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The Circle R Round-Up - January 2006

CASTLE CREEK 2005 REFLECTIONS

lake

January 2005 brought on a deluge of rain. Moosa River flooded and the floodwaters lapped at the #8 green. A small portion of the golf course was lost to the river. In February heavy frost arrived turning the fairways white. By March the greens had turned white with sand as Tee Oh and crew renovated the greens for the coming summer months and in April began renovation of all the tees. The rains brought the awakening rattlesnakes out of the riverbed and we had a near fatality when member Al Bayly was bitten in the ankle by one.

The Women's Club annual "Member-Guest" tournament in May was a resounding success with 88 happy participants enjoying a "Las Vegas" Shamble competition. Over 150 members participated in "Members Appreciation Day" enjoying golf, food, and all the festivities including the unveiling of one of the original Circle R golf carts and the presentation to the club of a painting by John Buerfeind of the old Circle R barn.

June was Club Championship month with two close contests. Jaquie Galbraith outlasted Irene Fedeli to take the Women's club championship while Dave Yaple was the eventual winner over Steve Gjorkovski in a close game to garner the Men's Club Championship. The Women's Club/Men's Club annual "Mixer" took place on July 13th. The Men's Club won in a "photo finish" and, after two previous years of defeats, the men once again took possession of the trophy. Castle Creek held its first "Circle R Roundup" on September 17.

Eighty golfers competed for the inaugural Circle R Cup. Katie Maldonado won the Women's division while Nick Dwyer won the Men's division with a gross 75! Manny Maldonado took the Men's net championship trophy. On the following Monday we had our fourth champion of September when Ron Williams won the 36 hole Senior's Club net Championship and the coveted "Brown Jug" trophy. On the evening of October 20th the Member's Association of Castle Creek celebrated its 15th anniversary with a western theme dinner-dance preceded by a golf tournament with a shotgun start and team play.

In November Castle Creek was named the top ranked North County daily fee golf course by Greenskeeper Org. Castle Creek received a 5 out of 5 star rating in both value and customer service! The Women's Club held Christmas in November with their Christmas Faire on November 12th. The Banquet room had never looked so good. There were a great variety of Christmas gifts to choose from surrounded by a festive display of Christmas decor. The Club held Members Open House on December 6. The Women's Club members held their annual Christmas tournament and luncheon. Men's Club members celebrated their 28th annual dinner/dance in the banquet room on a mid month Saturday night. The year ended with a gala "New Years eve in Manhattan" party in the clubhouse enjoyed by 42 jolly and sometimes raucous members.

MEMBER'S APPRECIATION NIGHT

member appriciation

The champagne was flowing as the members enjoyed listening to the music from our favorite Christmas carols performed by a talented quartet of young people from Valley Center High. Larry Taylor was Master of Ceremonies for the night that included a presentation of a magic putter to Terri Petrell who held the winning ticket. The event, hosted by the management, was well attended by a large number of members. It was an enjoyable evening with great food, great entertainment, and loads of camaraderie.

Manager’s Report

As you may have noticed, we have replaced our tee signs with all the yardage changes incorporated during the past two years. I have had several members ask me what the hole names mean. So, here they are!
1. “Josephine” – Named after our owner’s daughter. 2. ”Around the Bend” – Hole makes a left to right bend, with a blind tee shot. 3. “Heaven’s Door”- Classic short Par 4 that can be reached if you hit a perfect shot through the “doorway” between the bunker and the creek. 4. “Rattler” – Long serpentine hole that can bite you. Watch out for rattlesnakes in creek! 5. “Shoot-out” – Near site of famous 1888 shoot-out. 6. “Relentless”- Longest playing hole in area. Requires three perfect shots into prevailing breeze to reach green. 7. “Sycamore”- Named for beautiful Sycamore grove along fairway. 8. “Los Robles”- Spanish for Oak trees. Named for 100-year-old oaks by green. 9.“Doherty’s Dream”- Named after Art Doherty, founder of club in 1948. 10. “Slingshot” – Ball hitting left hillside will slingshot towards green. 11. “Single File”- Accuracy over distance in this reachable Par 5. 12. “Circle R”- Named after original site of 1st tee in 1948. 13. “Gopher”- Breezes from nearby Gopher Canyon come into play. 14.“Hero’s Heart” - Signature hole. Must play boldly and decisively to green. 15. “Pow-Wow”- Named after historic oak tree behind green. 16. “Moosa”- Sure drive required to clear Moosa Creek. 17. “Castle Moat”- Players must surmount creek and huge bunker to reach green. Also named after Old Castle Road. 18. “Home”- Many courses in Scotland name their finishing hole as home.
I’d like to take a moment to thank all of our great members who contributed to our employee’s Christmas. Besides the many wonderful cash donations (over $1,000), we received candy, baked goodies, and certificates. It is such caring and thoughtful members like you who make working here at Castle Creek so much fun!

Larry Taylor- General Manager

News from the View

I’d like to thank Sam and Jane Knowles and Jim and Joyce Brown for all their hard work in making our employee Christmas party so successful. The Brown’s and the Knowles’ not only set the tables, bartended, and served the food, but also cleaned up! Their hard work and thoughtfulness enabled our staff to relax and enjoy the evening. Thank you again!
We will be unveiling some menu changes in the coming months. If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know!

Harmony Lopez- Clubhouse Manager

Oh’s Tee Shots

Many members have asked me as to why are the greens so fast this time of the year. The answer is multi-faceted. Because the temperature is below 80 degrees, we can mow the greens at a lower level without risk to damage to the roots. Also, because it is winter, we tend to keep them drier, reducing friction between the ball and surface. Finally, the colder weather hinders growth, so you have fast greens throughout the day. Combined with the factors listed above, our greens measure a 10 plus reading on the stimp meter- good enough for a PGA tour event!

Tee Oh- Superintendent

New Members

A warm welcome to the following new members who joined in December:

Bob Snider and Ron Piva

MEN’S CLUB NEWS:

The end of the year is here and I trust every one has had a good healthy one. I want to thank all of those who attended the Christmas dinner. For those of you who had signed up and did not show you missed a good evening. Also for those that signed up and did not show and I understand that there were a number of folks sick. But for those who were not and committed to attend shame on you, as we take those numbers to the club in order to guarantee the dinners.
Have a wonderful and prosperous new year.

Art Lynch, President Men’s Club

TOURNAMENTS

Congratulations to the winners of the Holiday Tournament:
1st Flight - Tankersley, 2nd Flight- Albee, 3rd Flight- Agnew.
These same players won last year, same Flights etc.
January is Annual Hot - Stick Tournament, if you are eligible.
Gale Harlow will be "Running the Show" as of January 1st. Please give him all the support you can.

Hugh Salisbury, Tournament Chairman

RULES

Beginning on January 1, 2006 there will be a total of 111 changes to the "Decisions on the Rules of Golf". The 2006-2007 book includes 37 new Decisions, 66 revised Decisions, and 8 that have been withdrawn. For a complete list of the changes, log on to www.usga.org/news/2005september/2005_68.html. A new "Decisions on the Rules of Golf" book will be available in mid December for $15.95 (or $12.95 for USGA Members) by calling the USGA at 1-800-336-4446 or through the USGA web site at www.usga.org. One of the biggest changes is the allowance of distance measuring devices, including GPS-based systems and laser rangefinders, during competitions, providing the committee permits their use by Local Rule (Decision 14-3/0.5).

Ken Smith Rules Chairman

WOMEN'S CLUB NEWS

christmas tournament ace

Felicitations and salutations of the Season!

I wish to thank the officers and board members of CCWGC. Over the past 2 years, they have all done an exceptional job of promoting fellowship through the wonderful sport of golf. Barbara Bell, VP and tournament chair; Jane Knowles, secretary; Nancy Bassett, treasurer; Joyce Brown, membership; Jeannie Fredenburg, publicity; Jan Salisbury, sweeps; Pam Estes, handicap; Betty Wood, rules; Dorothy Berger and Anitra Gehrke, social; and Marsha Coleman, SMWGA rep and advisor.

I wish to thank those who volunteered for those little jobs* that take up much time but are so very much appreciated: Shirley Richard, closest-to-the-pin and putts; Billye Lynch, chip-ins; Debra Harlow, ringer; and Jane Mullen, hole-in-one fund.
I wish to thank the special events chairs and the selfless volunteers who assisted them: Mara Lee Ashworth and Dee Dowling, Member-Guest; Debra Harlow, Rally for a Cure; Barbara Bell, Holiday Crafts Faire; Marion Smith, Turkey Shoot; Betty Witty, Installation; Teri Petrell, Christmas Party; and Bettye Morris, See*s Candy fundraiser. I know the chairs would want me to thank their many volunteers (too numerous to name but you know who you are) who helped plan and execute these successful and fun events.

I wish to thank Castle Creek Golf Club management and staff for the excellent condition of the golf course and professional, delicious banquet experience.
As my tour of duty draws to a close, I have one last wish...that you continue to share your time, talent and friendship with the new officers and board. They will be thankful and I guarantee that you will be enriched too!

As you can see, this is an extraordinary club, a “full participation” membership. As I look through the club directory, in my mind’s eye I see everyone of you...playing golf together, caring for each other, welcoming new players to our wonderful club, sharing the strong traditions of Castle Creek Women’s Golf Club.

May you all have a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.

Sue Ellen Tankersley, President, Castle Creek Women’s Golf Club

farewell