Another opportunity to support junior golf
October 26, 2012
The First Tee Program is taking off in Delaware, thanks in part to the work of several club professionals throughout the state, such as Butch Holtzclaw of The Rookery, near Milton.
Nationally, the First Tee is aimed at young people from 5 to 18, using golf instruction to impart life skills lessons. This makes intuitive sense to golfers, if not those who are unfamiliar with the game’s traditions of individual responsibility and honor. Programs are now in place in most states.
On Nov. 7, Holtzclaw and The Rookery are holding their annual Pro-Am tournament to benefit the First Tee of Delaware, with players from all over the Cape Region and beyond playing at the South Course.
For those who can’t play that day, but who would still like to contribute, Holtzclaw is providing an easy and pleasant opportunity. A $100 check made out to the First Tee of Delaware will entitle you to a tee sign, to be displayed during the event out on the course. The contribution is also tax deductible, for those contemplating a few more donations to make before the end of the year.
If you have a logo to put on the tee sign, be sure to reach out to Holtzclaw before Oct. 31.
To reach Holtzclaw for additional information about playing or contributing, call 302-684-3000.
Jean & Joan Cancer Fund benefit tournament
Kings Creek Country Club recently held its thirteenth annual Jean & Joan Cancer Fund Golf Tournament, and it was yet again a success.
The event raises funds to support cancer patient services at the Tunnell Cancer Center in Rehoboth Beach. This year’s goal was to raise enough money to purchase a fourth van, used to transport remote and needy cancer patients to the center for testing and treatment. The current fleet of vans has logged more than 350,000 miles toward that effort.
The Fund was founded in 1999, in memory of cancer victims who were Kings Creek club members. To date the tournaments have raised at least a third of a million dollars.
This year’s tournament format was a four-person net best ball scramble, with more than 70 golfers participating. C.W. Mitchell, Ralph Hamson, Cliff Parker, and Pete Nehrbas won the event with an 18-under par total. Sherry Pie won the longest drive contest among the women participants, and topped that off with also winning the closest to the pin contest.
John Darr narrowly missed winning the hole-in-one grand prize of $20,000 on the sixteenth hole. Joe Horvath almost won the $10,000 putting contest.
State Representative Pete Schwartzkopf was the tournament’s honorary chair for the third time. Players enjoyed a kick-off lunch, followed after the round with a reception and dinner with prizes, as well as a silent and live auction.
Should have picked a better time to tune up one’s game
The Rules of Golf sometimes are a tad persnickety when it comes to where and when one can do a bit of practicing. For match play events, players can practice on the course before the round begins, if they’d like.
For stroke play events, however, that kind of practice is an absolute no-no.
In both cases, the Rules permit chipping or putting practice during a competitive round. There are strict limits, however, for example only while on the green you just finished, or on the tee box of the hole you’re about to play.
That’s why the golfer putted into trouble in a recent Ruling of the Day, published at the USGA website. In that case, he lifted his ball off the putting green before finishing the hole, dropped the ball off the green while his opponent played his shot, and took a few practice putts.
Whoops.
Because the practice occurred at the wrong place and time on the course, the player loses the hole in match play, and incurs a two-stroke penalty in medal play.