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2020 Rivers Edge Champions Tournament

The 2020 Rivers Edge Champions Tournament is scheduled to be played September 9th & 10th.  Entry Fee is $75 per person.  Format is stroke play.  Trophies will be awarded to Gross and Net Champions.  Flighting will be dictated by number of entries.

Divisions:  (1) Men's Gross & Net - White Tees; (2) Senior Men's Gross & Net - Green Tees; (3) Women's Gross & Net -Blue Tees

Itinerary:  September 8th:  3:00pm  Pairings posted in Double Eagle Grille on the scoreboard.  September 9th:  Round 1, Single Tee @ 8:00am.  September 10th: Round 2, Single Tee @ 8:00am.  September 11th:  Inclement Weather Date.

SIGN UP IN THE GOLF SHOP; ENTRY DEADLINE - SEPTEMBER 2. 
Cash or check.  Please make checks payable to Rivers Edge Golf Club.

RELGA Newsletter August 2020

RELGA REVIEW
An Occasional Newsletter of the Rivers Edge Ladies Golf Association 

     It’s August Already?
                                                            By Linda Lynes
I knew there was a good reason I included that word “occasional” to the subtitle of this newsletter! It has been quite a while since the last RELGA newsletter.  I’m going to blame it primarily on that “big gorilla” in the room that has significantly impacted all our lives this year – COVID 19. Although    many of our social activities have been curtailed, we are very fortunate that our Rivers Edge Golf professional staff improvised a number of safeguards to help us be safe while playing our favorite game, in spite of the virus.    Still, numerous tournaments, clinics  and  virtually all outside play (including Ladybirds events) have been cancelled.  And since there seems to be no quick solution to this pandemic, our only option is to keep our chins up (as well as our masks) and be thankful we can still play from a safe “social distance”!  In This Issue We are introducing a new column called THE ETIQUETTEist.   (I’m not sure that was a real word, but it is now!)   Good golf etiquette encompasses so much more than maintaining pace of play or not talking loudly when a player is on the tee box.  In THE ETIQUETTEist column we will take a look at  all aspects of golf etiquette – from the point of view of how to respect the game, its rules, the course, and most importantly, our fellow players.  We are very excited to welcome some new lady golfers to Rivers Edge and to RELGA. We will introduce them to you here and encourage you to welcome them when they join us on the course. We continue  to highlight  personal and team best efforts, because that’s what keeps us coming back to the course! Lastly, a “wee” but important reminder to please post all your scores in the GHIN system.  It makes the game fair for everyone.      

  KATHY’S  KORNER

     As I sat down to write my article, I looked back at the previous newsletter from January when a big concern was understanding the new GHIN system. Little did we know how trivial that would be!   It’s been almost 5 months since our life, as we knew it came to a screeching halt.  We had such plans for our lady golfers this year; playing off site, more fun golf games, clinics etc. All of that was placed on the backburner for obvious reasons.   The RELGA board will be meeting this month to readdress our original plans. Since the majority of us are not willing to play offsite, we need to focus on what we can offer on our beautiful Rivers Edge Golf Course.   I sent a questionnaire out a few weeks ago and had a tremendous response for clinics.   Due to the pandemic, we are all playing a lot more golf and wanting to improve, which is a wonderful.  The board will be working with RJ, Sebastian and Jason to put a schedule together in the next few weeks.  Keep your eye out for those emails.   You will also be receiving information on the Sign Up Genius tool, the new scheduling program I have mentioned in a prior email. We will be piloting this program in the next 2 weeks. I will send instructions when we are ready to begin the trial. As with all new information, it might be a challenge at first but we’re getting use to those!   Finally, I would like to say how happy we our to have some new neighbors and golfers in our community. We welcome you and look forward to seeing you on the golf course.  I hope you will love your new community as much as we do.   Kathy                                            

THE ETIQUETTEist
 (NOTE:  Sometimes this column will be about facts.  Sometimes it will be about opinions.  Sometimes it will be about both. We will make every effort to distinguish between the two.  We sincerely welcome YOUR own opinions and feedback. ) 

  “Fun Play vs Tournament Play”    
                (Opinion) WE ALL DO IT. We hit a bad shot and immediately drop a second ball to improve the effort – calling it a “breakfast ball” - and not counting the first shot or the drop on our score cards.   We hit a ball into a water hazard, maybe even twice, then drop on the other side to continue the game.  We hit a ball Out Of Bounds but don’t count the extra penalty shot.  We move the ball from an unplayable area, but don’t count that action as a penalty shot.  We lift, clean and place in the rough when it is supposed to be in the fairway only.    We take long “gimme” putts.  We “improve” our lie to help the next shot.  You get the picture.   We do at least some of these things almost every time we play the game, almost unconsciously.  Actually it is good for practice and speeds up the game, especially when we are playing “just for fun”.    But there is a time when doing any of these things is a big “no no” and that’s when you are playing in a tournament. Right now, if you have read this far, you are nodding your head and thinking “I know all that, so what’s the point?”  The point is that even though we know all this, we often unconsciously do some of those “no no” things listed above and others in a tournament.  We sometimes interpret local rules to benefit ourselves or our team.  Often, the competitor is hesitant to call out the error for a host of reasons – we have all been there. Knowing the rules can actually  be a big advantage, working in the player’s favor.   Regardless of whether it is a Saturday Stableford, a Birthday Bash, or the Club Championship, we owe it to ourselves and our competitors to play by the rules when playing in competition. The “rules” are, by definition, those established by the USGA RULES OF GOLF and the  WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM (WHS) coupled with any  LOCAL RULES that are   identified by the professional staff of the golf club to accommodate specific local course conditions.   In summary, to be a good tournament player and to enjoy the competition, the first step is know the rules.  The second step is to follow the rules.   The final step is to apply them fairly to all the players.    As always, if the situation is unclear, play two balls and get clarification from the pro staff after the tournament.   Recently, Kathy Strunk and I  sat down with Sebastian to get the facts about some of the more common rule misinterpretations.      
   1.    Unplayable ball in a “penalty area” (old term “hazard”) Even when local rules declare Lift/Clean/Place, if the ball comes to rest in a penalty area and relief is taken, one penalty stroke must be added to the player’s score.  
  2.      Out of Bounds - Counting Strokes Whether you choose to use the traditional “stroke & distance” method or the new “drop at nearest point of relief and take 2 penalty shots” method,  the strokes count is identical. Example:  Ball hit OB from the tee using “stroke & distance” rule – 1 stroke for first hit, 1 stroke for placing second ball on tee, 1 stroke for next shot.  When reaching the playable ball, the player is lying 3, hitting 4. OR  ball  hit OB from the tee using “nearest point of relief” rule – 1 stroke for first hit, 2 strokes penalty.  When the player is at point of relief, she is lying 3, hitting 4.   
3.     Taking relief from a lateral “penalty area” The player is allowed to move  as far back as she wants before dropping the ball, with the 1 stroke penalty for an unplayable ball. 
Do you have a specific etiquette or rule  question?  Let me know!  I’ll do the  research, fact check it, and  publish the answer in a future newsletter to enlighten us all.        

 New Faces, New Golfers, New Friends
We asked our newest neighbors and golfing friends to tell us a little about themselves.  Here is what they said.

REBECCA MCKINNEY:  Spouse - Greg.  Kids - Cameron (22), Tanner (19), Landen (16), Weston (4), & Easton (2).  Address at Rivers Edge – 382 Laurel Valley Drive.  Hometown – Charlotte, NC. What drew you to Rivers Edge? Golf!  How long have you been golfing? 3 months.  What is one fun fact about yourself?  I love baking!

JULIE SANDE:  Spouse – Joe.  Kids – Ryan, Rose, Lauren & David  Address at Rivers Edge – 438 Laurel Valley Drive.  Hometown: Grew up in Melbourne, FL and have lived in Raleigh, NC for the past 27 years! What drew you to Rivers Edge? We wanted a golf community near the beach. We also wanted a community where we can have many different activities to choose from. How long have you been golfing? I started golfing after I got married but after having 4 kids, I didn’t play too much. Have been golfing more in the past couple of years. One fun fact about yourself: When I was 17, my softball team won the USSA World Championship in Kansas. Played teams from all over the world. We came home to Florida and had a police escort into our city. A very cool memory for me!

Kudos
   Some of us have performed admirably on the golf course this season and deserve the spotlight…  

Career Bests:   Kathy Strunk  82, Rebecca McKinney 94, Susan Raad 82 Kathleen Pasquale 95, Alice Bell 96, Andrea Barrett  48 (9 holes)
 
 Eagles:     Maralee Martin #17, Sue Raad # 17 
         
 Match Play Winner :  Shirley Arnold   
                     
 Member/Member Winners 1st Place:  Sandy Campbell & Shirley Arnold;    2nd Place:   Kathy Strunk & Roe DeRose  

Sweetheart Tournament Maralee Martin with her “golf sweetheart “ for the day, John Duncan  

1st Half 2020 Birthday Bash Winners:
 Birdie Tree  Flight 1 – Maralee Martin with 20 birdies and 1 eagle;  Flight 2 – Georgia Folkins with 2 birdies
Ringer Board:  Flight 1 – Sandy Campbell with 66;  Flight 2- Kathleen Pasquale with 76 Tee Time Game:  Front 9 – Roe DeRose, Kathleen Pasquale, Georgia Folkins                             Back 9 – Maralee Martin, Sally Johnson, Alice Bell  
July Stableford Winners : 1st Place “Ladies on the Edge”  (Jean  Arnold, Sandy Keck, Linda Lynes, Julie Sande);  2nd place “Fireballs” (Shirley Arnold, Sandy Campbell, Page Coker, Kathy Strunk)

Odds & Ends Did you know that Tail Activewear is now offering masks that coordinate perfectly with the outfits that many of us have?  How cute is that!  Gina will place an order for you – just email her at [email protected].  Cost is $6.50 for one, or five for $30.

Lastly, I have been advised that the print on the laminated cards with the information about the new world handicap posting system is just too small to read – I apologize. I am reprinting on the next page in a larger font so you won’t need your “cheaters”.  Of course, the easiest way is to input your score by hole into the GHIN system and let it do all the work for you.      Happy Golfing, Ladies!   

 World Handicap System In 3 Easy Steps             (Max Score To Be Used For Handicap Posting only)
  1. You Play A Hole Completely: (Called “Net Double Bogey”) • Par for the hole + 2 as the Double Bogey + your personal allowed course handicap* for that hole.
  2. You do not play a hole at all, e.g. lightning; emergency; pace of play: (Called “Net Par”) • Par for the hole + your personal allowed course handicap for that hole.
  3. You start, but do not finish a hole, e.g. lightning; emergency; pace of play: (Called “Most Likely Score”) • If the ball is within 5 feet of the hole, add one additional stroke. • If the ball is between 5 feet and 20 yards from the hole, add 2 or 3 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green, and the ability of the player.** • If the ball is more than 20 yards from the hole add 3 or 4 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green, and the ability of the player.**  
*Use the GHIN app to calculate specific handicap for course being played. Apply handicap strokes by hole starting with lowest handicap hole. Example: Course handicap is 25. Add one stroke per hole for 18, then add a second stroke to the 7 lowest handicap holes. (18+7=25).
  **Use good judgement and common sense.