Facts of life: Aging – by definition, it is the process of getting old. Are you thinking of extra candles on the birthday cake, the little lines in your face you notice in the mirror? Listening to the sound of cracking body joints with every movement? Like the rest of us, we feel not that good. On the other hand, age also brings wisdom and balance. Lots and lots to consider the benefits that come with age. For those of our fellow SGC members who are struggling to cope with health issues and not able to join us play golf and compete, we all hope to see you all and join us play. So, to Ross Bautista, Pat DeOca, Fred Halili, Ed Ilao, Bong Munson, & Jun Paculaba, in behalf of the rest of SGC members we wish to get you playing sooner than expected. And as well as others who have business commitment and other related family & priority reasons like Sam Kim, Lina Mayo, & Ron Wilson who were unable to shoot their first tee shot with us yet. We miss you all. SGC also relishes the idea of getting the support and still playing with fire in their hearts, our young at hearts – Sennix Bontigao, Joey Cruz, Mar DeVeyra, Exe Navarette, Seho Oh, Bingoy Peña, Rey Plaza, Ray Macapagal & Jess Velarde. You all look great.

How do you like them apples? SGC welcomes back after a year or two of hiatus, Manny Chea & Sopheara Tuy as well as four new members – Fred Bataclan, Roy Gomez, Joe Lewis, & Sangva Sok. Hope you enjoy your new company. So far, the number of paid members after last Sunday are totaling to thirty-two. Yes, we are growing.

Let’s get on with the competition. Last Sunday at Springfield golf course was surprisingly unusual. Why? Three things were on hand. One was the golf course announced the prohibited use of power carts due to wet conditions; secondly, the high numbers of players who showed up; thirdly, the ideal, beautiful sunny weather that got better with 20 degrees Celsius. What is the difference between half-empty tank and half-full tank? I’ll leave it with you. Rey Plaza is neither, mind you. After no bewilderment about Rey winning a week ago, he did it again last Sunday. So, with his full tank under his control, Rey signed his scorecard with a net 69. Not only he won the day prize tying Roy Gomez but garnered the Nassau front as well. Rey sure is front running way ahead the SPOY contest and POY. It looks now that he is a sure bet for the monthly award. Roy Gomez who just joined us this year surprised no one winning the Nassau back nine and tying Rey with total net score ‘cuz a few members knew him with his high caliber golf skills. Only two net scores in the 60s submitted yesterday.

Rey Plaza

Roy Gomez

Par 3 contest: Didn’t I tell you weeks prior that Julio Rodriguez seldom comes home empty handed every time he tees off? Julio did win again, hitting the closest on hole fourth. Another new comer Fred Bataclan who used to play with our GTA rival Philcan organization, smoothly got the fourteenth hole beating Rey Plaza’s shot by merely six inches.

Julio Rodriguez

Fred Bataclan

Congratulations to the winners.

ANNOUNCEMENT: Password change on our website after next Sunday.

Although conditions remained surprisingly playable for much of the afternoon given the forecast of a cool eleven degrees Celsius last Sunday, the sun was out with a slight breeze over our heads but got warmer in mid-afternoon. Carlisle golf course was in pretty dry condition even with rain the past few days. Only fifteen players showed up and played, I guess no one could be blamed for not showing up because of the weather and the uncomfortable wearing of irritating layers of warm clothing. Well, second round of the year is in the books and here we go.

Another plenty left in the tank moment for Rey Plaza as he maneuvered a magical Sunday round. Little did we know that Rey’s pursuit brought him a day prize with a staggering net round score of 66 with no one else closer except Erland Ibañez with a net of 69. Rey must be instilling himself a wealth of confidence heading to third game of the monthly race as he now leads by three over Julio Rodriguez with a total of 148 with three games to go. With that win, Rey also grabbed the Nassau front nine and the total net. What a way to go Mr. Plaza.

Capturing the best Nassau back nine scoring went to Joey Cruz and Erland Ibañez both with a dashing net of 32.

Joey Cruz

Erland Ibañez

Accuracy shot: We have a new sheriff in town…er I meant a new member with an intimidating array of precision swings, Joe Lewis (no, not that Joe Lewis the “Brown Bomber” ex-pugilist) fired the closest shot on the par 3 sixteenth hole. Last Sunday’s day winner, Julio Rodriguez did not go home empty handed by claiming the fourth hole.

Julio Rodriguez

Joe Lewis

ANNOUNCEMENT: Springfield Golf Club in Guelph area is our venue for this Sunday, and we were told by management that due to rain the past few days and this morning, the course is soaking wet most specially the back nine. We were told that they might stop the use of power carts if the wet conditions keep up. Springfield to let us know this Friday afternoon whether the use of power carts is possible.

This Sunday is your last chance to pay your membership fee as it was extended due to weather and other reasons. SGC’s bank account is not yet capable of money e-transfer, so please bring cash or issue a cheque. Scores for this Sunday and previous rounds are deemed null without membership fee.

UPDATE: Springfield just confirmed two hours ago that there will be no renting of power carts for this Sunday due to wet conditions, unless some drastic things happen. Springfield also offered $35 with pull cart tax included to those walking the course.

Alas, the opening day of SGC’s summer past time came and went last Sunday at Lionhead Master golf course. With the weather forecasting a glimpse of sunshine which never happened, it was a cloudy day throughout the afternoon at cool 14 degrees Celsius with moderate prevailing wind. So, the stage was set, twenty-eight players showed up and came to play. Mostly half of the members stayed at home but quite a few new prospective new members and guests totalling to eight helped to get this eventual first day out of the way.

Wet and soggy field didn’t play havoc to one veteran member, Julio Rodriguez who always has a knack for being clutch, took the day prize. Revenge is sweet so they say as JR, as we call him, was shut out of any day win last year, but didn’t have to go that far into the memory bank to find some inspiring recent form to take the opening day honours with a smashing front nine of 38 gross. He took the Nassau front and a total net of 71. There’s no better event to do that than JR. “Early bird catches the worm first”, don’t you think so? Nice start so far.

Jojo Dizon took the Nassau back nine with a net of 35.

With a home course familiarity advantage than anyone else, Ed Ilao took both closest to the pin contest as he bragged to those who he beat by getting a lot closer to the pin marvellously.

ANNOUNCEMENT: This is a reminder to those who played last Sunday and to those playing next Sunday. If you have not paid your membership fee before teeing off the deadline next Sunday, April 28, 2019 at Carlise Golf and Country Club, sorry to say that your score will not count unless otherwise. Ensure to pay your fee before you hit your first ball at your first tee off. Same is true to those aspiring qualified members to enter the SPOY contest this year.

Please also adhere to every Wednesday attendance deadline submission if you’re playing that Sunday of the week. No confirmation, you are deemed to be not playing.

NEW GOLF RULE FOR 2019: One important golf change for 2019 worth mentioning again is out of bounds and lost ball situation. No more hitting provisional ball in both cases. Automatically, you are hitting from your drop off location with two stroke penalty.

Seasons have come and gone. The SGC golf event of the year looms closer. Calling any predictions who’s poised to seize the summer accolades is arbitrary. And after that winter hibernation, it’s someone else’s guess who’s in opening season form.

What about a recap of SGC’s previous year, 2018? We were blessed by mother nature because not a single game cancellation occurred related to increment weather. Out of 25 games, 22 were different day winners more than the SGC had witnessed from previous years. Winners included a new member, 14 seniors, 7 below 60 years of age. Ten members were multiple winners and only two players accomplished winning three times. Astonishingly, there were three different winners of three majors – two seniors capped the year winning MIP & SPOY while the third POY major was won by a non-senior in almost a breakaway fashion. Love this golf sport where in a time of unequivocal parity – handicapping wise, anybody’s game who knows? A positive return to the players age 60 & up circuit where 12 seniors battled it out, and apparently for this summer one or two are expectantly joining. SGC also welcomed 5 new members and happily valued the successful culmination of the year’s awards night. SGC had positive feedback from the those who showed up and reveled the night away. There is nothing else to be grateful for except to credit the support and care of its own members.

SGC is continuously looking for ways to enhance our tournament and providing chances for new members to join us. By mentioning it again, competition should be brilliant from start to finish as expected. Who can possibly achieve another milestone of winning all three majors which was achieved in the year 2017, and become the second individual to reach the almost unreachable feat?

Well, year 2019. What is to expect? A lot – new USGA golf rule wise. Confusing it maybe, we have no choice but to get ourselves familiarize with the revised rules. SGC’s website earlier posted the links to all these new rules as well as videos of some of the changes which are easier to understand than reading the wordings in their articles. Please help yourselves acquaint with these new rules to avoid startling results.

Few members also suggested to make local rule changes on two of these new USGA rules:

1. New rule: No need to get the attention of fellow competitor to touch, lift to identify a ball.

SGC local rule: The player must announce his intention to lift the ball to fellow-competitor and mark the position of the ball. Replace the ball the way it was found. Failure to do all of the above – one stroke penalty.

2. New rule: Free relief for a ball embedded anywhere in the “general area” (the new term for “through the green”). In taking relief, the player may clean and drop the original ball or a substituted ball from the spot directly behind the ball and then 20 inches away (not closer to the hole). No need to ask permission with fellow competitor. A ball is not considered embedded if it is embedded in grass, leaves or other loose impediments. In order to be considered embedded, the ball’s pitch-mark must be below the level of the ground. Thus, you can not have an embedded ball in a bunker or water hazard.

SGC local rule: Same as new rule but you still need to announce your intention to fellow competitor before you touch the ball. Failure to do so – one stroke penalty. 

These two revised rules will be amended to 2019 SGC Local Rules upon approval by members.

SGC also posted earlier as a public service to all concerning impaired driving. SGC strongly suggests that members use car pooling and have a designated driver if you are thinking of drinking alcohol after a round of golf. Here is the 2019 New Impaired Driving Laws posted on SGC’s web site.

In the golfing venue news, to keep up with trending rising prices on almost everything, golf courses are no exception. So far with more than 25 golf courses SGC contacted, most did not stay with old rates as last year. Only two of SGC’s favourite mainstays – Kingsforest, was the one that rendered the same rate for reasons they claimed SGC’s past years as loyal customer and the other was Glen Cedars. The centrally located Royal Woodbine hiked up theirs by about $2.50 which they said was a minimal raise. The good news was, SGC’s tough negotiators hesitantly agreed but rewarded with an earlier tee off time of 1:00 o’clock PM instead of the usual 2:o’clock PM. Surprisingly, Lakeridge Links offered the best proposal of them all and was accepted. To member’s pleasure of acclimating to the GTA Interleague event held at Copetown Woods golf course at June’s end, SGC booked the same venue three weeks prior. SGC recommends that members participate this huge event.

SGC appreciates the effort of your negotiating team – Bingoy Peña, Rey Plaza, & Bert Cerrudo.

Games have a new look in 2019. Members voted on moving up the Grand Finals event from the last two rounds of the year to a month ahead to avoid the risk of playing under unpredictable weather conditions. It will be held on August 25, 2019 & September 1, 2019 at Royal Ontario and Kingsforest respectively. As previously agreed, no guests can play during the Grand Finals. In the event of Grand Final’s round(s) cancellation, please refer to  SGC Local Rules.

A new season begins, SGC welcomes you back. Enjoy.

Ricky Reyes

It is hard to imagine ending one’s life like this, but the calling of our Creator is one moment that all of us cannot intercede. To Ricky Reyes, from all of Sierra Golf Club members and spouses who came to know you for all these years, may you rest in peace. Our deepest sympathy to family and friends for unexpected loss.

Ricky, you were twice SGC champion and will remain in SGC’s memory lane forever.

Click on this link for what happened: 680 News