LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN RUIMSIG SENIORS GOLF SEPTEMBER 2021
FROM THE CHAIRMAN (Seniors Group)
The cold continues to linger, but hopefully it will be short lived and that soon we will be teeing off without the need for jerseys and jackets.
It was great to be able to get together and have a prize giving after the round of golf last week. That ability to meet and socialise with all the seniors has been something that has unfortunately been lacking because of Covid. Hopefully we will be able to continue to have a similar arrangement with the club at least once a month going forward.
COVID
There is no doubt that all of us are tired of hearing about and being affected by Covid, but it remains a reality and will be with us for a long time to come, so please continue to follow the recommended protocols, wear your mask, maintain social distancing and wash hands.
RUIMSIG GOLF COURSE
We are starting to see hints of spring, the willows between hole numbers 14 and 15 have started to show their green shoots and on some of the fairways new growth is starting to show through. Soon we will be complaining about a lack of run on the fairways.
Slow play is a reality and some of our players do not take kindly to being asked to speed up play. Please guys, consider other players and make an effort to keep up with the four ball in front of you. I know that you can fall behind if you need to look for a ball, but then make an effort to catch up. The problem is that the club is getting busier and by falling behind you impact on all of the players behind you, not just the seniors. As the Seniors Committee, we have discussed and will consider placing known slow players at the back of the field, but that just solves the problem for the seniors and transfers the problem to a another segment of the field. A final request, please do not get upset with the marshals if they come round and ask you to speed up play, they are doing their job and are following instructions.
TRIVIA
The term “birdie” comes from an American, Ab Smith who in 1899 hit a great shot which he described as a “bird of a shot” which became a “birdie” over time.
For the average golfer, the chances of making a hole in one are 1 in 12,500. But the chances of making 2 holes in one, in a single round, are 1 in 67 million. I’m not sure who did the calculations, but I’m not going to argue.
We had Alistair almost shoot his age recently, so I thought it would be interesting to see who the youngest golfer to shoot his age was. Turns out it was Bob Hamilton, who in 1975 shot his age of 59. On the PGA tour the youngest golfer to shoot his age was Sam Snead who in 1979, when aged 67, shot a 67. The very next day he shot a 66. I did hear in the last day or so, but haven’t been able to verify, that Bernard Langer aged 64 shot his age.
Stay safe and enjoy your golf
James Page
Competitions
Better Ball Knockout
Congratulations to the finalists – the Crighton’s (Neil & Peter) vs. the Stirling’s (Clyde & June). Final will be played as soon as all players are available.
Round Robin
Still in progress. Please note that Thursdays are set aside for playing RR matches. Please organize to play your outstanding matches as soon as possible.
Quote of the Month
“Confidence is the most important single factor in this game, and no matter how great your natural talent, there is only one way to obtain and sustain it: work.” – Jack Nicklaus.
Famous Golfers
Over the last 100 years golf has been fortunate to have a host of players that have kept golf on the front pages.
Walter Hagen was the first sportsman to earn a million dollars and he won 11 majors along the way, even though in his prime he only had 3 to play in (the Masters started in 1934 when he was in his mid-forties).
Bobby Jones is still today regarded as the greatest amateur golfer. In 1930, at the age of 28, he won all four of the majors of the time – the US Open and Amateur, and the Open Championship and British Amateur.
In the forties it was three golfers, who were all born within 7 months of each other, and who all started out as caddies. Byron Nelson won 11 tournaments in a row in 1945; Sam Snead still holds the record along with Tiger for the most wins on the PGA Tour (82), and Ben Hogan won all 3 majors he played in, in 1953.
In the sixties came the Big Three. Led by The King, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player and finally in 1962 by Jack Nicklaus. They dominated golf for the next 20 years. Between them they won 34 majors and they were the first golfers to be on TV. They popularised the game around the World and in America the number of golfers grew to 30 million.
Then came Tiger, from the day he turned professional (exactly 25 years ago yesterday, at the age of 20), he has increased TV audiences, increased prize money in tournaments, grown live crowds at tournaments and played the best golf that has ever been played.
Ben Hogan was the most precise striker of a golf ball; Arnold Palmer was the most loved. Bobby Jones the most respected; Jack Nicklaus the greatest major winner, and Tiger, well Tiger played golf like no other.
“There is no other sport in which a belief in oneself has such an immediate effect as in golf.” PG Woodhouse
Swing easy everyone!
Garth
