Match Play - Spring 2026 Preview

Scepter is a solid value at the moment. The greens are good and the fairways are spicy! They didn't overseed so it's very firm and fast out there with dormant Bermuda — true Scottish links conditions. The rough is a little better than what we've seen on tour this season.

Long drive on #12.

 

Everyone is on WHITE unless you tell me you'd like to move back to BLUE:

 

 

The Match Play pairings will change as people bail. If anyone bails on Sunday it'll count as a loss for that person and a win for their opponent:

 

Moostie (5) vs. Chandler

 

Troy (2) vs. Ghost Moostie 

 

Topor (5) vs. John

 

Danny (4) vs. Ghost Topor

 

Reid vs. Geoff (1)

 

Gary (2) vs. Buchert

 

Dave vs. Faz (3)

 

Gorecki (10) vs. Billy

 

 

-------------------------------------------

 

We're down to only 12 people in for Hunters Green on 3/1, which means nearly half of our league funds are about to be depleted. Send your $80 over to me and ask your friends to play. If we don't have the league funds to pay for the missing people... then we'll take it out of the hole-in-one pot. 

Net Score Distribution

Geoff was asking about the distribution of net scores for our Club. Below shows every round in recorded history - net to par - as well as all rounds from 2021 through last weekend.

 

 

The new handicap system was implemented in 2020 and basically shifted everyone's net scores two strokes higher. What would have been +8 back in the day would now cost you a pitcher. I correctly predicted this back in this 2019 post - and determined more pitchers was a good thing.

 

Since the change, 21% of rounds played resulted in a pitcher owed. We should expect about 5 pitchers per round! Assuming four beers per pitcher, that's one beer per person (if everyone hung out).

 

The charts above also reiterate that shooting your handicap is a great score. Technically, the way the math works, if you shot even par (net) every round... you would eventually be scratch.

 

Lowest Net Score

-18 - Tall Mike - 2016 Summer (event 9) - ChampionsGate CC

 

Highest Net Score

+35 - Brendan - 2025 Summer (event 8) - Crescent Oaks

 

Gorecki also has the most "good pitchers" with 5. 

The Concussion - Spring 2026 Recap

Countryway is suddenly a difficult course now? The same place where most of us have (or nearly have) our personal bests?

Our return after a four-year hiatus was great for all the right reasons — none of which had to do with our golfing ability. The 11 renovated greens were the best we've ever seen at Countryway, and most of the remaining 7 (which they're finishing this summer) were also fairly decent.

So why did we all suck?

The new greens are much smaller than the old ones — which feels lazy and honestly offends me. The dormant Bermuda rough is impossible to chip from, so missing these tiny greens turns getting up-and-down into a nightmare. The oak trees lining every hole have grown noticeably bigger. And a bunch of the tee boxes were in awful shape — poor grading and zero divot maintenance.

Our co-winners, Topor and Moostie, didn't even seem that excited about the victory. Probably because both filled their pants on one of the last two holes.

Buchert easily could have won if not for two triples on the front. Dave was right there too—just one bad hole and a handful of frustrating missed putts.

Gorecki was leading solidly down the stretch with his -17 strokes warmly embracing his decaying corpse, only to blow up +5 and +4 on the final two holes. His solo 5th place still earned him an owed pitcher!

Speaking of pitchers: 14 owed yesterday — one short of the Temple Terrace record of 15 (Spring 2025). We've already passed last season's full total of 33. Looking back to 2020, our Spring seasons average 15 more pitchers owed than Summer. Gotta be the winter conditions plus the fact we usually play shittier courses due to access and price.

In any case, the bar and grill after was still top-notch greasy food and cheap beer. There were no sultry waitresses in sight, but we did get Two Pitcher Billy who played most of the back nine in a freshly made tank.

---------------------------------------------------

We're off this weekend for a make-up we don't need. On the 22nd we'll be down at Scepter - the private course in Sun City Center. Update your RSVP so I can get our official name list to the Director of Golf.

On March 1st we're playing Hunter's Green for the 2nd (official) time in league history. A couple of caveats with this course:

• We must bring at least 16 players (no more than 20). There were 16 people "IN" when I booked it... now we have 15 and 3 maybes. Start thinking of any non-members you can bring.
• I had to prepay for the 16 players ($1,280). This is your Chandler Bucks in action, as they allow me to temporarily fund the deposit. Everyone needs to send me $80 to get placed on the roster. If we fail to get 16 players... then I'm repaying myself from our dwindling league balance.

See you in two weeks.

 

 

The Concussion - Spring 2026 Preview

We're headed back to Countryway for the first time in *checks notes* four years?! This was a staple of the league when we started — with 12 tournaments hosted (second to Southern Hills with 17) — and the epitome of this event. Eleven par 3s provide lots of greenie opportunities. The grill is probably the best on tour with some of the cheapest pitcher prices. And the location is near the central triangulation of our Membership.

 

The only bar that might get Congo to drink a beer...

 

Unfortunately time has not been kind to Countryway, and we ultimately determined the conditions were too shitty, even for our self-deluded "bougie" Club.

 

While we've found some great Concussion alternatives, it's time to give Countryway another chance. They had a "green renovation" project last year - which I'm told by "one of the General Managers" (there's more than one?!) turned out great. Other Members have also heard rumors of Countryway's return to glory... whatever subjective level of "glory" they ever possessed. 

 

Unfortunately Countryway seems to have let their USGA/FSGA membership lapse, and are not currently rated in GHIN. So we're just going to use the Slope/Rating from our 2022 tournament.

 

Everyone is on the tips. Long drive on number 17 (which doesn't require a driver). Driving a green counts as a fairway, and also a greenie assuming you make a 2-putt birdie. Tee time is 9:00am, and there is no range.

I have a strange feeling we’re going to see a hole-in-one this week.

 

I've also dropped our field down to 16 players due to all the maybes. The next two people who register are IN, and will be placed at the back of the pack where late registrants belong.

 

See you Sunday. 

The Open - Spring 2026 Recap

Lexington Oaks proved itself a worthy major host, punishing the field yesterday with blustery conditions. The greens were excellent — much faster than they appeared — and fairly receptive. Fairways played firm and fast, literally like Scottish links, with just a hint of grass. You had to play the ball well back in your stance to compress it properly.

Early signs pointed to anything under net-par winning the day. Even those at +6 net at the turn still had a realistic shot at decent points with a strong back nine.

The par 3s were brutal. Putting the blue tees in the "correct" spot on #2 — something Lexington Oaks rarely does — was idiotic, especially with wind in the forecast. Worse, the fun short par-3 13th was tipped all the way back, so only a handful found the green in regulation. Congrats to Tall Mike for winning our first-ever Closest to the Pin contest ($13 club credit).

He also took the event with a rock-solid -2 net, parring the final three holes to seal it. His +3 gross on the par 3s was the best of the day (matched by one other Member). Topor, by contrast, was +12 gross on them!

Moostie extends his season lead and is on pace for a league-tying 5th championship.

Dan overcame a nightmare start, played the final 13 holes in +1 gross, and finished 2nd.

Chandler (possibly me) held a 3-shot lead heading to 16 before a pants-shittingly bad course-management decision. He finished 3rd and still leads Dan slightly in the overall standings. 

------------------------------ 

No make-up round next Sunday — enjoy the week off. We're back in two weeks at Countryway!

I'm struggling to find a February Match Play venue. If anyone wants to book something, comment below. Check the Sunday Morning Rack Rate grid on the blog sidebar if you want to see how bad prices are at the moment.

See you in a couple weeks.

The Open - Spring 2026 Preview

The first Major of the year is here, and we're back at Lexington Oaks for the 9th time. As the new course preview on the right shows, there are no repeat winners in any of those seasons! This place doesn't give a damn who you are.

It's a mishmash: wide holes, narrow ones, short pokes, long slogs. The shaggy (and soggy) conditions around the greens frustrate good players, and actually give higher handicaps a fighting chance — as they're usually shit when everything's pristine anyway. We've seen low scoring days (2018, one pitcher owed... thanks, Chandler) and outright bloodbaths (2020, a then record 13 pitchers earned).

The real appeal is the location — central for most of the Club — and they've finally removed/lost some problematic trees. Specifically on #17... the chute's gone, the left-side lake is visible, and the most punishing par 3 in Club history is a little less sadistic.

Sure, I heard the usual grumbling from our back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back-to-back Strokes Gained: Mouth champion (Mike Ho) about hosting a "Major" here, but variety matters. Horses for courses is not good for the game.

That's why I scheduled Jovita as the Skins Game this season — as we've overused it as a Major. Lo and behold, Chandler (yes, me) has now won 3 of the 6 events on the South course, gobbling up coveted DPT Points whenever we visit. Rotating Majors (and Match Play) spreads the big points around instead of crowning the same few guys every time. Technically, Buffalo Creek should probably host a Major, especially now that Jovita is no longer a "deal."

Tee time Sunday is 10:20am. It'll be slow — but apparently many of you "prefer" this. Green fees are $68 plus tax; don't pay a penny more. Range balls are not included. Pairings are randomized. The weather should be pretty nice.

Long drive on #11.

We also have the first Full Field Closest-to-Pin this year. Your $1 entry was already paid in your dues, and winner takes all on hole 13 (a fun short par 3). Group A sets the marker; final group picks it up.

Local rule this week: Drop zones on #14 and #18 are no longer marked. If you hit into the shit off the tee, drop on the other side of the bridge at the red tees.

I don't believe anyone has been dumb enough to play the tips at Lexington Oaks. But if you're feeling masochistic, speak up. I've bumped Gorecki to the WHITE, so if any other 55/25 Club members want to move up, say the word.

 See you Sunday.

Skins Game - Spring 2026 Recap

It was a beautiful day for golf last Sunday... until it wasn't.

Jovita South is historically tough — top 19% in difficulty with a median score of +6 to par — mostly thanks to those fast, undulating greens. Three-putts are everywhere, and Gary somehow managed a 5-putt (with six putter strokes)! Excellent lag putting is crucial if you want to score.

Two guys separated themselves with impressive flat-stick accuracy: Chandler and John, combining for 21 pars and 4 birdies. Chandler smashed the course record with a 74 (gross), barely making mistakes and taking advantage of a few lucky bounces.

Right behind was Big John with 9 net birdies and a net eagle — echoes of the "Greatest Match Ever Played" in 2017. He needed par on the last to tie for the win. After reaching the green in two, he faced a 40+ footer for birdie.

Then the skies opened with a torrential downpour, soaking everything in sight. Before John could putt, he had to watch Topor hit an "Adolf" in the greenside bunker, dragging out the suspense even more while accumulating untold moisture in his already struggling shirt fabric. Most of the league watched from the comfort of the clubhouse as John left his birdie try a few feet short (thanks to the sudden pooling water on the green). His par putt lipped out at 90 degrees. Game over.

The rest of you were terrible.

------------------------------ 

 

It needs to be discussed how Group 3 finished 30+ minutes behind Group 2, which probably altered results. But there is also plenty of chatter about Group 4 (threesome) barely keeping up with slow-ass Group 3 (foursome). So there's seven different people to blame for John, Topor, and Crum getting soaked.

I refuse to believe you people are unaware when you're slow. You have phones, watches, and eyeballs. You can see when there's no group ahead holding you up. Which means some of you just don't care that you're jamming up the course and screwing with outcomes (like the last group playing in a monsoon). 

Get off your phones. Stop walking away from the cart without a club. Drop people at their ball then go to yours. Read putts while others play. Stop being selfishly shitty.

 ------------------------------ 

 

We're off next week for MLK because years ago a few of you whined about your kids not being in school.

The following week we're at Lexington Oaks for our first Major! I waited too long on "better" courses that never got back to me, and unfortunately my last-resort options already had the 25th tee sheet open. So the start time is later than desired (10:20am), which will guaranteed us a 5+ hour crawl. Perfect for you selfish Members to plod along unnoticed.

At least the Oaks has a deep history with our League, and the price helps offset the $40 blindside increase Lake Jovita just hit us with.

See you then!

Skins Game - Spring 2026 Strokes

Assuming nobody moves tees... here are the strokes everyone gets for the group specific Skins Games (80% allowance):

Ho (0)

Dave (0)

Dan (2)

 

Melberg (0)

Chandler (2)

Adam (3)

Faz (3) 

 

Reid (0)

Geoff (0)

Buchert (0)

Billy (1) 

 

Moostie (0)

Gary (0)

Brendan (1) 

John (0)

Crum (1)

Topor (5)

The Classic - Spring 2026 Recap

On the 13th tee box, I told my group the day "reeked of a Tall Mike victory." Dreary weather, tough course, slogging pace, frustrating conditions — perfect for him to grind bogeys and sneak in birdies, including two on par 3s!

Moosite was the only player net under par yesterday and won easily by 3 shots. That's his 19th Club victory; now he's chasing a 5th league title and potentially a 5th Rapture Captaincy.

Second place went to Dan with a mind-blowing 76 (gross) — a new course record. He birdied 3 of the last 4 to finish even (net), which is usually plenty to win in those conditions.

We knew it'd be soggier than usual after Saturday night's rain. I'm not one to complain about tee boxes (the ball is on a tee, after all), but hitting drivers while standing in mud was next-level frustration.

The greens, though, were the best I've ever seen at HO: receptive, deceivingly fast, and rolled true. We heard about plenty of 3-putts and even a few 4-putts.

It's good to have regularly scheduled golf back.

-------------------------

 

This week is the Skins Game, at Lake Jovita (South). We are not shotgun-starting, as we are first out at 7:30am. It's a throwback to the "Two B's Early Bird Classic" — an defunct event that was held twice back in 2012/2013.

 

We go out in order of Course Handicap, so let me know what tees you want to play.

 

The "55/25" group can play White/Green or Green. I've already moved Gary and Gorecki up as far as they can go.

 

Let me know if anyone else wants to move.

 

 

See you Sunday! 

Spring 2026 - Week 1 Preview

We're back from winter hibernation for our 30th season of league play and our 16th year as a Club.

Our roster is tighter this year with the loss of JW and Casey — and Danny still only a pseudo-member. This means we'll have a lot of 16-player fields, giving a larger advantage to those who play all 9 events.

No changes to competition rules in 2026. Bailing on Saturday now costs your entry fee, and a WD is an automatic minimum 3-pitcher penalty. Otherwise, business as usual.

It's impossible to tell who doesn't play in the off-season — and who just doesn't report scores — but here's the biggest Index movement since Summer 2025:

• Geoff (-2.6) - shot a personal best 81 at Cypress Run, plus three other rounds in the 80s in September. He's been a tad shaky lately.
• Billy (-2.1) - didn't play much, but his 83 to win last season at Cabot and an 85 last week at Hammock Creek are the 2nd and 3rd best rounds in his current Index subset.
• Adam (-1.8) - always grinding on his game. He's upgraded his irons, moved away from blades for more consistency, and is starting to trust the driver. He'll be dangerous on wider courses — as seen with a personal best 78 yesterday on Jovita (North).
• Dave (-1.5) - joined a private club and plays exclusively there, a solid way to lower your Index. He'll be rusty Week 1 after an Ireland trip, and I don't expect him to play well at Hernando Oaks with its scruffy, slightly soggy conditions.
• Ho (-0.8) - lowered his index a lot percentage-wise on the Road to Scratch. I believe his 3.8 is the lowest in our records.

Only four members increased their Index this off-season, and none materially.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Week 1 is 9:00am at Hernando Oaks. We're missing the cold front by four days, and it'll probably rain the day/night before. The course doesn't drain well and they overseed fairways in winter, so expect challenging conditions. Greens are in great shape (at least they were a couple weeks ago) and very receptive. This will be our 7th time starting the Spring season at Hernando Oaks — tradition more than anything.

This scorecard should be accurate, so let me know if you want to move off the WHITE tees. No "55/25" option this week:

 

If you have outstanding dues, you'll receive zero points — so get those paid. Random pairings will be made shortly.

See you Sunday!

Spring 2026 Registration

Registration is now open. Use the RSVP link on the right side of the blog.

First two tournaments are booked. Both are early starts, so note the tee time I've added to the schedule. 

Week two is limited to the first 20 that RSVP who have paid their outstanding dues. 

2025 USGA U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

Apparently back May of this year, an amateur player became the first to ever win a match at the "U.S. Amateur Four-Ball" competition by playing solo. His partner had to leave for a couple of days to watch a family member's graduation.

I post this because five months later, Troy almost competed as a solo player in Round 1 of the 2025 Rapture. And Casey won his four-ball match as a metaphorical solo player (paired with Gorecki who probably didn't contribute). 

Winter 2025 - Board Meeting Recap

The new Board met last week to vote on any rule changes for the 2026 calendar year. Here's what we got:

• Danny's membership was retained in a vote of 4-1. Only Chandler voted against, in an attempt to protect the field and the sanctity of the sport. The clock starts over for Danny, so he'll be automatically booted again if he doesn't play in at least 6 events (as an official competitor) in 2026. 

• Chandler wanted to change the "55/25" Club to a Commissioner's subjective list of golfers allowed to "tee it forward." This failed 2-3, with only Melberg in agreement. For next year, when available, players 55+ years of age or 25+ Handicap Index can play the pre-approved forward tee boxes. 

• We unanimously approved (5-0) to start collecting a league rake again in 2026. We were not doing so in 2025. 

• In a related note, we unanimously approved to increase the Champ's Dinner Payout to $150 (up from $100). 

• Melberg wanted to implement a full-tournament "Closest to Pin" on one par-3 at each Major ($1 per person). Geoff is going to get some sort of marker, and winner will take all. This was approved 5-0, which also means your dues are going up $3 per season. 

• Speaking of dues, Chandler got the Board to approve 5-0 the collection of a full year's worth of dues at the beginning of every calendar year. This is in-line with our cash-out policy of any monies over two-season's worth. Because of this change, EVERYONE currently owes something for next year. Check the dues page and send in your money now. 

• The Board approved 5-0 to change the deadline to bail on a tournament to midnight on Saturday (ie: 11:59pm Friday). This is 24 hours earlier than previously allowed. The penalty is still loss of entry fee.  

• The Board approved 5-0 to change the WD penalty to a minimum of 3-pitchers. Any WD for injury or emergency will be forgiven based on testimony by your playing partners.  

• The Board approved 4-1 (Melberg against) allowing an order of appetizers to count as a Pitcher... but only on the same day a Pitcher was earned. Any previous pitchers owed can not be converted to food. 

• The Board approved 4-1 (Melberg against) changing the Rapture Playoff to Sudden Death (if allowed). In 2025 it was a 3-hole aggregate playoff (and then Sudden Death). This is just reverting back to our original rule. 

• The Board rejected 1-4 (Geoff for) making ALL bunkers waste bunkers. This would have allowed everyone to ground clubs and take practice swings in all bunkers. 

• The Board rejected 2-3 (Melberg & Geoff for) changing the max from +5 gross to +5 net. 

• The Board rejected 1-4 (Faz for) making every season winner engrave their own name on the DPT Cup.  

• The Board rejected 3-2 (Chandler and Billy against) removing every Member named some iteration of "Michael."

Post your questions, comments, concerns. More importantly... send me your 2026 dues. We'll be booking week 1 soon. 

Summer 2025 - Champions Dinner

 

2026 Schedules

These are our 2026 Spring/Summer schedules... unless told otherwise: