SSWGA Scramble at Stonebridge

The SSWGA ladies FINALLY got to kick-off the 2019 golf season with its Stonebridge Scramble on April 23…..with beautiful weather!!!

Thanks to Chris Redmon and his crew for taking care of us so well!
Due to the last-minute uneven number of teams, we had seven 3omes and two 4somes.  We played with a maximum of two putts to help keep the play moving faster.  Other than that, it was a normal scramble.

In the end, the first place team scored 68, with two chip-ins: one by Jan Crowe (BWGA) and one by Jean Brown (BWGA).  But not to be outdone, Cathy Buckley (BWGA) chipped in for an EAGLE!  Good playing ladies.

FIRST PLACE - 68
Jan Crowe, Jean Brown, Bobbie Almond, Kathleen McCoy

SECOND PLACE – 69
Pam Crews, Barbara Offer, Mon Airhart, Marge Snyder

THIRD PLACE (tie) – 70
Linda Colvin, Alyce Wyche, Audrey Northcutt and
Cathy Buckley, Kathy Davis, Jean Dickerson

FOURTH PLACE (tie) – 71
Vicki Cella, Martha Lawhorne, Suzan Atkins and
Nina Glorioso, Jill Litton, Tommye Engelcke

FIFTH PLACE (tie) – 73

Nancy Young, Daneita Adams, Grace Ireland and
Brenda Graves, Gayle Gansfuss, Vickie Mericle

SIX PLACE – 76
Terri McGuire, Joyce Patton, Donna Ihle

 We had a really good participation for the charity we're doing this year: Woody's Home for Veterans.  Thanks to all who participated.  The guys at the home really love seeing all that we do for them.  And don't forget to send out those birthday cards when I send you the reminder.  It's something personal for them and they love it.

Congratulations to all the ladies.  We look forward to seeing you all at our event on May 30^th at Huntington Park GC.  It will be a stroke play event.

We’ve complained, pouted, and were depressed with the Fall and Winter weather. Then PRESTO! A beautiful day and our first SWGA event of the season coincided to make a wonderful day of golf. Forty-three ladies got to experience the thrill you get with that first outing.

Seventy degree weather and a beautiful course: what a combination! This event is traditionally held as our kick-off event by playing a scramble to get a little of the “rust” off the game. And everyone loves a scramble. This was no exception. We heard more laughter and “fun sounds” than ever. A chip-in to save a bogey was as fun as a birdie!

Two first place teams scored 67, followed by two more that tied for second with a 68. That’s some good golf! Did I mention “rusty”? There was no rust there! 

And our new charity for the year, Woody’s Home for Vets, scored just as great with a pile of goodies that were delivered to the home after play on Tuesday. The vets and management were thrilled with our contributions and you should feel a great feeling of pride in being a part of this first SWGA donation. We’re hoping other groups will join in the experience of helping others and “making a difference”. 

Our next SWGA event will be a stroke play event on April 18th hosted by the Broadmoor ladies at Huntington Park Golf Club. We’ll keep you updated on the most needed items for Woody’s as we get closer to that date. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SWGA Introduces Charity Group for 2019

SWGA ladies……

Our President Brenda Graves made it her platform for SWGA in 2019 to “make a difference”, by adopting a charity to support for the year.   She chose to adopt Woody’s Home for Veterans located at 442 Jordan in Shreveport.

Woody’s was founded in 2003 by Dr. Ronald Key in honor of his father “Woody”.  The goal is to assist as many veterans as possible who are suffering from mental health issues by providing them a place to call home while dealing with the “invisible wounds” of war.  They are provided loving care and health guidance to make their lives more meaningful.  This non-profit organization is always in need of help, whether it be by monetary donations, food, clothing or toiletries.

Because my husband and I are moving, we collected all the men’s items that were not needed and took them to Woody’s on February 14^th.  Brenda met us there and we toured the newest of the two side-by-side houses used to house these veterans.  Home Depot has recently donated the goods to renovate the second house which hasn’t gotten any referrals yet from the VA.  There are nine men that share the other house and there is a nurse on staff for them.

I’m including pictures of a few of the guys who warned me that they may “break my camera”, as well as the inside of one of the houses.

 

NOW, most important, we will be notifying you before each SWGA playday of an item or items that will be our monthly contribution to Woody’s.  They get lots of clothing, so their next needed item is food.  If there is a specific food they are short of, that will be our “target item”.  We will ask that you bring one or more of that item as your donation to these vets who went to war to preserve our freedom and are now homeless except for what Woody’s can do to help.  We hope you feel it in your heart to participate in this worthwhile charity.  We want to “make a difference” without having to keep score!!

Please go to Woody’s Facebook page and “Like” the site so you can watch as we help the guys.  Thanks in advance for your generosity.

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!!!