Hey guys,

With Wednesday's cancellation, the entire schedule gets bumped back one week. 

• Matchups scheduled for 6/23 are going to take place 6/30
• The First Half Championship round robin is now slated for July 7th
• If you have any questions or want to print the new schedule, go to the schedule (link on the left or click here: https://www.angelfire.com/netbirdie/schedule.png)

• League play will not be cancelled until 5:00 pm or later on site
• No matter how bad it looks, we will not officially cancel league play until then
• Any emails or phone calls until then will simply result in a reiteration of this policy
  
• If you decide not to come because you think it will be rained out, that is the chance you take

We understand some people have long drives and don't want to drive out if league play is going to be suspended, but we just can't cancel play if we can get it in. Think about some of the weather you've endured over the years during leage play!

That's it for now.  Looking for Outing information soon.

Well guys, we now have just 4 weeks left in th first half.  Still plenty of time to make a move and get into the money.  

First off, some notes on the league:

• Andy has eagles in back-to-back weeks.  Both similar chip-ins from around 30 yards on #11 and #14.
•  Tom had a great round a couple weeks back and set a one week payout record of $30.50.
• Todd Sawyer whines when he gets stomped.  ;)  He played a sub whose handicap was based on one unusually bad round and he shot a net 27. Ouch.
• Seal needs a stiff shaft..... yeah, that's plain awful.  I mean in his golf clubs!
• Virgil is dominating the gold tees.  It's like he found the fountain of youth and is 75 again.
• If you're standing on #9 tee, you're fair game for target practice from the#18 tee.  uh my bad.
• It's been too long, I can't remember crap from the previous weeks.  Let me know if you did something noteworthy.
  

In a little departure from the usual dumb joke picture or hot chick picture, here are a few ball pics....  yeah that sounded bad.  These are from Golf Digest magazine.  If you're looking for a new ball, check it out.

Driver launch angle and spin rate:

Wedge launch angle and spin rate:

Just some highlights of the Fox Den news that was emailed to me... If you want the entire document:

https://netbirdie.angelfire.com/foxdennews.pdf

UPDATE: slight scoring change to Virgil-Ron vs Bob-Dan. 

The first week is in the books. I think the first week went pretty smooth despite many scores that were higher than average...  Don't worry, it's only April, the rust will come off.

Couple reminders on subs:

• Subs cannot compete in pin shots.
• If you get a sub, please let me know. 
• If I didn't put the sub's name on the scorecard, please cross out the name and put in the sub's full name.  I need to track this information correctly.
• Brian Augsberger and Mike Miller are willing to sub whenever.

League Notes:

• Virgil and Ron turned back the clock as the steamrolled Bob and Dan 31-11 and start in first place. Funny that Virgil, 82 years old, inquired about playing up a tee box and then fired a 51.  I said we'd probably all be fine with him moving up to yellow.  He's 82 people!
• Greens looked good... just in time for aeration...
• In addition to being posted online, results are posted on the Fox Den bulletin board and put on "our" table.
• Double check your scores for me.  I had to modify my program a bit this year, but I didn't find any bugs.  There were also a couple adding errors, so if your total doesn't look familiar, just verify your hole scores.

If you're new and can't find the payouts or have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to ask.

As we kick off the 2010 season, don't forget to stretch! 

The forecast as of now calls for 67 and sunshine so it should be a good way to kick off the year.

We have 32 guys this year so quite a few new faces.  If you're one of them and are wondering how things work, take a look at the links to the left of the blog.  Some won't be updated yet, but be sure to check out the overview: https://www.angelfire.com/netbirdie/info.htm

There are no pairings for week #1, so just pair up and go off.   We just need to balance each side with 4 groups of 4 going off each side.

Couple reminders:

• $125 league dues per man includes all weekly prizes, outing prizes, and first and second half championship payouts
• Pay to Andy Stem (checks payable to Andy)... or me (Jay Brown) first week
  
• League rules and general guidelines are linked to the left (will try to update prior to Wednesday evening)
  
• The schedule and roster will be linked to the left after the first week
• Handicaps are initiated as follows: new guys goes off their first score and keeps building from there.  Vets - start with last season's average handicap and builds with each week.

That's it for now guys.  Many more details to follow the first week.  Hit 'em well (or at least well for April)!

Outing Updates:

• Sunday 8 AM Shotgun - Be early to pay, get cart, and drive out to hole
• We have enough money left over from the league, so we are going to give back the $10 from those of you that already paid.
• $25 greens fees and cart is per Dave Springer if the person in the pro shop tries to charge more
• Free breakfast buffet before and free lunch buffet after (doesn't include beverages)
• Cheapest Outing per member ever?  I think so!
• Meet in the side room by the buffet afterwards with scorecards for results/payouts
• USGA handicap to the right
  • Calculated using all your scores during the league and the official USGA method
    
• Payouts ($370 Total + Gifts) see below
  
• Pairings (in order, but not sure on shotgun holes):
  
  • Fred/Tom and Bob/Ed
  • Wes/Brett and Chris/Joe
  • Bob/Dan and Jason/Matt
    
  • Brian/Brandon and Andy/Jay
  • Steve/Marc and Todd/Todd
  • Virgil/Ron and Jason/Mike

I will have updated personal summary statistics of the whole year to hand out to everyone.  Same as what I handed out after the first half.

If you can't make it Sunday, please let me know.

• The clusterfuck Wednesday sucked. So did the darkness. Having to have the flag tended for a 5 foot putt is never good.
• One more week.  While 1st and 2nd have some separation, I think 6 teams have a legit shot at 3rd place.
• Next week we are back to the front and back.
• After last night, Andy called Maplecrest to inquire about a Wednesday league there to give us options for 2010.  Not saying we're moving, but we'd like feedback. Details:
  
  • Contract good April 1 - September 30 (26 weeks)
  • $250 walking + weekly cart... or $320 riding for whole year
    • Paying up front is cheaper in the long run
      
  • Wednesday 5:00pm is available - all groups off same side unless league grows to 32.
• Payouts for next week will be done immediately after the round.
  

OUTING UPDATE (9/20)!!!

• 8:00 AM Shotgun start!!
  • Be there early to eat free breakfast, get scorecards, proximity markers, and starting hole #.
• Only $25 for 18 riding!  Score!
• $10 to Andy or Jay to be in Skins and Pins.
  • Leftover league money going toward everything else.
• We will use our estimated USGA handicaps in a stroke play format. Top 3 places (low nets) in A and B flights win money.
  • Here are the current Mayfair Hdcps for everyone.  This may change slightly following next week.

• No skins were won on the front or back in the A-flight!
• Jason E, Tom, and Wes all tied their best rounds with 38, 40, and 43, respectively.
• 2 weeks left to make a move.
• We *may* have to all play the front 9 next week as their might be a scheduling conflict.... I'll update right here when I find out for sure.

Please take the poll about the Outing!

Just a few weeks left to make a push to get in the top 3 for the Second Half.  Eight teams are within 14 points of 3rd place.

Notes from the week:

• Brian put up the first eagle of the year on #7.  Nice!
• Sawyer is flat out owning the second half and has moved into the A-flight for next week.
• Brandon is now officially on the results page and competing in skins and pin-shots.
• Jason T had his best round of the year, firing a 38.  Brian and I both tied our best rounds with 35 a piece.
• Virgil and Ron want more cash in the Outing!  Please vote.  Remember greens fees are $35 and include breakfast and lunch.  We have some cash left over from the league, but not a ton.

I'm pretty sure we are long overdue for a picture of Natalie Gulbis.  You can only write for so long about golf before you are obliged to post a picture of her stretching....  so here it is.  Damn.  :)

Now on to league news.... The rankings were shook up a little bit and there is now a three way tie for second place.  Chris and Joe took over the top spot after another strong showing and 3 straight wins in convincing fashion.

Only one personal best round of the year was shot Wednesday.  Dan shot a 44 and took a good amount of cash away in the process.  I didn't hear much else of note, except Virgil chipped in on #17.

Mike Moffit... where are you?  We all like Brian's "new partner" Brandon, though.  Cracked up my grumpy arse on several occasions.

OUTING update - Mayfair is out.  The bastard in charge of outings over there will not call me back and the people in the pro shop continue to tell me he is the only person that can set up outings and tee times more than 2 weeks in advance.  That a**hole is really pissing me off.  So..... Andy is going to call Raccoon Hill to see if Beers will give us a good deal there.

Note: Andy wants everyone to know that they can get their money each week straight out of the box.  Just return the envelope after you take out the cash.  Self-service style.

Oh and one more thing... I don't know the specifics, but I'm told we need to pick up the pace at times.  So the public service announcement of the day is just try to stay cognizant of the pace of play and not falling behind the group in front of you. 

See ya next week.