LW Men’s Golf League

Eight golfers of the Leisure World Men’s Golf League challenged the 6,000-yard par 71 Willowick Golf Course in Santa Ana on June 13. The weather was overcast and cool but with no wind. The sun came out at the 15th hole with a vengeance. It got warm quick, and the sunshine was brutally bright.

Willowick Golf Course, also know as “The Wick”, was built in 1929, and is the oldest 18-hole public golf course in Orange County. Meadowlark Golf Course was built in 1922 but apparently was opened as a nine-hole course for a number of years adjacent to the now defunct Meadowlark Airport.

Willowick sometimes shows its age. The course was wet from overnight watering, and the rough was long and a challenge to get out safely. The greens were in excellent shape but bumpy and damp fairways, challenging tee boxes and course length made good scores a rarity.

This week five of the eight golfers shot net at or below par. There were two birdies—one each by Sam Choi and Clay Fischer. Fischer was closest to the pin on the 140-yard par 3 fourth hole, and Mike Jimenez was closest on the 140-yard par 3 12th hole. Dave LaCascia and Bob Munn had fewest putts.

A flight winners (net score: gross minus handicap): Sam Choi, 2 under 69, first place; Kyle Van, Fischer and Gary Stivers, 1 under 70, second; Dave LaCascia, even par, third; Fujio Norihiro, fourth.

B flight winners: Bob Munn, first place; Jimenez, second.

Thirteen golfers competed at the 5,600-yard par 70 River View Golf Course in Santa Ana on June 16. The weather was sunny for a change, but the temperatures were comfortable with a nice breeze.

Several of the holes play adjacent to or require the golfer to drive and/or hit approach shots across the Santa Ana River. Significant elevation changes and doglegs make playing these holes a challenge that tests the golfer’s skill.

The course is always in excellent shape and eight of the 13 players shot at or below net par. There were 10 birdies—four by Clay Fischer, two by Jim Goltra, and one each by Dave LaCascia, Fujio Norihiro, Chris Lankford and Sam Choi. Tom Ross and Fischer tied for closest to the pin on the 140-yard par 3 second hole, and Norihiro was closest on the 110-yard — across a pond —par 3 ninth hole. LaCascia, Ross and Mike Jimenez had fewest putts.

A flight winners: Fischer, 7 under 63, first place; Lankford, 6 under 64, second; LaCascia, 5 under 65, third; Larry Hillhouse, 3 under 67, fourth; Goltra, 2 under 68, fifth; Choi, Stivers, Kyle Van and Norihiro, sixth.

B flight winners: Tom Ross, 6 under 64, first place; Dom Bautista, 2 under 68, second; Mike Jimenez and Scott Slade, third.

The Monday and Friday golf leagues play at four local courses, all within 15-20 minutes of Leisure World. These courses are always quite full, so 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