Our new season has begun and with the hot, wet weather of summer behind us, the Landings Men’s Golf Association is off and running for another season. With more than 200 members, our field of players is full every Saturday. Games range from individual play, to team scrambles and shambles, medal and match play. And every first Saturday of the month we all can enjoy a delicious brunch after golf.
If you are new to The Landings and wish to join, application forms are available in the Pro Shop. It’s a great way to meet fellow Landings golfers.
On Saturday November 16, the LMGA hosted their annual Guys and Dolls tournament where a member invites a female golfer to partner with them for 18 holes of golf and a delicious meal to follow. The format for the day was “modified alternate shot” where each partner teed off; then a decision was made as to which ball was the best one to play. The partner who did not hit the drive hit the next shot and so on until the ball was in the hole. It’s always a fun time and most couples are still talking to each other at the end of the round J. We’ll have the results and images for you in next month’s article.
Now some serious stuff: How many of you know that all golf courses are rated as to their difficulty? Well, our course, like all others, is rated by the USGA, our national golfing authority. Last summer the team from the USGA came to The Landings to re-rate our course and the result is that the rating came out just slightly higher than it was previously. All that means is that when you post scores to the GHIN handicap system, the higher rated courses give you a small bonus in your handicap calculation.
While rating the course, the raters decide which holes are most difficult and which are easiest. You’ll notice on the score card that there are men’s and women’s handicap numbers on each hole from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest). These numbers are important to you as you play competitive rounds here at The Landings. If your handicap is, let’s say, “10,” then you get a “stroke” on holes marked 1 through 10. I’m not going to delve any further into this for now and just leave it there. If you know the handicap system, then “you know” and if you just play casual golf and never post your scores then it really doesn’t matter at all. New score cards are being printed and will be available soon.
Hit ‘em straight!
