"You've just one problem. You stand too close to the ball after you've hit it."

--Sam Snead

Stat of the Week
Myrtle Beach: If consistency is the mark of a good golfer
then no wonder we are the BGA. Our scores have ranged from a
high of 142 to a low of 87.
Mr. FourSkin 's range is 91 to 114 (a differential of 23);
The Snowman from 101 to 142 (a remarkable 41 difference);
Mr. Fifteen 92 to 137 (a BGA-high differential of 45);
and Commish 87 to 125 (an embarrassing differential of 38)
_____________________________

The Lack of Golf Etiquette or How to Remove the Enjoyment from a Round of Golf
Instead of a recap of another embarrassing round, let me address a serious issue on the golf course...a lack of common sense portrayed  especially by new and/or arrogant golfers. We know that we are not even par golfers but bad golf can be played quickly. Yesterday was a slow round, period. We were a twosome this day and the threesome in front of us shuffled along slow enough to wear on our nerves, but they were behind another slow group so they were not going anywhere. So, we waited between shots, joking, complaining about slow play, whatever, until the green cleared and we could hit again. Chip, putt, putt another bogey and on to the next tee where we would wait. Some days are just like this when you play at the local muni.

Behind us was a single, a young red-headed, pimple-faced lad with some game. Game maybe but not a modicum of class or common sense.
On #5 we were waiting for the green to clear, one in the woods (175 yards out) and the other in the fairway, some 150 yards away. The green clears, I step up to my ball to hit and in my backswing my partner yells to the kid on the tee to wait. He was going to hit into us because he was tired of waiting. Young kid, we let it go. Two quick bogeys and on the #6, a par 3. Looking back to the teebox to insure our safety, we had a quick bogey and a par and moved on to #7.

While waiting to hit our second shots a ball scooted past my tee shot, then another. "Hey I'm standing here," I shouted back at him. Bogey, bogey and on to #8.

Waiting on the tee box, we watched the kid behind us play 2 balls to the green until we could tee off. Tee shot about 240 in the fairway leaving 100 yards to the green and then wait for the green to clear. Finally set up for my second shot and another ball comes past me maybe 5 yards to my right. As Commish, I figured it was time to have a little heart-to-heart with this freckle-faced, red-headed kid so I politely picked up his ball and rode back to him with it.

"Enough," I said as I pointed a finger at him and told him, without raising my voice, that it would not happen again, "Do you hear me?" and tossed him his ball. He did not drive into us on #9.

It's terrific that so many people want to play our sport but where is the common sense? Slow play is aggravating but if there is no where to go either get a grip and relax while you wait or do everyone a favor and just quit the game. Those are your choices. As for me, I hope that redheaded, freckle-faced kid quits because only a full-fledged fool would play the way he did yesterday. 

By the way The Commish had low net yesterday and won FREE BEER from Mr. Fifteen at the fabulous Crackpot Restaurant, the BGA's home away from home.

For a more complete report, read "The Scribe's Report" for an "unbiased" accounting of the round. 

_____________________

Ocean City Experience #2
The weekend of April 21-22, 2012 marked the BGA's second Ocean City Experience. Dire weather predictions of a fierce nor'easter did not bode well but we did get one round in at Deer Run before the storm hit but were rained out of our scheduled round and review of Bear Trap. With the extra downtime we were able to spend more time enjoying some of the other attractions that OC has to offer. Be sure to check out our review of Deer Run Golf Course and also some of the places to eat, especially Mr. FourSkin's favorite eatery, "That Pink Place."

The Games We Play

We have been asked about the games we play and as a "service" to our friends we present our "Golfing for Beer" games. The BGA is nothing if we are not cheap. The only thing we enjoy more than a golfing bargain is beating the crap out of each other. That and laughing at a spectacularly bad shot, of course. Over the years we have found that winning is the important thing, not winning money, just winning. But there had to be a prize to make winning worthwhile. Enter the "Golfing for Beer" games.

exclusive report from The Snowman

Bob Hope always ended his shows singing, "Thanks for the memories". What memories are the members of the BGA thankful for when looking back on 2011?
The BGA dodged the rain drops just long enough to get in a chilly 44 degree round to open the season on March 23. The next week provided one of the most memorable moments in BGA history as the fearless duffers battled snow, sleet and hail on the 4th hole to register three snowmen and an El Niño. The infamous "Hail Hole" became an instant classic in BGA lore. The BGA was truly a group of bad golfers during the early part of 2011 as it took 4 rounds for anyone to break 50 and after 7 rounds each player was shooting between 3-1/2 to 5 strokes higher than their 2010 average.....

continued on The Snowman's Page

Upcoming Events (see Schedule for additional details)

What is a "Mashie"?
Do you know what a mid-mashie is? How about a niblick? If you have ever wondered what these names really mean then click here.

Embrace Your
Inner Snowman...

Visit the BGA Store for
embroidered Tees and Hats