by Bruce Braun
“Golf is an awkward set of bodily contortions designed to produce a graceful result.” – Tommy Armour
It’s been quite a while since we’ve had such a cool morning. I suppose it’s an omen for what is to come. It did warm up nicely, however, and there were some great shots to be had. 57 members and 3 guests made the rounds today. Our winning team had the outstanding drama of two eagles! Further drama took place on the 14th hole, where Randy Baird nearly dropped his tee shot in for a hole-in-one. So close Randy! Keep trying.
Today was our last “normal” round of league golf. Our next two weeks will include the championship rounds whereby your best 18-hole tally will be counted. These will be two 18-hole stroke play rounds, whereby golfers will be required to count every shot and make every putt. The following week will be our season finale fun golf event followed by a meal and awards.
- Championship Rounds – September 3 and 10.
- Season final Golf and Awards Windup dinner – September 17, starting at 10 AM.
Here is a metaphor that I happened on. A typical league season includes approximately 18 Tuesdays. Ignoring the fact that four of this season’s Tuesdays have been washed out, if each Tuesday represented a hole of golf, then today we would have been on the 15th hole. We are well into the back nine with only a few holes to go!
Keep in mind that even though our league season comes to a close, the golf course will be open about another month after that. Golf rates are lower as well so there’s no reason not to organize a foursome and keep at your game for another few weeks.
As our season winds down there are a tremendous number of people that make BB the best place to be on Tuesday morning. Of course there is your executive committee, but there are also numerous other excellent people either in the clubhouse or on the grounds that make this a great place. It would be good of you to make sure to say thank you to any of the staff!
Last year I introduced our readers to a couple of BB staff. My thinking was twofold. I got the opportunity to chat with a valued staff person under the guise of an investigative reporter and also got to report my findings to you! You otherwise may not get to know some of the wonderful people that make up Beauty Bay. This past week I had the opportunity to chat with another BB staff member, Dick Green, in maintenance.
Most, if not all, of the BB senior men’s league will know Dick as a fellow league member. As there is no requirement to be retired to join our league, Dick has figured out how to enjoy golfing with us as well as enjoy taking care of the 95 acres that make up Beauty Bay. Dick is in his fourth season as a full-time staff member. He is on the mower by 5 AM and done by 1 PM. That’s a work shift that very few of us are accustomed to! Dick has come from several different jobs prior to his current role. He was at the Kenora Mill before it shut down and also with the local Mental Health Association as a residential support person. He really likes what he’s doing now at BB and takes pride in doing a good job. He can look down a recently mowed area of his and enjoy the sense of accomplishment, even though in a few days, he’ll be back on the same spot doing it all over again. He says the staff that he works with are also terrific. “They are fun and supportive.” Recently Dick and his wife, Bev (who also works in the clubhouse), began heading to Florida for the winter. So, they’re sort of retired!
My thanks to Dick for taking the time to chat with me.
The season-long match play continues. We are now getting close to the semi-finals. Check out the following link to see how your friends have fared: https://challonge.com/6xys9iqv.
Results for the league on August 27 are as follows:
Front nine scramble winners were Jim Beaman, Paul Warkentin, Brad Edie and Bob Brignall with a -4 score of 31. They eagled hole numbers three and eight! Congratulations!
Other achievements:
Closest to the pole on number 10: Dean “Pole Finder” Carrie.
Longest drive on number 11: Randy “Laying Up” Smith.
Closest to the cup, second shot, on number 13: Keith “In Tight” Lake.
Closest to the cup first shot on number 14: Randy “So Close” Baird.
Longest putt on number 18: Brian “Kerplunk” Jones.
Flight winners:
Flight 1: Bruce Braun, 39.
Flight 2: Nelson Rozon, 40. Won on a count back.
Flight 3: Larrie Davies, 41. Won on a count back.
Flight 4: Paul Vincent, 42. Won on a count back.
Flight 5: Bob Brignall, 48.
See you next week. Bring your game face!