Saddlebrook - Recon

Some of ya'll want to imply I'm not actually a "man of the people." But I'm the only one willing to post factual intel on the upcoming course!

Winning score is going to be around -1... maybe -2. Greens are very soft despite not getting rain in weeks. Fire at the pins? Green speed is medium. Slower uphill than you think... but faster downhill than you think. They're also some of the smallest we'll ever see.

If you get there early enough for the range... just drive to the range by the entrance first. Hit some balls, then drive to the clubhouse. I think they leave balls out there so you don't need tokens or anything (I might be wrong about this).

Fairways are over-seeded with rye, so they look green (which doesn't matter) and have some decent grass to them (which does matter). Rough is crispy and dormant, so balls can sit up nicely. You can also putt from off the greens if you aren't comfortable. Bunkers are all decent.

 

OB is sneaky... not as bad as Plantation Palms... but if you hit it near a house/road it's probably OB. Be careful on #12. Chainlink fence runs down the left side — which is all OB — and if you hit it over there you won't find your ball.

Long drive will be on #11.

Dave, Topor and Travis have all decided to move up to WHITEs.

Speaking of Travis — our youngest Member turns 30 today... or tomorrow... not really sure. He's going to Bel-Mar and/or Red Dog tomorrow (Saturday) night. Come say hi if you want to get a beer.

Weather should be chilly and raining on Sunday. We'll assess Lyft Lift, Clean and Place based on any cartpath only restrictions.

After the round, those of us who love freedom should meet up at Glory Days for lunch. 

See you Sunday.

This guy... broke the Cup.

Week 2 - FBGC Open Preview

The biggest thing that gets lost on our TOUR is the grind most of us undertake. The public perception is that we're all a bunch of Dans — teeing it up six times a year and maintaining a single digit handicap, while slapping together mid-80s rounds on 8,000 yard courses. 

But that can't be further from the truth. Many of us spend countless hours working on our game. Not physically... but mentally thinking about how long it'll take to fill enough bags of sand to become competitive in net tournaments. When it finally happens, we experience the same emotion as the "pros."

 

Who can forget this viral moment from Southern Hills last April, when Michael Visacki called his dad to share how he qualified for the Valspar:

The emotions of a big win are always fun to see, but equally compelling is the reaction to a journeyman finally getting to the big show.

This is what it’s all about⬇️

pic.twitter.com/w9kdes00LY

— Zephyr Melton (@zephyrmelton) April 26, 2021

 

Absolutely cringe, as the kids say.

 

Our own Danny MacCovid had a similar moment last week, texting through the tears on his family's group chat:

 

Heartwarming stuff. And there could be many more of these texts in the future, as Danny managed to win an event and still increase his handicap.

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Danny will be looking to extend his winning ways this Sunday at Saddlebrook (Palmer) at 9:45am. A few other courses shot us down, but Saddlebrook came through with a $59-ish rate which includes balls... as long as you get there early enough to use the range located nowhere near the first tee. If you aren't on property at least 45 minutes early, don't bother warming up.

Pairings have been randomized.

Blue Tees - 6,273

White Tees - 5,820

It's a par 71, so I have everyone on WHITE except Dave, Dan, Melberg. Let me know if anyone wants to move.

As of now, this will be our largest field in history (23). The winning score is going to be around -3 (net). And hopefully JW drives separately.

See you Sunday.

Scrambling / Bowling Tournament

Katie has a friend who is hosting a golf & bowling competition on Saturday, February 5th. Apparently it's a 4-man scramble at MacDill in the morning... and then you head over to play in a 4-man handicapped bowling tournament at Pin-o-Rama.

You need a bowling handicap so you have to go over there and roll three games before the 5th if you don't happen to have one.

Comment if interested!

Gasparilla breakfast

 You are all welcome to join us at 491 Severn Ave, from 8 to 10.

Bring your own grog...we will have plenty of pancakes and bacon!

Aaaarrrhh!

Skins Game - Spring 2022 Recap

While I wouldn't consider it "fun," Plantation Palms is a good "test" of golf. Most of the par 4s are manageable. The first and 11th holes (par 5s) are honestly pretty easy. The par 3s are difficult but that's a calling card of many top tier courses. And the greens were in great shape... you just had to get on them (rough this time of year is always a bit thin).

Looking at hole difficulty based on median gross scores, the two most difficult were the par-4 16th (only Moostie made par) and the par-3 7th (tees were back and lots of water to clear). The par-5 14th was right behind those, and is truly a dumb hole... even though half the field managed a par or bogey.

On the other end of the spectrum, the two easiest holes were the par-4 3rd (someone tell Dan) and — *checks notes* — the par-3 12th?? So on a cold day where the ball isn't flying... 65% of the field made bogey or par on a hole with no decent place to miss the green? Sure.

The worst part of PP is the constant threat of OB. But that can also be a great equalizer, and one of the reasons I've refused to enact local rules making OB less penal. Out of bounds promotes leader board movement, which we saw on Sunday.

Ultimately Danny earned his 3rd career victory, shooting a smooth 99 (gross). His par on 17 and amazing approach (3rd shot) into 18 sealed the deal. About 12 of us were inside and screaming when his ball landed on the green.

As opposed to Gary, who should have won the tournament, but chunked two balls into the lake on the final hole. Chandler finished 2nd only due to everyone else collapsing: Darren +6 and Dave +5 on the final three holes.

Congrats. You win nothing.

Danny added his name (again) to the 99+ Club — Members with shit scores to win an event:

Gorecki - 2012 Summer - Bloomingdale - 106

Danny - 2019 Spring - Temple Terrace - 106

Gorecki - 2012 Summer - TPC Tampa - 101

Darren - 2013 Spring - Southern Hills - 101

Geoff - 2014 Spring - Heritage Harbor - 101

Geoff - 2014 Spring - Plantation Palms - 99

Geoff - 2016 Spring - Pebble Creek - 99

Katie - 2017 Spring - Hernando Oaks - 99

Danny - 2022 Spring - Plantation Palms - 99

 

That list is much longer than I thought it was when I started looking up winning scores.

I surprisingly didn't receive too many complaints about Plantation Palms. Most people said something along the lines of: "It's really not that hard, I just played bad." Gorecki and Crum, on the other hand, looked defeated. Twelve pitchers were owed by ten people, many of which were bought after the round.

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We're off next weekend for Gasparilla recovery. No course has been selected yet for The Open. See you in two weeks.

I win

 I checked this twice today to see the blog about me winning.  It’s still not posted.  So I’ll write it up.

Everyone choked except for Chandler.  Danny Mac still won not beating anyone’s gross score who didn’t owe a pitcher and even a few that did.  And Gorecki needs a cart mate with an abacus.

Happy Gasparilla,

Danny Mac 

Week 2 - Odds and Ends

Normal rules tomorrow... I don't expect any need for lift, clean and place.

Long drive on #9

Skins are group specific. Any rollover after 18 goes to whoever won the first skin of the day. If you feel like tracking them, here are the handicaps by group:

Melberg (0)

Dan (1)

Dave (2)

Ho (3)

Chandler (0)

Faz (0)

Travis (1)

Casey (2)

Gary (0)

John (1)

Moostie (2)

Reid (3)

Billy (0)

Darren (1)

Troy (1)

Crum (1)

Geoff (0)

Adam (1)

Gorecki (6)

Danny (7)

Week 2 - Skins Game Preview

We'll be grouped according to Course Handicap - standard Skins game is group specific (80% allowance) with any roll-overs after 18 going to whoever won the first skin of the day.

Your tee options are:

Black - 6,749

Blue - 6,315

White - 5,944

Dave, Dan and Melberg are initially on BLUE unless they tell me otherwise. Everyone else is on WHITE... unless they tell me they hate winning and love buying pitchers.

OUT OF BOUNDS

Plantation Palms has a ton of houses, and a surprising lack of OB stakes. We are using a local rule this week, that the OB line is the outside edge of the cartpath next to private residences. Any roads are also considered OB.

This is going to take some common sense from each group — in which I have zero faith — in order to protect the field. Especially since a handful of you are likely to argue your ball isn't OB when it's resting on a patio. But we aren't fooled. We know that you know that ball is OB... stakes or no stakes.

Here's the protocol:

• If you see white OB stakes... use those as you normally would.
• If there are no stakes and a ball is in a private yard, use the outside edge of the cartpath as the OB line.
• If there is a disagreement, then come to a consensus as a group and make a ruling. Don't be dicks about it.
• The driving range on 1, 2 and 3 (especially the third hole) is OB. I'm not sure if it's staked, but you should know if you're on the range based on the tree line... and the balls flying toward your face.
  

Here are some pictorial examples:

- side note, Google Images still show the course when it was shut down and overgrown -

5th Hole

An extremely narrow tee shot, with houses down the right side. Most of the cartpath has an elevated curb on the outside. But there are no white stakes, despite the houses sitting 20 feet off the path. In this case, the outside edge (right side) of the path is the OB line. If your ball is on the path, then take a free drop to the left side.

6th Hole

Short dogleg left where you tee off facing a row of houses that must get hit 10 times a day. I don't believe there are any stakes along the cartpath. Which sucks because eventually the houses end, and there's open space behind the green. That open space is in bounds, because it's not in someone's private yard. The street would be OB in that area . As for everything else... outside edge (right edge) of the cartpath is the line. How can you tell where OB ends? You're no longer in some New York transplant's yard.

Again... this kind of shit is on every hole... and only a few have white stakes just off the cartpath. If your ball is traveling toward a house... even if it hits trees and you "think" you're "not OB"... I'd highly recommend hitting a provisional. There is not a lot of room on the edges of this course.

See you fools Sunday.

The Classic - Spring 2022 Recap

Hernando Oaks didn't disappoint, playing difficult and in the windy/chilly conditions we've grown to love.

 

In what was a surprise to no one, Dave thrived in the wind, shooting an even-par (gross) on the front nine. From there, he just had to keep the wheels on long enough to coast to a victory. While he managed to double the closing two holes (excellent handicap maintenance), it was somewhat expected with the hurting wind.

What was surprising was Brendan making par on the final three holes — Buchert was the only other Member to make par on 17 — to vault into 2nd place.

This event marked the debut of The Big Check, which makes that Club Credit a little more tangible. I'm sure it'll get lost, forgotten or damaged at some point... but it was worth a few laughs.

Cash it before someone else does.

Hernando Oaks was fine, in my opinion. It's a value option, and highly requested in our Dream Season exercise. A few people had differing opinions after the round, but a quick check showed those Members didn't submit a "Dream Season," and were subsequently ignored. Maybe next year they'll find their voice.

And while the BGR doesn't exist anymore, the "grill" after the round was delightful. Food was decent, beer/pitcher prices acceptable, Bucs game had sound playing. The manager was also very apologetic about giving the cart girl the day off, not knowing a large group was playing and actually hanging out afterward. She promised to make it up to us next time, but that'll unfortunately be at least one year from now. Maybe longer.

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We have a blast from the past this Sunday, with a 9am tee time at Plantation Palms for $52. Despite being an original FBGC staple, the last time we played this course was eight years ago!

 

Built in 2000 as an ultra-exclusive Club, PP was a brutal test of golf. It didn't take long for them to open it up to the public. When we played in Spring 2013, only one person broke 100 (me shooting 91 with a 17 handicap!). In Spring 2014 with double the Members... Dan, Dave and Faz barely broke 90 from the White tees.

Granted most of us are better golfers now. But everyone knew Plantation Palms was a ball-buster. And since its location is so convenient, it was always going to find a way onto our schedule.

Then it closed... seemingly for good. It sat dormant for two years, which is an eternity for golf courses. Ace Golf — who owns other local gems like Pebble Creek (RIP), Crescent Oaks, and Wentworth — purchased it in 2016 and began a long rehab. I refused to book us out there due to the deteriorated conditions.

Six years later... it's now worth another look. Every aspect of the course (condition-wise... definitely not layout-wise) is better than Hernando Oaks. Keep in mind it's the winter, so Bermuda grass in the fairways and rough are expected to be thin. But the greens at Plantation Palms are lightning quick. The only bumps are from other golfers not fixing pitch marks... and this course is getting a ton of local play.

It's actually nice to see it bouncing back. But one thing hasn't changed: it's going to beat the shit out of you people.

Dave, Topor, Reid and myself previewed it yesterday. Topor shot -1 (net). I shot +1 (net). Dave and Reid would have owed pitchers... with the Irishman now threatening to move up to the White tees (5,944 yards).

We all thought the course was fair, and a great opportunity for anyone who plays smart golf. The last hole sucks, in the same way the 18th at Heritage Harbor sucks. But the greens stole the show. Great contours, and fast enough to really test our no-gimmie rule.

The Bucs game is at 3pm on Sunday so we won't have to miss any of that. Update your RSVPs, and I'll post a scorecard tomorrow.

Dave has another practice round scheduled around 1pm on Friday. If anyone wants to join, make a comment or text him.

See you Sunday.

Sunday Weather Updates

Yesterday I set up a couple of text groups for this season (Verizon only allows you to have 20 people per group).

 

Anyway, a front is moving down early Sunday morning. If you wake up and it's raining... that does NOT mean golf is cancelled. For one, you don't live in Brooksville. So what it's doing at your house doesn't matter. But also...

 

We play in most rain. Especially when that rain is moving through quickly. Any decision will be made by the Board... more specifically those Board Members who are attending (currently me and Geoff).

Expect us to make a decision around 6:30am.

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We're down to 21 people, which includes two guests. If anyone else is backing out, or deciding to get COVID, do so now. Hernando Oaks isn't really the course that would get mad at us for reducing tee times last minute... but it's just a bad look for our prestigious group.

See you all Sunday. In rain gear.

Week 1 - The Classic

We got six tee times starting at 9am up at Hernando Oaks this Sunday.

Unfortunately —  despite previously published schedules — the first NFL playoff game that day is apparently 1pm (and not 3pm). And the Bucs are playing in it.

So if you're OUT, change your RSVP ASAP.

 

The rest of us who care can watch it somewhere after the round.

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I think at least five of you people played a practice round last weekend. I'm told "most" of the greens are "good"... fairways are "ok" to "good"... and some tee boxes are "trash." Sounds perfect.

Gold Tees - 6905

Blue Tees - 6430

White Tees - 6085

Travis and Billy wanted to play Blue... but changed their mind after a practice round. So that leaves Dave, Melberg, Dan, and Ho back there. If any of this is incorrect, tell me now.

Pairings will be randomized this week... probably on Wednesday.

See you up there.

Spring 2022 Season!

Happy New Year, people.

We are set to start our Club's 20th season in a couple of weeks. While I did have January 9th as a placeholder in our tentative schedule... we didn't need to use it. We already have adequate make-up options for Spring, and a potential 2-month gap between seasons.

So use this Sunday for final prep! Or use it to remind your WAG that golf season is back.

Many people asked me yesterday where we are starting Spring 2022. While I have some ideas, it's difficult to reserve spots if 38% of our Members haven't filled out their registration. As always, if you haven't filled it out, we won't be saving you a spot.

 

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Here are some year-end review Handicap Committee stats from 2021:

 

Most rounds "reported":  

Ho - 66

Chandler - 63

Billy - 63

Dave - 62

JW - 58 

 

Fewest rounds "reported":

Buchert - 15

Danny - 16

Topor - 18

Troy - 18

Moostie - 18

Index "improvement" in 2021:  

Travis - -6.5

Ho - -4.2 (road to scratch!) 

Troy - -4.0

Billy - -3.9

Melberg - -2.7

Geoff - -2.5

John - -2.4

Topor - -2.2

 

Index "sandbagging" in 2021:

Adam - +3.3

Chandler - +2.3

Reid - +2.1

JW - +1.4 

Most people showed improvement in their Handicap Index last year. The three newer guys (Billy, Travis, Topor) all clearly improved from playing more golf. Travis and Troy (1st and 3rd in improvement) won Championships... while Ho only drastically lowered his Index in the off-season away from us.

Big opportunity for someone on the sandbagging list to win in the Spring!

 

Play Golf & Watch Football in Westchase this Sunday

Posting to see who all would be interested in playing at Westchase Golf Club this Sunday (1/2).

We'd be doing a shotgun start around 7:15am as the local league there plays a Quota Point Tournament each Sunday and they have open 4some spots this week probably due to the holidays. So we would tee off at the tail end of their shotgun group and receive the benefit of their league rate which I believe is around $45.

We can then head to my place after for food and drink and watch the bucs game.

I'll need to send them how many foursomes to hold for us so comment on here or text me if you're in.

Thanks and Happy New Year FBGC!

2022 - Spring Dues

First week of the next season is less than one month away. Time to start paying your dues.

Click on the link in the "Deadbeat List" to see what - if anything - you owe.

If you owe something, send it in to me via PayPal or Venmo.

Enjoy the holidays. And remind your WAGs that golf season is quickly approaching.

Night Golf

Casey has been trying to convince Countyside to bring back their night golf event, where you hit reduced flight glow-in-the-dark balls on one of their 9-hole layouts.

A few of us did it two years ago, and it was a blast. One of those... you need to get a ride type of deals.

Anyway, it's tentatively scheduled for Saturday, February 19th. But they need to know how many to expect before they make it official. He's been promising a large turnout.

If you want in, make a comment and put it on your calendar.