ATAG vs IRMA!

9-12-17: By Doug Healy

It wasn’t even close. No sooner had the last vestiges of Irma passed through the city when a dedicated cadre of ATAG’ers showed up on our rain soaked course to battle for the golden ale. Truth be told, the lack of electricity, television and food at home was equally responsible for a very respectable turn out of 15 players including our assistant pro Tyler Hays. The clubhouse lights were burning bright and the course was open for business despite the loss of several big trees and significant debris scattered around. Many thanks to our clubhouse, golf and grounds staffs for keeping the facilities open despite what I am sure were trying times for all. The ATAG’ers had the course to themselves as there was not a single other player to be found.

First things first. Commissioner Nichols celebrated his 70th birthday on this exact day which was commemorated by his move to the white tees (see the Photo Gallery) from where he fired a blazing 45/35 besting his handicap by 1 stroke. To top things off, he ended up on the winning team contributing a score or holding serve on 6 of 9 holes, quite an impressive performance for someone who has been threatening to abandon the game entirely.

In other news, it was reported that Kevin McGlynn became a grandfather last week to a healthy future ATAG’er Barnes McGlynn. On a more somber note, Kevin’s son Alex, Ansley member and new father, is unlikely to be able to play another round of golf for at least 10 years.

The winning team of Gooding, Nichols, Majors and Hays posted an impressive
-15 and blew away the field. Gaining 2 strokes on every hole except 1 and 18 and dropping in 4 birdies made them untouchable. In fact if you added up the scores of the other 3 teams, they would still win. Coming in second was the team of Schmal, McGlynn, Kisgen and draw partner Nichols at -6. Again the Commissioner made his presence known by contributing a score on 5 holes. The closest battle of the day was between the team of Healy, Colbath, Thornhill and Morris vs the team of Sawyer, Martin, Jobson and Meagher to avoid last place. What would have been a four hole playoff in favor of Healy, Colbath et al to avoid last place, turned in favor of the Sawyer, Martin team after a last minute, corrective swipe of the indelible pen by Bill Meagher turned their score from a -4 to a -5.

Individual highlights include Tyler’s 33/33 with 3 birdies, Majors shot of the day with a hole out birdie from the bunker on #5, a birdie on #8 by Mike Schmal and 5 extraordinarily long par putts by Tim Martin which turned a 48 into a 43. Low net went to Ron Majors 36/32 and the Pink Lady went to Henry Sawyer 51/40 barely edging out Kevin McGlynn at 50/39.

No notable antics were observed on the porch following the round.

Individual Scores As Follows:

Gooding 41/33, Nichols 45/35, Majors 36/32 Hays 33/33
Schmal 40/34, McGlynn 50/39, Kisgen 50/38
Sawyer 51/40, Martin 43/36, Jobson 48/36, Meagher 42/39
Healy 45/38, Colbath 50/38, Thornhill 40/35, Morris 46/37

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS:  Wow, a special day for me indeed. Turning 70 is a milestone birthday and the fact that it occurred on an ATAG Tuesday and that I was on the winning team made it even more special. I appreciate all of the free beers (those given and those promised to come) and all the “happy birthday” wishes from my fellow ATAGers. Some have asked how it feels to now be 70 years old (other than getting to move up one tee box). I am reminded what Satchel Paige said when he was asked what it is like to be old. “Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it don’t matter.”   I don’t mind.