2025 Rapture Analysis

We have three events remaining in the season, at which point we'll lock the Rapture rankings (using our "World Golf Rankings"). As previously mentioned, we're taking 12 players down to Sebring on October 9th through 12th.

 

As for Captains, it was widely assumed Geoff and Chandler had the inside track. Perhaps they did. But mediocre play lately has changed the picture.

 

Below is an expanded standings with their floor added - the number of points top players will have if they get zeros the rest of the season. As you can see... Tall Mike is looking good to be Captain for the fourth time ever! Unbelievable!

 

Although he's been blown out all three previous times.

 

Many of the alternates — and a few of the bubble boys — realistically were never going to attend. But if you want to improve your ranking... show up and play well!

 

 

The Hangover - Summer 2025 Preview

9:30am

$72-ish

Long drive on #7

Range is not on site so get there EARLY (read below) 

 

This Sunday we're playing what I believe is a real hidden gem in the area... Scepter. It's the private course within ClubLink's Sun City Center property (the public one is Club Renaissance).

 

Historically they've only reluctantly let us play.. last hosting us in 2021. But I recently discovered there was a new head pro, and upon contact he's been very agreeable. So don't fuck this up for us!

 

Of course, every good is balanced out by some bad:

 

Good - Scepter was designed by Chip Powell who also did Big Cypress and Club Renaissance. Fair, interesting greens, and a mix of target golf with a few wider forgiving holes.

 

Bad - Years ago the owners shut down another course called Falcon Watch, which was a stinker designed by Ron Garl. They took that nine and added it to the Scepter brand. We're playing this nine (Falcon) because one of the others (Ibis) is closed for green renovations. And believe me... there are some real turds on the Falcon nine.

 

Good - I was told there was no recent aerification or maintenance. 

 

Bad - Because it's private there aren't any online reviews to verify recent conditions. 

 

Good - Range balls are free!

 

Bad - The range is nowhere near the course. You should drive there BEFORE checking in if you want to hit balls. But those of you with bad time management will be DQ'd when we tee off without you. 

 

Map from clubhouse (bottom) to driving rage.

Good - The course is fairly short. Shorter is always more fun!

 

Bad - Ya'll are going to hate whatever hole I choose to be long drive. So we're going with #7... a par 5 that can produce as many maxes as pars. Just hit it in the fairway and see how it shakes out.

 

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It looks like Waze takes you to the correct entrance, which is here:

 

 

I moved Ho, Melberg, and Dave to the BLUE tees. Let me know if that's not correct or if anyone else wants to move back.

 

 

See you Saturday or Sunday or perhaps never again!

FBGC Championship - Summer 2025 Recap

Brendan led most of the day, reaching -3 (net) after a great drive, pitch, and putt on the phenomenal long-drive 14th hole. He was 3 strokes ahead of Troy at that point, and seemingly in command of his entire game.

 

BD received an excellent read on a 20-foot downhill putt for birdie on 15... only to hit it a few feet by the hole and then push the comeback for a bogey (net par). Troy makes par to cut the lead to 2 strokes.

 

Brendan made bogey on 16 — which only Dave and Dan parred — to regain a 3-stroke advantage after Troy topped his tee shot into the water.

 

Assuming Troy pars the final two holes (which, of course, he did)... the birthday boy would need to finish +3 (gross) on that stretch to share a victory.

 

The 17th is pretty short with water down the right... and Brendan pull-hooked a 3-iron into the left woods to make a 7 (with another short missed putt, I believe). Then on 18 he pulls driver into the left bushes, and tries to muscle an iron for his next shot... but it pull/tops back into the shit.. and ends up with another triple bogey.

 

Absolutely gutting to watch, as he played stellar golf most of the day.

 

So congrats to Troy who won his 7th Major, and jumps to 2nd place on the standings... a mere 65 points behind Melberg! 

 

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Celebration was decent. A few bare spots in fairways but nothing our generous lift-clean-place fairway rule couldn't overcome. The greens were... also decent? Dave is correct that they've been much better out there in previous years.

 

But for $70 and a free lunch and range balls... it's one of the best deals around. Thanks again to Gorecki for calling them to enhance our deal. We should go back at some point.

 

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I'll post about the upcoming golf at Scepter later. 

 

Our season party is this Saturday night at the Friendly Tarpon (3120 W Gandy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33611) in "Interbay." I've never been, but John says it's good. He's also probably saying that because he can allegedly walk there... but he's not in the field Sunday so don't expect to see him.

 

They have limited food, and only beer/wine. So eat beforehand and bring a flask? 

 

Anyway, it can't be worse than Wild Rover Brewing. Come out after 8pm if you want to hang out. 

 

I reckon I'll see about 7 of you then!

The Championship - Summer 2025 Preview

9:15am

Long drive on #14 (par 4) 

 

We're playing Celebration Golf Club for the first time in league play history, a course we used for the 2020 Rapture. I've only played it a few times... and it's a decent course. 

 

A bit "target golf" in spots, as you should expect in swampy Florida. The "base tees" are fairly short due to the elevated "Bogey Rating" of 93.0 — which means a male golfer with a 20.0 Index should shoot a 93 from the Gold/Silver combo tees.

 

Some of you might want to try moving back for a couple of strokes. But if you've never played it, I'd look at your past performances at courses like Rosedale and Westchase before deciding.

 

Here's a link to the scorecard. 

 

We have to give them an exact number this week. Anyone who bails after Wednesday might be charged the greens fee ($75-ish). So update your RSVP now.

 

See you Sunday. 

 

Please note... if anyone asks if you're part of the Builder Convention (at the Gaylord Hotel)... the answer is "yes." If they ask for proof... the answer is "no hablo Ingles." Following these easy steps might save you $10 and get you free range balls.

Match Play - Summer 2025 Recap

Faz won what was probably his last event of the season, with stellar play on and around the greens (for the first 16 holes). It was an impressive display of patience on a very difficult course, in sweltering hot conditions.

 

Playing like you have nothing to lose is the only way to traverse Waterlefe.

 

The rest of us were fairly unimpressive. Gary was surprisingly in 2nd place after 15 holes before going triple, double, max to end his round and lose to Brendan. Melberg — the current season standings leader — had 10 pars in a row before making double on 18 to drop to 3rd place. And Billy shot -3 (net) on the back to get solo-2nd.

 

The season race is wide open halfway through the schedule, especially with Faz switching to dad-mode. A very tricky Celebration Golf Club in Orlando will definitely shake things up in two weeks.

 

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Speaking of... we need an exact headcount for Celebration a week before we arrive. So update your status now. I'm going to eventually boot anyone who is listed as ???.  And anyone who bails after Wednesday the 23rd will forfeit $75 Chandler Bucks from their balance (assuming they charge me like the fine print says).

 

Speaking of... that $75 comes with lunch after the round... so plan on eating at the club.

 

Also let me know if you have any guests you want to bring. We might as well start an alternate list.

 

See you in two weeks. 

Match Play - Summer 2025 Preview

10:00am

$98

Long Drive on #12 (par 4) 

 

It's been three long years since we've played Waterlefe, due to re-built greens and a closed clubhouse. It's a daunting course, but still beloved by most... and hated by a few. Usually your perception is dictated by past performance, but not so at the Lefe. Geoff told me he liked it and typically plays well there... until we looked up the gross scores of his 11 rounds:

 

99, 106, 103, 102, 98, 103, 112, 114, 105, 105, 99

 

That's quite shit.

 

But he still enjoys the course because it's so visually different. 

 

I've written about Waterlefe for over a decade, so there's no dead horse left to beat. But I did find a post back in Summer 2012 (our first season of stroke-play) with a link to a Deal Caddy coupon allowing us to play there for $20 with BOGO beers in the clubhouse! The standard rack rate then was $35 without the coupon.

 

America will never be that great again.

 

Anyway, Waterlefe is actually ranked average in the difficulty index — with a median net score to par of +4. Chandler (that's me!) dominates this course, never finishing worse than 4th in 8 events. But Casey has actually won the last three tournaments held there. Thankfully for us, he's not playing. Reid has finished T5, 2, T1 in those events... so he's also a threat.

 

For the new guys or you dumb-dumbs who have terrible memories... ride with your opponent. Putt everything out (as usual). Use the hole handicaps on the scorecard... don't trust what I have on the blog as it might be different.

 

Here are the current match-ups (with strokes at 80%) :

 

Melberg vs. Topor (14) - First time ever playing each other.

 

Billy (4) vs. Geoff - First time ever playing each other.

 

Troy (6) vs. Chandler - First time ever playing each other.

 

Gary vs. Brendan - Gary won their only match back in 2014! (1 up)

 

Moostie (1) vs. Buchert -  First time ever playing each other.

 

Marcus (8) vs. Dave - First time ever playing each other.

 

John vs. Ghost Topor (6) - They've never played each other, but the result will only count for John.

 

Faz (3) vs. Ghost Chandler - Chandler leads 1-0-1, but the result will only count for Faz.

  

I'll continue to update the above if the roster changes. Bring guests to fill the missing spots.

 

See you Sunday. 

Match Play Update

Waterlefe called asking for our official headcount. With only 15 Members reporting "IN," we've dropped down to 16 spots - with one open for the "???s" or a guest. 

 Let me know if you want to bring someone.