2019 SWGA Meeting/Luncheon

Yay!  The first official SWGA event of the year:  The Annual Meeting and Luncheon.  It’s a time for saying goodbye to 2018, rewarding the achievements, and welcoming the new year of adventure, friendship, and of course, golf!

Thirty-six ladies attended the meeting hosted by Northwood Hills Golf Club on January 25^th.  Yes, it was a low turnout, with only about half of the membership attending, but the half that was there had a great time!  A number of our ladies were ill, are caretaking for loved ones, or were out of town.  The timing just wasn’t good, but next year we’ll try to get at least 50% more.  Lunch was tasty and there was plenty of it.  Thanks to Northwood for all the usual hospitality.

One of the first reports of the meeting was the Treasurer’s Report by Phyllis Ryan, and we are still financially sound, but our balance was down from the beginning of the year.  The $5 increase in dues will help get us in a position to do some helpful, charitable things this year.

Events Chairman Jane Smith started her report with a gesture of appreciation for Daneita Adams who volunteered at the beginning of 2018 to help Jane with her paperwork for the most taxing position in the SWGA.  Her report includes the End of Year Awards,

The first presentation was to those who had accomplished the very difficult task of 100% participation, which takes a lot of planning and dedication to the association.  This year we had ten ladies who got this award: Daneita Adams (BWGA), Cathy Buckley (BWGA), Gayle Gansfuss (NLGA), Kyong Lee (BWGA), Debbie Magee (WGAS), Nancy Young (BWGA), Hui Bordelon (BLGA), Audrey Northcutt (BWGA), Phyllis Ryan (ERWGA), and Jane Smith (WGAS).  Congratulations ladies!

To qualify for one of the low gross/low net/low putts awards, a lady must have participated in at least five stroke-play SWGA events during the year.  If she has more than five, the lowest five are used to calculate the average.

First Low Gross went to Mary Lynn Stuart (ERWGA) with an average low gross score of 77.2.  Now THAT’S some playing!  Second Low Gross went to Cathy Buckley with a not-too-shabby average of 84.8.  Coming in close behind the two “paying” awards were Honorable Mention awards of a 100 Grand candy bar to Debbie Magee with 85.2 and Joyce Middleton (ERWGA) with 85.8.  Good golfing ladies!

The First Low Net average score of 65.4 went to Jane Smith.  Second low net of 68.8 was a tie between Joyce Middleton and Kyong Lee, and Fourth low net was 70.2 to Gayle Gansfuss.  Honorable Mention candy bars went to Cathy Buckley with 68 and Grace (Miss Gracie) Ireland (NLGA) with a 70.6.

  

The Low Putts awards can go to a lady who won low gross or low net awards.  First place low putts was a really nice 30.8 by Debbie Magee, followed really closely with a 31 by Cathy Buckley.  Honorable Mention candy bars went for 31.4 putts to Gina O’Neal (WGAS) and 31.6 to Jill Litton (NLGA).  It was a close competition for low putts!

Probably the most impressive award is the Most Improved golfer.  This year was perhaps the biggest improvement we’ve seen…….at least in the last 10-11 years.  Daneita Adams went from 26.8 index, worrying about not qualifying for SWGA events, to a really nice 18.5…..a reduction of 8.3 index strokes!  Honorable Mention candies went to Debbie Magee (4.7 decrease), Vien Wheeler (4.5 decrease), and Myra Corby (4.4 decrease).  We’re really proud of all you ladies!

In the matter of old business, there was a vote by ballot that included absentee voting for the issue of flighting before play (using handicap) or flighting after play.  It was a very close vote, but this year we will go back to flighting before play.  Since this isn’t a constitutional or by-laws issue, the membership can decide to change it whenever it is bought to the meeting for a vote.  So if you voted for flighting after play, don’t be discouraged, it could change again next year.

Another vote that was a change in our constitution was the “You pay, you play” issue.  If you join SWGA with the required 30 or less handicap and during the year your handicap increases above 30, you can complete the year playing with the group and will simply have to requalify for NEXT year. 

Outgoing President Pam Crews introduced the slate of officers for 2019:

President: Brenda Graves: Bomber Bayou

1^st VP (SWGA Championship): Moise Allen, Southern Trace CC

2^nd VP (Team Matches): Daneita Adams, Broadmoor WGA

Secretary: Phyllis Ryan, East Ridge CC

Treasurer: Jane Smith, Stonebridge GC

Events Chairman: Jill Litton, Northwood Hills GC

The Club Reps for 2019 are:

Gayle Gansfuss, Northwood Hiills GC

Susan Wright, East Ridge CC

Donna Ihle, Stonebridge GC

Kathleen McCoy, Broadmoor (Huntington Park)

Vien Wheeler, Southern Trace CC

Mary Gallagher, Bomber Bayou GC

Incoming President Brenda Graves presented 2018 President Pam Crews with a beautiful crystal trophy as a token of appreciation for her work during the year.

President Graves presented her platform for the year which includes trying to increase our involvement in charity work and increasing our membership which has fallen painfully in the last few years.  She wants to promote fun, food and golf…..and caring for one another’s needs.

It was a fruitful meeting and everyone received a list of all SWGA, SSWGA, State, local and popular tournament dates for the year.  So mark your calendar and plan to HAVE FUN, FRIENDSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY and PLAY GOLF OFTEN AND WITH NEW PEOPLE!!!

SWGA/SSWGA Jingle Bell Scramble

With the threat of COLD weather and cloudiness looming for days before the annual Jingle Bell Scramble, I did as usual: waited until the last minute to do pairings. For about 4 days, I had no cancellations or additions. Wow! This is unusual.

On the evening of December 3, the night before the Jingle Bell at Northwood Hills, I held my breath and did the pairings. We had a perfect nine groups of four for the shotgun start.

It was pretty nippy at 8:00am on Tuesday, December 4th....in the 30's, but the sun was SHINING. When the ladies started arriving at Northwood, everyone was dressed in layers, but their spirits were up in spite of the cold.

Lo and behold, there were two ladies that showed up who weren't on my list. WE HAD INCREASED from 36 to 38! Who would have thunk it! It did require some shuffling and making a new team with just 3 members, but it worked out great and it was a beautiful day.

After play, the group enjoyed a nice taco/salad/enchilada luncheon complete with tons of homemade desserts, thanks to the Northwood Ladies' Association. Great job, NWLGA!

All the ladies of the SWGA and SSWGA had brought gifts for kids and three young men from the Blanchard Fire Department picked them up for distribution to the needy. Thanks to you guys....for your service and your volunteering to distribute the toys.

Thanks to all of you ladies for making that extra effort to show up, even when you were leary.

SSWGA Playday at Bomber Bayou

The last SSWGA stroke play event of the year was held at Bomber Bayou GC on September 6th, with seventeen ladies participating.  Although there was a forecast for afternoon rain, we had a sunny and hot day all day.  It is always a pleasure to play what used to be Fox Run, and this was no exception.  We understand the modifications that are being made at the course and realize they have to go through this transition to get it really good again.  Thanks to the staff for helping get a few of the ladies onto the Base, even with their names on the list.

 
The best score of the day was a nice 89 by Hui Bordelon (BBLGA) playing in the Senior Flight.  Second best score of the day was Mon Airhart (BWGA) playing in the Super Senior Flight.  Congratulations ladies!

Jan Crowe (BWGA) had the lowest overall Net score of 71 in the Super Senior Flight, and Pat Rice gets honorable mention in that flight with a nice 72.  Linda Colvin (NHGC) had the Low Net score of 73 in the Senior Flight.  Congratulations!

Overall Low Putts was a tie between Joyce Delauder (BWGA), Cathy Buckley (BWGA) and Hui Bordelon, all in the Senior Flight, and all with just 30 putts.  As you know, the greens are going through a big transition, so this is an outstanding feat.  Low putts honors in the Super Senior Flight was 32 by Joanne McDonald (BBLGA). Good stroking, ladies!

SENIOR FLIGHT
Low Gross: Hui Bordelon  89
Low Net: Linda Colvin  73
Low Putts (tie): Joyce Delauder and Cathy Buckley  30

SUPER SENIOR FLIGHT
Low Gross: Mon Airhart  90
Low Net: Jan Crowe  71
Low Putts: Joanne McDonald  32

Chip-ins: Hui Bordelon and Audrey Northcutt (BWGA)

Our next SSWGA event is the Turkey Scramble on November 15th at 9:30am at Crooked Hollow GC.  The cost is $37 and includes golf and a really GOOD hamburger.  We also have our annual meeting after golf on this date, so please mark your calendars to participate in this event.  We have a number of agenda items to talk about at the meeting and we need your input.

SWGA Championship

With the super fast age of internet, you all know by now who our SWGA Champion is as well as many of the other winners, but here it is in one posting in case you need to look back on it.

Congratulations to Champion Mary Lynn Stuart (ERCC), shooting outstanding scores of 74 and 76 (150) on August 23-24 at Bomber Bayou GC.  The 74 score also gave her the Medalist Trophy.  The closest score to Mary Lynn’s was a nice 164 by Debbie Magee (WGAS), giving her First Gross in the First Flight.  Congratulations ladies!  Good Golfing!

The Net Champion honors went to Jane Smith (WGAS) who had a 2-day total of 129, also giving her the Net Medalist award for her net score of 65 on day one.  Congratulations Jane!  And following just three strokes behind Jane was Jan Crowe (BWGA) with a net score of 132.  Good golf!

Overall low putts was a really nice 59 by Gina O’Neal (WGAS).  Now THAT’S some good putting!  Honorable mention goes to Becky Farr (WGAS) with 61 putts.

Championship Chairman Brenda Graves and the staff of Bomber Bayou GC are to be thanked for their hospitality and hard work to make this championship so successful.  Thanks to the thirty-three ladies that supported the SWGA group.

Full results:

Champion/Medalist:  Mary Lynn Stuart 74/76

Net Champion/Net Medalist: Jane Smith 65/64

Overall Low Putts: Gina O’Neal 59

FIRST FLIGHT

·         1^st Gross: Debbie Magee 81/83

·         1^st Net: Joyce Middleton (ERCC) 71/64

·         2^nd Gross: Lillian Granger (STCC) 85/84

·         2^nd Net: Cathy Buckley (BWGA) 73/67

SECOND FLIGHT

·         1^st Gross: Linda Colvin (NHGC) 88/91

·         1^st Net: Gayle Gansfuss (NHGC) 67/70

·         2^nd Gross: Jan Crowe (BWGA) 91/89

·         2^nd Net: Martha Lowhorne (BWGA) 68/71

THIRD FLIGHT

·         1^st Gross: Kyong Lee (BWGA) 101/102

·         1^st Net: Renee Schoonover (ERCC) 74//69

·         2^nd Gross: Vien Wheeler (STCC) 99/97

·         2^nd Net: Grace Ireland (NHGC) 76/74

CLOSEST TO THE PIN

·         Cathy Buckley

·         Pat Bennett (STCC)

·         Phyllis Ryan (ERCC)

ACCURATE DRIVE:  Alyce Wyche (NHGC)

SWGA Playday at Bomber Bayou GC

On August 16, twenty-nine ladies played the SWGA playday event at Bomber Bayou GC.  This event was also the practice round for the following week's SWGA Championship.

Results are as follows:

SWGA Southern Trace Scramble

SWGA Playday Southern Trace

SSWGA Championship

There’s nothing like OLD news and I’m so sorry to be this late posting the results of the SSWGA Championship held July 17-18 at Stonebridge Golf Club.  Seventeen ladies played the event in some pretty hot weather.  As usual, the course was in great condition and Championship Chairman Cheryl Smith, along with the Stonebridge staff, did a great job with the tournament.

The first day started with Medalists scores of 89 for Senior Kim Darnell (WGAS) and 88 for Super Senior Joyce Middleton (ERCC).  Kim Darnell kept up the pace and shot 86 the second day, winning her the SSWGA Senior Champion honors.  Congratulations Kim!  The Net Champion trophy went to Nancy Young (BWGA) with net scores of 76/70.

 

In the Super Senior flight, Jan Crowe (BWGA) shot an outstanding 89/84 to win the Champion trophy for that group.  Congratulations Jan!  Gayle Gansfuss (NHGC) shot two really nice rounds to capture the Super Senior Net Champion award with net scores of 68/67.

Overall Low Putts for the two days was Cathy Buckley (BWGA) with just 60 putts.  Low putt awards went to Senior Martha Lawhorne (BWGA) with 71 putts and Super Senior Donna Ihle (WGAS) with 64. 

Full results are as follows:

SENIOR FLIGHT

·         Champion: Kim Darnell 89/86

·         Net Champion: Nancy Young 76/70

·         1^st Gross: Cathy Buckley 98/87

·         1^st Net: Cheryl Smith (WGAS) 80/67

·         Low Putts: Martha Lawhorne 71

·         Closest to Pin: Martha Lawhorne/Nancy Young

·         Straightest Drive: Nancy Young

SUPER SENIOR FLIGHT

·         Champion: Jan Crowe 89/84

·         Net Champion: Gayle Gansfuss 68/67

·         1^st Gross: Joyce Middleton 88/90

·         1^st Net: Grace Ireland (NHGC) 70/71

·         Low Putts: Donna Ihle 64

·         Closest to Pin: Mary Gallagher (BBLGA)/Grace Ireland

·         Straightest Drive: Donna Ihle