LW Men’s Golf League

Jan. 26 was a sunny but very cold morning as 14 players of the LW Golf Men’s Golf League arrived at the 6,000-yard par 71 Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana. By mid-round there was radiant sun, but temps stayed cool well into the back nine. The course was very wet, recovering from the previous weeks’ rain and night-time watering. Most tee boxes were in poor shape, but greens were in good shape and very consistent.

With long par 3s, and 4s, devilishly placed sand traps, and two 510-plus yard par 5s, the course requires great length off the tee—not an easy feat for most senior golfers—and good approach shots as most of the par 4s and 5s are not reachable in regulation by the average person.

With these interesting conditions and some difficult pin positions, it was not unexpected that only three of the 14 players shot net at or under par and there were just two birdies—one each by Jae Choi and Bruno Santillo.

Closest to the pin on the 140-yard par 3 fourth hole was Santillo, and Larry Hillhouse was closest on the 150-yard 12th hole. Jim Goltra had fewest putts for the A flight, and Won Park had fewest in the B.

Net score equals gross minus handicap. A flight winners: Seon Kim, even par, first place; Jae Choi, second; Chris Lankford, Fujio Norihiro and Clay Fisher, third; Hillhouse, fourth; Dave LaCascia, Gary Stivers and Goltra, fifth.

B flight winners: Santillo, 3 under 68, first place; Tom Ross, even par, second; Park, third; Dom Bautista and Bob Munn, fourth.

The league plays every Monday at one of 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. Rewards are given for low net in each flight, birdies, closest to the pin on two par threes, and for the lowest number of putts in each flight. Holes-in-one and eagles (2 under par) are generously rewarded. Those interested in playing can contact Gary Stivers at 714-313-3697 or Dave LaCascia at 801-674-5975.

—Dave LaCascia