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>>May Calendar

The Circle R Round-Up - May 2006

MULCH AND HABITAT AREAS DEFINED

mulch mulch2

You may have noticed new signs and new hazard markers on the course. The Habitat Protected areas are defined by a hazard stake, either red of yellow, topped with a band of green. All mulch areas will be marked with a sign. These signs/markers have a threefold purpose. First we need to protect the fragile habitat of the Moosa streambed and, secondly, we will be protecting the golfer from straying into a hazardous snake environment. And lastly, by providing a mulch area around some of our more valuable and picturesque trees we protect the root system from the summer heat and reduce the amount of penetrating cold that occurs during the winter frost. The changes of rules are quite simple. If your ball lands in a designated Habitat Protected hazard, you proceed according to the rules of golf with the exception that you no longer have the option of hitting your ball out of the hazard. For balls going into areas of mulch, you must drop at the closest point of relief no nearer the hole. The difference between this local rule and 25-1 is that the local rule requires you to take relief whereas 25-1 gives you the option of hitting the ball where it lies or taking relief. Later in this Roundup edition you will find further guidance regarding these new local rules. If you have any questions please see your Rules Chair Person.

RATTLESNAKE TIME!

snake

This large Rattlesnake was found just off the 6th fairway in a corner of a yard and just a few feet from the cart path. He was about three feet long and possessed six rattles. Most likely he had exited the Moosa riverbed in search of a mate. They emerge in spring, sexually driven, hungry and mean. The Western Diamondback male, like the males of most species, become obsessed with females at mating time. At Castle Creek the most dangerous time is now! Partly because of its wide distribution, this snake accounts for more serious and fatal snake bites than any other North American reptile. Be aware that you may meet up with one of these creatures anywhere on the golf course but your chances increase ten fold or more if you enter the "Habitat Protected" areas. These marked areas are there for your protection and we ask that you do not enter.

Manager’s Report
I’d like to clarify our policy regarding member play on Saturday. It is our policy to reserve the first tee between 7:30 and 8:30 for exclusive use of members and their guests. However, we release the unused times to the general public on the Wednesday of that week. Also, we occasionally will be hosting an outside group that may infringe on a portion of those times. When that happens, we will make every possible effort to accommodate member play. It is our goal to have tee times available every day to members, even to the point of allowing you to start on a different hole other than #1. Larry Taylor, General Manager

Oh’s Tee Shots
One of the benefits from aeration is the accumulation of plugs from the holes created in the greens. Most courses take these plugs and discard them as green waste. Over the years working together, Larry and I discovered a new and better use for these plugs - improving the tees. The soil-enriched product is ideal for this project. We simply add the plugs to existing tees with a 2X4 to smooth out and level; not unlike laying cement! This past aeration saw the remodel of 5 new tees. After 2-3 weeks of growth and mow time, the tees are ready for play. Look for us to remodel more tees in the fall with the next aeration. This bi-annual process keeps us on a positive maintenance program that will insure a constant upgrade in the condition of our tees!

Tee Oh, Superintendent

Pro’s Report
To speed up play, we have instituted a new policy that requires our public golfers to rent a cart on Saturdays, between opening and 2:00. At this time, this does not apply to members who choose to walk, provided they maintain a reasonable speed of play. We will be reviewing this policy on an ongoing basis, with additional future changes such as Sunday, holidays etc contemplated. Our aggressive stance on improving the speed of play is working, and I thank all of you for making a concerted effort to improve your pace. Our members are the “leaders” and I appreciate you being good role models!

Rick Campbell, Head Professional

News From The View
All you Dad’s – don’t forget to mark Sunday, May 14th on your calendar for our Mother’s Day Brunch. Besides lots of great food, we’ll be offering free Champagne to all our members and their guests! Please check the flyer insert in the monthly billing for more details. On another note, our Tuesday dinners are becoming a great hit with our members. Please come out and join the fun. Each week offers a different surprise- see you then!

Harmony Lopez, Food & Beverage Manager

New Members
A warm Castle Creek welcome to the following members who joined last month:
     Frank Betonte         Rocky Calamia
     Lola Fleck               Sue Griffin
     Mike Johnson          Leslie Johnson
     Larry Zeno

New Member Shoots 63!
Congratulations to Derrick Farino for his incredible round of 63 (with a bogey on #18) from the white tees. He is practicing to play this summer for the Golden State Tour. Well done, Derrick!

Recuperating Members
Our thoughts and prayers are extended to our recuperating members at home and unable to play - Bill Bavender - Stroke: Marsha Coleman - Chemotherapy, and Sook Han - Chemotherapy. We hope to see you out as soon as possible!

IN MEMORIAM
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of a long time member and everybody's friend, Shirley Richard. One who carried on with charm and grace, as she stood steadfast in the face of extreme adversity. She was loved by all and will be deeply missed by each and every one of us.

MEN’S GOLF CLUB
It is that time of the year again to determine our Club Champion. Dave Yaple won last year in a squeaker over Steve Gjorkovski. Who will it be this year? The first round takes place on the 10th of May with a regular starting time of 7:15. The final round will be held on the 17th of May with a shotgun start at 7:30 and lunch afterwards following the tournament. The annual Sweeps is coming up in June. If you don’t have your required games in for the annual sweeps you have until June the 7th to get them in.

Tournaments
The results of the President's Cup follow:
A Flight                                     B Flight             C Flight
Gjorkovski        132                 Steiner 135      Buerfeind          136
Stewart            134                 Lowe    142     Agnew             138
Walker           135                 Ward    142      Carter              139
Smith               135

steve

Traveling Team
Our traveling team captained by Myron Vanetsky and consisting of himself, Holtermann, Barbour, Steiner, Lizotte, and Betonte, went down to El Camino on March 31st and came away with a resounding win by a score of 13 to 5.
El Camino came here for the return match on April 7th. Our local boys whipped them again, posting a 10 to 8 win.
A match at the vineyard on April 14th resulted in a very close loss by the score of 11 to 7. This team, captained by Ron Williams, consisted of Williams, Barbour, Steiner, Boessow, Albee, and Ward. The Vineyard team came here the following Friday, the 21st and our local team handed them a loss by the score of 12 to 6.

Ken Smith, Team Captain

RULES
Habitat protected
The men’s club board approved a new local rule, “Habitat Protected” which went into effect on May 1st. All areas so defined will be marked with either red or yellow stakes topped with green paint and also laminated signs, which warn of the restricted area. Almost all of our canyon holes will now be considered “Habitat Protected”. Entry into these areas is forbidden. If a player’s ball is in one of these areas, the player must drop out and take a one-stroke penalty. For further information, please refer to the notice on the bulletin board in the men*s clubroom.

Tree well mulch
Many of our trees have had mulch spread around in the tree well and many more are planned. Signs have been posted indicating that a drop without penalty is allowed for a ball lying within the mulched area. Remember that the drop must be taken at the closest point of relief not nearer the hole from where your ball lies in the mulch - not the tree. The closest point of relief would be one club length from the mulch so that neither the ball nor the player would be in the mulch but no line of sight relief from the tree is included.

Ken Smith, Rules chairman

SENIOR'S CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
A Flight                                    B Flight                                    C Flight
Nelson      134                         Steiner     141                           Bassett     133
Walker      134                         Lizotte     142                           Buerfeind 136
Helfand     138                         Shiba       142                           Carter       136
The Senior low net champ came from C Flight. Dave Bassett will have the Brown Jug in his possession for the next year. The next senior 36-hole event will be held in September as a low net affair. Hal Helfand will embroider a sand bag, which will be filled with sand, and will be the trophy.

champ

WOMEN'S CLUB

woman

For the April 4th General Meeting/Luncheon the standard order of the agenda was set aside for a special ceremony. The ceremony was the induction of five women into the new established category "Members of Merit". MOM is designed for those women who are now retired from the game of golf and have made past, present and continuing contributions to the CCWGC activities. The inductees were, Barbara Sailors, Chris Peterson, Mary Watts and Helen Hammond. Jo Delbon, also honored, was not present to receive her certificate. Each inductee was introduced with a brief bio and then presented with her "MOM" certificate. We all learned how much time; energy and talent each of these women have given and continue to give. This bestowed honor and privilege reminded all the active members how honored we feel to have golfed with, as well as shared social activities with each of these ladies over the years. Having just completed the two-week Partner's Eclectic Tournament, we now turn our attention and energy to our annual GREAT event Member/Guest day. The "Carpe Dieum" tournament will be held on Tuesday, May 9th. Stay tuned for the report on all the fun we had that day!
The Ladies' club extends heartfelt condolences to Nancy Basset and her family for the loss of her eldest son Rick. We hope that during this time of sorrow, Nancy and family are doing as well as can be expected.

Barbara Bell, President

TOURNAMENTS

tournament

Shaving five strokes off their first day lead of 56, Barbara Bell and Dee Dowling posted an amazing 51 to win Net over the Field in the Castle Creek Women's Golf Club Partner's Eclectic Tournament on April 25, 2006.
Other winners included: Flight A-1st Jan Salisbury and Sue Ellen Tankersley; 2nd Pam Estes and Debra Harlow; 3rd Dawn Jessee and Monita Patry. In Flight B winners were: 1st Joyce Brown and Terry Petrel; 2nd (tie) Dorothy Berger and Betty Wood; Jeanne Fredenburg and Lynne Reynolds; 4th Shirley Ekstrom and Fumie Shimazak. Flight C winners included: 1st Thelma Koda and Billye Lynch; Karen Georgens and Ann Schwartz.
The next major tournament for CCWGC is the three-week Club Championship scheduled for June. The sign-up sheet will be posted May 9, 2006.

Joyce Brown, Vice-President Tournament Chair

Barbara and Dee, Winners of the Partner's Eclectic Tournament

SWEEPS
In our two sweeps games the following twelve players had net scores of par or less: from the red tees, Jan Salisbury, Barbara Bell, Lynne Reynolds, Billye Lynch, Monita Patry, Nancy Bassett and from the Green tees, Marion Smith Jane Knowles, Thelma Koda, and Rose Miller. Great play, ladies. Ordinarily, any of the above scores could have won the Ace of the Month title, but not this month! Two of our members achieved astonishing net scores of 61 during sweeps competition! Hearty congratulations to April Red Tee Ace of the Month Dee Dowling and April Green Tee Ace of the Month Karen Gerogens. Your play is an inspiration to us all!

Jeannie Fredenburg, Sweeps Chair

RULES
We now have our new "Habitat Protected" areas in play on the golf course, marked with red stakes with green tops (lateral water hazard) and yellow stakes with green tops (water hazards). There are a few holes that will play slightly different then before this new local rule was integrated into play. I have covered several as follows.
Hole #3: The Red stakes with Green tops are now down on the edge of the creek bed.
Hole #14: The Red Stakes with Green tops are now at the top edge of the barranca. The concrete path across the bridge with red paint on the right edge will be painted over with gray paint making it no longer a part of the hazard. This enables one to play their ball in the area between the sidewalk and the stakes.
Hole #16: The yellow water hazard stakes with green tops are now at the edge of the barranca on the fairway side of the bridge. This will permit a bit more area to work with if your ball lands past the stakes, with no penalty if you can play it. The path across the bridge marked with yellow paint will also be painted over with gray paint the same as #14, making it no part of the hazard.
Jan Salisbury, Rules Chairman