From the Golf Shop
Hello Vespra Hills Golfers,
September was outstanding at the club with some great weather and great end of season wrap up events.
The Ladies Section had a couple of good days to finish off the events season with the SolRyde Cup on September 19th. Team Sol’s Captain, Ann Sullivan, and Team Ryde’s Captain, Tracy Duvall, rallied their teams together and played a fun 6/6/6 match play format. It was very close through the first two formats with Team Sol taking charge in the final 6 holes to retain the cup for 2020. Thank you again to the Team Captains for this event, and all that players that got behind the idea and had fun with it.
The Women have wrapped up a successful season as they had their Ladies Day Finale the following Tuesday. We played a unique format named Women in Suits where you find out which 2 scores of the 4 players count for each hole, after you play the hole. Dinner was well received, and we had some fun with the year-end prizing and individual awards. Thank you again to the Ladies Team Captains and all their teammates for helping make the 2020 Ladies Day a success.
The Men had their final Men’s Day on the 24th and they celebrated the year end a little different than normal. The size of the league did not allow us to run a large get together, so the Team Captains all ran their own Team Finale Nights. It was great to see each of the teams come out and play, eat, and celebrate the season together. Team Who Dat? won the second half round robin and it was the Fore Players that took top prize back on September 17th in the overall League Finale Night. The Team Captains did a great job keeping their teams fired up this season and the players responded by coming out in great numbers all year long. It was an amazing year that we ended up having, and I think it’ll be even better next year!
Then there was the Masters. It was masterful indeed. We had 50 players come out with one goal in mind; To win the Green Jacket, and a lifelong exemption into this illustrious event. As we neared the event, more and more members become curious on where they stood in the Road to the Masters Order of Merit. Some saw that they were looking good and could relax, others needed to get into those last few events and either win, or place high enough to secure their spot in the event. The event itself was wonderful. The spirit of the day was so positive, and we had a great time starting with pimento and cheese sandwiches, the ceremonial tee shots, Amen Corner, Butler Cabin interviews, and of course, the Green Jacket ceremony. It was special to have the current Masters Champions Dave Grimshaw and Nianne Foley present to place the Green Jackets on our new Champions, Dan Coates and Tracy Duvall. There were many good rounds of golf played that day, and our two champions certainly fought hard to win. Tracy Duvall won by 4 strokes for a decisive victory in the Women’s division. Dan Coates went to a playoff against John Alpaugh on the ninth hole of the Sand Hills course. John Alpaugh had a putt to force a second playoff hole that lipped around the cup and did not fall, and Dan Coates confidently made his par putt to win this year’s Master’s event for the men’s section. Both Champions are sure to be great representatives of the event and the club, and now join a select group of members who can wear the Green Jacket, and be known as Master’s Champions.
Thank you to all those that helped us make the event a success. Sarah Cowan and the F& B Staff, Nancy Buchanan and Mark from the Turf Department , Chris Bruining for setting up the course and pin placements, Chef Cheryl for the Champions Dinner, Mark/Ben/Logan & Sarah for all of the Golf Shop support, and Dave Caldwell and Cinder Warren for supporting the event.
Chris McNair
