RETIREES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP and CLOSING EVENT

 SEPTEMBER 17 - Club Championship

9:30 shotgun start — Check-in starts at 8:00

2025: Ken Swanson (Overall Low Net), Don Whitford Overall Low Gross)

The final event of the 2026 season is a flighted event played to determine the Overall Low Net and Overall Low Gross winners. The entry list is split into flights (3 or 4 depending upon total entries); each group is made up of players with matching course handicaps.

Each player's score is eligible for one of the prizes: overall low net or overall low gross or flight low net placing 1st-3rd.

Individual prizes are also available for KP and LP holes and 50/50 draw

Here are a few photos from the 2026 season:

AUGUST WEEK ONE RESULTS and more stuff plus photos

BRITISH OPEN WINNERS

I was able to corral the co-winners of this year's Retirees British Open to take a photo with the coveted "Not the Real Claret Jug" trophy. They had to share the 'Tee Bag' prize.

L-R Farrell McLellan, John Lattanzio co-winners for 2026

1ST HAT DRAW WINNER

All the retirees playing in our time slot, listed on the Pro Shop's tee sheet were entered into the draw and a name was randomly selected.

Our first week's winner of the brand new hat was Mark Brown. He was excited about winning but was disappointed he wouldn't be allowed to make a speech at the presentation.

Mark Brown presented hat by John Lattanzio

NEXT WEEK - RED COMBO TEES & ANOTHER HAT DRAW

Aug 13 — Hat draw #2 members who are on the Pro Shop tee sheet (show up and play) are entered into the draw for a new hat.

Aug 13 — Play the RED COMBO TEES use the scorecard to determine the correct combination of RED and WHITE tees (RED/WHITE COMBOS) for your round. It's a nice change of scenery and tactics.

Aug 27 DICE SCRAMBLE REGISTRATIONS OPEN NOW 

All the details are on the registration page CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

The paper copy will be posted on the bulletin board tomorrow — don't forget that the entry fee needs to be paid by the deadline — so sign up and pay by eTransfer right away. Entry fees are refunded if you must cancel prior to the event.

This is a team scramble event where the drive use by each team is determined by the roll of a special Dice Scramble die after all team members have teed off.

Last year's Dice Scramble winning team

MASTERS WIN FOR LATTANZIO, OPENING SCRAMBLE...and more stuff

LATTANZIO OVER COMES HOSTILE CROWD TO WIN MASTERS

John Lattanzio scored a best two rounds total of (67-72) 139 to overtake his neighbourhood rival Serge Pasquali (71-71) 142 and last year's Club Championship Low Net winner Ken Swanson (70-73) 143. The hostile crowd, 2 pesky Crows and cranky Robin, seemed to take delight in making noise on every backswing and on every putt — ok the crows might have just been trying to steal Al Piccolo's snack from his cart.

One member of the hostile crowd

OPENING SCRAMBLE THIS WEEK

44 players are on the entry list to play in this season's opening scramble and lunch. The weather forecast is for sunny skies and mid-20's.

Check-in: 8:30 - 9:15am
Player meeting: 9:15 - 9:20 (last minute changes)
Shotgun start (back 9): 9:30 or sooner (listen for the horn)

HANDICAP, INDEX, AND COURSE HANDICAP

1. Handicap Index is a portable, standardized number (calculated from your 8 best scores of the last 20) representing your potential playing ability worldwide. It is a decimal number, for example 12.3

If you are NOT using Golf Canada for your handicap index, you need to keep track of your best 8 of your last 20 scores and use the handicap calculator (link at the top of the screen). The Chronogolf app does not calculate it correctly.

2. Course Handicap is the whole number of strokes you receive on a specific course and set of tees, determined by applying your Index to the course's difficulty (Slope/Rating).

3. The term handicap should be replaced with COURSE handicap. When entering events at other courses you should always use your Handicap Index

4. Our weekly events use NET scores with your COURSE handicap from the WHITE TEES or the appropriate COURSE handicap for the tee you are playing. Our scramble events and championship are WHITE TEES.

All clear as mud?

BIRCHBANK INVITATIONAL - MAY 21

Go to the top of this page and click on ONLINE REGISTRATIONS to read all about it and enter. That entry fee information is only for our members since you do not pay a green fee. Sign up now. Volunteer now to help with set up and clean up - talk to John Lattanzio.

SERGE LEADS, JOHN DISAPPEARS, and the sun is back

RETIREES MASTERS this week

It was a week of change at the top of our Masters Month leaderboard. Serge Pasquali 'serged' into a 4 shot lead with a 2 round NET total of 142 over chasers Marlin Frederick and Ken Swanson at 146. 

One more round coming this week, which gives the chase group another chance to improve their total score.

Remember we use your best 2 rounds to determine your score AND you should use the same course handicap for all rounds in April. This simplifies the job of scoring — please update your course handicap when starting your first round of next month's RETIREES PGA MONTH.

2025 PGA Month Champ Mike Vlanich

EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP CLICK HERE TO START

Only a couple of weeks left to get your Retirees Early Bird membership ($30), price goes up on May 1. 

FYI - A portion of your membership fee and 50/50 draws is used for each of our events to reduce the price we charge for the entry fee and to cover the expenses for the meal and prizes. Our aim is to break even at the end of the season, not to make a profit.

Pay via eTransfer (preferred method) - if you did it last year it will be ready to go in your online banking

OPENING SCRAMBLE AND LUNCH CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

April 30 - 9:30 am Modified Shotgun ENTRY FEE: $30 (Pulled Pork buffet)

Check-in starts at 8:30 - be sure to check in upstairs when you arrive

Entry Deadline is Saturday April 25 at noon.

Scorekeepers needed - talk to John if you can help out.

WEEK 2 OF RETIREES MASTERS and some other important stuff

 RETIREES MASTERS Fake News Headline

Scary news for this year's Retirees Masters Month, only two more rounds  to be played and John "Rory" Lattanzio tells me he is leading after last week's round. I have it on good authority that if John wins the Masters he will take the prize money and walk away from the game forever.

So get out there, play your best ever rounds and make sure John doesn't leave. ;)

REAL MASTERS NEWS

This Thursday is week 2 of 3 rounds for the Retirees Masters Month. If you choose to participate, remember we take your best 2 round NET scores to determine the champion. If you missed last week, you will need to play both of the next two in order to qualify.

OPENING SCRAMBLE AND LUNCH APRIL 30

Get yourself entered in the starting scramble and lunch. Paper sign up will be posted Monday, but why wait (or if you are away) sign up now online 

CLICK HERE TO ENTER

DEADLINE TO ENTER Saturday, April 23 — Entry fee is $30 and must be paid by the entry deadline, please pay via eTransfer (preferred method)

BIRCHBANK INVITATIONAL SIGN UP NOW

Use our ONLINE Registrations link on the website (link below) to sign up for almost every tournament for this season and just wait until closer to the event to pay the entry fees. 

Full details are available if you CLICK HERE TO ENTER

MASTERS MONTH and more..

 MASTERS MONTH STARTS THIS WEEK

Last year's Masters champ Alex Birukow trying on the Green Jacket

Thursday is the first of two rounds to determine our Retirees Masters champion for this season — as always, it is your choice to participate or not. The winner will have the lowest net score for the two rounds played.

Play your round, turn in the scorecard, include your GROSS & NET scores clearly entered, THEN WRITE YOUR SCORES AND HANDICAP on the results sheet posted on our bulletin board. Please use the same handicap for both rounds.

Remember that the success of this competition requires everyone being accurate and following the instructions.

VOLUNTEER NEEDED to verify scores after they are entered on the results sheet. Check the score card score and the posted one are correct. If can help with this job please contact John or email us. (perfect job for you and your regular playing partners to volunteer for.)

RETIREES FEES ARE DUE

Your $30 early bird fee is due now — the rate goes up May 1. Please pay with eTransfer (use our email address: birchankretiress@gmail.com).

NOTE: 

If you eTransfered fees previously, it should still be set up in your banking app.

Please fill out the online registration prior to sending eTransfer or paying John. Click on the ONLINE REGISTRATIONS link at the top of this page.

ONLINE TOURNAMENT REGISTRATIONS OPEN 

Almost all the registration links are open so that you can sign up early for this year's tournaments. The our of town events do not many details yet, but I advise you to sign up now to make sure you don't miss out. 

If things change and you need to drop out that is better than trying to get in to the event at the last minute. Click on the ONLINE REGISTRATIONS link at the top of this page.

OPENING SCRAMBLE AND LUNCH - APRIL 30

Sign up online now for our opening team scramble and lunch on April 30.

Teams will be formed from the list of players who enter and pay the $30 entry fee. Total team handicaps will be as close to equal as we can make them, no handicaps will be used during play.

Teams play a scramble format from tee to green but using at least 4 drives from each player. A single team score is recorded for each hole.

Last year's Opening Scramble winning team

WHAT'S HAPPENING THIS WEEK.

• THURSDAY, April 2 is the official opening of the season and we are plan to have FREE coffee and treats available for all who attend. The weather forecast doesn't look great, but rain or shine we will be there.
• Drop in for a coffee, pay your Retirees Club fees ($30), sign up for a tee time for April 9, volunteer to help out with the May 21 Invitational or any other of the monthly events.  
• If you want to continue with the Retirees Majors events for each month, then we will need a group to look after the results (April would be Masters month).

REGISTER FOR RETIREES CLUB ONLINE - CLICK HERE

** Please use the online signup links and eTransfers for payment in order to cut down on the paper work for us.

OUR WEBSITE: birchbankretireesclub.blogspot.com

 Our email address: birchbankretirees@gmail.com

Winning team from last year's 'I hope it doesn't rain' Scramble and Lunch

WOW, WASN'T THAT A STORM!

A POEM

Hurrah, hurrah it's August 1st,  not the first of May
The cold weather has gone away,
If you needed another good reason
To play golf today
The end of the season is only 3 months away.
(And the cold weather too)

HAWAIIAN SHIRT DAY

If you needed a reason to wear one while you play, just ask Brian Muskeyn about how well he played wearing his Hawaiian Shirt. Look for photos on our website later today.

TOURNAMENTS THIS MONTH

Retirees DICE SCRAMBLE and lunch

August 28, you can sign up online NOW and pay later in August. Details about entry fee coming as soon as John puts new batteries in his calculator and sharpens his 'figurin' pencil.

Use the ONLINE REGISTRATIONS link at the top of the screen...

BIRCHBANK MEN'S OPEN

Check the poster on the bulletin board for full details - remember that there is a Senior Division for those who are old enough....

TRAIL HOCKEY CLUB SOCIETY 

Check their poster on the bulletin board for details - support their efforts in providing bursaries and scholarships to local male and female players and officials that are moving on to further their schooling. (Even if I have never won one of their 50/50 draws at the Smokies games, yet.)

FEX EX CUP MONTH

Get ready for the last month long tournament of the year - the FED EX CUP. Robin and Stan have made a few modifications to the results sheets so be sure to take a close look once it is posted.

PS. - by this point in the season you should know how to fill out a scorecard correctly (names of players, correct course handicap for the tees you are playing, and correctly calculated net scores for all players PLUS made sure your score is entered on the list on the bulletin board)

Make a point of thanking Robin and Stan for taking on this job for the season.

SEPTEMBER TOURNAMENTS

Christina Lake Invitational Thursday, Sept 4 

That is all the detail we have at this time, I am sure they will be contacting us soon.

While you are waiting - sign up online now and pay once we get the final details. ONLINE REGISTRATIONS link is found on our website - link above

RETIREES CHAMPIONSHIP AND CLOSING

THURSDAY, September 18

Sign up now pay and pay in September once John restarts his calculator, the one with fresh batteries and finds that sharpened pencil......you get the rest.

Use the ONLINE REGISTRATIONS link found on our website (link above) - DO IT NOW before you forget why you were on the computer....

COLVILLE INVITATIONAL

 The Colville Wanderers Retirees Club Invitational will take place August 5th.

Anyone wishing to attend should sign-up as soon as possible. The deadline for signing up is July 28 but there are a limited amount of spots available. 18 golfers from each club maximum. 

You can sign-up by following this link

CLICK HERE- Colville Invitational 

 May is Retirees Invitational Tournament Month!

HOORAY, HOORAY, IT'S THE FIRST OF MAY....

A reminder that the price for Retirees membership is now $35.00. 

Also May is PGA month organized by Robin and his team. Please remember to submit your scores at the end of each round! The sheets, as always are posted on the RETIREES bulletin board. 

DEADLINE APPROACHING

 RETIREES OPENING SCRAMBLE & LUNCH

Thursday, April 24

9:00 AM MODIFIED SHOTGUN START

• Entry Fee: $25.00 - includes golf, prizes, and lunch
• DEADLINE to enter and pay entry fee Saturday, April 18
• Sign Up Online - use the Online Registrations link at the top of this page.
• Pay Online with eTransfer (best method) or with cheque in the Pro Shop
• Tournament check-in 8:00 - 8:30 — please check in upstairs before warming up.
• Door prize tickets available at check-in

RETIREES CHAMPIONSHIP - SEPT 19 and more stuff

 2024 RETIREES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

Register now for our windup event to be held Sept 19 at 10AM.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE

Entry fee is $20.00 — includes dinner, individual prizes for Overall Low Gross, Overall Low Net, and 1st,2nd.3rd place in each flight, and individual prizes for KP & LP.

All players will be flighted by their course handicap and play in a group with players from the same flight. 

All players expected to abide by the Rules of Golf unless a Local Rule is in effect (ie. Local Root Rule) and all putts must be holed — there is no maximum number of strokes on any hole.

2023 Overall Winners: St.Jean and Holm

SEPTEMBER SPECIAL ROUNDS

Next up Sept 5 - Long Drive Day - let out the shaft and give 'er a rip to see how far you can hit it (in the fairway of course). FYI we have 30 players going to Christina Lake that day, so even I have a chance for LD.

Sept 12 - No Gimmes Day - count all your putts, don't take any gimmes in order to get ready for the Championship.

Sept 19 - CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP AND WINDUP 10AM SHOTGUN

Sept 26 - Last Retirees Day using the sign up sheet for tee times

SOME GUYS GOT THE MEMO

FEX EX CUP WINDING DOWN & MORE TOURNAMENT INFORMATION

FED EX CUP LAST CHANCE!

2023 Fed Ex Cup winner (Richard)

The final round of this season's Fed Ex Cup wraps up Thursday — remember everyone plays from the WHITE TEES for this one.

Your best two Retirees rounds for August count.

DICE ROLL SCRAMBLE DEADLINE FRIDAY AUGUST 18

2023 Dice Roll Winners (Wayne, John, Ray)

This month's scramble will test the skill of all the teams — rolling the HAPPY FACE can make all the difference on each hole.

Entry Fee: $30.00 deadline Friday at noon. Includes golf, prizes and pasta w/meatballs lunch. 50/50 draw 

Sign up online CLICK HERE

OR Sign up on the bulletin board at the course

Pay by eTransfer 

Pay by cheque in the Pro Shop

CHRISTINA LAKE INVITATIONAL - SIGN UP NOW

Thursday, Sept 5  9AM shotgun start

Walker: $55.00. / Rider: $75.00

Deadline to sign up and pay is August 28

PAPER COPY OF THE LIST GOES UP TUESDAY.

You must include your Handicap Factor (decimal number), if you don't have a Golf Canada factor, you can use the Handicap Calculator found on our website to accurately calculate yours.

Attached is the list of players who have already signed up online

SIGN UP ONLINE FOR CHRISTINA LAKE CLICK HERE

RETIREES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - SEPT 19

(more details to come later)

2023 Club Champions: Low Gross and Low Net (Ray & Al)

Our final 'official' event of the year is set to go Sept 19 and John is busy crunching the numbers to determine the entry fee. Once his grandson's hockey camp is done, he will have time to dust off his Casio calculator and start crunching.

Our total number of members this year rose to 79 with 10 new players joining us. 

As always, we try to use all the money raised through the season to subsidize the meals, purchase golf balls for the weekly events, cash payouts for monthly events and purchase prizes for our Club Championship.

WATCH YOUR EMAILS FOR MORE DETAILS SOON.

JULY WRAPS UP WITH RED-WHITE-BLUE SCRAMBLE ...and more

 PHOTOS TAKEN AND MISSED

If you missed seeing the photos of our major winners, I finally managed to get them all:

John Newton & Paul Troseth and some other guy
British Open (tied)

Al Pasin (L) and some other guy
Canadian Open 

Richard Dewdney
PGA Championship

Gary Schmitz (R) 
Masters Champion

Unfortunately, we don't have a full set of photos of our monthly scramble events — I will try to fix that.

RED-WHITE-BLUE SCRAMBLE FINALLY GETS PLAYED

It only took an extra month, but we finally played the RWB! Fifty one players enjoyed a perfect day for golf — manicured fairways and greens, hot lunch, and cold refreshments. 

RESULTS:

1st: Keith Wallis, Gary Schmitz, Serge Pasquali, Rob Valentine (61)

2nd: Brian Austin, Rick Brown, Dave Wray, Jamie Pipes (62)

3rd: Norman Moll, Kevin Oliver, Sergio Peloso, Don Szilagyi (65) tiebreak

Other scores:

Cherenko, Piccolo, Park, Lamont (65)

Shubert, Campbell, Ross, Panton (65)

Drezdoff, Rilkoff, St Jean, Zinio (67)

Weaver, Corazza, Keen, Mailey (68)

Frederich, Menin, Boonngoum, M. Brown (68)

Trozzo, Shippet, Veltri, Masleck (69)

Molloy, Brennen, Burke, DeWitt (69)

McLellan, Beard, Gawryletz, Schickler (70)

Delorie, Muskeyn, Troseth, Noakes (71)

Larmour, Lattanzio, Newton (72)

Forgot to take photo of the winners, but did get some other shots!

FEDEX CUP MONTH STARTS AUG 1

This year, no points, no head start for previous event winners, BUT EVERYONE PLAYS FROM THE WHITE TEES for all 3 rounds.

Last year's winner Rich Dewdney

DICE ROLL SCRAMBLE - AUG 22, 9AM SHOTGUN

Online sign up is open deadline is August 15 - no late entries. Entry fee is $30 and includes golf, prizes and Pasta lunch.

NOTE: I will be out of town for this event so John and Al will need some help with running the event. Please step up is you can help in any way and talk to John. I will have the draw and scorecards done before I leave so help is needed on the day of the event. Scorekeeping, KP/LP pins, 50/50 tickets, etc.