JUNE IS CANADIAN OPEN MONTH

 CANADIAN OPEN MONTH

June 6 is the start of our month long tribute to the Canadian Open. Thursday is the first round of the three planned for the month and once again only the best two NET scores will be used to determine the winner.

2023 Canadian Open Winner - Al Holm

RED-WHITE-BLUE SCRAMBLE

June 27 we are having our R-W-B Scramble and Luncheon. Eighteen holes of team scramble, with a twist, followed by lunch, prizes, 50/50 draw, and trophy presentations.

Teams play a full scramble, but their score on each hole determines which tees they use on the next hole. Over par on the hole means you move forward one set of tees on the next hole, make par you use the same tees, and under par on the hole means you move back one set of tee for the next hole.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP ONLINE

INVITATIONAL BEATS THE WEATHER

 Our annual Invitational tournament was played amid weather warnings of heavy rains and lightning, but a small cloud burst late in the round was the only issue. Once the round was done and the meal was being served, however, the skies opened up in a big way!

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

TEAM EVENT: Total of 3 lowest total NET scores for each team

1ST - DOHERTY, PION, ANTONCHUK, VALENTINE (219)

2ND - PICCOLO, METGE, MCKINNON, ST. JEAN (222)

3RD - MOLLOY, DARRAH, YOLLAND, HOLLIS (223)

4TH - TIED

- POSTNIKOFF, FRANCIS, MATSON, PASIN (226)

- PERREAULT, WAGG, MCNULTY, PASQUALI (226)

- PARK, BAIN, CAMPEAU, CHERENKO (226)

TEAM KP/LP All members of the team received a prize

LP #9 - ANSELMO      LP#18 - SANDERS

KP #2 - YOLLAND       KP#7 - KEEN

KP #14 - FRIE            KP#17 - PARK

INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE SERIES (CORRECTED TOTALS)

1. BIRCHBANK (SCMHITZ, ST.JEAN, MUIR, TROSETH) - 281

2. CASTLEGAR (TRESIDDER, MORAN, YOLLAND, AL AKELSON) - 296

3. CHRISTINA LAKE (FRIGAULT, ANTONCHUK, FRIE, TURNER) - 300

4. CHAMPION LAKES (TALARSKI, GLOWA, DOSANJ, LINDSTEIN) - 329

Ready for the check-in rush

Still waiting for the rush

Wow, what a drive

Tom wasn't impressed, "Hey! I'm workin' here!"

Round is over, time to eat!

If I'd only made that putt....

Remember that shot on #7?

The heavy, heavy rain started soon after this photo

Some happy prize winners

More happy prize winners

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

R2 - IT'S STILL DEWDNEY IN THE LEAD

 ROUND 2 RESULTS

Perfect day for golf. Richard Dewdney backed up his first round 70 with a 71 for a 141 total with one more round to be played next week. Several players, once again, failed to enter their score on the scoresheet posted on the bulletin board. 

Also remember to enter your score on the Golf Canada site OR Chronogolf depending on which system you are using.

INVITATIONAL DEADLINE ONE WEEK AWAY

One more week to get signed up and entry fee paid, 13 days until the tournament.

Players Entered As of Friday night... see the attached list of entries to make sure you haven't been missed. 

PUTTING IMPROVEMENT TIP

For those of you who wondered how I made that LONG PUTT on #18, for birdie by the way, CHECK OUT THIS ARTICLE about how to improve your putting.

OUT OF BOUNDS? WHAT IS THE RULE.

PGA R1 - DEWDNEY LEADS SHOOTS NET 70

TIGER WOODS BOBBLEHEAD TROPHY UP FOR GRABS

Richard Dewdney opened with a net 70 to lead after one round of the Retirees PGA and this year we have a new trophy - a Tiger Woods Bobblehead — now that would look good in a photo with the winner. Don’t forget that YOU are responsible for writing your score on the PGA Scoresheet found on the bulletin board, don’t assume that it will be done for you. 

Round 2 goes this Thursday and the weather report looks like the hot weather is finally going to be here — stay hydrated out there.

  

RETIREES INVITATIONAL SIGN UP - PLEASE DON'T WAIT

May 23 is approaching fast…..If you planning on playing in our Invitational, please get signed up ASAP to help us determine how many openings we can have for the out of town players. Entry fee is only $30 for Retirees Club members (unless you need a ride - $50) Sign up now, pay your entry fee by the deadline

ALL OUR EVENT SIGN UPS CAN BE DONE ONLINE

I have updated all the Online Sign Ups to include the entry fees and dates and that included the out of town events up to Castlegar. Please use the online sign ups as it really helps us out, especially if you sent an eTransfer don’t forget to sign up too. 

IS IT APRIL SHOWERS OR MAY SHOWERS?

EARLY BIRD MEMBERSHIP DEADLINE

For anyone who has not joined yet, don't forget April 30 is the last day to get the early bird rate of $30. Starting May 1 our regular rate of $35 applies. Note: you do not have to have a Golf Canada membership or even a Birchbank membership to join our Retirees Club. CLICK HERE TO JOIN

HANDICAP UPDATES

1) If you want to calculate your HANDICAP INDEX - that decimal number that can be used to calculate your COURSE HANDICAP for any course - I have found an online calculator that you can enter your last 20 (or fewer) scores. So if you want to get a more accurate Handicap Index than Chronogolf, give it a try.

CLICK HERE FOR INDEX CALCULATOR

White Tees use: Course Rating:68.1  Slope: 115

Combo Tees use: Course Rating: 70.0  Slope: 120

Blue Tees use: Course Rating: 71.5   Slope: 120

If you give it a try, let me know how it went.

2) Golf Canada members: you are responsible for entering EVERY round. Get the smartphone app or do it on your computer at home — get it put in right after your round is complete. I used the GC site to get your course handicap for the Opening and some have not entered a score since 2021 — get on it, ASAP

If you need help with the app see Norm and bring your phone.

3) MAY Handicaps for PGA - I have added a column on the PGA results sheet for you to declare your handicap for the month of MAY if you prefer to do it that way. (I would hope that Golf Canada members would use their most current handicap for each round as it is more accurate) — if you use Chronogolf, maybe give the calculator a try for your May handicap.

MAY TOURNAMENTS

1) MAY 23 - BIRCHBANK RETIREES INVITATIONAL — this replaces our regular May scramble event and is open to all our members as well as players from the local area Retirees clubs. It is a team event, everyone plays their own ball, and handicaps are used to determine the final team score — so if you want in, then get signed up early because it fills up fast. ONLINE is best - etransfers or cheque to Proshop only. Registrations are open now. CLICK HERE

Entry fee is only $30 for Retirees Club members, if you need a seat on a cart then the fee is $50.

2) MAY 7 - Ladies Host the Retirees - a fun event with mixed teams of men and woment, with a meal,  (Beef or Chicken burger buffet) and prizes. Sign up today and support our Ladies Club.

ENTRY FEE: $30 payment to the Ladies Club - see more details on the sign up sheet on the bulletin board OR go online to the Ladies Club's brand new website and sign up there. CLICK HERE FOR THEIR WEBSITE

3) MAY IS PGA MONTH - round 1 of the Retirees PGA Championship begins this week, so get your handicap up to date, start hitting more fairways off the tee, remember to enter your score on the results scoresheet and turn in your card. As always, you choose your tees (and apply correct handicap), as long as you play on Thursday you can use your score.

4) *BONUS* - If you read all the way to here, put a minus sign on the scoresheet after your score (for example: 82– ) to get the bonus. 

IF YOU KNOW OF ANY MEMBERS WHO ARE NOT GETTING OUR EMAILS PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT NORM.

'24 OPENING SHAMBLES

RETIREES OPENING SHAMBLES TOURNAMENT AND LUNCH 

This year's Opening Tournament and Lunch had 11 teams playing in pretty decent weather — some sun, some clouds but no bone chilling rain and wind.

The all the teams were created using everyone's current handicap with players placed on teams to get the total team handicaps to be equal or close to equal. In a perfect world....

MASTERS CHAMP GETS THE GREEN JACKET

The winner of the Retirees Masters Month, Gary Schmitz, was presented with our version of the Green Jacket by last year's Champion Marlin Frederick. Fit like a glove, I was told.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

WINNING TEAM: ST JEAN, NOAKES, SZILAGY, AUSTIN

1ST: Ray StJean, John Noakes, Don Szilagy, Brian Austin (130 total)

2nd: Al Pasin, Merv Olson, Wayne Shubert, Monte Brothers (133)

3rd: Rob Valentine, Lenn Delorie, Albert Holm, Reg Cherenko (134)

Longest Putt: #9: Team Holm; #18: Team Burke

Closest to Pin (kp)

#2: Team Noakes    #8: Team Brothers

#14: Team Noakes    #18: Team Caron

John and I would like to give BIG THANK YOU TO:

• Phil Molloy and Reg Cherenko for doing the scoring, Al Piccolo for being the MC and working the 50/50 draw along with Al Pasin, and Thomas Keen for setting KP/LP pins and helping out as needed.
• Tasty chili buffet by the Bistro - Kelly and Sarah
• Jeff Papilion and the ProShop crew