Cape Region Golf Year in Review 2008
January 2, 2009
This week marks the end of this column’s tenth year. 2008 was also a busy twelve months for Cape Region golf.
January— PGA Class A golf professional Mike Connor and Eric Reinhold of Southern Delaware Physical Therapy team up for a new venture, Core Fitness Golf, to help Cape Region golfers to keep those New Year resolutions both for fitness and their game. The mild winter thus far keeps golfers on local courses, while Pete Oakley travels to Hawaii for the opening event of the Champions Tour, where he ties for 38th place.
February—Cape Region golf superintendents discuss their wintertime projects, including tree cutting, pond repairs, and irrigation installations. The Peninsula is named as the site for this year’s Delaware Open championship in July.
March—Sussex Pines Country Club and Shawnee Country Club hold membership drives as the golf season is about to start. The Cape Henlopen High School varsity golf team shivers through pre-season practices. Local golf courses also prepare for the new year by aerating their greens.
April—Cape Henlopen High’s golf team starts their 2008 campaign with its now-traditional loss to Caesar Rodney’s Riders. This begins a series of yo-yo matches, with a win against Delmar, a loss to Salesianum, a loss to Dover, a win against Indian River and another win against Lake Forest. The annual trip to Myrtle Beach takes us to a few new courses and some familiar layouts, at the north end of the golf mecca. The Vikings go on a win streak to finish the month, with sometimes close-fought victories over Milford, Seaford, Delmarva Christian, and Laurel.
May—The Cape golf team beats Indian River, and then loses to Sussex Tech by six strokes. The kids bounce back with victories over Sussex Central, Polytech, and Woodbridge, finishing the season with a 12-4 record. The Vikings complete their year with a second place spot in the conference tournament, and a twelfth place finish in the state championship.
June—A ball lost in a flowerbed generates an argument over the Rules of Golf. The Rehoboth Beach Junior Open has its biggest year yet, with 100 golfers signed up to play.
July—Chris Krueger, the new Director of Golf Instruction at Kings Creek Country Club, talks about how he came to the Cape Region. A golf league match causes a renewed look at the golf rules about moving a ball on the green.
August— Former Worcester Prep and Rehoboth Junior Open standout Julia Robinson is named as an All-American Scholar by the National Golf Coaches Association. Pete Oakley has a busy summer traveling to European Senior Golf Tour events, as well as a few majors back in the States. I begin a series of golf lessons in the hope of shortening an overlong back swing. Scott Allen switches from George Washington University to the University of Pennsylvania as the new director of Penn’s golf program. Local clubs participate in the Patriot Golf Day fundraiser for injured vets and their families.
September—A round at The Peninsula has its ups and downs on the challenging course. Another golf lesson produces some sighs and some progress. The Penn Quakers win the fall GW Invitational college golf tournament at Kings Creek CC. A golf magazine article shows how to improve your game by paying attention to your playing statistics.
October—The incoming recession has its effects on all parts of the golf industry. Pete Oakley continues his successful swing on the European Senior Tour, in hopes of retaining his playing privileges through the 2009 season. A bad case of root rot forces a major reconstruction project at Sussex Pines CC.
November— Learning which eye is dominant can help improve your golf game. Development plans point to changes at the Midway Par 3 and Driving Range, a local favorite. I discuss how I approach reviewing golf books. Pete Oakley easily earns his way back to the European Senior Tour.
December—Holiday gift ideas are readily found at Cape Region golf outlets and pro shops. However, once again there are several Christmas golf gifts to avoid, despite their easy availability.
Thanks for reading! I look forward to another year of writing about Cape Region golf.