CCMGA NEWSLETTER
CCMGA NEWS 3rd QUARTER 2007                                 Newsletter Archives
   
Published by the Cave Creek Men's Golf Association 


COMING ATTRACTIONS

Our Two Man Scramble Tournament on Saturday, July 21 comes with a special incentive. 
The net winners will represent CCMGA in the AGA's annual Club Team Championship to 
be held in December.

The format is eighteen holes, flighted, gross and net, blue tees. Both players tee 
off and select the best drive. Both players hit from that position and select the 
best result. This process is continued until the ball is holed.

There is a ten stroke maximum handicap differential. For differentials higher than 
ten, the higher handicap will be adjusted downward until the differential is met.

Team handicaps will be based on 80% of the combined team average AGA/CCMGA handicap 
indexes. 

For more details see the entry form available on ccmga.net or in the CCMGA box in 
the pro shop.

Our annual "Beat the Heat" tournament will be held on Saturday, August 4 at Prescott 
Golf and Country Club. It will be a member/guest, member/member two man better ball 
event.

There is a ten stroke maximum handicap differential. For differentials higher than 
ten, the higher handicap will be adjusted downward until the differential is met. 
All players must have a verifiable USGA handicap or they will be required to play 
at scratch.

Look for more details on this tournament in mid-July.

We'll be back at the Creek on August 19 for an Individual Stroke Play Tournament 
open to members only.  Six AM shotgun start, eighteen holes, flighted, gross and net, 
white tees. Look for more tournament details in late July.

Our Club Championship will be vied for on Saturday and Sunday, September 22 and 23. 
The field is limited to 120 players. This flighted, gross only, 36 hole stroke play 
tournament will be played from the blue tees. There will be one overall champion with 
prizes also awarded in each flight.

In addition to our regular tournament requirements, all participants in this major 
tournament must have, within the past 12 months, participated in at least two CCMGA 
tournaments in which scores were posted for handicap purposes.

Look for more details on the entry form which will be available following the 
August 19 tournament.

This year there will be a Fall Match Play Tournament for those who enjoy this format 
and those who missed out on the one we held earlier this year. The first round will 
begin on October 28.
 
Look for more details in late August.


MEMBERSHIP SALE

There's still a lot of CCMGA golf to be played this year. And for a friend or neighbor 
who wants to get in on the action, the price is right!

From July 1 to August 31, you can join CCMGA for the remainder of the year for only $50.
From September 1 to October 15, you can join CCMGA for the remainder of the year for 
only $40.

After October 15 you can become a CCMGA member for the remainder of the year plus a 
full year's membership in 2008 for only $85.

We won't relate our membership benefits here because we've found our members can do 
it so much better. 

SURVERY OF CITY COURSES COMING SOON!

A private consulting firm has been hired by the city to do an "operational and 
organizational analysis" of all the city's courses. The goal of the survey is 
"to provide recommendations to maximize the market and economic potential of our 
facilities."
 
Survey targets include:

*A review of golf course management.

*A physical review of each facility to include golf course playability, aesthetics 
 and conditioning.

*An analysis of the golf course operations and market environment.

*Evaluation with city staff of each facility, to determine staffing levels needed 
 to improve the courses to remain competitive with other courses in their market.

*Evaluation of staff recommendations regarding the best alternative use of Palo 
 Verde Golf Course.

*Comparison studies of similar municipal and privately owned public golf operations.

*Analysis of management options for operation of the golf courses.

*Evaluation of the feasibility of sale of golf course land to pay off debt service 
 and fund improvements at the remaining courses.

*Recommendations for a long term operating strategy and capital improvement plan, 
 including a financial overview.

The survey is expected to be completed in 12 weeks.

COURSE VANDALISM ON THE RISE

These days, every golf course is fair game for those bent on theft or destructive 
acts. Cave Creek and other city courses are no exceptions.

Golf carts and copper wire are high priority items. Both have been taken from the 
Creek. At Papago, carts were driven right into a waiting van. It doesn't take the 
theft of many carts to add up to losses in the thousands of dollars.
 
We can help protect our home course by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity. 
If you spot something out of the ordinary, call the pro shop right away. They'll 
take it from there. The city will prosecute the offenders to the full extent of 
the law.
 

COURSE IMPROVEMENTS.

At last, a cart ride between holes eight and nine that isn't a spine jarring, dust 
raising experience. Thanks to everyone involved in getting an asphalt paved cart 
path put in place. The editor's guess is that it also will add a few hundred miles 
to the life of our carts.

Acting Superintendent, Mark Derbus, reports that he and his crew hope to have a 
rebuilt number one tee box and a more level eighth fairway completed by year end. 
Tree trimming and bunker work are on going.


HOW HOT IS IT?

Arizona summers can be deadly. Failure to prepare properly before a round of golf 
can lead to dehydration, heat stroke and skin cancer, among a host of other unpleasant 
things.

Leave your macho image at home. Wear sunglasses, and a broad brimmed hat that filters 
out harmful UV rays. Use plenty of sun screen on all exposed body parts with an SPF 
of 30 or better. Drink water or sports drinks (beer is not one of them) frequently. 
If you wait until you are thirsty, it's usually too late.

Have a great round...and live to tell about it.


IT'S ALL IN THE MIND.

"Most average players try to hit every shot as far as they possibly can. Ego is the 
culprit here. We think that how far we can hit a particular club is the measure of 
how good we are. But that's not the point of the game of golf. Accuracy and consistency 
are much more important for lower golf scores.
 
Tour players swing at only 80 percent of their maximum power on most shots. It's 
called playing within yourself, and the purpose is to make a consistent, smooth swing 
that produces consistent distances for each club."

Zen Golf – Dr. Parent


ANOTHER POINT OF VIEW.

"There is one thing in this world that is dumber than playing golf. That is watching 
someone else play golf...What do you actually get to see? Thirty-seven guys in 
polyester slacks squinting at the sun. Doesn't that get your blood to racing?"

Peter Andrews


THE SPIRIT OF THE GAME.

"As golf is played without the supervision of an umpire or referee, the individuals 
participating are responsible for playing by the Rules. Regardless of how competitive 
a player may be, he should conduct himself in a disciplined manner, demonstrating 
courtesy and sportsmanship at all times."

USGA-"Rule of the Week"


THINK ABOUT IT.

"It is an important thing in golf to make holes look much more difficult than they 
really are. People get more pleasure in doing a hole which looks almost impossible, 
and yet is not so difficult as it appears."

Alister MacKenzie - Golf Architect


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CCMGA
15202 N. 19TH Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85023