THE
MIDNIGHT GOLFER NEWSLETTER
February 2005
Winter
Newsletter 2005
By Dennis Wyant
Charles
Adams B-3/Coach Carl Kennedy and Dennis Wyant B-2/Coach Jane Feldman
participated in the 2004 IBGA World Championships in Australia. There were just
over 80 golfers from nine different countries participating. The world
championship was preceded by the Victorian Open and both events took place at
the Rosebud Country Club near Melbourne. The event took place in April, which
was the beginning of their fall. There was nice weather, friendly people and
good times had by all.
Dennis
and Coach Jane only played in the World Championship. Dennis finished 5th
in the B-2 category, which had nearly 30 participants. Coach Jane took full
responsibility for all of his bad shots.
Results:
B1:
David Morris – England – 219
If
you would like to review the full results of the tournament please visit
2004 World Championship Results
The USBGA would like to
apologize for forgetting this article in the Summer 2004 newsletter.
_______________________________________________
Due
to some funding changes with the USBGA starting in 2005, The Board has decided
to reduce some of the administrative costs incurred last year. Consequently,
many USBGA members and friends will be taking on several tasks previously done
by Tina Andrews. The USBGA certainly appreciates this willingness to assist as
we continue to grow. Here are some of the responsibility changes and who to
contact for comments or questions.
This newsletter was formatted by Bob Kennedy with help from his daughter. Bob can be reached at:
Mark
Arnold is
our new Web Master and is doing a great job. Please check out the web site and
see for yourself http://www.blindgolf.com/
Mark can be reached at:
Everett Davis (615-297-3049), 2004 winner of the USBGA Outstanding Volunteer Award and David Meador’s coach, is the new USBGA Handicap Chairman. He will be calculating all IBGA handicaps for the USBGA.
2004
USBGA Raleigh Regional Golf Championship
By
Buddy Frazier
The 2004 USBGA Raleigh Regional
Golf Championship was held August 28- 30 at the RGA golf course in Raleigh,
North Carolina. Sheila Drummond helped the Raleigh Local Lions Club host this
event. 15 golfers competed in the
championship, 6-B1, 4-B2, and 5-B3. The
tournament took place on Sunday, August 29, and the winners are as follows:
B1 Phil
Blackwell and Earl Meese
B2 Buddy Frazier and Bob Farnum
B3 Art and Sue Beauregard
Heavy rains from a tropical storm started Sunday night, and did not let up, causing the cancellation of the Monday Charity Scramble. The USBGA would like to again thank the many Lions volunteers and the staff of RGA for a GREAT EVENT. If you would like to review the full results of this tournament please visit http://www.blindgolf.com/scoreboard.htm
_______________________________________________
BY THE BOOK
The beginning of a New Year is
always a good time for everyone to brush up on his or her knowledge of the rules
of golf. This year should be no
exception.
It is a good time to remind
everyone that one of the reasons the USBGA enjoys the reputation it has is
because we pride ourselves on playing by the same rules as sighted players.
I realize that our members do not always have as many opportunities to
play as others and that many players have more than one coach throughout the
year. However, in golf, it is
always the player’s responsibility to know the rules and to abide by them.
In 2004 the USBGA purchased
from the USGA a handy guide called, “Golf Rules in Brief”. All players/coaches received one in NY at the Guiding Eyes
event and every player/coach at the national tournament who was not at Guiding
Eyes got one. It contains many of
the common rules that you could encounter during a round of golf.
Again, it is the player’s (that’s you!) responsibility to
know the rules. My job is to
help players proceed correctly if they are unclear.
You always have a chance to ask me questions at any tournament I
officiate.
At the last National Championship in Ft. Lauderdale, I made several rulings pertaining to rules and procedures that are covered in the booklets we handed out to everyone. In each case had the player used the handout they would have avoided the penalties they received, including one disqualification. The “Golf Rules in Brief” card covers the most common things that occur during a round.
For example, you should know how to proceed when your ball goes into a water hazard marked with yellow stakes or lines. You should know the additional options you have if your ball goes into a lateral water hazard marked with red stakes or lines. You should know what to do if your ball is at rest and is moved by you or your coach. You should know what to do if your ball is at rest is moved by someone or something else. You should know what to do if your ball is in motion and is stopped or deflected by you or your coach. You should know what to do if your ball in motion is stopped or deflected by someone or something else. You should know what to do if a cart path interferes with the stance or swing you need to play a stroke. You should know what to do if casual water or ground under repair interferes with your stance, swing or the lie of your ball. And finally, you should know…that the answers to all the “you should know” above are in those “Golf Rules in Brief” that all of you received. I am sure that there are at least three players that were in Ft. Lauderdale who will be reviewing their rules before their next tournament.
Following are a couple of
rules questions from a test that I have used in golf clinics for golfers of all
skill levels. The answers to these
questions can also be found in the “Golf Rules in Brief” that you have.
1.
True or False? You get
relief from a fence or stake that defines out of bounds.
2.
True or False? There is not a penalty for a ball lost in casual water,
ground under repair, or a burrowing animal hole.
It is my intention to submit
10-15 questions that can be put on the blind golf website for everyone to test
their knowledge. I will try to do
this by March and then I will post the answers in June, prior to the Guiding
Eyes tournament.
We should always play by the
Rules when we play golf. It is most
important that we do so at our national tournament.
There are many people watching at our tournaments, such as spectators,
media, scorekeepers and other volunteers. We
have seen in the past that scorekeepers do not always know the rules (nor is it
their responsibility). The
integrity of the USBGA along with your personal reputation is always on display
at our tournaments. The Rules are there to help us all and I am committed to
keeping our tournaments the showcase for blind golf that they are.
Let’s have a good year!
The 59th USBGA
National Championship took place on November 2-3 at Bonaventure Country Club in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Originally
scheduled for late September, the event was postponed due to hurricane Jeanne.
Damage to the course from the
storms was minimal. I found the
Bonaventure layout to be a good challenge.
The fairways were relatively tight with bunkers, trees and water on the
sides of most holes. There was room
to play it safe but with the wind blowing steadily that was easier said than
done.
The tournament was played on
Tuesday and Wednesday in perfect weather with 28 golfers and coaches competing.
Although those of us from the Northwest were a little warm, there was not
much else to complain about. On day
one of the tournament blind and vision impaired golfers played together, which
is a good opportunity to play with different USBGA members.
The second day players were divided into sight categories and paired
according to day one scores.
Players were required to keep
the scorecard of their playing partner because scorekeepers were not available
this year. While not an ideal
situation considering all that scorekeepers do for us, I believe it was handled
well by most players and coaches.
This year golfers in the B1
division were required to wear black out glasses.
Angela O’Rourke and her Coach Judy Schafer prevailed with a two-day
total of 236. Bob Andrews and Coach
Norman Kublin finished second and right behind them were Brad Eaton and Coach
Dave Schuettner. First round leader
David Meador was disqualified prior to the second round due to a scoring error.
It was a shame since he had played so well Tuesday and then again on
Wednesday, even though he was only playing as a non-competing marker.
The B2 champion was Buddy Frazier and Coach Bob Farnum with a score of
186. Second place went to Dennis
Wyant and Coach Hans Ogren, followed in third place by Mark Arnold and Coach
Mike Schmock. With the help of my
father/coach Ace Plath, I was fortunate to win the B3 division with a total of
164. Bruce Hooper and coach/wife
Judy were second, and Art Beauregard and coach/wife Sue finished third.
The Boswell Trophy for low net went to Brad Eaton, and Tim Jackson with
his coach Carey Dean won the Low Net title in the Vision-Impaired category.
John Casolo and son Jeff received the Lazaro trophy for most improved.
If
you would like to review the full results of this tournament please visit
http://www.blindgolf.com/scoreboard.htm
This was my second USBGA
National Championship and like the first I truly enjoyed myself.
The more time I spend with the members of our association the more I
appreciate how we think of ourselves as golfers first, not someone with a vision
problem who happens to play golf. On
a personal note, having my father as my coach and my mother in the
“gallery”, in an event that I was fortunate to win was very special.
_______________________________________________
SkuttlePutts
Bob
Andrews: In the first week of January, Bob succumbed to some internal shut down
created by scar tissue caused from old Vietnam shrapnel wounds. The good news is
after an on and off again three week hospital stay with some surgery, he is back
home and forced to take it easy but mending just fine. He
expects
to be allowed to swing a club in March, so things are looking up!
Bob appreciated all the member’s well wishes during a tough few weeks.
Clem
Tatum: Throughout the 1990s a group of volunteers called the Florida Hospital
Golf Marshals helped the USBGA run the national tournament. One of the gentlemen
that led the volunteers was Clem Tatum and his wife Virginia. This past October,
we regret to report Clem died from leukemia. He was a special friend to all our
members and to the game of blind golf. Clem and all the marshal volunteers were
a wonderful 8-year chapter in the USBGA golfing events.
Joan Dietz: We are happy to
report that Joan has completed chemo therapy and radiation treatment for breast
cancer and is feeling great. She is planning to start playing golf again
immediately in Florida.
To All USBGA Golfers: Please sign-up with USBGA
Tournament Directors or Jim Baker as soon as possible for any or all 2005 USBGA
golf championships. Spots are limited and will be given out in the order of
response.
Newsletter
Editor: The USBGA is looking for one or two people to become the editor(s) of
the Midnight Golfer newsletter. This would entail deciding what articles to
include, finding someone to write them, doing some editing of the articles (with
help from other USBGA members), and putting together the articles with other
pertinent information for the two editions each year, then get it to Bob Kennedy
for formatting and printing. It is advantageous to have good writing skills and
an interest in reporting important USBGA information. If interested contact Jim
Baker.
Submitted by Jim Baker
The major focus of the USBGA
this year has been our Junior Golf Program--again with great success! The
12 blind golf clinics and one three-week golf program began in May and finished
up in November. We have tried to diversify the types of groups involved in this
year’s USBGA Junior Golf Program. Consequently, the clinics were in
conjunction with nine state blind schools, three private centers for the blind,
three county vision programs and one Lions summer camp. These junior golf events helped introduce 354 blind and
vision impaired youth and adults in eleven states to the game. This is a 30%
increase from 2003.
The USBGA junior golf program
was truly national in 2004. Its extent was felt throughout the country from
Massachusetts in the Northeast, to Florida in the South, and across the
continent to Oregon in the West. Another important aspect of the clinics, which
helps provide exposure and goodwill for the USBGA, is that at every clinic all
participants and volunteers received a free T-shirt. At five of the clinics,
local sponsors provided the shirts, while at the other eight clinics the USBGA
gave out 374 white T-shirts with the Lions logo on the front left chest area and
the USBGA logo on the back.
No matter who, when or where,
the universal theme at all the clinics was to have fun. With the outstanding
golf instruction provided, everyone was successful in hitting at least one great
shot during each clinic.
Special thanks need to go out
to several USBGA members and volunteers that helped organize the clinics. Bill
McMahon set up three in Massachusetts; Sheila Drummond coordinated clinics in
Raleigh and Ft. Lauderdale; Bruce Hooper started the Texas clinics in Austin and
San Antonio; Mark Arnold ran Ohio; and Ron Plath helped in Portland. USBGA
Junior Golf Director, Tom Fink headed up three clinics this year, while local
PGA professionals at the host courses were in charge of the others. Jim Baker
oversaw the entire junior golf program and attended six clinics with tremendous
help from younger brother Mike and Everett Davis.
With the success of these
clinics, the USBGA is well on its way to helping “Grow the Game” for blind
and vision impaired students and adults. This goal will continue to be the focus
of our junior golf program in the future.
Texas Blind Golf Championship
By Bruce and Judy Hooper
Twelve USBGA blind and vision-impaired members and their coaches joined Bruce and Judy Hooper and the Founder’s Lions Club in San Antonio for three days of fun and golf on November 12-14. The weekend began on Friday with a clinic for 56 youth on a cold, windy day. The USBGA coordinated the clinic with PGA professionals, Lions Clubs volunteers and USBGA members Bruce & Judy Hooper, Tim Jackson, Angela O’Rourke, and Dennis and Linda Smith all participating.
As is usually the case, the children were eager to learn. They were able to touch and feel many of the things associated with the game of golf: clubs, balls, shafts, the grasses of the course, etc. The children received instruction in the full swing as well as chipping and putting. In the chipping and putting area, targets were large enough and made of metal and wood so that everyone could hear when someone hit their target. The clinic included lunch for everyone and Angela O’Rourke spoke to the kids afterward. It was a great experience for all the students, many of whom are enrolled in monthly classes at The First Tee of San Antonio. Later on Friday evening, a Welcoming Bar-B-Q was held at the Double Tree hotel for all the players and coaches. All in all, a great opening day to the weekend.
Saturday brought more bad
weather. Still, 72 golfers
assembled at the Ft. Sam Houston Golf Course for the Texas Peeker’s Charity
golf tournament. Thanks go to
Founder’s Lions Club president Bill Becker and other Lions.
USBGA members were paired with sighted golfers and rotated every six
holes so all the participants could witness first hand the skill of our members.
The event raised $2,000 for local Lions charities.
Unfortunately by Sunday, the weather had become so bad that the Texas Blind Golf Championship had to be cancelled. The course was unplayable and closed for the day. This gave many of the members a chance to do a little sight seeing in San Antonio; some went to the River Walk, and others to the Alamo. The Awards Banquet went on as scheduled. A Texas theme decorated the tables and a Mexican buffet was served. After dinner, Gary Birdwell, a Texas singer-song writer, entertained us with some original and some well-known Texas music. The weekend was a huge success for kids, charities, and our USBGA members.
_______________________________________________
In
an effort to keep all USBGA members informed about current Board decisions, The
following Board Directives were discussed at the 2004 Annual Meeting in Florida
and recently passed. These will take place immediately.
New
and Revised USBGA Board Directives
February 11, 2005
q
VISION IMPAIRED QUALIFYING SCORES
1.
All new B2 players shall submit three 18-hole scores of not more than 110 for
men or 115 for women on a regulation golf course to qualify for the National
Championship and must requalify if they shoot over 150 either day at their last
National Championship.
2.
All new B3 players shall submit three 18-hole scores of not more than 100 for
men or 105 for women on a regulation golf course to qualify for the National
Championship and must requalify if they shoot over 140 either day at their last
National Championship.
3.
All vision impaired players that have played in a previous USBGA National
Championship within the past two years will be grandfathered in and will not
have to qualify for subsequent National Championships, unless he/she shoots over
150 for B2 and 140 for B3 on either day of the National Championship.
4.
Any USBGA player will have to requalify for their next National Championship if
they have not played in any sanctioned USBGA golf tournament within the past two
years.
q
REGULATION GOLF COURSE
For the purposes of qualification for the USBGA
national championship tournament, a regulation golf course shall be defined as:
for men, a minimum of 6,000 yards, for seniors 65 and older, a minimum of 5,600
yards, and for women, a minimum of 5,000 yards. Regional tournaments do not
require qualification.
q
SENIOR TEES
The use of Senior Tees will be
allowed at any sanctioned USBGA golf tournament for those members 65 or older,
if Senior Tees are available at the host golf course. Senior tees can be used
during the following:
1.
Qualifying to play in the National Championship.
2.
When competing for all awards in any USBGA golf
tournament including the National Championship.
q
MONOCULAR AND BINOCULARS
The USBGA will no longer allow
the use of a monocular or binoculars by the vision impaired members while
playing in a sanctioned USBGA golf tournament. This was done to coincide with
IBGA By Laws.
q
TRIPLE PAR SCORE
This is a revision of the
Board Directive enacted in 1993 concerning picking up on a hole in the National
Championship and recording a triple par score with a circle around it. Players
are advised that the following will apply.
1.
If a player picks up on a hole, thus not completing
the round, he or she will not be able to
win any
awards at the USBGA golf tournament where this occurs.
2.
The player also cannot use this score for USBGA
player rankings.
3.
If this happens at the National Championship, the
B1 player will not be eligible to earn an
invitation
to the Guiding Eyes Classic in New York the following year.
4.
If
a player decides to pick up on a particular hole during the first day of the
National Championship, the player may play the second day, but the resulting
score on that day may only be applied to his/her player ranking providing he/she
completes play on all holes.
5.
All
scores at USBGA tournaments will still be adjusted and used for handicapping
purposes.
If
you have any questions or would like to have a copy of the complete USBGA Board
Directives sent to you, please contact any Board member or Tina Andrews.
_______________________________________________
2005 USBGA Sanctioned Tournament Schedule
April 20-22
Heather Farr-Leader Dogs Classic
Starfire
Country Club, Scottsdale, Arizona
Contact
Person: Joe Nessinger 480-443-3217
May 24-26
Fort Wayne Blind Golf Championship
Autumn
Ridge Golf Club Fort Wayne, Indiana
Contact
Person: Tim Jackson 614-570-6209
June 11-13
Guiding Eyes Classic (Invitational)
Mt.
Kisco Country Club, Mt. Kisco, New York
August 20-22 Wisconsin
Blind Golf Championship
Autumn
Ridge Golf Club, Inc. Valders, Wisconsin
Contact
Person: Dick Pomo 608-255-1166
October 2-5
Lions Clubs International-USBGA Blind Golf Championships
60th
USBGA National Championship and U. S. Blind Open
Wildwood
Green Golf Club, Raleigh, North Carolina
Contact
Person: Jim Baker 615-885-2952
_______________________________________________
2005 LCI-USBGA Junior Golf Clinic Schedule
May
May Perkins Blind Golf Clinic:
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
MGA
Golf Links, Norton, Massachusetts
With
the Perkins School for the Blind
San Antonio Blind Golf
Program:
May 2005 through April, 2006
This
program will meet once monthly for two hours for 12 months
First Tee-San Antonio San Antonio, Texas
May Ohio Blind Golf Clinic:
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Challenge
Golf Center, Akron, Ohio
May Arizona Blind Golf Clinic:
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The
500 Club Phoenix, Arizona
Carroll Center Blind Golf
Clinic:
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
MGA
Golf Links, Norton, Massachusetts
With
the Carroll Center for the Blind
Monday, July 18
Camp Dogwood Youth Golf
Clinic: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Mooresville
Golf Course, Mooresville, North Carolina
With
the North Carolina Lions’ Camp Dogwood
Thursday, July 21
Vancouver USABA Golf Clinic:
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Club
Green Meadows Vancouver, Washington
With
the Vancouver USABA Sports Camp
August
Carroll Center International
Blind Golf Clinic:
10:00
AM to 12:00 PM
MGA
Golf Links, Norton, Massachusetts
With
the Carroll Center for the Blind
Saturday, August 13
Golf Clinic for the Junior
Blind:
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Chester
Washington Golf Course
Los
Angeles, California
With
the Foundation for the Junior Blind Summer camp
Nashville Blind Golf Clinic:
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Vinnie
Links at Shelby Park, Nashville, Tennessee
With
the Tennessee School for the Blind
Iowa Blind Golf Clinic:
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Airport
National Golf Course Cedar Rapids, Iowa
With
the Iowa Braille School
Austin Blind Golf Clinic:
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Clay/Kizer
Golf Courses, Austin, Texas
With
the Texas School for the Blind
and
Visually Impaired
Monday, October 3
Raleigh Blind Golf Clinic:
9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Wildwood
Green Golf Club, Raleigh, North Carolina
With
the Governor Morehead School for the Blind
South Carolina School for the
Deaf and Blind Golf Program:
First
Tee of Spartanburg, Spartanburg, South Carolina
This
is a three Week, One Hour Per Day Program for Three Blind SCSDB Classes
Monday, October 10
Portland Blind Golf Clinic:
9:30 AM to 1:30 PM
Pumpkin
Ridge Golf Club Portland, Oregon
With
the Oregon and Washington State Schools
for
the Blind
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