Pinseekers – July 5, 2024
The Pinseekers kicked off another season of whacking the little white ball and spending time with friends in fresh air and hot weather. As expected, the morning temperatures were in the low sixties as we approached the first tee. It wasn’t long before the temperatures had risen to very warm and, as I write this, we are once again looking at a day that is near, if not higher than 100 degrees. One of the upsides of beginning play between 8:00 and 8:30 is finishing before the Sun has created an extremely uncomfortable hot afternoon.
Today, we welcomed two new members to the Pinseekers, Tom Hunt and Jeff Rose, Joining Todd Horvatich, who began play with us on June 28th. They will continue to play as “Qualifying Members” until they become active members in the NCGA and receive GHIN (Golf Handicap Index Number) to allow the calculation of their Course Handicap for competitive play at the Villages.
After our morning round was completed, ten of the eleven Pinseekers gathered in the Bistro to have lunch and to celebrate the unveiling of our 2023 – 2024 Pinseekers Sweeps Winner. For the second year in a row, and for the third time in the last ten years, our winner is Martin Hoek. None of us can figure the magic that Martin has to continually score below Net Par yet maintain a consistent handicap allowing him to keep on winning. My guess it is, as one of our fellow members frequently states, Martin, like many of us high handicappers, is “consistently inconsistent.”
On our first play date of our new season, we had eight members competing for the top spot on the podium. Coming in at the fourth spot was Will Ector with a score of Net 40. Jim White made into the third position with a Net 38. Frank Garcia played to his handicap and posted a Net 36 (Par.) Reaching the top step with a one under par, Net 35 was Ron Speer. All eight competitors finished at seven over par or less.
The top putter for this day was Jim White with 16 putts, helped by three one puts when his approach shots came up short, but luckily within ten feet of the green.
The Pinseekers Executive Board is aware that some of our members are not comfortable with an early morning tee time. Other members feel that the “pace of play” is slower than they would like. Both points have some validity; however, the 8:00 to 8:30 tee times allow us to finish before the high afternoon heat arrives in the “Valley of the Hearts Delight,” As to the time to finish nine holes, our slowest groups tend to finish in less than two hours and 15 minutes. This is rarely exceeded. Since the wait time is typically at a par three tee box, this gives us two or three minutes to stand in the shade and talk with our play partners. Today, our final grouping was off the ninth green in two hours and thirteen minutes.
Pinseekers– June 21, 2024
By Jim White
June 21sth was another day designed for golf although quickly warming to another hot afternoon. However, this was a day that the Pinseekers stepped down to make room for the Villages women’s Invitational. We were glad to see that the Villages Championship Course was a source of a great event.
As the 2023-2024 season ends on June 28th, we have had a lot of fun, made a few new friends and continued to enjoy one of the many opportunities we have here at the Villages. Next week we will announce our 2023-2024 Sweeps Champion, commence modifications in our Annual Championship and weekly winner format, and start the new season with a “clean slate.”
We have made some minor changes in how results will be tallied: For Club Championship Points. Weekly winners for low Net will receive four points, the next low net will earn three points, finishing in third place will earn two points, and fourth place will earn one point. Only the four low net players will earn points. If there is a tie for first place between two players, they will divide the first and second place points, the next low net will receive third place two points. And the next low score shall earn 1 point. Points will only be awarded to the lowest four net scorers and any ties. Another change will be on “No Sweeps” days, each group or foursome will maintain a scorecard for all players in that group. The team’s score keeper shall submit the scorecard to the Secretary or the Pro Shop at the end of the round. The final change will be on the Calculation of Sweeps. Each week’s payout shall be determined by the sweep’s fees collected by the Pro Shop during the pre-game registration. If less than 10 players are registered, we will pay “sweeps” prizes to the three players (and ties) with low net scores. If 10 or more players register, we will pay to the lowest four players (and ties) with low net scores.
We invite all Villager golfers to consider joining us on our Friday adventure on the fairways. It’s a great bunch of guys who love the game and accept that our number one priority is to have fun. Give me a call or send a text message to Jim White, 408-348-8370. If I don’t answer your call, leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
A final note, one last time, if you want to change your preferred tee selection, tee #3, combo tees # 2/3, or play only from tee box # 2, notify Jim White. Jim will work with the Pro Shop staff. Your Course Handicap will be determined by your tee box selection and that selection will remain static throughout the entire fiscal year. You must notify Jim White before the Pro Shop Close on Tuesday, July second.
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Pinseekers – June 14, 2024
By Jim White
June 24th was a beautiful morning, slightly brisk and quickly warming as the Pinseekers teed off from the 10th tee. After the intense heat from the previous week, the 80-degree Friday seemed quite pleasant. With the dry fairways and shorter than normal rough, our members had no trouble finding errant shots and getting through the nine holes right on target at two hours.
On July 5th we will begin our 2024 – 2025 season. We have made some minor changes in how results will be tallied. For Club Championship Points. Weekly winners for low Net will receive four points, the next low net will earn three points, finishing in third place will earn two points, and fourth place will earn one point. Only the four low net players will earn points. If there is a tie for first place between two players, they will divide the first and second place points, the next low net will receive third place two points. And the next low score shall earn 1 point. Points will only be awarded to the lowest four net scorers and any ties. The Club Secretary will send details of this change to all Pinseekers before our July fifth nine-hole event. Another change will be on “No Sweeps” days each group or foursome will maintain a scorecard for all players in that group. The team’s score keeper shall submit the scorecard to the Secretary or the Pro Shop at the end of the round.
We invite all Villager golfers to consider joining us on our Friday adventure on the fairways. It’s a great bunch of guys who love the game and accept that our number one priority is to have fun. Give me a call or send a text message to Jim White, 408-348-8370. If I don’t answer your call, leave a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
A final note, one last time, if you want to change your preferred tee selection, tee #3, combo tees # 2/3, or play only from tee box # 2, notify Jim White. Jim will work with the Pro Shop staff. Your Course Handicap will be determined by your tee box selection and that selection will remain static throughout the entire fiscal year.
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Pinseekers – May 17, 2024
By Jim White
Friday, May 17, 2024, no golf this day as Golf Moose held a special event on our Championship course. We used this idle day to hold our annual meeting for the election of officers and discuss several issues concerning changes in club rules and membership.
The below message from new President, Jack Bindon, is a summary of our meeting:
Today’s Business Meeting and luncheon had 12 participants. Secretary Jim White noted that the twelve present plus five proxy votes we had a quorum.
Beginning next Friday, May 24, we will return to early morning tee times. When you sign up on Chelsea, our tee times begin at 8:03 am. (This will continue until the first Friday in October when we return to our winter schedule beginning at Noon.)
The annual Budget 2024-25 was reviewed in detail. We decided to continue with the Putting Contest and recognize the monthly winner with a photo in the Posting Room in lieu of awarding wine.
Our guest speaker, David Cook, detailed the costs of websites and our participation. Check out our website through the Villagers Portal or at www.pinseekers.vgcc.club
It was decided to continue existing sweeps payouts through the end of June. In the new fiscal year beginning July 1, we will revisit the payouts with assistance from the Pro Shop. Followed by an email vote of the membership.
New Officers elected: President – Jack Bindon; Vice-President – Jim White; Treasurer – Mario Silva. We are still seeking a new Secretary.
A final note, if you want to change your preferred tee selection, tee #3, combo tees # 2/3, or play only from tee box # 2, notify Jim White. Jim will work with the Pro Shop staff. Your Course Handicap will be determined by your tee box selection and that selection will be maintained throughout the entire fiscal year.
As always, we love golf, we love fun, and we enjoy the fellowship of our membership. Please stay tuned for upcoming social events.
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Pinseekers – May 10, 2024
By Jim White
Calling all Villagers golfers of every age and every level of skill. You are invited to join the Pinseekers to play with us on Fridays for a couple of hours, squeezing in nine holes of our favorite game.
We meet every Friday at 8:00 for a light competition toward best net scores. In October we will switch to tee times beginning at noon.
Your membership includes a spring meeting with paid lunch. Each fall, a club wide meeting & BBQ for members and significant others. We are also planning a bi-monthly gathering for snacks with no host beverages.
Get information on the Pinseekers, ask at the Pro Shop, and contact Jim White or Jack Bindon.
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Pinseekers – May 3, 2024
By Jim White
As we enter the season of Tournaments and Special Events on The Villages Championship Course, the Pinseekers must move aside to allow these events to happen. So, it was on Friday May third. The Men’s Club hosted the annual Member to Member tournament that utilized the entire course, and all Villagers played from a “Shotgun Start shortly after noon. In that situation, the Pinseekers cannot play a competition as each foursome would begin from a different tee. This situation will recur on Friday, May seventeenth as a full course event will be taking place beginning at noon and utilizing all eighteen holes. To accommodate Villager golfers, a Shotgun start will have everyone teeing off at 8:00AM, each foursome from a different tee box.
A reminder to all Pinseeker members, our annual meeting and luncheon is on May seventeenth. We will gather at the Bistro “alcove” dining area at 11:15. Should you wish to participate in the Shotgun start, please play only nine holes to finish in time for our meeting. We will be electing a new Board of Directors and voting on some changes to our procedures for determining weekly sweeps winning and annual sweeps champion. This meeting is for members only, no spouse or guests, please. Contact Jack Bindon or Jim White to RSVP and select your lunch choice. (Fish and Chips, Reuben Sandwich or Santa Fe Salad.).
Also, a reminder, we will move our weekly schedule starting on May 24th to begin with the first foursome teeing up at 8:06PM and continue every 9 minutes until all our members have left the tee box. Don’t forget to sign up with Chelsea as early as possible so we do not have to forfeit any of our allotted slots.
Finally, in golf we always want to “hit it straight, hit it long (at least as far as you are able,) and HAVE FUN!