CONTENTS THE TEEING GROUND PRO S CORNER December 2018 JUST FOR US GOLF- ERS GOLFS NEW RULES MAJOR CHANGES BY POPULAR DE- MAND THE SHAG BAG GREAT IDEAS DE- SERVE A CELEBRA- TION MEMBERSHIP NOTES SBRMGA BOARD OUTREACH PART- NERS THE TEEING GROUND It s the Holiday Season, So Whoop-de-do and Hickory Doc Yes the winter solstice has passed, Where did the days of Hanukah go and of course Christmas Eve and Day? No matter as it is now time for resolutions and of course one of the World s Great Collegiate Events bowl games, playoffs and championships. On to resolutions. Maybe it s time to practice just one day a month more. If claiming to practice 50 times a year you will have increased it by 24% adding just a day a month. How about spending quality time with the one club many are happy to average just 2 strokes per hole with? There is likely only one such club in your bag. How many group lessons/ demonstrations have you attended? Mike and Ken have a schedule of offerings, maybe it s time. On to another great topic The Holiday Social. The heavy lifting was done by none other than Sam and Rich. Give them an atta boy and make certain they know that the bar is now set! Here s looking forward to our next big event. Lastly, are the Crimson Tide, Irish, Tigers and Sooner faithful about to battle? The Shagmeister expects just a smidgen of trash talk around
Page 2 PRO S CORNER It s been a great year. As a gift to our Pro s, Mike and Ken, let s give them a pass for this month. Instead let s look at the opportunities provided we golfers. Recently we hit the Golf Shop to spin the wheel. Guy in front of me (no names please but I think John is appropriate) spins the wheel and gets a 40% or was it 50% discount. He then was selling his services though not many takers. Our pro s celebrated with him. There were clubs, bags and shoes exiting that afternoon. Great buys and great fun. Friends were there as well as new residents wondering what was going on at the Golf Shop. It was nice to see our WGA, Putters, MGA members and others checking out the bulletin boards as well as the products for sale. Been hearing good things on the range every Thursday. It s nice to see Mike and Ken moving amongst the members. Lessons are available. Not to overlook the most recent Pro addition. His specialty is tending to our new look golf course. Yes, it s new look as it has not looked better since the Shagmeister took residence. Chris and team have accomplished much and are confident the Bermuda will be great golfing this year, too. So in this Pro s Corner is a big THANK YOU! WE APPRECIATE ALL THE PRO S TEAM HAS ACHIEVED. HAVE A PROSPEROUS & HAPPY NEW YEAR...
Page 3 JUST FOR US GOLFERS Hey let s celebrate a couple of things: I. Jeff Pharr: How about his golfing year? Crowned Club Champion complete with trophy and COAT and then nails down the most improved golfer for 2018! BIG CONGRATS TO JEFF! II. The WGA / MGA working together. We nailed Mixed Sticks in June and then turned up the temperature in August with a little Desert Heat or PYP tournament. Then as we gazed from afar the WGA held the grand opening Potty Party tying up the cart path from 14 to 15. It s good for all. III. The HOLIDAY SPIRIT of GIVING. Our membership s generosity is much appreciated. We ve supported the needs of our local Purple Heart association, first tee, victims of fire and now flooding, our veterans Working to make your both present and deceased, our local outreach community among SBRMGA other opportunities and we find time to golf and support one another. experience more enjoyable. THE SHAGMEISTER faintly recalls that it takes a village to achieve something special. At the SBRMGA it just takes members working together. IT S A GREAT TIME TO BE A MEMBER. STEP UP, SIGN UP, TEE UP, SWING AWAY IT S A GREAT TIME TO BE AMONG FRIENDS AT THE RANCH
Page 4 GOLF S NEW RULES MAJOR CHANGES Believe it or not... over the past three months you have received at least a dozen maybe even a baker s dozen of Golf s New Rules for 2019. Is anyone other than the Shagmeister tired? OK, I get it one last effort with one very important new Golf Rule for 2019 being adopted as a local rule here at the Ranch. That will be all this month. Even our friends want a pass this time around. Final local rule due in your email soon. KEEP IN MIND THAT WHEN FINALIZED FOR 2019 IF YOU OPT TO HIT A PROVI- SIONAL AND YOUR ORIGINAL BALL IS OUT OF BOUNDS/LOST THE PROVISIONAL IS YOUR BALL IN PLAY AND YOU CANNOT THEN OPT TO APPLY THE NEW LO- CAL RULE. ALSO, THE NEW LOCAL RULE DOES NOT APPLY TO PENALTY AREA. Stroke and Distance: New Local Rule Draft of Alternative to Stroke and Distance for a Ball That is Lost or Out of Bounds Purpose of Model Local Rule. Significant issues with pace of play can result from players needing to take stroke-and-distance relief for a ball that is out of bounds or cannot be found when a provisional ball has not been played. The purpose of this Local Rule is to allow a Committee to provide an extra relief option that means that a player may play on without returning to the location of the previous stroke. This Local Rule is not intended for higher levels of play, such as professional or elite amateur level competitions. This option allows the player to drop in a large area between the point where the ball is estimated to have come to rest or gone out of bounds and the edge of the fairway that is not nearer the hole The player gets two penalty strokes when using this relief option, so that the relief is comparable to what could have been achieved if the player had taken stroke-and-distance relief.
Page 5 Text of Model Local Rule When a player s ball cannot be found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player may proceed as follows rather than proceeding under stroke and distance. For two penalty strokes, the player may take relief by dropping the original ball or a substituted ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3): Two Estimated Reference Points: a. Ball Reference Point: The point where the original ball: Is estimated to have come to rest on the course, or Last crossed the edge of the course boundary to go out of bounds. b. Fairway Reference Point: The point of fairway of the hole being played that is nearest to the ball reference point, but is not nearer the hole than the ball reference point. For purposes of this Local Rule, fairway means any area of grass in the general area that is cut to fairway height or less. Size of Relief Area Based on Reference Points: Anywhere between: A line from the hole through the ball reference point (or within two clublengths to the outside of that line), and A line from the hole through the fairway reference point (or within two club-lengths to the outside of that line). But with these limits: Limits on Location of Relief Area: Must be in the general area, and Must not be nearer the hole than the ball reference point. But, the player may not use this option when: The ball is known or virtually certain to have come to rest in a penalty area, or The player has played another bal provisionally under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 18.3)
Page 6 BY POPULAR DEMAND HOORAY FOR POPULAR DEMAND IT S BACK A repeat has been requested. Have you heard that the second shot is always easier? Maybe not Let s review: Tee shot far right and hits provisional, the provisional is further right in the weeds/lost, finds original tee ball in play proceeds to smooth it left possibly OB, jacks a provisional on beautiful arc right into the desert LOST, finds first ball in bounds and neatly drops his third shot 5 feet from the hole and one putts for BIRDIE! Potential 10+ but a birdie and saved SKIN! Congrats Sam and too bad Brian, Ron and Dave. Why repeat? It s a test. Would this still be possible under the new local rule for Stroke and Distance. HOLIDAY CHEER We ll step up to the tee and state that the Holiday Social was a rousing success. Thanks to all our members working to make it so. It was great fun. Some fashion statements come to mind. We had Santa s PJ s complete with hood at one table, a suit of Ginger Bread Men complete in green/white/brown/etc., some very interesting ties, Santa Hats, colored light necklace a variety of specialty sweaters and our very customary golfing attire. The food was good and the dance floor smooth. Dancers abounded till the flashing lights of last call. A special thanks goes out to Heather and the Catering and Event team for our Sol Ballroom. (BIG) THANKYOU AGAIN THIS YEAR YOUR GENEROSITY HELPED PROVIDE OUR GOLF GROUNDS STAFF WITH A MORE ENJOYABLE CHRISTMAS. THE GOLF STAFF APPRECIATION FUND IN- CREASED BY APPROXIMATELY $1,000 THIS YEAR. CHECKS WERE PRESENTED DECEM- BER 19TH. IT S GREAT TO SEE OUR MEMBERS IN ACTION AND THE APPRECIATION OF THE STAFF. THANKS TO YOU IT WORKS.
Page 7 THE SHAG BAG Did you hear all the November grumbling about the 8:00 AM shotguns? Perhaps it time to revisit the top ten reasons to keep 8:00 AM Shotguns YEAR ROUND even in the winter months No. 10: You can take your coffee to the course or stop at the Bistro and pick up coffee and fresh cookie. (Cuz Mama s not making you breakfast in the dark.) No. 9: Breakfast balls are not available as clearly no one has eaten. No. 8: Take your breakfast bar with you as you gotta love golf and brunch at the turn. No. 7: Your golf ball can t wait to be struck. It s been a long cold lonely night in the bag. No. 6: It s what graphite shafts were made for. No bone crushing vibrations when hitting the ROCK No. 5: Fashion statements abound. Have you seen the guy (JS) in the Nanook of the North cap. No. 4: Fairways still hard running at least an 8 on the stimp. Roll baby Roll. No. 3: With overnight watering and freezing the bunkers remain firm just watch your footing. No. 2: Putts (at least by your third hole) leave a rooster tail. Thus if a team game able to show your partner the line. No. 1: Warming up on the range provides positive feedback. Every shot is 100% perfect just before it disappears into the darkness. The Shagmeister issues a sincere apology to one of our esteemed WGA members. Trying out a golf ball comment on a couple of the MGA officers the WGA member present took the mantle (not the bait) while the MGA guys stood speechless. Ultimately, though worth every minute it is now lost to the golf gods of the desert. So it ll not be repeated here.
Page 8 GREAT IDEAS DESERVE A CELEBRATION Have you ever lost something on the course. The Shagmeister has. Yep, headed straight to the Pro Shop after golf just hoping it was found and turned in. Makes sense right? Let s say sometimes. After all if I lost it then if found would likely be found by someone with a tee time after mine. Thus not likely turned in yet if at all. The solution ( Mike the author) the PEGGED NOTE. That s right write a note striking it through with a peg and grounding the peg with note at the tee box to let those following know something was lost. Result is that if found it is recoverable much sooner and often at the Ranch the finder may indeed know the golfer missing the item. What about those OUTREACH PARTNERS Have you referred any business their way? It s a great time of the year to do so. Recently referred tax business to one Outreach Partner directly and through a second Outreach Partner to one of their other Partners. Both very appreciative realizing it s a two way street. A third opportunity arose and went through a Roundup partner. It s simple, takes only a minute and helps our Partners. Please keep them in mind.
Page 9 MEMBERSHIP NOTES The SBRMGA has had the benefit of a multi year Membership Chairman. Recently Tim provided some thoughts on membership at the Annual Meeting. Following is an advance copy of a January 1, 2019 Roundup article regarding SBRMGA Membership and Tim s comments. SBRMGA MEMBERSHIP The Men s Golf Association has continued growing both in membership and in the regular weekly and special event participation. The reasons are many and point to a value proposition. Yes, we may be removed from our careers but we still understand value. Clubs at the Ranch have membership fees. The SBRMGA membership cost is $70 with annual renewals at $65. The Arizona Golf Association receives $35 of the membership cost which provides our members with AGA membership, handicap management, specials available to members, e.g. recent Sewailo Golf and give aways, and of course various rules updates and notice of other state wide locations with AGA golfing specials. That leaves your MGA with a $30 renewal or $35 new membership. This combined with the work of the volunteer board and committees provide the member with a unique weekly event. One that is both competitive and challenging to the golfer of all abilities. Also provided are five special events generally two day competitions These include such events as our local Ryder Cup, Club Championship, Founders Cup, Match Play, and a FedX styled event. Also, together with the WGA a mixed sticks format and a mid-year Desert Heat event open to the entire Ranch community. We are just scratching the surface. Throughout the year the MGA has subsidized the cost of various member lunches including the Founders Cup / Annual Meeting lunch. The result being only a $5 cost to the member. Consider too the Greg Norman SaddleBrooke Ranch Golf Club MGA shirts presented to our members at a greater than 50% discount. Today s styles and high quality for our membership. Further the MGA has been Continued Page 10
Page 10 SBRMGA MEMBERSHIP - Continued able to provide quality spiffs such as golf towels and cleaners through the Golf Club. A last item this year was our special Holiday Social. The MGA contributed to the event reducing member cost. Sure there is financial value. More importantly the value is personal. Our members extend their circle finding even greater opportunities to golf, to socialize, to be a part of an invigorating growing community. Thanks go not just to the board and members but to our outreach partners that help make all of this possible. If you are not already a member, consider it. You ll have the opportunity to sign up, tee up and swing away with others of similar abilities and interests or even new interests. It s a great time to be a member. SBRMGA BOARD Your Board has actively pursued opportunities to improve your golfing experience. This is far more than a weekly event opportunity. It includes course quality for daily play and for those times you are able to entertain. Working together with our Golf Professionals including agronomy (grass and soil to some of us) your golf course has improved leaps and bounds. Opportunities for social interaction / fellowship both within the MGA and between the MGA,WGA and community at large have improved during 2018. Additionally opportunities with other local Men s Golf Associations (more to come in 2019) are in the works. It s members just like you that make this work. Welcome our newest Board members for 2019 Mike Tomaso, Treasurer; Robert Erickson, Membership Chairman; Jim Cook, Outreach Chairman; Mark Martin, Communications Chairman; and Jack Gressingh, Weekly Events Chairman. Continuing board members include Sam Rossi, President; Richard Osterlund, Vice President; Brian Grover, Secretary; Rob Nemecek, Rules and Handicap Chairman; and Harley Schlachter, Special Events Chairman.
OUTREACH PARTNERS PLATINUM PARTNERS Newest Partner: Blease Financial Services Inc. (BFS), Tucson, AZ. Awarded as a Forbes 2018 best in state wealth advisor. Whenever possible please patronize our partners. We are an important part of their businesses and they an important part of our success. Congratulations to each on their business success. We look forward to many years in partnership as our community and the SBRMGA continues to grow. Premier Partners