rule covering the Habitat Protected areas stipulates a one-stroke penalty to drop a ball out of the area to continue play and a two-stroke penalty if a player ignores the rule and enters the area and plays from the area in violation of the local rule. These penalties are for “playing” from the area, not for entering it. If a player elects to enter the area to retrieve his ball (or others) that is not an infraction of any rule of golf but is a concern of the marshals.
Ken Smith, Rules Chairman

TRAVELING TEAM

A Traveling Team comprised of Myron Vanetsky, Hal Helfand, George Steiner, Will Nelson, Dan Boessow and Clell Ward, drove down on Friday June 23rd. to Chula Vista for the front-end of our match against them. The Chula Vista hosting team treated our guys very badly, handing them a one-sided pasting 16 to 2. Myron Vanetsky, the low handicapper on our team, shot a nice 78 gross (68 net) to pick up the only points the team managed to win. When Chula Vista came here the following Friday (June 30th) our team returned the favor of a good old fashioned tanning, winning the return match by a score of 13 to 5. Myron Vanetsky continued his good play, posting a 73 gross (63 net) and he and his partner, Hal Helfand, led the locals with 5 points out of the 13 total. Myron was the only player on this team to accomplish an "At A Boy" performance in both the home and away match.

The Castle Creek Team is now ranked at 5th out of the 20 teams in the League and they have now completed 12 of the 20 matches to be played.
Ken Smith, Team Captain

WOMEN'S CLUB NEWS

The 3rd day of the Club Championship started off well enough on the morning of June 27th. Just as the first group out started to hit their second shots on #10, Mother Nature decided to put on a light show in the heavily clouded and dark skies. Joyce Brown, after a discussion with her rules committee, decided to cancel the third and final day of competition. This weather system sure surprised everyone. No one could remember having this happen in prior years.

As we head into what looks like a steamy summer season, the ladies are getting ready to play in the Mixer on July 18th. This will be a fun event with both men and women mixed together as a team. Refreshments in the morning will be provided by the ladie’s club and Larry Taylor will have coffee available. Lunch, as usual, will be after play. We would like to see more people sign up for this event, so contact Jan Salisbury, Dorothy Berger, or Debi Harlow if you are interested.

We would like to send Marsha Coleman a big hug and howdy. We miss you Marsha, and we continue to keep good thoughts for your return to good health.

As Harmony Lopez prepares to leave Castle Creek, we wish her well and thank her for helping the club all these years. Come back now and then to say hello, Harmony! Barbara Bell, President

RULES

An important reminder that some may have forgotten and new members might not be aware of concerning provisional balls in water hazards. A provisional ball may be played for a ball, which may be in a water hazard of such character that it would unduly delay play to determine whether the ball is in the hazard. If the original ball is believed to be in the water hazard, a provisional ball may be hit using one of the following options:

Re-hit from the original position. 2. Drop ball keeping point the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard directly between hole and the spot on which ball is dropped. 3. Two club lengths from point of entry (lateral water hazard only). 4. Drop on opposite side of hazard, equidistance from the hole (lateral water hazard only). NOTE: Only one provisional ball may be played under this rule, which if selected as the ball in play, incurs a one-stroke penalty. If the original and provisional balls are abandoned, subsequent balls hit are in play. The above conforms to the USGA's suggested wording for "local rules" covering the play of a provisional ball in a water hazard, found under Appendix 1, Local Rules (pg. 553) of the USGA "Decisions of Golf". The holes most affected are #3, 8, 13, 14, 16, and 17. Jan Salisbury, Rules Chair

Irene Fedeli became the 2006/2007 CCWGC Champion on June 27, 2006 and Hanalei Sun was the runner-up. Others in the first flight were 1st net - Dawn Jessee and 2nd net - Pam Estes.

The second flight winners included: 1st gross - Dee Dowling, 2nd gross - Barbara Bell, 3rd gross - Betty Wood, 1st net - Dorothy Berger, 2nd net - Lynne Reynolds and 3rd net - Joyce Brown. Third flight winners were 1st gross - Jeannie Fredenburg and 1st net - Thelma Koda.

Prizes for the CCWGC Club Championship will be distributed at the general meeting on July 11, 2006.

Castle Creek Welcomes New Clubhouse Manager

The Castle Creek Country Club would like to welcome David Reeves as the new Club House Manager. He brings 14 years of restaurant experience and has exciting plans for our Club House. Watch for exciting changes such as a continental breakfast and a new menu coming soon.

The 93rd bi-monthly Member's Association (MACC) Golf Tournament was held on June 15th. The game of the day was a shamble format with a "Hers and His" best ball team score for the prizes. The winners were the team of Lee and Pam Estes and Hugh and Jan Salisbury with a net 116.

Any person possessing a Castle Creek membership may join the Association. Our Tournaments are designed for the enjoyment of all regardless of level of skill. Each team consists of two of each gender and you may select your own team. Teams of four are automatically entered in the tournament. Couples are combined into a team of four. Singles will be filled in when a single of the opposite sex is available or when the game allows for a blind draw. In addition to the bi-monthly golf tournament, the Association holds a dinner dance in late October. Those wishing to join MACC and participate in the Association festivities should contact Ken Smith, Treasurer, or Dorothy Berger, member coordinator.

Castle Creek Top Ranked Course in North County: Click Here to read more:

NEW WOMEN'S CLUB CHAMPION

Manager’s Report

Oh’s Tee Shots

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