MEDITERRA HOSTS TENNIS PRO GOLF TOUR

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Ok, so the title is misleading, but it makes these Sunday outings a bit more fun for me. I can call a friendly game of golf every week or two at a different venue a "Tour" can't I? Heck, if I want to, I can call it the "Shankapotomus Cup" or maybe the "Yips Trophy" or some such thing...

Prototype SadExCup Trophy

Oh, I got it! How about the "SadExCup" because it's so sad that we are all wanna be golfers, but are stuck playing just a few months in the summer, because tennis season is from October through April...Heck I could even keep score unofficially and crown the SadExCup Champion at the end of the summer. Ah but I digress...

If you like sports talk radio, then I’m sure you are familiar 

Mike & Mike

with the Mike & Mike show. Well how about Mike, and Mike, and Mike, and Mike, and…well, you get my drift. This past Sunday (6/22), Mike Baldwin organized five groups for a golf outing at The Club at Mediterra and I think there must have

Mike Baldwin strikes a pose

been at least one Mike in each group…Ok, ok, so it was actually just four of five groups…and that’s only because one group had two Mikes.

The interesting thing is that it really was all about the Mikes as far as the competition went. Mike Curran claimed the top prize, Mike Lawver took second, and Mike Barnes was third! Nobody, including Mike Baldwin, told me it was gonna be “Mike Day,” or I might have stayed home!

Mike "Curr Dawg" Curran flexing his winning  muscles

Nah, the day was far too much fun and the venue was spectacular, so despite my meltdown on Hole No.17, had I known it was “Mike Day” I still would have made it. Fortunately, the loot was distributed to the top five finishers, so John Ramsey (4^th) and Pete Minarich (5^th) sneaked in there to break up the Mike thing.

Mike Lawver's hip-saving swing

Somebody must have forgotten to inform Mike Stevens of the special occasion, because he didn’t finish in the money…and he usually strokes a pretty nice ball. What happened Mike? I guess host Mike Baldwin, being the gracious guy that he is, decided that enough was enough, and he stayed out of the money.

Mike Barnes out-driving me with his 3-metal

Now I could offer up the story of how Mike Barnes (How many birdies was that Mike?) and Fernando Maynetto toyed with Chris Capps and me, draining 50 footers, and saving pars after scratchy tee shots and from ridiculous lies.

Chris tries to figure things out while Fernando watches

 I could tell the tale of our pathetic putting, and my psychotic swoon on the tee box of the par-5 17^th, only to bounce back with a bird on 18…but who cares about all that?

The bottom line is that the Tom Fazio-designed North Course at The Club at Mediterra was a snazzy track to play for a group of tennis pros who love the game of golf. We played the white tees, 

Dave Townsley, John Ramsey, Hernan Nunez,
& Mike Baldwin

and I think they tried to make it as easy as they could for us (after all we’re just tennis pros), because the par-4s seemed to be driver or 3-wood off the tee, then a choice of 8-iron or pitching wedge…at least for me. I’m sure the big hitters were probably hitting something like 4-iron, then wedge.

Mike Barnes showing his skilz

Be that as it may, the course was in excellent shape. The greens rolled smooth and true, but slower than the practice green. Maybe I can blame my poor putting on that? Nah, it’s been at least three consecutive rounds or so of poor putting for me, and Barnes and Maynetto lit up the greens, so it couldn’t be that!

Regardless, the beauty of Mediterra, the graciousness of the staff, and the fact that Steph was there to digitally record it (yes, even my meltdown) 

Steph the photographer

far outweighed my back-9 woes (41 on the front ain’t bad for me). Thanks for putting the show together Mike, uh, Baldwin that is, and share the gratitude with the Mediterra staff for us as well.

Don the starter

And so, the second stop of the “Summer Tennis Pro Golf Tour,” (AKA the "SadExCup") at Mediterra concluded with everyone being “Miked up” for the occasion. Shoot! From what I hear, the next stop on tour will be on Curran’s (yeah, Mike) home turf. I think we need Dekeersmaker (uh that’s “Dave” winner of the first tour stop at Miromar) back in the game! Whadda ya say Dave? 

FORE! I’m out. T. A.

CAPPS FIT FOR SUNDAY GAME AT THE HIDEAWAY

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Scott Get'n paid

Twenty-three players teed it up for the most recent edition of The Hideaway’s Sunday Morning Quota Skins Game (QSG), including three women, and five first-timers. 

Betty Portor drives for show

Of those 23, just eight were in the money (made their point quota) when the green was exchanging hands, and quite a few more pocketed some moola for skins. I’m sad to say that I was among neither group.

It was very cool to see Jeff Ashby back at the helm. Jeff does a fantastic job of running both the Thursday and Sunday games. 

Jeff Ashby

If you haven’t played the Sunday or Thursday QSG at The Hideaway, it is a come-one-come-all proposition for anyone who loves to play the game and would like to opportunity to get some cash back for playing. On Sunday you pay $35 for 18 holes, and on Thursday you pay $20 for nine holes.

We play a modified Stableford format, and to get paid you have to exceed your points’ quota, which is determined by your handicap, or the score you shot the previous week. 

Mo money

If you play bogey golf or better, and/or can make a birdie every now and then, you have a good chance of slipping something back in your wallet at the end of the game.

Gordy showing his short game prowess

This past Sunday, Gordon Byrd proved to be the top points earner, posting nine points above his quota, and pocketing $27 ($3 per point) for his efforts. I’m guessing Gordon’s quota should be considerably higher next time out. Scott Lovecchio, who has been a solid performer thus far this summer, had a nice day as well, posting seven points above his quota.

Gotta work on my technique

I thought I would be doing some collecting myself after a decent start. I posted two points with a par on the not-so-easy (4^th hardest for men, 15^th for women), par -3, 15^th, but started having some vision issues, over and above my normal blindness, by our third hole. Even though I posted another par on our third hole, that left eye bugged me for the next several holes. I still managed to get at least one point on eight of the first nine holes.

Elaine knocking in the par while
Hideaway pro Dave Bartoe looks on 

I finally ripped the contact out of my left eye after trying to hit my second shot from the middle of the fairway with one eye and carding a double bogey on No.7, our 11^th hole. It stung a little when I replaced it, but I felt that I could actually see what I was trying to do out there from that point forward. I didn’t do a whole lot better, posting just 10 points in the final seven holes, but hey, I felt better.

I think that one just missed

The real story of the day, however, was Chris Capps, who, after failing to post any significant points on the first few holes, ended up cashing in on five birdies, each of which resulted in a skin, and notching two points above his quota. 

Chris & Elaine Capps

I’m going to chalk-up Chris’ uncharacteristic start on the presence of his wife Elaine, who joined us for the first time, and the pressure of performing with his brand new set of Wilson Staff FG Tour V2, with Fujikura Rombax 9E05 TM-27 X shafts.

Josh Musselman of Josh Musselman's Golf Express

You see, Chris had just been fitted by Josh Musselman, of Josh Musselman’s Golf Express about a week prior (a birthday present from his lovely bride Elaine), his brother Courtney had sent him the club heads, and Musselman’s had installed the new shafts this past Friday. 

Josh's Club Fitter of the year awards

Josh has been listed as a “World’s Top 100 Clubfitter” for a half-dozen years, and after being fitted, Chris wrote, “Josh really knows his stuff…Never in a million years would I have 

thought I would play with what he recommended but I can see big improvement in my ball flight and consistency. Never again will I buy without a proper fitting. Thanks Josh." You think Chris was excited to unveil those clubs on Sunday?

Elaine's replacement?

I’ll just tell you that I got a text on Saturday, totally in jest of course that said, “”Looks like Elaine has to find a new place to sleep,” along with photos of his new sweethearts lying on the bed, I presume, on Elaine’s side. You have to make birdies and score points after all that don’t you?

Well, Chris’ birdie barrage didn’t begin until Hole No.2 (our sixth of the day) the uphill, par-3 with a stiff right-to-left breeze.

Chris sinking another

Once he got going though, he dropped another on the challenging No.4 (a par-4 rated the 2^nd hardest for men, 4^th for women), another on the par-5 No.8 (despite missing the fairway long), yet another the par-3 11^th, with the final tweeter coming on our last hole, the par-4 14^th (the 6^th hardest for men, 3^rd for women).

T. A. missing another

I did have a chance to drop one in on top of him on the final hole, but typical of my day, my putt lipped out. 

Given my exercise in futility for most of the round (although 8 pars isn’t too bad for me, despite falling one short of my quota), I was happy to close out the Sunday morning fun with a par.

Thank you very much. Champions Tour next

As for Chris, those five birdies at $10 per, plus the $6 for the two points over his quota took care of his and Elaine’s rounds. Elaine was Considering Elaine’s Bloody Marys and Chris’ celebratory brew, I think they may have just broken even. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday morning.

World Am Day 2 Leader Board

As for me, I’m thinking it may be time for another fitting session with Josh. It has been three years since I last saw him for my fitting, and it might just be time to fine-tune for our next run at the World Amateur Handicap Championships in Myrtle Beach later this summer. Being atop the leaderboard on Day 2 is just not enough. May as well shoot for the whole enchilada I say.

Steph & Elaine celebrating with Chris

Meanwhile, congrats to Chris, Gordy, and Scott for their Sunday morning performances. Kudos to Curt Conrad and Jeff Shiggy, both of whom posted positive points and claimed skins as well. Thanks to Steph for wielding the camera better than I wielded the clubs, and see ya’ll Thursday…

Definition of Golf: “A passion, an obsession, a romance, a nice acquaintanceship with trees, sand, and water.” ~Bob Ryan

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PASSION FOUNDATION TRI-TOWN CLASSIC AT STONEYBROOK: A RECAP

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It has been two weeks since the Passion Foundation’s 5th Annual Tri-Town Classic Charity Golf Tournament at Stoneybrook Golf Course in Estero, and we now have what we need to get the recap done. 

As any avid golfer (or as the relational partner of an avid golfer) knows, when it comes to an opportunity to swing the sticks (as my buddy Maxwell likes to say), any excuse will do.

Well there aren’t too many excuses better than a worthwhile charity, such as the Passion Foundation’s, to head for the links…and when you include a venue like Stoneybrook for the charitable event, is an excuse even necessary? I don’t think so.

Melissa Haynie welcomes after party-goers

And so it was with a clear conscience and considerable anticipation that Steph and I headed down to Stoneybrook on May 16th for that 5th Annual event, and it was with great gratification that we left Stoneybrook and headed for the after party at The Sandy Parrot. Heck, we had already had a great time, and maybe we would get lucky too and win one of the raffle prizes.

At the Sandy Parrot

From the size of the crowd, it appeared that most of the event’s 80 participants and their guests had similar ideas, and had made it down to the Sandy Parrot to celebrate the culmination of the Tri-Town Classic. 

Hungry golfers 

I know we kept the kitchen and wait-staff awfully busy, but I couldn’t tell you how many different dishes they brought out. We didn’t leave there hungry; that I can tell you!

Jamming at the Sandy Parrot

Event organizers, Melissa Haynie, Dana Simantel, and all who helped them put this thing together did a tremendous job, especially with getting the media out, finding sponsors and amassing raffle prizes.

Some of the event sponsors

Eleven major sponsors (contributing $500 or more), including TSU LLC (which produces the very blog you are reading), chipped in to make the event a success. A number of other individuals and businesses stepped up as contributing sponsors as well.

At the party hole with Mike, John & Bob

If you were at Stoneybrook on the 16th, I'm guessing you would agree that a good time was had by all. I know that my playing partners (Mike Manning, Johnny Amoroso, and Bob Disharoon) would all agree, since we had a blast making our way around the delightful Stoneybrook track. I had an especially good time on Hole No.2 when my drive, my 3-wood, and my 20-foot putt nabbed us an Eagle! 

Most of the time, though, it was Mike bombing it out there and John getting us on the green that characterized our foursome. 

I think John stuck this one

It was obvious that my partners were familiar with each other because the banter was absolutely hilarious! Even if the golf hadn't been as entertaining as it was, these guys would have made it worthwhile.

Mike letting it rip

As for my eagle, sure it was only playing 501 yards from the white tees, which is where we played from, but an eagle is an eagle, and they don’t come around too often in my world of golf. I dropped at least two other long putts for the team, and I’m sure that would be surprising to anyone who plays with me on a regular basis. I did miss a 3-footer that would have tied us for third, but let’s not focus too much on that.

Jeff Nixon & Stoneybrook staff join the party

I would rather focus on Stoneybrook, the site of the Classic. I don’t know that we would have much say-so as an event sponsor, but we would vote to hold the Passion Foundation’s flagship charity event at Stoneybrook every year! Why? I’m guessing that Melissa hasn’t worked with a better golf course staff than the folks she worked with at Stoneybrook. 

Getting the show on the road

As a matter of fact, since writing the above, Melissa wrote me, "They were great! It went so smooth, they were so accommodating, it was a pleasure to work with them. I already can't wait for next year!" But the fact that the staff is super cool is only one reason that I'd vote for Stoneybrook.

My primary reason would be because  the course is just a plain joy to play! As you can imagine, I have played quite a few courses in the area over the past eight years, and 

Stoneybrook is definitely one of the more interesting and visually appealing tracks I have played. I’m a major fan of all the stonework, and wooden bridges, such as you would find coming up on Hole No.5.

I’m also a sucker for wildlife, variety in the foliage, and diversity in the landscape so that as I come upon each hole, it presents a view that captures my attention. 

Stoneybrook presented all that and more. I also happen to enjoy a course with water accentuating the terrain and there is apparent agua on just about every hole, although it doesn’t always come into play.

I don’t know that anyone would call Stoneybrook “spectacular,” given the incredible depth that we have in golf courses across southwest Florida and picturesque scenes we see on the tube, but as a lover of golf, each hole at Stoneybrook tugged at my heartstrings, engaged my eyes, and made me want more.

All of the above are components of a distinctive Stoneybrook aesthetic, and if the aesthetics weren’t enough to endear this unique track to me, the practicalities would. There are seven, yep, count em, seven sets of tees to accommodate just about anyone, including the bombers who can tee it up from 7353 yards, and the greens were in great shape when we played the event!

Jeff Nixon showing how it's done

Stoneybrook houses an aqua range, a short game practice area, a huge putting green, and a full complement of distinguished Golf Professionals (Jeff Nixon and Andy Scott are decorated pros, and Jordan Ball is on his way). The facility also provides a junior friendly environment, and if it’s good enough for the FGCU Lady Eagles Golf Team, then it’s surely good enough for me.

Repeat Champions

I really could go on and on ad nauseam as far as the Stoneybrook experience is concerned, but time is running a bit short, and I did want to offer up kudos to the winners of the Passion Foundation’s 5th Annual Tri-Town Classic Charity Golf Tournament. Rob and Tiff Rardin and Kevin and Megan Henry successfully defended their 2013 title, and I imagine they will be back for more in 2015. 

As for the purpose of the event, to raise funds for the Passion Foundation’s efforts to protect our young ones from the potential lethal horrors of melanoma, $11,000.00 were raised toward that end. Steph and I were happy to be a part of that effort, and we hope to see many more uv-ray-protective structures raised in playgrounds across southwest Florida.

Angie Guillette with champ

I suppose the bottom line of this recap post is that the Passion Foundation event was one heck of a good time, on one heck of a golf course, and we were able to contribute to one heck of a good cause. If you were there, I'm sure you agree, and if you weren't, maybe you'll get on board next year. Thanks for tipping us off Angie! Click here for more on the Passion Foundation, and here to explore Stoneybrook Golf Course.