LINKSLETTER
Issue 2005 No. 5
HMB Men’s Golf Club www.golffusion.com/halfmoonbay
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
Dec 2005
By Mike Vreeburg
We have just completed a Great Year of Golf! I have immensely enjoyed working with the Board and all of the
Golf Course Staff. We have developed a truly great working relationship that has tremendously benefited our
efforts to manage the membership and administrative responsibilities for the Betterment of All Concerned. As an
example, our club has enjoyed a 30% increase in the participation rates at our monthly Tournaments and about a
200% increase at our Quarterly Meeting Events. These results clearly demonstrate our membership’s combined
efforts have generated an exciting and an enthusiastic club environment. I would like to thank all of the members
for your continued support.
The Board has come together as a very viable energetic group and has always provided me with their full support. I
believe we have made great strides in the efforts to improve lines of communication through the web site and
periodic hard copy mailings. Change takes time, and time changes every one of us. Speaking of change, it is my
time to step down as President and present to the membership a Slate of Proposed Officers and Directors. Last
Sept, I enlisted the help of Peter Oberto and Gary Burke for 2 projects, as follows:
1) I wanted them to act as an Election Committee to make sure all members had the ability and the
opportunity to discuss their interests in becoming active Board participants with a non-effected Board
Member. To foster this opportunity, an email blast was sent to all members. Additionally, a hard copy
notice was mailed to all members who did not have an active email address. These 2 forms of
communication confirmed all members were clearly notified.
2) I wanted to have a review of the current Board members term positions completed, in order to get us back
on track per the Club By-Laws requirements.
Thank you Peter and Gary, as you both have been extremely helpful and diligent! As a result of this concerted
effort, I am very pleased to present the new Board slate for your review and election approval at the December 7
Quarterly, which will consist of 4 Officer Elections, 3 Board Member at Large Elections, 1 Senior Director
Election, and 3 Carryover position, as follows:
4 Officer Elections
President: Bruce Greene – 1 year term
Vice-President: Regan Goodin – 1 year term
Treasurer: Jaan Palm-Leis – 2 year term
Secretary: Torr Lewis – 2nd year of 2 year term
3 Board Member at Large Elections
Don Prestosz – 2 year term
Ozzie Valdes – 2 year term
Eric Ladd – 2 year term
1 Senior Director Election
Senior Director: Bruce Bartfeld – 1 year term
3 Carryover Positions not up for Elections
At Large: Andy Anagnostou – 2nd year of 2 year term
At Large: Vance Verderame -2nd year of 2 year term
Past President: Mike Vreeburg
HMBMCG
December 2005
In addition to the motion for the new Board of Directors slate, we will make a motion at the December 7 Quarterly
Meeting to establish a change in the Article XIV Club Championship and President’s Cup section of the Half
Moon Bay Men’s Golf Club By-Laws. Kindly note, any change to the Club By-Laws requires a vote from the
membership at a Quarterly Meeting. Why make a change? To increase play and to create a format that will provide
our club with the best player in each flight. Essentially, the new format concept is designed to provide ALL
participants in this event an opportunity to play a minimum of 2 full rounds. Basically, both the 1st and 2nd day
rounds would be a 2 day total “stroke play” format, which would then provide results to define the players moving
forward to the semi-final and final “match play” format rounds in the 2nd weekend. The traditional semi-final and
final round match play formats would remain unchanged. Past President – Eric Ladd – has been kind enough to
write the proposed amendment to the By-Laws to support this new concept for your review as follows:
The flights will remain the same with the championship flight playing scratch from the back markers and the other
flights playing with full handicap from the forward markers.
The change will be: On the first weekend, the full field will play both days to qualify for 4 spots in each flight, in
order to move forward to compete in the Match Play format the following weekend. The top four medalists from
each flight will be seeded accordingly and will be playing 18 hole matches. The Championship Flight Finals will
continue with a 36 hole round. Additionally, losers in the semi-final round will play again on Sunday to determine
a 3rd place winner in each Flight.
We always look forward to your participation at the Quarterly! This is your opportunity to make your voice heard!
UPCOMING HMBMGC TOURNAMENTS
Nov 19, 2005: NCGA Four Man Team Qualifier. Application enclosed/sign up on the web site.
Dec 07, 2005: The Quarterly Tournament. Application enclosed/sign up on the web site
Dec 17, 2005: Annual Turkey Shoot-Beat the Pro. It’s easy to win! Application enclosed /sign up on the web site.
Jan 21, 2006: TBA
Feb 18, 2006: 2 Man Teams to play The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly. Always a fun event!
Mar 01, 2006: March Quarterly. One of the best tournament deals of the year!
Mar 18, 2006: NCGA Two Man Team Qualifier.
Apr 15, 2006: NCGA Individual Qualifier
May 21, 2006: The Invitational
Jun 07, 2006: The Quarterly
Jun 17, 2006: Four Man Team, 3 best ball format
Jul 15, 2006:
The Mini-Invitational
Aug 19, 2006: The Ryder Cup
Sept 6, 2006:
The Quarterly
Sept 15/16, 22/23, 2006: The Club Championship! Oct 21, 2006: The BASH!
HMBMCG
December 2005
NCGA 12 Man Team Match Play
By Jaan Palm-Leis
HMBMGC will be participating again in the NCGA Team Matches starting in June, 2006. We will field two 12
man teams to play three other local clubs in pooled round robin matches – three home and three away. One team
will play in the Thursday league. The other team will play in the Saturday league. All players compete in 2
simultaneous matches – an 18 hole individual match play + an 18 hole four-ball (2 man better ball) match with the
teammate in his foursome. Three matches are played in each foursome with six points available per foursome. Two
points are given for a win, one for a tie. All matches are played net, spinning off the lowest player in the match.
The winning team from each pool advances to the next round.
The Thursday and Saturday NCGA Team Match events for 2005 were a great success. Both HMB Teams enjoyed
playing at different local private clubs – Olympic, Marin CC, Green Hills, etc - in 12 man team match play events
throughout the summer. Everyone who participated felt the events were great fun and helped hone their match play
skills. The Most Valuable Player for the Saturday team was Kevin Ryan. He won all 5 of his singles matches and
went 4-1 in the two man team competition. Honorable Mention went to George Allen who won 3, lost one, and tied
2 singles matches and in the two man team events he won 4, lost one, and tied one. For the Thursday team Dave
Glasson won 4 singles matches, tied one and lost one. He went 3-3 in the 2 man team events. At the end of the
season the Thursday team played the Saturday team for the right to be called the Half Moon Bay Men’s Club Team
Match Play Champion for 2005. The Saturday team won a convincing victory over the Thursday team in a spirited
match that was followed by a fun evening of drinks and dinner. This will continue to be a traditional annual event
to support the coveted Team Match Play Trophy.
In order to give all members a chance to play in these matches, the HMBMGC April 15, 2006 event will also serve
as a qualifier for members to participate on the HMBMGC Teams. The teams will be chosen from golfers with the
lowest net scores in the qualifier that wish to participate. The team members must also have played in at least three
club events from Oct 2005 to April 2006 to qualify. Players may represent only one club and one team (Thursday
or Saturday) during the 2006 season. We look forward to shaping strong teams for the 2006 season!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
MEMBERSHIP REPORT
By Regan Goodin
“If you think that it is hard to meet new people, try picking up the wrong golf ball”
That quote is attributed to Jack Lemmon, the once great actor and part time duffer!
When it comes to meeting new people, the golf course is a great place to make friends. We have a great group of
friendly people in The Half Moon Bay Men’s Club ready to take on the upcoming tournament year. For a great
time, come on out to the tournaments and meet some new pigeons… I mean friends.
Although we had some previous turnover to permit accepting some new members, in addition to new Ocean
Colony residents, our current membership roster is at full capacity. Please join me in welcoming the following new
members:
Dan Bohnert, John Traversaro, Neil Menzies, Tony Dedo, Christopher Scully, Kevin O’Brien, Tony Perlongo,
Dave Majerus, Edward Dunne, Tom Unthank, Joel Rosenthal, and Martin O’Connell. We also have three
returning members, Terry Austin, Mark Weis and Nick Vojvodich.
If you do not intend to renew your membership, please let me know as we have a waiting list. If you do intend to
renew your membership, please return your membership renewal form as soon as possible, along with your late
payment in the amount of $275.00 (add $50 for HMB Seniors Club). If your dues are not received in a timely
manner, you will simply be dropped from the active roster. See you on the tee!!
HMBMCG
December 2005
TOURNAMENT RESULTS
By Don Prestosz
I applaud everyone who signs up and pays promptly to secure their confirmation to play. If our past events are any
indication of the growing popularity to participate in our monthly events, then I would encourage everyone to pay
particular attention to the sign up and payment deadline dates. In other words, in order to avoid being placed on a
waiting list, you may want to consider completing your confirmation sooner, rather than later! Of course, we will
continue to try to accommodate those of you ending up on a waiting list, as best as possible.
THE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Most golfers will agree one the most enjoyable formats is Match Play. Obviously, in stroke play a bad hole can
promptly dismiss an opportunity to win. However, in Match Play, a player can score a triple bogey on a hole or
even a couple of holes and still have a chance to win. The strategy and rewards to playing Match Play are
considerably different. Anyone who eventually can reach the finals in our Club Championship rounds has
definitely played stellar golf to get there! Our Club Championship winners and runner ups are as follows:
Championship Flight: John Schwonke beat Steve Desantis = 5 and 4
President’s Flight:
Steve Kawahara beat Tom Doglio = the 20th hole
Secretary’s Flight:
Don Prestosz beat John Yerger = 3 and 2
Treasurer’s Flight:
Kevin Ryan beat Bruce Bean = 1 up
THE BASH
As always, The Bash lived up to it's expectations by providing a full field of players with a very festive and
enjoyable event. Unlike last year, at least the adverse seasonal course conditions were not compounded by heavy
rain and by winds gusting to 30 mph! Hopefully, the improved weather conditions and scoring results for this
year's event will prove to be a good omen for the NEW season ahead of us.
Only 4 strokes separated the top 10 team results, which led to tie breaker decisions to determine the final best 6
team results and awards, as follows:
1st Place Team = $100/player = Net 126 = Bill Helman, John Dye, Steve Zanolli, John Schwonke
2nd Place Team = $70/player = Net 127 = Ron Taborski, Chuck Krause, Vance Verderame, Michael Buckley
3rd Place Team = $60/player = Net 127 = Joe Silverthorn, Dan Himmelheber, Gary Burke, Frank Bell
4th Place Team = $50/player = Net 128 = Robin Jeffs, Leonard Sanoff, Jeff Atkinson, Bert Gunzel
5th Place Team = $40/player = Net 129 = Ron Grenier, Ralph Ely, Gary Thornhill, Craig Hansen
6th Place Team = $30/player = Net 129 = Eddie Dunne, David Glasson, Ed Fonseca, Bill Pretto
Although it is not clear if these particular players actually made their birdie putt (probably not!), they at least had a
chance by being closest to the par 3 pins and each won $50, as follows:
#3 = Ron Taborski at 2' 11"
#7 = Jaan Palm-Leis at 15' 7"
#13 = Craig Hansen at 9' 2"
#17 = Bruce Bartfeld at 5' 2"
Congratulations to Eric Ladd, who won the Young Gun's drive on #12; and to Jim Bolton, who won The Fossil's
drive on #2. All in all, everyone had a great time one way or the other and that is what this event and our getting
together as a club is all about!
Many players thank me at each tournament for putting on a good event. I like the praise, but I receive assistance
and it is really the membership participation that defines an event being successful or not. Our events over the past
year had great participation rates and many members have expressed experiencing a good time. To continue this
success and to help our administrative efforts, please respect these benefits by considering the following:
HMBMCG
December 2005
1. Signing-up and paying on time: it is too difficult to collect money on the day of the event.
2. Showing-up, on-time: canceling without notice can also put an unfair burden on your teammate(s)
3. Take time to read the Tournament Rules Sheet before teeing off.
4. Filling out scorecards properly is part of the NCGA rules.
We look forward to making HMBMGC future events very enjoyable; and, we hope the enthusiastic participation
continues, throughout the coming year. Thanks to all of the members for following the rules and making our club
one of the most desirable in the Bay Area!
SENIOR’S REPORT
By Bruce Bartfeld
The HMB Seniors Club Championship shaped up to be a great final match between the defending champion –
Wendell Norwood – and the challenger – Dick Lane. Congratulations to both for making it to the finals, which
resulted in Dick Lane becoming our new Champion!
After a very eventful season with over 20 tournaments, we have 1 event left in 2005, as we have recently
completed the Senior Invitational on November 2. This event will be our ever popular Turkey Shoot, otherwise
known as Beat The Pro, on November 16. This is typically a sold out event because the chances of winning are so
good! Please be sure to sign up on the web site or get your applications into me quickly!
The results of the Senior Survey we submitted generated a number of useful responses. Thank you very much for
all of your ideas and input. I will definitely be using your information to establish the 2006 upcoming events
calendar. Based on the results of this survey and remarks provided to me directly, it appears everyone especially
enjoys our Home & Home events, as well as our NCGA Qualifiers. I appreciated all of your comments and will
work hard on a schedule to reflect these preferences, accordingly. Obviously, this is your Club! With your
continual suggestions, I will do my best to secure the preferences you have requested. I look forward to seeing new
Senior members this coming year and to increased participation at the 20-25 events we plan to schedule for 2006.
Thank you for all of your support!
____________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORT FROM THE RULES CHAIRMAN
By Vance Verderame
We will soon be experiencing the rainy season, which always provides a number of added challenges, particularly
for us golfers! About the only good thing we can count on in the rainy season is the ability to secure a preferred tee
time and the luxury of having the course all to ourselves! As we prepare our winter wet gear, I felt this would be an
appropriate opportunity to reiterate Winter Rules, as follows:
USGA rulings on Winter Rules and Preferred Lies
“If a player’s ball lies on a closely-mown area through the green, the player may mark, lift and clean his ball
without penalty. Before lifting, he must mark the position of the ball. The player must then place the ball on a spot
within six inches of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard or on a putting
green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed. (Rule 20-4). If the player fails to
mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with the club,
he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
HMBMCG
December 2005
Penalty for breach of local rule:
Match Play – Loss of hole; Stroke Play – Two strokes.
To recap the Local Rule as suggested by the USGA.
1. Relief is in the fairway cut only, not the rough. The reasoning is that the player gets too much of an
advantage in getting out from behind a tree or from a ball nestled in the rough if he is allowed to place
it in a perfect lie.
2. The player must mark the position of the ball before lifting it. He may then clean it before he places it
within six inches. The ball may not be placed nearer the hole than the original lie, on a putting green
or in a hazard. It may be placed in the rough if the player prefers that lie as long as that meets other
conditions of replacement.
3. Once the ball is at rest, it is in play, and if it then moves, it is played from it’s new position with no
penalty unless there is a breach under another Rule, such as a ball moving after address.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
REPORT FROM THE HANDICAP CHAIRMAN
By Andy Anagnostou
I attended the NCGA Handicap Club Certification Seminar 4 months ago. Here is what I would like to pass on.
BASIC PREMISE OF USGA:
A Basic Premise underlies the USGA Handicap System, namely that EVERY PLAYER WILL TRY TO MAKE
THE BEST SCORE AT EACH HOLE IN EVERY ROUND, regardless of where the round is played, and that
THE PLAYER WILL POST EVERY ACCEPTABLE ROUND FOR PEER REVIEW.
Please post all of your rounds. You have to post a nine hole score if you play at least 7 holes. You have to post an
18 hole score if you play at least 13 holes. If you play 6 holes or less, you cannot post that score. We are not
posting all of our rounds! It is so bad, that the Board has had the unenviable task of disqualifying teams in our
Men’s Club events from advancing because of too few rounds being posted by active members. I cannot emphasize
this issue enough. POST ALL YOUR ROUNDS or else!!!!!!!!!!
Please learn the Equitable Stroke Control rules. They are very straight forward. It is based on course handicap, not
your NCGA handicap “index”. Once again here are the ESC rules:
9 or less COURSE HANDICAP: max you can post is double bogey.
10-19 max is 7.
20-29 max is 8.
30-39 max is 9.
40+ max is 10.
Believe it or not, I get asked that question at every men’s club event. Also, please take the extra 2 minutes to fill
out your scorecard properly. I do not need to know your total net score, ever! But I need to know your adjusted
gross score every time!
Finally, I know every one thinks that it is somebody else who sand bags or doesn’t follow the posting rules. The
Board’s primary goal is to host fair and fun events that are widely attended. It takes everyone’s cooperation and
participation to make this happen. Please cooperate and participate. Thanks and play well!
HMBMCG
December 2005
REPORT FROM YOUR TREASURER
By Jeff Atkinson
I’m pleased to report that the Men’s Club fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 on budget and the Seniors Club
ended with a surplus of cash. I’m currently finishing the 2005 / 2006 budget and will submit this to the Board for
their review and approval, at our November meeting.
Late payments of tournament fees have subsided since the Board implemented the $25 late fee policy, but there is
still some room for improvement in this area from the members. If you sign up, please play promptly or the late
fee will be assessed.
As my final weeks of two plus years as Treasurer near completion, I want to clearly state it has been an honor and
a pleasure to serve our club. I appreciate all the support I’ve received from our current Board, our previous Board
and our members. Additionally, I would like to especially thank Lyn, Gabe, Josh, pro shop staff, Michelle and
Jarmyn for all their assistance in making my job easier. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with all of you!
REPORT FROM YOUR SECRETARY
By Bruce Greene
In review of the various articles throughout this issue of the Linksletter, the general theme appears to be wrapped
around our tournaments. The quality of our monthly events and the quality of our membership is the strength
supporting our club foundation. The emphasis and work we plan to dedicate to our tournaments will be equally met
by our efforts to support the current quality of our membership. One can not flourish without the other!
Golfers visiting HMB always appreciate the value of teeing off on #18, which continually provides one of the best
par 4 vistas in the world! We are quite fortunate to have the luxury of experiencing our special course, as often as
we can play. However, we are even more fortunate to enjoy these excellent course conditions with world class
views among an equally special group of golfers! Although we have a wide range of age and handicaps, which
alone causes a number of separations in most club environments, the HMBMGC continually demonstrates a strong
common bond through our passion for the game, our appreciation for our home course, the quality and the integrity
of our membership, and the value of friendly competition on a monthly basis with every tournament.
Over the past year, the Board has worked very hard to implement changes to enhance our golfing experiences.
Among the more significant changes were creating an organized Scorer’s Table to turn in scorecards after each
event for close and prompt review, switching over from net scoring on the scorecards to gross scoring practices to
eliminate potential penalties in the results, structuring a system to promote Results after each event being promptly
posted on the web site, increasing the number of email blasts to keep the membership well advised of club
activities, conducting Shot Gun starts at The Quarterly events to foster greater participation and everyone finishing
the event at the same time, incorporating Titleist and Footjoy displays to provide players their personal preferences
for selecting a tee prize at The Invitational, shaping and supporting 2 MHMBGC Match Play Teams to participate
in the NCGA sanctioned team events, monthly review of new member applications rather than only once a year,
and the list goes on! The response to date by members has been fully supportive of these many changes, which is
definitely reflected in the significant participation rate increases. As we proceed into the holiday season and the
year ahead of us, we should all try to be grateful for what we have. This includes supporting our club environment.
One of the best ways to support our club is to be an active participant, while being respectful of the event
requirements and rules. I am confident we will continue to strive towards enhancing the progress we have
established to date. Thank you for your support, enjoy your holiday season and be safe!
HMBMCG
December 2005
GOLF FUSION UPDATE
By Bruce Greene
If you are experiencing difficulties with accessing our web site at www.golffusion.com/halfmoonbay/login,
which may be a result of you not having completed the Registration procedure originally or possibly due to an
incorrect Username or Password, then simply contact me at tel #650-595-5512 or by email =
[email protected]. I will be happy to walk you through the process or send instructions, accordingly.
Are you looking for a spontaneous game, a last minute 4 th, or want to meet other members in a friendly round
of golf on the Old Course? The web site provides 2 very easy ways to help you find other players, FAST! One
way is to Post a Message on the Bulletin Board; the other way is to use our powerful member Search Engine.
You can post a message on the Bulletin Board for everyone to see, by selecting the sub tab “Post Message”,
then selecting “Looking for Players” in the drop down box menu. Complete the template presented and click on
“Submit”. Your message will be instantly presented on the Bulletin Board for everyone to review! To
accomplish a more targeted approach to finding players, select the main tab “Bulletin Board”, then select the
sub tab “Looking for Players”. This will present you with a template to define specifics associated with your
player preferences, such as a handicap range or specific days/times of the week. Submit your completed
requirements and the site will instantly present you with a list of the members, along with their contact details,
meeting your search criteria. Either way, finding a player in this club is easy. These 2 methods are typically
more productive than making a bunch of unanswered phone calls, helps to get results fast, and promotes the
opportunity to play golf with someone new!
CURRENT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
by Mike Vreeburg
As the out going President, I would like to once again thank the current Board of Directors for the past 2004/2005
season! Being on the Board is more work than most members will ever understand; and, I believe each and
everyone of the members on the new proposed slate of officers are committed to improving the quality and the
camaraderie of our Club.
2004/2005 Board of Directors
HMBMGC mail should be directed to: Club Officers/Directors, HMBMGC, P.O. Box 871, HMB, CA 94019
President:
Secretary
Tournament:
Membership
Handicap:
Treasurer:
Rules:
Social Chairman:
Seniors:
Member@Large
Member@Large
Mike Vreeburg
Bruce Greene
Don Prestosz
Regan Goodin
Andy Anagnostou
Jeff Atkinson
Vance Verderame
Ozzie Valdes
Bruce Bartfeld
Eric Ladd
Jaan Palm-Leis
369-2921
595-5512
726-3437
712-8187
473-7820
574-1203
593-4711
814-9148
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