Bag a Bagger Today- Sunday, March 16, 2014 “ If a lot of people gripped a knife and fork like they do a golf club, they’d starve to death” SAM SNEAD Sandy’s motto of “Bag a Bagger today” could not have more meaning than this past month. In February he played in a tournament and though Sandy didn’t play well enough to win with his son-in-law they played well enough to tie for second. The first day of the tournament, one best ball net, they were in second place with a net 66. The field in the flight was 66, 68, 69 and two pairs with 70 all within eight of the leader. The low net turned out to be a net 62. They were paired with them the next day. Sandy found out why they shot a 62. The guest of the member, his son-in-law, a young man with a 26 handicap, was learning the game. Sandy knows a bagger when he sees one. It’s not always by their score but by their swing. Kick in birdies; close to par fives in two: net 1’s, and of course dumping putts when they weren’t needed. They finished with a net 64 total net 126 and finished 12 shots ahead of the flight on a tough day. There was another group with a net 57 in another flight. Ugh! The rest of that flight was playing for ha ha’s. Ever stand there just looking at the final results just screaming inside. No person with a 13 handicap can give up 13 shots, especially when someone gets 2 shots on 8 holes. It seems to be more the norm these days. Sandy has two sets of friends in the Aloha State. Sandy’s former group now affectionately known as his “other friends” At least that’s what they call themselves after Sandy told them (he doesn’t remember it) saying he couldn’t join them because he had other friends when they changed the groups golf game from a Wednesday to a Thursday causing a conflict. Actually, Sandy likes to identify them as a “Band of Bandits” The other day he forwent his Thursday group to play with the “Other Friends” against his better judgment. Let them be identified as “The Pencil”(he keeps score); the “Handicap Guru” (he’s got the AP on his cell phone, and a declared 11) and I’ll call the third as “The New Guy” (as I just met him and his 20 Handicap) Well that meant “The Pencil” and Sandy got 3 shots off the “Handicap Guru”. “The New Guy” got 9 shots. Now the course they chose was a Muni in the heart of Honolulu. Advantage “Other Friends”. The greens that had been punched with healing (?) holes and sand over large areas where there should have been grass. I thought these were left over holes from the earlier Nipponese bombing of the Island. They putted slow, very slow something with the speed and ability to roll as if Sandy was putting on a shag rug. The course prides itself as the Municipal course that has the most rounds played on in the nation each year. Believe it! Ok, ok Sandy’s a bit of course snob but there are Muni’s with grass on greens that stimp meter at 8. Just not here! Well, let’s get down to the game. The regular accepted match between the “ Handicap Guru” and Sandy is a simple $2 Nassau with two down presses. Greenies on par three’s with validation, birdies, ‘sandy’s’, ‘poleys’ (for the uninitiated a putt longer than the flag stick) for $1. Simple enough. Now the rest of the group, “The Pencil” and the “New Guy” there is a four man skins game with no carryovers. Everyone puts $20 in and the skins are taken from that. Sandy thinks “The Pencil” skims a little but Sandy doesn’t watch closely enough to be sure because he’s trying not to stroke out over the competition. There are greenies with validation, carryover greenies, reverse greenies, birdies, ‘sandy’s’,’ poley’s’ and the infamous 3-putt penalty where you pay a dollar to each guy. “The Pencil” being the quintessential Chinese gambler has a 39 front, The “New Guy” with a 20 handicap has a 41 front and of course if the “Handicap Guru” doesn’t put a ball out of bounds on the ninth hole his 35 front would have been better. Sandy doesn’t know too many 11 handicaps that can shoot that well but it seems he manages it every time he play against him. Doesn’t do it when he is Sandy’s partner. He thinks he hate him. Sandy is completely demoralized and now definitely not enjoying himself. He strongly believes they should wear masks when they play. It’s not as if the money is the issue just that there isn’t a level playing field. Sandy didn’t play well and has found himself in hundred to two hundred dollar losses and wins at his club here. He can compete on greens with a stimp meter of 11-12; heavy rough and wind with players with reasonable handicaps. The “Handicap Guru” shot a 74-11= 63 net; “The Pencil” an 80-14= 66 net and the “New Guy” an 88-20= 68 net. Ugh! Sandy doesn’t want you to think these are the only “Other Friends”. A few didn’t play,“ Big G”; “Wic”; and of course “Eeyore Phil. They are all great people and “Friends” The game is enhanced by these characters. You have to take them in small doses. Sandy’s gotten great stories and memories…….long memories from them all and he loves them.. “Bag a bagger today” before you get bagged yourself! SANDY
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 06:40:23 +0000
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