Hello everyone,
July already! The 2021 Vermont golfing season is flying by as we make it to the half-way point for the golf season. This is the time of year I reflect on the season thus far, looking at a variety of items, financials, merchandise, events, course projects and the list goes on. I have to say, I am thankful for all our wonderful members and guests. Your support through the past 3.5 years has been amazing. Many of you have been members or long standing guests at Kwiniaska for decades. You have seen 3 different owners, each with a different way of doing things. When Mr. Nappi hired me to oversee the operations of the course and all its components I was uncertain of the project but decided to take the challenge on. I am thankful I did. This place is a wonderful conglomeration of people from the staff to the golfers and our vendors. The course is turning into a beautifully well cared for landscaped area where people from all walks of life come together to play around with a little ball and sticks with metal heads. One of the things that I love about the game of golf is it does not matter where you come from or your background, the love of the game and the outdoors brings us all together. Thank you for your past, present and future support for helping to have this little gem in Shelburne. Everyone of you have had a role in making this place a special entity. For all that, and more, I am grateful.
Some exciting news if you have not seen it yet, the new forward tee on hole #11 has been sodded! Depending on the weather, we hope to start using it at the end of the month. Typically you do not want to sod in mid-summer, but hey, we are not typical here. Bring on the challenge!
There has been no luck in finding another cook thus far. On Tuesdays when Chef Sue is not here, there will be a Pub Staff member behind the bar offering steamed hot dogs in addition to the pre-made sandwiches. And of course, do not forget the cold refreshing beverages!
Below you will find information on the Big 3, Club Championship, Marica G. Nappi Memorial Ladies Open, 2-Day Member - Guest, and the Member - Member, along with the new weekly game! On Tuesday, July 27th we will be hosting a Ladies' State Day through the VSWGA. You can sign up at https://vswga.org/state-days/register/. Due to other junior events, the Junior Club Championship will take place on Tuesday, July 13th. This will be an 18-hole event starting at 1pm.
A reminder, Monday, July 12th the course opens at 12pm.
As always, if you have any questions or need any help, please do not hesitate to reach out to JP, Brody, Jake or myself. We are here for you.
Club Manager
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A celebration of life memorial event for Marcia Goetz Nappi will be held at the Methodist Church in Shelburne, Vermont on
Saturday, July 24th starting at 2pm.
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WEEKLY GAME
Register weekly
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LADIES' LEAGUE
Register weekly by Saturday for Monday play
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BIG 3
Register by Wednesday, July 7th
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2021 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
Register by Wednesday, July 14th
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Open to all Vermont Junior Golfers 18 and under with an active GHIN handicap at a Vermont Club and have paid their 2021 Vermont Junior Tour Membership.
Eligibility:
- Vermont Resident – Any amateur golfer, as of the day of the tournament, who is a legal resident of Vermont and is a member in good standing, of a member club of the Vermont Golf Association, with an active GHIN handicap issued by that club.
OR
- Non-Vermont Resident – Any amateur golfer, as of the first day of the tournament, who is not a legal resident of the State of Vermont, but has been a member in good standing of any Vermont Golf Association member club for the past three years, has an active GHIN handicap issued by a Vermont Golf Association member club and has posted a minimum of 10 rounds of golf in the last 12 months outside of the major championships at any VGA member club. (Revised April 2015)*
Divisions:
- Juniors 15 - 18: 15 years of age on or before July 20, 2021.
- Juniors 10 - 14: 10 years of age on or before July 20, 2021
Format: Individual 18 hole stroke play qualifier on July 20, 2021. Low 16 in each division qualify for Match Play starting on July 21, 2021
- Round of 16 and Round of 8 on July 21, 2021
- Semi-Finals and Final Matches on July 22, 2021
- Boys 15 - 18 play the back tees
- Boys 10 - 14 play the middle tees
- Girls 10 - 18 play the forward tees
If a player in the 10 - 14 age division wishes to move up to the 15 - 18 age division, he/she should indicate this in the questionnaire available during the registration process.
Entry Fee: $30.00 per player. Lunch is provided each day of play.
Registration: On-line registration is open. Click the link at the top of the page to begin registration. If you do not wish to take advantage of on-line registration, please call the VGA Office to process your registration. Please note - you will be subject to an additional fee of $5.00 per player if you wish to have the office process your registration.
Cart Policy: Carts are not permitted in Junior events.
Entry Deadline: Entries must be received by July 15, 2021. If a player wishes to enter the tournament after the entry deadline, and if there is an available spot for that player, there will be an additional charge of $10.00 per player.
Tee Times/Pairings: will be posted at this web portal as soon as practicable after the close of entries.
Dress Code: Appropriate golf attire - collared shirts - no denim. If in doubt, please call the golf shop.
Cancellations: Cancellations can be made on line prior to the start of the tournament. Cancellations made prior to the close of entries will be refunded in full less a 3% credit card processing fee. After the close of entries and prior to the start of the tournament, entry fees will be refunded less a $10.00 cancellation. No refunds will be given after the start of the tournament.
Conditions/Schedules: The VGA reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. The decision of the VGA in any matter shall be final.
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MARCIA G. NAPPI MEMORIAL LADIES OPEN
Register by Wednesday, August 4th - 40 Teams Max
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2-DAY MEMBER - GUEST
Register by Wednesday, August 18th - 40 Teams Max
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Monday: 11am – 8pm
Tuesday: 11a - 4pm
Pre-Made Sandwiches and Steamed Hot Dogs (No Grill)
Wednesday: 11am – 8pm
Thursday: 10am - 6pm
Friday: 10am - 6pm
Saturday – Sunday: 9am – 4pm
Ice Cream Sandwiches Now Available for $1.25
Due to the rising cost of food from distributors, we had to raise the price of some items on the menu which will go into effect as of Saturday, July 3rd, 2021.
The Golf Shop staff is happy to fill water bottles and get drinks or snacks when the pub is closed. Thank you to everyone for your continued support of the pub.
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What makes the game of golf unique and different than any other sport? There are many in my opinion but one that really sticks out is the “Playing Field”. Every course has its own playing characteristic, whether a course is short or long in length, has fast greens, extreme ruff, penalty areas, trees, bunkers or many other obstacles, no two golf courses are alike.
So, is there a way to objectively compare the sum of 15,000 golf courses in the United States and those around the world? The answer to that question is yes. Around 1981 The United States Golf Association developed a modern rating system which measures the playing difficulty of each course based on different skill levels. They are known as Course Rating and Slope Rating (the 2 pillars now of the World Handicap System). Let’s remember that the first measure of course difficulty was in relationship to par, which can be traced back to 1870.
“A World Handicap Course Rating is the evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for scratch golfers (those players with a handicap of 0) under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as the number of strokes taken to one decimal place (72.5), and is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring difficulty of the scratch golfer.” It is a number in relationship to par of a course. For example, if par for a course is 72 and the Course Rating is 70.2, the scratch golfer would play the golf course on average 2 under par.
“A Slope Rating is the World Handicap mark that indicates the measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers. It is computed from the difference between the Bogey Rating and the World Handicap Rating times a constant factor and is expressed as a whole number.” The lowest Slope Rating is 55 and the highest is 155. A golf course of standard playing difficulty has a slope rating of 113.The World Handicap System defines a male bogey golfer who plays to an approximate handicap of 20 while a female plays to an approximate handicap of 24 on a course of standard difficulty. A player converts a Handicap Index to a Course Handicap based on the Slope Rating of the tees played. Your Handicap Index is portable from course to course around the world, as well as from one set of tees to another set of tees on the same course.
No two golf courses are alike but with the World Handicap System one can compete on an equitable basis no matter what the difficulty of a course they play due to the introduction of Course Rating and Slope Rating.
So, the next time you tee it up, take a look at the Course Rating and Slope Rating located on the score card which will give you a good idea of what’s in store and remember to post your scores. Let me know if you have any questions.
Director of Golf
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The Professional staff will be conducting a number of enjoyable and educational golf clinics for the membership this year. They are open to all members and free of charge. The clinic will be interactive, but most of all fun.
Our mission is simple, to enhance your enjoyment of the game. We will cover a number of topics with the main focus on improving your skills and knowledge of the game, but also enjoying the camaraderie of the members and staff. Listed below are the dates and topics to be covered this season.
7/15/21 – Chipping and Pitching
7/29/21 – Putting
8/12/21 – Bunker Play
8/26/21 – Woods and Hybrids
Clinics will be held on Thursdays starting at 5:00pm, and should run between an hour to an hour and half. We will meet at the Clubhouse and then head out to the appropriate facilities. Remember the game continues to change and evolve so there is always something new to learn. We look forward to seeing you at the clinics.
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REMEMBER THAT BRICK I WAS TALKING ABOUT |
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Well, that didn’t take long! As soon as I mentioned the Kwini clay turning to brick in the last newsletter, Mother Nature chuckled, mumbled something like, “Hold my beer…” and within days, it was 95 degrees, water was running out and we were right back into the worst of last summer’s drought. And it was the first week of June.
Ominous shadows of last Summer, like rain clouds on the horizon that bring no rain, began to creep into our hearts and minds as the rains fell all around us, except here at Kwiniaska. I would drive to work in the rain only to have the pavement dry as I turned off Barstow. Demoralized, we watched as the radar split North and South in an all too familiar pattern. A month without measurable rain. This can’t happen to us again. It was time to take action.
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I started to read up on rain dances and rituals from around the globe to try and find something to help our dire situation. Settling on one was almost impossible. Our cracked clay certainly looked like a dried- up Australian Outback creek bed in Summer. No. We’d never get a Didgeridoo in time. Damn pandemic. Perhaps the Mayans. No, their ritual involved human sacrifice. Not that sacrificing that golfer who just ran over a row of cart blocks and signs wouldn’t be gratifying, but the sacrifice called for someone young. Perhaps the new kid on our crew, Will I. Shank. After he put the mower in the bunker, the thought did cross my mind. We’ll just tell his parents the last time we saw him he was in the woods looking for balls. In the end however, I decided to fall back on an old source that I was familiar with, the writings my favorite Greek philosopher Pabstocles. Surely, there had to be something in his writings about how they summoned the mercy of the Gods. And sure enough, I found my answer in the form of Zeus, the King of the Gods. Needless to say, the ritual involved a few goats, a chicken, some olive oil and lots of wine to honor the god of wine, Bacchus. And although this sounds like a great start to a dinner, the ritual that ensued was anything but that. Being a golf guy, I decided that adding the smoking of grass clippings would be a nice addition since it is a golf course we’re trying to save and, well, this is Vermont. After the Bacchanalia that ensued, I woke up in the woods to the right of #11, with no sign of the goats or chicken and feathers stuck to my olive oil covered body. I had a bit of a headache and nearly broke my neck slipping on the olive oil down the moss covered rocks I exposed in our tree clearing, or did the goats do that? I staggered past several foursomes, cleaned myself up at the shop, made my way home and hoped my humiliation had pleased the gods.
That weekend, my assistant Mark texted me that we had received 0.65” of rain overnight. Perhaps our luck had started to turn. Slowly the fairways, with a little help from fertilizer, began to turn green again. The temperatures dropped to a refreshing 45 in the mornings and it seemed that the worst had been averted. That is unless you had become accustomed to the Kwini Roll.
However, it seems that Zeus, like Mother Nature, is not without a sense of humor. Perhaps they’re drinking buddies, are wagering on our fate or just hate golf. I don’t know. Although Zeus is the God of rains, he is more commonly known for his lightning bolts and thunder. We continued to receive rain and because, like my Mother said, “we can never have anything nice,” Zeus decided to add a little lightning to the next round of bounty. The resulting Monday storm, gave us another 1” of much needed rain, however the funny thing about lightning is that it is not too friendly to things in the water or electrical components, attached underground, connected by long stretches of wire, on top of highly conductive limestone. So, we had our new pump station for a week before the lightning detector read 0.0 miles, and although we were quickly back up and running after a visit from our pump tech, numerous control components of the irrigation system now have to be replaced. Nothing is easy here at Kwini. Lessons to be learned… When it rains, it pours. Gods are not without a sense of humor and if you ever have to perform a Greek rain ritual to Zeus, stick to the recipe and don’t smoke the grass clippings. I don’t think he liked that extra addition.
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Poor Driving Leads to Bad Teeth and the Return of Rope |
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I still contend that any offenses while driving a golf cart on the course should result with points being charged to your driver’s license for your car. Every day I am amazed at how many cart blocks are plowed over and mangled. It’s like a visit to the dentist’s office in England. Rather than a nice clean row of perfect chicklets, there’s a collection of gaps, wobblies, and partials which when viewed in that context remind you of an Austin Powers movie. Take your eyes off the machines gun jubblies and pay bloody attention as all of these components as these are meant to protect the conditions we’re trying to improve. As this issue seems to be never ending, the return of rope is imminent so pick up your feet. |
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Not All Bad
In this game of one step forward, two steps back that always seem to be the ying and yang here at Kwini, we did make some progress on the construction of our new forward tees on #11 and #18. Although not quite the level of proficiency of the work that Agri Scape has performed the last few years, we think the resulting tees will enhance the playability of those holes, allowing for easier clearance of the creek on #11 and a new angle on #18. The new forward tee on #18 eliminates the blind drive of the rear tees and should play about 275 yards to the center of the green and improve golf flow and eliminate some of the danger of shots from #17 and #16 tee. We hope to have the new tee on #5 before too long and have our eyes on the expansion of #11 middle tee.
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As we move forward, the forward tees on #1, #3 and #8 will all be changing as well. The new forward tee on #1 will move back to an area between the existing tees which will eliminate the straight on angle to the green and bring the right bunkers more into play and be more of a dog leg. The forward tee on #3 will be abandoned and a new tee constructed more in line with the other tees as well as a middle tee expansion. The forward tee on #8 will also go the way of the dinosaur as a similar conversion will happen there as well. The resulting hole will play longer, but will no longer be blocked out by the willows on the right.
A cart turnaround has been built at the back tee on #8 and is now able to be used. A turnaround for the middle tee is on the docket so please pay attention as this area develops new traffic patterns.
We have also added a part time flower person to help enhance the area around the clubhouse and are developing areas out on the golf course. Recently we have added landscape beds by #9 green and will be filling out the new flagpole bed shortly. Say hello to Sam when you cross her path. She really has an enthusiasm for this new position.
All of these represent the continuing evolution of the golf course here at Kwiniaska. We hope you enjoy what we are trying to create here and appreciate the efforts of all of those involved. As I keep saying to my crew, “Nothing is easy here at Kwini.” Hopefully however, we stay on the right side of the Gods, and the superintendent doesn’t add any extra ingredients to the rituals.
Cheers,
Howie
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Kwiniaska Golf Club
August 13th, 2020
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Photo by Greg Carter, Civil Engineering Associates |
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Howard Nosek, Course Superintendent
John Paul, Director of Golf
Robert Nappi, Owner
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