BIRCHBANK INVITATIONAL - THE START OF TOURNAMENT SEASON

TOURNAMENT SEASON BEGINS

This season's inter-club tournament season has teed off with the playing of the Birchbank Retirees Invitational held May 21. Ninety-five players from six local clubs attended and formed teams with players from the other clubs as a way to promote friendships.

Thank you to the volunteers, Pro Shop staff, Course Maintenance staff, and Bistro staff.

This would have been a photo of the winners, if we remembered to take one.

Next 2 events: 

Castlegar Invitational June 4

Redstone Invitational July 10

Results for the team event:

Results for the Inter-Club (International Trophy) competition uses the 4 low net scores for each club (must have 4 player scores to count)

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

FINAL MAJOR WINNER PLAYS LIKE SCOTTIE, DICE SCRAMBLE RESULTS, AND Only 4 Weeks to go...

 LAST RETIREES MAJOR WINNER FOR 2025 DECLARED

Reg Cherenko ran away with the Fed Ex Cup event to win our final Retirees Major for the 2025 season and took home 'slightly' less than a $10 million first place prize. 

Huge thank you to Robin Valentine and Stan Trozzo for taking on the running of the monthly competitions — 'It was a piece of cake." was the comment I thought I heard Robin say....

DICE SCRAMBLE COMPLAINTS OF DEFECTIVE DICE

This year's event was filled with stories of possible defective dice as several teams complained of repeatedly rolling the SAD FACE. Needless to say, the top teams didn't seem to have any such issue however.

L-R: John Rilkoff, Don Szilagyi, John Lattanzio, Marlin Frederick

Results:

1st: Rilkoff, Szilagyi, Lattanzio, Frederick (67)

2nd: Cherenko, DeWitt, Piccolo, Papilion (68)

3rd: Muir, Brown, Dewdney, Newton (71*)via tiebreak

KP winners: #2- Frederick, #7- Rilkoff, #14- Burke, #17- Gallant

LP winners: #9- Brennen, #18- Burke

TIME FLIES ON THIS SEASON

Get out there, there are only 4 weeks left in the Retirees season for 2025. The Retirees Club Championship is set for Sept 18 at 9 AM (back up date is Sept 25 in case it snows on the 18th) 

Entry fee is $25.00 and includes all the golf, prizes and steak sandwich lunch.

CHRISTINA LAKE TOURNAMENT - SEPT 4 

9AM SHOTGUN, check in at 8am. The deadline has passed and the entries sent in. Here is the list of entries.

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 

RETIREES CLUB INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT - MAY 22

INVITATIONAL TOURNAMENT READY TO GO 

One hundred four players are set to tee it up this Thursday morning at the annual Retirees Invitational. This is the first event of the season long competition to determine the winner of the International Challenge Trophy — an inter-club competition involving most of the West Kootenay Golf Clubs and the Colville Wanderers.  

It's a 9AM shotgun start, with buffet lunch, and awards to follow completion of play.

Birchbank players after winning ICT in 2022

 

 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

LEFTY ADVANTAGE

 It's Retirees Club MASTERS MONTH starting April 3 and here is an interesting take on the Augusta National course....

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

RAGING STORM AT THE DICE SCRAMBLE

 37 players braved the raging storm at this year’s Dice Scramble. Huge wind, large hail, lightning, and all manner of other dangers didn’t slow down this hardy group of golfers. OK, OK, I have no idea what the weather was doing today, but here in the Vancouver area it was quite decent.

Huge thanks to everyone who stepped up and helped John and Al with today’s event. 

Winning Team: Molloy, Regnier, Johnston, Muir

RESULTS

1ST - Phil Molloy, Howie Regnier, Scott Johnston, Dave Muir - 67 (tiebreaker)

2ND - Reg Cherenko, Wally Drezdoff, David Ross, Farrell McLellan - 67

3RD - Jim Park, Rollie Caron, Sergio Peloso, Dave Panton - 69

KP #2 - Team St Jean

KP #7 - Team Ross

KP # 14 - Team Trozzo

KP #17 - Team Gawryletz

LP #9 - Team Trosett

LP #18 - Team Wray

CHRISTINA LAKE DEADLINE

Just another reminder that the deadline to enter and pay the entry fee is Aug 28. Sign up online or on the paper copy on the bulletin board — pay via eTransfer or by cheque in the ProShop. I will email a list of entries to make sure I haven’t missed anyone. 

NEXT WEEK ‘COMBO MADNESS’ and HAWAIIAN SHIRT DAY

Everyone plays the combo tees next week, but you choose which ones — Red/White Combos OR White/Blue Combos. Check the scorecard to see which tees to use.

It is also the return of ‘Hawaiian Shirt Day’ so dig out that loud shirt that you bought at the airport when you vacationed in Hawaii so many years ago. Never been there? Wear the loudest shirt you own or maybe that John Daly golf outfit you foolishly once bought. Grass skirts optional.

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.

TROSETH & NEWTON TIE FOR THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

 RETIREES BRITISH OPEN END IN A TIE

John Newton shot a sparkling net 67 on the final day to tie Paul Troseth for the 'Champion Golfer of the Year' title, both with 139 totals. Paul had lead every round with 69-70 as his two best net scores while John had scores of 72-67.

Don Szilagyi was alone in 2nd (142) and six players were tied for 3rd  David Panton, Ray St.Jean, Robin Valentine, Keith Wallis, Tom Gawryletz, and Al Holm (143).

NEXT UP - FED EX CUP MONTH

August is Fed Ex Cup month and the last of our month long competitions. Three rounds with your two best net scores counting toward the final score. No season long point this time — too much work!

AUGUST IS DICE SCRAMBLE MONTH

Skill rolling the custom made dice to determine which tee shot must be used, can make or break a team's chances in the Dice Scramble. The dreaded 'Frowny Face' needs to be avoided in order to score well.

August 22 - Dice Scramble 9:00 AM shotgun start

Entry fee: $30 includes golf, prizes, and lunch

Sign up online is open now! CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Pay with eTransfer using birchbankretirees@gmail.com

 

THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP MONTH STARTS THURSDAY

RETIREES BRITISH OPEN 

Thursday is Round 1 of our month long British Open competition for the Retirees Club. Three rounds are scheduled with your lowest 2 net scores counting toward your total score.

Last year's winner, Phil Molloy has been secretly working on his game in a hangar at the airport and should be ready by Thursday's first round. It looks like it will be a scorcher for the first round, so remember to keep hydrated as you play.

July is also the start of our 8:00 tee times, so don't forget to check your email for your time slot confirmation from the Pro Shop.

2023 Champion Golfer,  Phil Molloy

NELSON INVITATIONAL DEADLINE IS JULY 3

If you are planning on attending, remember to get signed up and pay your entry fee before noon on Wednesday, July 3.

Check the poster on the bulletin board for full details.

RED-WHITE-BLUE SCRAMBLE RESCHEDULED TO JULY 25

 HEAVY RAINS WASHOUT RWB SCRAMBLE

OK even golf can't be played when it rains this hard. We had to reschedule the RWB Scramble as the heavy rains soaked the course making it unplayable at our scheduled start time.

The Birchbank grounds crew heading to work this morning

All that extra practice in the sand trap yesterday was negated by the water filling the bunkers, puddles on the greens, and fairways too soggy for power carts.

GRANITE POINT TOURNAMENT (NELSON) DEADLINE APPROACHING

10AM Shotgun start - Wed, July 10 - Granite Point GC (Nelson)
Entry fee: $75.00 - everyone rides for this one; includes cart, golf, prizes, and lunch

Entry & Entry Fee deadline is Wed., July 3rd at noon.

Sign up online - CLICK HERE

Paper copy of sign up posted at the course: eTransfer or cheque in the  ProShop. 

JULY IS BRITISH OPEN MONTH

Our tee times start at 8:00 beginning July 1 — Thursday, July 4 is round 1 of 'The Open Championship' month. Remember to put your own score on the results sheet AND turn in your scorecard so I can verify all the scores.

In addition, you need to enter you daily scores into your handicap — using Golf Canada or Chronogolf. We depend upon everyone to keep an up to date, accurate handicap in order for our competitions to be fair.

If you need help with this, please ask!

 CANADIAN OPEN MONTH RESULTS

Al Pasin used a second round NET 64 to cruise to this year's Retirees Canadian Open with a 134 total from his 2 best scores. 

Second and third places went to two new Retirees Club members, Gary Schmitz (137) and Keith Wallis (139)

CANADIAN OPEN MONTH - ROUND 2 RESULTS….plus

SIGN UP NOW FOR RED-WHITE-BLUE SCRAMBLE

The paper signup for the June 27 event and lunch is now in the ProShop. Entry fee is $25 and the deadline to enter is June 22….. AND don’t forget you can sign up online. Use the link found on the Registrations Page.

NELSON TEAM SCRAMBLE

July 10 - details in previous post and on the poster on the bulletin board at the Club. Deadline July 3rd. Sign up online — use the link found on the Registrations Page.

PASIN IN THE LEAD AFTER 2 ROUND

Al Pasin leads after 2 rounds with at total score of 134 after shooting a net 64 this week. Keith Wallis in second at 139 and Bob Elliot at 140 is 3rd.

It still seems that some folks have forgotten to write their NET score on the results sheet and into their Golf Canada account.

The final round is next week, last chance for that really low round!

PROVISIONAL BALL - HOW TO...

Have you ever hit one in the bush on #2 and then can't find it when you get there? Dropping a ball and playing it is NOT the correct way to proceed!

PGA RESULTS (Updated)

 DEWDNEY HOLDS ON TO WIN THE RETIREES PGA

I verified all the scores entered on the results sheet, applied the R1 bonus for those who correctly noted it, and totalled every player who had at least 2 rounds recorded — RICHARD DEWDNEY (70-72: 142) placed first and will get to hold the Tiger Woods Bobblehead Trophy; tied for second place were Rick Brown and Wayne Shubert only 1 stroke back at 143 and in third was Don Szilagyi at 144.

ROUND 1 - KP Gary Schmitz both holes; LP Al Holm

ROUND 2 - KP Rick Brown, Bob Davidson; LP - Norm Moll

ROUND 3 - KP Perry Hyson, Norm Moll; LP - Brian Austin

Birchbank Invitational 

We have closed registrations and now have almost 60 players from the surrounding clubs entered giving us a 100 player field.

Watch your email for the tournament draw and take note of your team and starting hole. 

Lease cart holders and cart owners have been assigned, in many cases, a rider from out of town. Details will be posted ASAP.

INVITATIONAL DETAILS

• THURSDAY, MAY 23 - 9:00 AM SHOTGUN START
• CHECK IN: 8:00 - 8:30 AM - PLEASE CHECK IN ASAP 
• PLAYERS MEETING - 8:40 AM ON THE PRACTICE GREEN
• HEAD TO TEES - 8:45 AM
• STARTING HORN - 9:00
• LUNCH WILL COMMENCE AT ABOUT 1:15 TO 1:30 - MAKE SURE YOUR GROUP DOESN'T FALL BEHIND!
• RESULTS AND PRIZES - following completion of lunch
• 50/50 TICKETS WILL BE SOLD AT CHECK IN AND BEFORE LUNCH IS SERVED

CASTLEGAR INVITATIONAL JUNE 6 

Check the poster on the bulletin board for more details about the Castlegar event 

We collect your entry fees and submit them to Castlegar as one payment to reduce the hassles on the morning of the tournament.

Walkers $55.00 includes golf & lunch

Riders: $75.00 includes golf, lunch, & seat on a cart

DEADLINE TO ENTER & PAY ENTRY FEE IS MAY 30

Register online CLICK HERE