LW Men’s Golf League

Five very brave, and subsequently very wet, men of the Leisure World Men’s Golf League were met with a rainy and misty morning at Meadowlark Golf Course in Huntington Beach on Feb. 7. Early morning downpours resulted in the course having numerous muddy and wet areas.

With just five golfers playing, a skins match was declared. In golf, a skins game is a game played within a group of golfers in which each hole has a set value. The golfer who wins the hole is said to win the “skin,” and whatever that skin is worth. When a hole is tied, the value of that hole carries over to the next, increasing the size of the pot for the following hole. Chris Lankford won seven skins; Gary Stivers, four; Fujio Norihiro, three; Sam Choi and Clay Fisher two each.

Another cool, damp morning greeted 10 golfers at the David L. Baker Executive Golf Course on Feb. 10. The course is currently refurbishing its tee boxes this month and all the tees were set well forward. With the course significantly shortened, several par 4s were able to be driven or at least just needed a short approach shot to get to the green. Several par 3s were at or under 100 yards. All this being said, club selection and ball location on the fairways or when using the tee boxes was still important to shoot low scores. Irons tend to slide under the ball and rolling distance on drives is reduced in wet conditions, ultimately decreasing the length of each shot.

Even with the wetness, large water hazards, diabolical and wet sand traps, the golfers attacked the course, and everyone played well plus each had a net score below par. There were eight birdies: four by Jim Goltra, two by Chris Lankford, and two by Sam Choi. Gary Stivers had fewest putts in the A flight; Duke Park and Ron Jackson tied for fewest in the B. Closest to the pin on the 70-yard par 3 third hole was Stivers, and Fujio Norihiro was closest on the 75-yard par 3 15th.

All scores below are net (gross score minus handicap).

A flight winners: Stivers, 10 under, first place; Goltra, 8 under, second; Dave LaCascia and Norihiro, 6 under, third; Choi, 5 under, fourth; Lankford and Clay Fischer, 3 under, fifth.

B flight winners: Park, 14 under 48, first place; Bob Munn, 7 under, second; Jackson, 1 under, third.

The Monday and Friday golf leagues play at four local courses, all within 15-20 minutes of Leisure World. Advance league reservations are required with a sign-up sheet available at each round.

There is a prize pool for each round that players are not obligated to enter. Those interested in playing can contact Gary Stivers at 714-313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at 801-674-5975.

—Dave LaCascia