PUTTING SHOULD NOT NEED TO BE THIS CHALLENGING

From many personal experiences, we all know that aerifying our greens is crucial to keeping them healthy. Instead of punching them once in the fall...you punch them three times....will they be three times as healthy??? We can only hope so. The old adage fits well here....if you wish in one hand and shit in the other......which one fills up faster?? Normal golf maintenance practices call for preparing the course for play early in the day so that everything is ready for your entire 18 holes. I.E. each green is mowed, rolled etc for your round. Yesterday was quite the roller coaster on our greens. In addition to aeration, with some greens having more or less top dressing than the others...we decided it was a great idea to mow some of the greens mid afternoon, then roll some of the greens as well. With the exception of you few Old Timers that have putting challenges on a regular basis.....it was certainly a challenging day trying to figure out the greens. Those who did so, we congratulate you. Enough of my rambling....and I am not under the influence of any alcholic fluids. Now back to yesterday's results. Before that, I must digress...one of our fellow Old Timer's suggested the my earlier posting of the female tennis player was actually a male tennis player. Please scroll down and closely examine the picture and decide for yourself.. 12 of us showed up yesterday, with only two of you being positive for the day, meaning 10 of us were not. Dave D, and Dennis K led Mike and Tom to victories on the front +3, and total -1. Charlies V and J, Rich and Dave A won the back +1. Dennis wins the front +4 and takes 2nd total +1. Bob is 2nd on the front +3, Bill and Rich tie 3rd. Charlie V, Dave A, and Ton all tie on the back +1. With his continued steady play Dave D wins total +2. Tom Dunlavy -1 to 23. Terry Moosmann -1 to 29. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 23 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 32 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 29 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

WORD ON THE STREET IS WE ARE BRINGING BACK THE TENNIS COURTS!!

\\\ I'M IN!!

SUNDAY AT THE RYDER CUP!!!.................and A FEW RESULTS FROM SATURDAY

Only 6 of you showed up yesterday, with everyone raking a little cash from the pot. Charlie V, Dennis K, and Bill take the front +2. Bob, Terry (i'm assuming it's not Tim) and Charlie win the back and total +2. +2. Dennis wins the front +3, and 2nd total +2. Charlie J, Terry. and Bill tie 2nd. Charlkie J also wins the back and total +2, +3. now let's all grab a few snacks and maybe a cold frosty and sit bsck and watch a good old americannass whipping!!!! Charlie Johnson +1 to 32. Dennis Kossmann +1 to 27. Terry Moosmann +1 to 30. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 24 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 32 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 30 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

NO MATTER WHERE YOU TEE THE BALL UP......65 IS A FREAKING GOOD SCORE!!!

We jokingly say that someone is on fire during the round after having a few good holes...but Bob was blazing away all day. A spectacular round including a hole out from 16's fairway bunker for a duece!! All told Bob was +8 for the day, which for you who are needing help with the math is 42 points. Certainly one of the highest point totals for our little group of Old Timers. Bob, Dave A, Dennis K, and Mac win the front +6, and total +7. Rich, and Charlie's Z and C squeak out the back at +2. As good as Bob's day was he didn't sweep the individual. Dennis H won the front with +4. Bob takes 2nd, +3. Bob wins the back and total +5, +8. Three of you tied for 3rd on the front, and three for 2nd on the back. Dennis K takes 2nd total with +4. 9 of the 11 Old Timers were positive or even for the day. Don't forget that golf Saturday will start a little later due to the Battle of Krakow Ridge. Bob Coleman's amazing 42 point day elevates his quota to 35. Congrats, Bob, on your terrific rounds. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 24 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 26 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 29 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

updated quotas

Bob Coleman -1 to 34. Bill Hall -1 to 32. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 34 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 24 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 26 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 29 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

6 SHOWED UP....ONLY 3 WENT HOME HAPPY

Charlie V and Tom pushed Bob across the finish line in first place. With totals of +4, -3, and +1 they swept all three sides today. Tom gets 1st, 2nd 2nd, and Chas V gets 2nd, 1st 1st. Bill with -1 ties 2nd on the back. I had the opportunity to take a cart out (along with a tall whiskey and water) and tour the Donald Ross course at Boyne Highlands. What a beautiful layout in way up north Michigan. Some of the greenest grass I have ever seen. Pretty special place. See you all Thursday at noon.

NEW QUOTAS

Bill Hall +1 to 33. Terry Moosmann +1 to 29. Dennis Kossmann -1 to 26. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 24 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 33 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 26 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 29 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

SATURDAY IN THE PARK

A small group showed up today and enjoyed a pleasant round. The new cart path on 18 is surely a welcome addition to the course. I for one was plenty tired of the old bumpy ass path. Terry continues his stellar play leading his team consisting of Dennis K, and Charlies V and C to a complete sweep with +6, +2, +8. He also swept the individual with +6, +3, +9. Bill takes 2nd on the front and total with +3, +3. 4 of the remaining 6 tied for 2nd on the back bringing home .25 each. Not sure exactly what you can buy with .25 these days?? changes to the quotas will be reported later. See you all Thursday.

THURSDAY OLD TIMER RESULTS

Yesterday saw 13 of us take to the course on a beautiful sunny day. It is really nice to see improvements being made to our course without fretting over how we are going to pay for it, or that we're adding to our debt as some of us are very debt conscious. Yeah I know borrowing money today is almost free...almost. On to golf....I have written many many times about how a single teammate has single handley drug their team to victory with their stellar play. Some times the opposite happens...one teammate is so bad...that they alone snatch victory from the hands of their team. Yesterday it happened to two of the four teams. Other than yours truly who's putting woes destroyed any chance for his team of winning, the other Old Timer will remain nameless (his score -11! will be revealed). Ray led his team of FIL (Tom), Dave A and Mr -11 to a win on the front +3. Mike, Terry and Charlie J win the back and total with -2, -1. Ray, Tom and Charlie V (9 straight pars on the back!!) each won a share of the individual game on the front, back and total. Both Ray and Charlie were +5 on the day, nice going. Tom Dunlavy +1 to 24. Charlie Voss +1 to 30. Bill Hall -1 to 32. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 24 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 28 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

AS OLD TIMER'S BATTLE THE HEAT...ONE STANDS ABOVE ALL

Yesterday was once again an example of a winning outcome determined by the luck of the draw. Unemcumbered by tax customers and the pesky IRS, Terry had an excellent day and drug his teammates Charlie's J and V, along with Dave A to a victory on the back and total, +3, +4. Terry also swept the individual with impressive scores of +5, +4, +9. Bill is 2nd on the front +4, and drags his team to a victory on the front +3. He takes 2nd total wih +3. Bill Hall +1 to 33. Terry Moosmann +1 to 28. Charlie Voss -1 to 29. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 23 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 33 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 28 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 29 * Voss, D. 33 *

saturday's results

This is the Acting Commish putting keystroke to pixel. I would like to congratulate our blogger on his remembrance of the 9/11 attacks 20 years ago. Well-crafted and heartfelt. I am sure every Oldtimer shares in his sentiment. He mentioned the Amex at Bellerive being cancelled and that Tiger had to drive back to Lake Nona. His passenger on that trip was his manager. And they created the groundwork on what was to become the Tiger Woods Foundation on that trip. It is one of the very few "Foundations" that has been successful to its vision. The TGF has done a world of good. Today, five stalwarts made it to the first tee. That in itself should tell you it wasn't an official game, but we played the quota game nonetheless. The twosome of Terry M. and Dave D. won all three legs ... +5, +1, +6. And that score was entirely the contribution of Terry M. and his brand new Calamity Jane ... his Odyssey putter. He shot 34/39/73 on a very windy day. That gave him +7 on the day. He individually beat the team of C. Voss, Hall and Eggert ... and his own teammate of course ... on front and total with +6, +7 and tied C. Voss for first and second on the back at +1. Well done, Terry. The Acting Commish has made a decision on how to play a change made to the course recently. There are several new collection basins (small ponds) strategically placed to help with drainage. The basin short and right of #12 green could cause a problem. It's bone dry most of the time ... maybe 4 or 5 feet deep and definitely in bounds. There is a large, metal drain placed in the center of it at its deepest point. Should a ball find its way into that basin it will rest against the man-made drain. That's why the Oldtimers will play those basins as ground-under-repair and take a free drop, no-closer to the hole. This rule will remain in effect until further notice. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 23 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 27 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

20 YEARS AGO TODAY

20 years ago something great was happening in St Louis in the professional and amateur golf circles. At the same time Bellerive cc was hosting the amex championship, while norwood hills cc was hosting the finals of the US senior amateur championship. It is unusual for our city to hold one golf championship, but two at the same time was incredible, especially if you love watching golf live in person. Too say that I was excited to spectate at both events is an understatement. But a small group of well trained and organized terriorists had made plans to ruin my weekend of watching my beloved game of golf. Life in America tragically changed in one single day. Thousands of loved ones were taken from their families. The PGA cancelled the Amex at Bellerive, but the USGA had not made a decision on the play at Norwood, as only a few players remaind in match play. My memory wants to tell me it was down to the final 8. So I made the drive out to Norwood Hills CC...driving up the winding road to the club house was strange, I could see a few players and a handful of spectators on the back nine, but it was as if nothing was happening at the club. It turned out that the USGA had made the decision not to stop play or even tell the few players and caddies on course that the attcks on America had happened. The large patio serving as scoring and hospitality was completely empty. Everyone not on the course was inside the dining room watching the horrific acts replayed over and over again on televisions placed throughout. I have no further memory of what decision was made regarding the final matches. One story I do remember is of Tiger renting a car and driving home to Lake Nona, as all airlines had cancelled every flight. It is only fitting that 20 years later St Louis and Norwood Hills CC get the opportunity to showcase the city we call home. While Norwood CC looks good, I think our little Country Club looks a little better. Of course we don't have the blimp flying over our negative areas. So as you spend a little time this afternoon watching the Seniors play at Norwood Hills....Please take a few minutes to reflect on our great country and all that we have to be greatful far. Remember that Freedom isn't Free.

THURSDAYS BUMPY RIDE

The weather was perfect. The greens weren't. They've been aerated and top dressed (I'm sure that procedure was needed.) However, they were being cut and rolled as we played and that procedure didn't start at 18 and work backward. It was haphazard So ... some were a lot faster than others. That may have been the "root cause" as to why 6 of the 10 players turned in negative quotas. The results: The team of Kossman, Johnson, Purschke and Dister won the front ... +3 ... and total ... +3. The team of Coleman, Harrison and Voss won the back at +1. Individually, Dister wins the front, back and total ... +3,+3,+6. Johnson and Purschke tie for 2nd and 3rd on the front at +2. C. Voss wins 2nd on the back at +2. Hall and Coleman tie for third at +1. Johnson's +2 takes 2nd total and Hall and Purschke tie for 3rd at +1.

BELLERIVE CC PRACTICE OF KEEPING ZOYSIA ALIVE WHILE WAITING TO REUSE IT

ndent Bellerive Country Club We Grow Our Best Zoysia on Pavement It has become a running joke among the Bellerive agronomy team that we grow our best zoysia grass sod in our parking lot. Whenever we have leftover sod pieces from a sodding project out on the golf course, we lay out the excess pieces in the parking lot of our ground maintenance facility until a new location to lay the sod on the course can be identified and prepped. As crazy as it seems, an asphalt parking lot does have its pros as a growing environment. It’s a constant warm environment which zoysia enjoys being a warm season turf species, the turfgrass isn’t subjected to the stresses of being mowed or run over by golf carts, and it has a readily available supply of water being situated next to our equipment wash station. No superintendent enjoys sodding zoysia grass, sodding tall fescue is much easier by comparison. If fescue is kept hydrated it will blend into the existing turf in a matter of weeks to months. Zoysia is a multi-year commitment as it can take up to three years for zoysia sod to completely blend into the existing turf. A superintendent once said that in year one zoysia sod sleeps, year two it creeps, and year three it leaps. Zoysia grass already has a slow growth and recovery rate compared to other turfgrass species such as bermudagrass, but that slow growth rate is even slower in freshly sodded zoysia which takes a few years to get going. Being a warm season turfgrass species that goes dormant in the colder months zoysia’s slow growth rate is hampered even further by only having an active growing season in our climate from April-May through September-October. This is why divots on a tee box take an exceedingly long time to heal over and golf cart traffic on fairways is often restricted over the winter months as it would cause damage to the plant that cannot be seen until it exits dormancy in the spring. Zoysia typically has a mowing height of 0.500-0.600” which requires zoysia sod to match up perfectly with the existing turf, as mowers would scalp if the transition between sod and existing turf wasn’t perfect due to the low height of cut. To help alleviate this problem it is preferred to walk mow zoysia sod for its first season as a walk mower reduces the risk of scalping and is easier on the plant. With all of these factors stacked against it maybe there’s some truth to our running joke about growing our best zoysia on pavement.

TODAY BROUGHT OUT QUITE A FEW OLD TIMERS...WITH VERY GOOD RESULTS

First off let me say that it was really nice to join the group again today....it has been a long time since I have been able to enjoy your company for a round of golf. Now, on to the words...and it looks like quite a few of them...................... from the Acting Commish..............First, let's take care of business. We have a quota-game tee-time this Saturday, the 4th at 11. Bill Hall has a skins game tee time on both Sunday the 5th and Monday the 6th at 8 a.m. There will be no quota game on Tuesday the 7th because the course will be closed. The quota game will resume AT 11 A.M. THURSDAY THE 9TH BECAUSE YET ANOTHER OUTSIDE EVENT HAS OUR NOON TEE TIME. Apparently other holes will be closed to install drainage in the near future. Your quota will be decreased by a minimum of one and a maximum of two quota points based on your quota on that particular nine holes. If your quota is 13 or lower for that nine, your quota for that nine will be reduced by 1 point. If your quota is 14 or higher for that nine, your quota will be reduced by 2 points. It has been agreed on by the committee that the reduction of your quota should be based on what 1/9th of your quota is. Today's weather can only be described as splendid. Some of the pin placements were questionable, but as the Bard once said, "We all had to play them!" Fifteen players started and all who were plus on the day got money back. On the front, led by Jeff Fortner's +6, his teammates; Bob C., Jeff K. and Charlie J. prevailed at a remarkable +9. The back and total were taken by Dennis K., Dave A. and Dave D. at +4/+7. Dennis (The Menace) Kossmann did something this reporter has never seen in his 35 years prowling the links of FC ... he was 2-under on the par 3s WITH A DOUBLE BOGEY ON 5. 4 birds and a double and that's why he's THE MENACE!! Individually, Fortner takes the front at +6, Eggert takes the back at +5 and they split first and second on total at +7. Second and third on the front was a 4-way tie from Aholt, Coleman, Voss and Eggert at +2. Second and third on the back were tied by Kossmann and Morris at +2. And third on total was tied by Aholt, Voss and Kossmann at +3. Eggert +1 to 31. Fortner +1 to 28. Purschke -1 to 21. Curtis -1 to 31. Harrison -1 to 24. Aholt 30 * Blackwell 30 * Clark 34 * Coleman 35 * Cozzo 26 * Crow 35 * Curtis 31 * Dister 30 * Dunlavy 23 * Eggert 31 * Eichelberger 28 * Gildehaus 29 * Hall 32 * Harrison 24 * Homeyer, Dale 14 * Johnson 31 * Kavanaugh 27 * Kossmann 27 * Lee 36 * Loyd 25 * Miller 25 * Moosmann 27 * Morris 24 * Nealis 26 * Purschke 21 * Sharma 31 * Thater 27 * Stoehner 25 * Voss, C. 30 * Voss, D. 33 *

PATRICK CANTLAY'S PUTTER CHANGE

“Historically a blade putter user, Cantlay has been in a Scotty Cameron Phantom X 5 tour prototype since April’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The five-time PGA TOUR winner was seeking a putter more conducive to a straight back-straight through stroke. In June, Cantlay won the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday with the mid-mallet X 5 pictured below. It featured a double-bend shaft and no sight-line.” “However, Cantlay switched to a Phantom X5 with a sight line following the second round of last week’s THE NORTHERN TRUST. He also began drawing a line on his Titleist Pro V1x golf ball to help his alignment on short putts.” IMO...If it is good enough for a person that made 33 feet of putts during his 6 hole playoff with BROOKSY...it might be beneficial to almost everyone. Thanks, and keep breathing