SUN CITY – At the Sun City Golf Club’s championship tournament and dinner dance last week, most folks came away with some sort of prize.
In addition to awards for men’s and women’s low gross and low net scores and skill prizes such as longest putts made and shots closest to the hole, the dinner featured drawings for a variety of golf-related products and equipment, which were donated by sponsors and handed out to about 80 of the attendees.
Prizes are shown lined up as part of the Sun City Golf Club’s championship tournament. (Photo provided)
“We have had to be more frugal with our funds, so instead of expensive prizes to a few, we decided to hold a big drawing and open up the opportunities to win something to a larger group,” President John Schmeda said. “We had 96 golfers participate at Whisper Creek course on September 26, and 125 attended the dinner-dance in Drendel Ballroom in the evening. We once had 600 members a few years ago, when Sun City was growing rapidly. But we’re down to less than 350 now and doing things differently.”
The club is an omnibus organization representing the many leagues that play at Whisper Creek and other area courses, Schmeda said.
“We still have good participation at our season-ending championship tournament and dinner from a significant portion of our membership,” he said.
The top prize for performance on the course went to Jim O’Toole (N.28) for low men’s gross with a 75. Richard Johnston, John Schlenker, and Bill Jacobson tied for top honors on men’s low net with scores of 62 after their handicaps were subtracted from their scratch scores. Johnston (N.2) was awarded first place, and Schlenker second based on tiebreaker factors on their scorecards. O’Toole and Johnston received trophies.
Karen DiFiore (N.1A) won women’s low gross (97), Carole Homer was second with 98, and Barb Bostian was third with 99. Mickie McGough (N.17) won first women’s low net with a 70, Betty Salvacion was second with 73, and Liz Legenza was third with 73, based on tiebreakers.
Men’s skill prizes included Jim Penn for the longest putt on hole 9, Tom Parenteau for the longest putt on 18, Ray Ultsch for closest to the hole on 14, and Ken Kemnitz for closest to the hole on 17. Women’s skill prizes went to Judy Champine for the longest putt on 9, and Bev Perkins for the longest putt on 18, and to Carole Homer for closest to the hole on 14, and Lorrie Nichols for closest to the hole on 17.
The leagues play weekly at Whisper Creek and other area courses from early spring through September.
Golfers being the way they are, of course, this isn’t always the end of golf activity at Whisper Creek, which is a public course owned and operated by Billy Casper Golf. On decent days throughout late fall and winter, Sun Citians and other golfers can often be seen on the course, engaging in their favorite sport despite challenging weather.
