There was an important spectacle at SGC‘s last Sunday’s round of golf at Kingsforest golf course. Conclusion of another great summer playing golf. It could have been longer but mother nature would not allow it to happen as we all knew it. Titles and prizes waiting to be fretfully had. We meant lots of them. It was time to start breaking out the bevy of hypothetical scenarios and quality combinations of hyper performances that could vault someone into a good finish capturing horde of awards. Not to ever forget that the most important thing was SGC’s membership who continued to flourish on spending the time playing together and enjoying each other’s company. Although for quite other reasons we could not control during the length of the summer season hitches and difficulties, we went ahead and just played. Happened to all organizations indeed. Otherwise, it was another good and enjoyable run.

Thanks to all the members liaising as one to support SGC for the only purpose of getting the pleasure of relishing our favourite summer past time. SGC feels that we were all winners. Thank you very much.

So who garnered the most important and coveted awards of the year? Bragging rights to be on display for the whole year and until next year, mind you. No reckless abandon occurred to vie for the top awards for the leaders but instead they stayed where they were as expected. It was all in the record books now folks. So here they were:

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

SENIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER

BEST GROSS SCORE/BEST PLAYER

GRAND FINALS, NASSAU TOTAL SCORE, DAY PRIZE and SUPER SERIES 5 CHAMPION

MONTH 5 CHAMPION

Congratulations to the winners.

Are we looking forward for next year? You bet, we are. Have a safe and healthy winter.

See you at the awards night. Click the link below.

https://sierragolfers.com/blog/2016-awards-night/

The weather started promisingly good before SGC teed off last Sunday at Westview golf course. Then it abruptly changed its mind and began to look cloudy gloomy as we were about to start the second last Sunday event of the season. As a matter of fact, it did rain a bit for the first three holes but alas, the sky cleared up and this shining bright thing they called the sun cooperated for the rest of the afternoon.

So who got the showcase going to demonstrate an ability to win on a diverse set of layouts like this difficult Westview golf course?

Sometimes when you were playing with a certain player in a foursome whose demeanor could get the best of you – you had nowhere to hide but watched a glaring performance by that certain player. As often said and heard, a winning display of a day’s work could happen right before your very eyes. I happened to be in exactly the same situation with this member, Bong M. There was a reason for this rhetoric as I played with Bong more times than enough. Without consent from anyone at all, I considered him with credentials of a day/night golfer. The fire-breathing Bong was infrequently heard murmuring to himself every time he did not like a shot. Last Sunday otherwise, was a marvellous workout for him as he did win the day’s prize by turning in a net score of 66. By producing that amazing score, he did himself a favour by winning almost all Nassau corners as well as giving him the lead for the week ending Grand Finals happening next week.

Worth mentioning was another matching and sparkling performance by another member – Ron W. As luck would not allow it, it was a heart-breaking moment for a guy who relished playing this game we loved with a gung -ho attitude. Ron lost a tear-jerking point to every Nassau corner. Was it so close or what? It happened to everyone, mind you. The good news was, by finishing his round with a net score of 67, Ron got a free entry for next week’s Super Series contest together with Bong M. and a very healthy chance to win all the marbles for the Grand Finals contest. Bong and Ron were the only two players who closed out with net score in the high sixties.

Sharpshooter contest: Jimmy M. bagged the winner on Middle hole seventh while Jun P. earned his keeps on Lakeland fourth hole.

How’s the scenario for next week’s final round? A nail-biting, sit in the edge of your chair kind of circumstance after last Sunday’s result. No one is a clear winner with only one round to go and a nerve of steel to show.

POY (PLAYER of the YEAR) is still contested by three players – Ricky R., Rey P. & Dave N. Very close race. Ricky is at the top of the heap. Rey only two strokes behind while Dave N. is four off the lead who is not measured as a dark horse by any means.

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SPOY (SENIOR PLAYER of the YEAR) is considered safe to say a lock between two players – Rey P. & Ricky R. Only a staggering stroke separating the two.

MIP (MOST IMPROVED PLAYER) winner seems to favour Ricky R. as his lead looks unsurmountable but still being challenge by the never giving up Rey P.

Sounding like a broken record but if you notice, these two familiar gentlemen being mentioned above – Ricky R. & Rey P. are both in the running to win these three coveted titles. It is really handsomely deserving to be in this position when you perform admirably for the whole summer stretch, doesn’t it? Who is going to blink first? Let’s wait and see. May the best man win. Good luck to all contenders.

Congratulations to all winners.

So, who’s who at last Sunday’s event at Century Pines golf course? No complains heard from a single member about the exemplary weather condition although it was getting a bit more on the cooler side of things. SGC was nice enough to acknowledge the compassionate notion of Century Pines management to give us a two-hour head start at 11:00 AM simply because of the days getting shorter of late. We always thought that this golf course would be a pleasant and enjoyable staging venue for achieving low scores by everyone. Twenty-one strong who showed up and played proved us fittingly right. At least nine players stood ground by wavering low net scores in the sixties when after the dust settled. But who led the assault of this golf course? Previous posted remarks about this member who was getting his old form back noticeably with strong performance in the aforementioned weeks, Jun P. ruled the day’s contest by closing out a net score of 61. He took the day’s overall prize, what else? We’d say Jun is a force to reckon with for next season, wouldn’t you say so? Watch out, dangerously unsettling. Just stay healthy.

Nassau: The irrepressible Mar DV. took the overall net score while also grabbing the front nine tying Jimmy M. and Seho O. Sole winner of the back nine went to Sennix B.

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Par 3 closest to the pin: The never a ‘dull moment’ Ross B. won the fifth hole. Untiringly lucky and good, Mar DV. shot it closest on the thirteenth hole.

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With two games to go, what is the skinny on this fast ending unpredictable contests? Boy, don’t you love this kind of situation? On no account somehow any leader is considered a runaway. Slimmest of margin regarding their lead contributes to a shuddering stretch for those vying for a good spot to take away the three titles -POY, SPOY, MIP. That saying comes to mind about “You snooze, you lose” plays a very significant role as far as winning these three coveted titles are concerned. What it makes more interesting is that a whimsical merry-go-round is happening with the leaders. No one has a commanding lead. As far as we are concerned, nothing is safe until it is all over. Fine, please show me a winner soon. This is killing me.

So to update the million SGC followers (No kidding – we are seen globally. You would not believe the comments we get from the outside world). Here we go:

POY: Rickey R. has taken the lead back from the idle Rey P. who is two strokes behind. Dave N. and Jojo D. sitting third and fourth comfortably are five and fourteen off the lead respectively. There is a battle going on for the last spot between Bingoy P. and Joey C. They are separated by mere three strokes.

SPOY: Who has got the best thirteen net scores? Why it is still Rey P. followed by Ricky R. a hair of a stroke behind in second place. Fourteen strokes behind the leader in third place is Bingoy P. trailed by Sennix B. four strokes behind him. Closely only two strokes behind fourth place in fifth place are Joey C. and the up & coming Jun P.

MIP: A week ago only five players, yes five mind you, fully qualified for this volatile contest. Now we have ten players making it. It just shows you how competitive SGC members are. But if I may say so, taking the lead two out of three ain’t bad, is it? Ricky R. who comes settled leading also the POY race, never gave up the lead on this one. His superb past performance for the past few months deservingly entitled him at the top of the leaderboard. Breathing down his neck in second place is Rey P. Way down in third and fourth respectively are Bingoy P. and Jun P. Closing out in fifth place is Dave N.

To most of our minds, you are still looking good if you are positioned in the top tier with two games to go. No lead is unsurmountable we think. Again, may the best man or woman win.

Congratulations to the winners.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Reminder that this Sunday is the first week of the last two weeks for the GRANDFINALS contest. We play Middle and Lakeland course.

2016 SGC BANQUET AWARDS NIGHT: Please click on the link below.

https://sierragolfers.com/blog/2016-awards-night/

At twenty-two degrees Celsius last Sunday at Maples of Ballantrae golf course with the sun smiling all day, only eleven players braved to show up and played. Was it the air or was it the water? It was so surreal nobody could answer what happened to a lot of members who did not quite make it. We would guess it was coincidental that for whatever reasons, they all came up with different excuses at the same time and place. This was bizarre considering there were only four games left before last Sunday and so many contest prizes to be had. Never happened as far back as we could have recalled unless it was the weather to blame for a diminished attendance.

Did it make any difference to those who competed? Guessed not. A sweet redemption for one member who quietly mind his own business at the golf course trying to conceive and absorb whatever situation was surrounding him. Rey P. with an emphatic net score of 68, rewarded himself the day’s prize. He almost won all Nassau corners – front nine, overall score and tying three other members for the back nine. Out of eleven players, it was Rey and Jun P. who was showing an amazing turn around with his game lately, turned in net scores in the high sixties. Not surprisingly enough was our top low grosser, Manny C. with a gross score of 77.

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Plot thickens at all corners of all contests. Rey P. who lost the lead in SPOY a week ago & POY three weeks ago to Dave N. & Ricky R. three weeks ago, now leads both contest deservingly. But wait, it is not enough yet. In the MIP race, Rey is trailing Ricky with a mere 0.0019 points for the lead. Winning all three categories is something that you have to reach out for, isn’t it? But the rest of those who are contending, may not agree and give Rey a run for his money. To all those gentlemen who are still in the race up to this point, may the best man win.

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Congratulations.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Tee off time for this Sunday at Century Pines was moved up to 11:00 AM. Please confirm your attendance.

A comfortable twenty-three degrees Celsius at Glen Cedars last Sunday – not cool, not so hot just about right to twenty-one players who played that day under the gleaming sun. SGC got a reprieve from this golf course by teeing off half-an-hour earlier than booked as in our schedule. The last flight turned in their scores at around six thirty at night and it was noticeably a little bit dark already. As the saying goes, “I’ll see you in September when summer is gone”. We were still blessed with a warmer weather even with days getting shorter and hopefully with four games unaccounted for, this very same weather phenomenon would continue until our very last game.

Who was playing good last Sunday? Or should I say who were playing great that day? Yes, there were two people who signed in net score of 68. Sennix B. and Jojo D. both winning different Nassau corners, tied as well for the total score for the day’s prize. With Jojo grabbing the front nine, Sennix took care of the back nine. A consolation to another player, Joey C. who made up of only three players shooting in the high net sixties.

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Par 3 contest: Manny C. who still got a scope attached to one of his irons for accuracy shot, got it close on the seventh hole. Mar DV. who was claiming if you could not beat the day’s low net score then win one of these closest to the pin contests – the fourteenth hole.

 

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POY Race: A see saw battle is going on with the leaders for this POY race. With four people – Rey P., Ricky R., Dave N., & Jojo D. in a realistic contention for the coveted title, this is a real close and a tight race. Rey P. who was dislodged by Dave N. a week ago for the lead, is back again for the top honours this week. Rey now leads Ricky by three strokes. Dave drops down to third place four back, a stroke behind second place. Jojo standing by a mere stroke behind third for fourth place.

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SPOY: Ricky R. maintains his lead by three strokes over Rey P. Far third is Bingoy P., a humongous nineteen strokes behind. Amazingly enough, four people – Sennix B., Ed I., & Joey C. tied in fourth place twenty-five strokes behind the leader. Ricky is going for his second SPOY title.

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MIP: The most intriguing race. Why? A rarely multifaceted situation for improving players as qualifications for this contest are a bit complex. Only four players – Ricky R., Rey P., Bingoy P., & Dave N. qualified to make it to top five so far at this point. Possible border line players who could still make it are: Paolo B. (needs one more game) and Jojo D. (needs to shoot lower than his starting handicap index by a narrowest of margins).

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Congratulations to the winners.

Appreciate the fries and round of drinks.

It was a beautiful twenty-five-degree Celsius weather at Westview golf course with the sun shining brightly with minimal wind last Sunday for twenty-two players. Again this golf course did not surprise anybody at all as it showed its might as indicated by high scores. We would compare this venue most specially the hard-to-read greens as the kiss of death. Most proper to hold a lively event such as this time of year with so many prizes at stake.

In the blaze of a Sunday afternoon, in the thick of one of the biggest Sunday’s in summer golf, it was the end of the concluding month for contest prizes to be had. So who got to win the honours? This member was kind of hard to figure out. His day night performance mostly baffled us all summer long. But last Sunday, JC M. showed us that there were so many ways to skin a cat. JC who signed in for a 65 net score, was the only player who netted in the low sixties. By doing that, he garnered the day’s prize, the hugely coveted prize Super Series, as well as almost sweep of the Nassau corners. Not a bad winning haul for a single day’s work, huh?

Sharpshooters contest: Jun P. who was rediscovering himself shot the closest on the seventh Middle course while Bong M. got his second closest to the pin in as many weeks on number four Lakeland course.

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Month 4 contest: Ricky R. got this one locked since two weeks ago as aspiring closest contenders needed to score a net of 63 or lower to claim top spot. Amazingly enough, three players – Sennix B., Jimmy M., & Dave N. – did good by outperforming the rest by getting tied for second place.

Super Series winners: 1^st JC M., 2^nd Dave N., 3^rd Joey C., 4^th Ricky R.

An interesting change in the SPOY and POY race. Rey P. who led both categories since day one was relegated to second place in both contest after last Sunday’s outing. Rey P. now trails Ricky R. by six strokes in the SPOY race. Dave N. who was making a noise the past few weeks got the imposing three stroke lead over Rey P. in the POY race. Battle of guts in good display here as summer event is winding down to five games.

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Members appreciate the round of drinks and fries provided after the round.

Congratulations to the winners.

A muggy thirty degrees Celsius at Kingsforest golf course last Sunday. It was so sticky it felt your skin was rejecting any clothing that you had on. Better not said anything more and not going there after that statement. Anyway, an eventful day it was. ‘Blind Partner’  contest was on; an entry exemption to ‘Super Series’ for next week was at stake; plus, other contests were to be had as usual for twenty-four players who likely defied the heat and humidity.

So who got game? Playing like an old pro who tend not to forget that he still got what it takes, showed the field he could still play and how it was done just like the olden times. Ross B. began to feel that it was almost liked yesteryears when he played remarkably well liked last Sunday. By shooting the lowest net of 67, Ross rewarded himself of the day’s prize. Could it be the absence of side bets that propelled him the edge to play with enormous ease of mind? Mostly everyone doubted it. When you got it, you got it.

Nassau contest: A 4-way tie for the front nine winners namely – Jojo D., Ed I., Bingoy P., & Rey P. A solo back nine winner went to Bong M. while the overall net score was grabbed by Bingoy P.

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Closest to the pin: Hole #5 – Jimmy M. and hole #17 – Bong M.

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Blind partner contest: This contest that SGC held once a year considered by many as a different kind of beast itself. These twofold contest involved two things – first you needed to provide yourself a low scoring binge and second, find an equally low scoring partner whose selected randomly. Partially patterned to luck and skill would you say? Listed below were the winners for this contest with the lowest tandem of two-player scores:

1^st Pat D. & Ross B. with a total score of 142

2^nd Sennix B. & Jun P. with a total score of 148

3^rd Jimmy M. & Bong M. with a total score of 153

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It was an SGC appreciation day Sunday. A dinner was held at Bingoy’s and Ely’s place after the game. Members enjoyed the abundance of food and drinks. SGC in behalf of its members and guests could not forget but to thank the hosts for their hospitality most specially to Ely P. for her hard work in dinner preparation and the wholehearted warmth welcome for all of us. Thanks again.

Nice to see a healthier Don D. surprising us with a visit.

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Congratulations to the winners.

Announcement: SGC took advantage of the presence of the dinner attendees to resolve the issue of scheduling for next year. It was taken to the account of having to vote on what golf courses to include in the schedule. To see the result please click on this link:

https://sierragolfers.com/blog/2107-golf-courses/

Twenty-six degree Celsius last Sunday at Royal Woodbine with a not so hot cloudy atmosphere presented to those who played. With a central location for this golf course, you would expect a perfect attendance but no; at least twenty-four players showed up and enjoyed the outing for sure. This golf course had SGC played numerous times and as a matter of fact, a few players were still holding membership with this local club.

So who was who that gritted it out for the race that particular day? This guy and heeeee’s baaaack. Mike M. cruised to a low scoring romp by turning in a net score of 64. He topped the Sunday tournament by four shots over three players. All together there were six players who closed out with net scores in the sixties. Mike M. with this kind of performance rewarded himself the day’s prize. Not only that, his low scoring touch enabled him to contend and jumped to third place in the MIP race. Seven more games remaining and the pressure is mounting with constricted standings for those who deservingly get themselves up to this level of competition. Never second thought the idea of working hard to get to this level. Let’s see who is going to blink first. Way to go members.

Nassau: This “I’m still here” kind of guy Joey C. took the front nine while JC M. seized the back nine. Overall prize went to JC M. and Bong M.

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Sharpshooters contest: Bingoy P. whose shot on seventh hole got closer to the fringe than the pin itself still won. How about this member who scarcely showed up on Sundays but amazingly he’s a steady and good supporter of every contest known to SGC, Ron W. got it close on the fourteenth hole.

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There were so many ways to recompense yourself if you couldn’t beat the sometimes unavoidable low scoring phenomena by a group of players. Why not give yourself a shot to an eagle? Jimmy M. just did that on the water hazardous seventeenth hole.

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This is worth mentioning. Dave N. is making a run for the POY race. Dave appeared gaining grounds on the leader Rey P. He is only six back. Ricky R. also making it a tight race in the Senior POY. Ricky caught up with the leader Rey P. Only a stroke separating both gentlemen. I could hear Rey saying, “Catch me if you can!” Nice POY and SPOY race building up here folks.

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Congratulations to all winners.

ANNOUNCEMENT: A mandatory ‘Blind Partner’ contest is going to happen this Sunday at Kingsforest. So please be prepared for the entry fee. An SGC dinner is in the offing right after the game at Bingoy’s place. If you cannot make it to the game, hopefully we will see you at dinner time.

Fast approaching September is just around the corner with only eight games to go. Have you noticed days are getting shorter? Antsy or not, everyone seems to be relishing the lovely weather we are getting lately; enjoy it for whatever is left in our summer spell. Pretty soon expect old man winter to be around. Must be nice for those lucky ones who like to continue playing golf, conceivably happening someplace warmer. Bummer. Ice skating anyone?

A beautiful twenty-eight degrees’ Celsius day with cloudy periods for the rest of the afternoon prevailed last Sunday at Tyandaga golf course. From a competitive standpoint, Rickey R. was chasing his second win in as many weeks. It was a closing net 66 that lifted him to win again yesterday. Could there be a three in a row happening here? Never seen this transpired for quite a long time now. Gutsiest feeling that the rest of the members would not permit this occurrence and would give him a run for his money.

Nassau: A brilliant one under front nine gross score for Jimmy M. enabled himself to tie Rey P. Who else got the back nine and overall score but Ricky R.

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Par 3 closest to the pin: Bong M. with a week off last week reinvigorated himself by shooting nearest to the pin on hole six. Seho O. who was having a bad day, redeemed himself by firing closest on the converted par 4 to par 3 fourteenth hole.

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Front-running Rey P. is still on the loose running away with both POY and SPOY honours. Four players on board for the MIP awards with Rickey R., Rey P., Bingoy P., & Sennix B.

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Correction: It was posted that last week’s back nine winner was solely won by Ricky R. when actually it was a tie between Jojo D. & Ricky. SGC regrets the error.

Congratulations to the winners.

What lies ahead: It is already confirmed that SGC dinner is to be held at Bingoy’s place after the game at Kingsforest on August 28, 2016. Every member is expected to attend.

Twenty-eight degrees Celsius, not so hot nor cool, just about right at last Sunday’s round of golf at Maples of Ballantrae golf course with the wind gusting at thirty mph, with the exception of few holes, it was wildly blowing a bit harder at open spaces. We would assume that it was a perfect weather conditions for members to have perfect attendance? Not quite. Only twenty-one players showed up but no one could blame anybody for not playing as few preferred to be somewhere cooling off at a cottage or relishing a walk along the lake or merely enjoying the comforts of home. Too short that summer.

Nine games left to our summer bliss and there was a discussion regarding the SGC schedule, most specially the golf courses we play. SGC welcomes and appreciate the idea of voicing out your opinion on important areas to help our event a more pleasurable event to all. SGC also suggests that our annual meeting hails as the most significant gathering to discuss such important views. Attending the meeting armed with hot topics and perceptible info to get them heard will help your cause. Suggesting a topic without anything to back it up will not do you any good.

So who had the mojo working last Sunday? Ricky R., yes that was him shooting a net score of 65 earning him the day’s prize. He claimed winning it eventually after a few weeks of futility.

Nassau: Ricky R. grabbed the back nine as well as the winning the overall score. Sennix B. fresh from firing front nine 38 gross score last week hailed as the winner of the front nine again with a net score of 31.

Sharpshooters contest: Julio R. who just returned from two weeks off got it closest on hole six while Bingoy P. won the tenth hole.

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ANNOUNCEMENT: It was mentioned that there would be a tentative sched bar-b-q dinner at Bingoy’s place after our round of golf on August 28^th. Drinks are also provided at SGC’s expense. There is two more weeks before it happens – say what you want early. Another one is in the offing uncertainly before the summer ends. Final announcement comes a week before then.