MARTINEZ GOLF ASSOCIATION

News letter provided by Jim Rangel

11/14/2024

Trilogy

    Just a bit soggy out there, rain and what appeared to be some extra watering.  21 players joined the fun. There was no roll even in the middle of the fairway, and a provisional rule was put in place as a result.  No lost ball penalty if your ball disappeared in the fairway.  We were still playing golf and based on the scores it must not have been too bad.  It is helpful when we play “lift clean and place” so that could be an influencer on our scores.  Gross average was 95.1 and the net average was 75.6 which is our second-best group net for the year.  21 players finished the round with Mark Stites shooting the low gross of 79.   High score was 113, Jason Clopper was lowest on the front nine with a 40, and Mark Stites had the low on the back with a 36.

   November is our last tournament of the year.  We had an aggregate gross average of 95.9 and an aggregate net average of 78.9.  That is a 1.6 stroke improvement on gross average and a 1.1 stroke improvement on the net, we are getting better.  This seems to be a decent improvement for our group, and I hope the trend continues.  I know that there are many factors that come into play related to our performance, degree of difficulty (slope and rating), weather, etc., but an improvement none the same.   I had a personal goal of reaching a single digit this year.  I started the year at 12.3 and finished with 12.8 and had a low of 11.5.  As I look back to assess some blame, I think what prevented me from getting that single digit are blow up holes.  Double and triple bogies are killers as well as three putts.  My chipping, putting, and driving improved but I still have some work to do.  I will reset my goals for 2025 still working towards a single digit. 

    At the last board meeting there was a conversation related to a possible merger with another Associate Club, the PB Hackers.  Their group is disbanding, and it appears that as many as 15 players may join Martinez Golf.  They are mostly from the South Bay so if you see a new face in your foursome, introduce yourself and welcome our new members. I have been a member of MGA since 1980 and have seen many players leave and join.  So many of us age out, have physical issues, or need to pause to care for a loved one.  We lost Mark Ruhe this month as he moved back East, we don’t see Lee Barger very often, Ed Fortier is another that we miss, Roy Cott has had a number of ailments that have prevented him from swinging a club, our president, Jim Caulkins, was out for a while when he was injured playing the striker role on a local pro soccer team, etc.  Looking back, it would have been fun to have a journal that captured all of our players over the years, what they did for a living, where they lived, interesting facts, and when they joined and when they left.  I will never forget the most positive person on earth, Angelo Costanza, and his exceptionally loud voice giving you something positive about your shot after you put your ball in the lake or OB.  Good times, good memories, good friends.

  Don’t ever say Don’t.

Jim Rangel