Kenai Golf Report: Spring is running its course

Kenai Golf Course is coming along and shaping up. A little shower or two would certainly help the fairways fill in.

However, the golfers are excited to see what is happening on and around the greens. Presently, the greens are a little fuzzy to help promote maximum growth.

According to the scores posted so far, the course is playing well and the possibility of shooting one of your best rounds is certainly possible at this time of the season.

Mixed Doubles

Monday evenings the mixed doubles gets under way with tee times starting at 6:30 p.m. Call in your tee times to reserve your spot.

The event is open to all mixed teams looking for a relaxing evening on the course. The only pressure on golfers is to have a great time.

This week the team of Dave and Shelley Ramsey took the "mystery hole" with the lowest combined score on No. 5. Don and Jan Erwin took the fewest putts also on No. 5.

Each week, golfers play their own rounds but the results usually depend on the whim of the gal at the desk with the help of the marshal.

Any team of any skill level is invited to join the Monday evening of mixed "just for fun" doubles.

Kenai Cup

Kenai Cup match play starts on June 5 with tee times starting at 5:40 p.m. Get your partner and sign up for the league. The format is nine-hole match play each Wednesday, alternating from the front nine to the back nine.

Tee times will be posted in clubhouse.

The teams may be made up of just about any combination of golfers. The league has had father and son, husband and wife, gals' teams, guys' teams all participate in the match play.

The only requirement is to be a Kenai Golf Association member and to maintain a current handicap. You might contact Doug Haralson for more details.

A list of substitutes is posted on the board in the clubhouse. Those wishing to substitute please get your names and phone numbers listed. Substitutes are a very important part of the league. With our busy summers, there is no telling when a golfer may hook up with a barn door halibut and have to get a sub while he or she takes care of the catch.

Men's Night

The team of Jerry "Steady" Norris, Andy Anderson, Lorne Smagge and James Grant carded a 3- under to take first place. The team of Richard Martin, Eddie Sibolboro, Jeff Johns and Kirk Hyman came in second with 2-under. The second-place team scored an eagle on No. 2 with a fantastic second shot from Richard Martin.

The slugger of the week was Richard Martin with the longest drive on No. 2. Closest to the pin on No. 5 was Rahn Kerkvliet at 38 feet, 1 inch. Closest to No. 9 was James Grant with 11 feet, 9 inches. Don Wright was the only golfer with a "pure birdie." Remember the "pure birdie" is the golfer who uses his ball from tee to green.

Great shots guys!

Men's night starts at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday. Get there as soon as possible as the starting time will be 6:30 p.m. sharp. The drawing time will start at 6:15 pm. Call in ahead of time to get your name on the list.

Junior Golf

The first session of the junior golf will start on June 4. Call the clubhouse to get names of interested juniors on the list. Call the Pro Shop for more information and details at 283-7500. There are a few more days to sign up for the junior sessions, but space is limited so get signed up as soon as possible.

Junior Cup

The junior tryouts for the Junior Cup match play will be at 10 a.m. June 3, 4, 5, 10 and 11. Juniors are invited to try out for the twice-a-week match play at both local courses.

Use any or all the tryout days to secure a spot on the team. Eight golfers will be selected to play in the weekly match play. In the past, golfers from 12 to 17 years of age have played in the junior cup match play.

Masonic Tournament

The Masonic Golf Tournament is scheduled to start at 8 a.m. on June 8 and 9 with tee times.

The tournament is a two-day, 18-hole scramble. There will be a barbecue, 18 holes of golf each day, fun and laughter and all for their scholarship fund.

This season most of the tournament scrambles will use tee times to start the tournaments.

It leaves the course open for public play also. There will be open tee times in the morning on tournament days. You might get out before the tournaments get started.

The Firefighters Tournament on June 15 also will have an 8 a.m. tee time start.

This will allow the general public to play golf on the weekends even though a tournament may be in progress. With tee times assigned the play should move along as it does on any other day of play at the course. Most courses do this to maximize the daily play and to not deny non-tournament golfers weekend morning play.

Logo?

The Kenai Golf Association is still looking for ideas for a logo. Everyone is invited to submit a logo that will be used on jackets, caps, shirts, etc. You may use the Kenai Golf Course logo as part of your design. There must be someone on the Peninsula with an imagination and artistic skills to put a logo together.

The KGA really would like to have it soon so the logos will appear on this season's tee shirts. We can't order any tee shirts until we have a logo!

There is a $100 gift certificate waiting for the designer of the logo that is chosen to appear on KGA items.

Lessons Anyone?

This is a great time to start the season out by getting that grip, stance, pre-shot routine down. There are certain basics that are important to your game especially if you desire to improve it. Bill Engberg can help golfers with the basics or improve the seasoned golfers skills. Call for an appointment at 283-7500.

Many golfers go out just for fun to beat that ball around the course strictly for enjoyment. It makes no difference to many golfers how many shots they take. That is a wonderful way to play the game and most golfers are content to do just that. Golf is like any other game and should be enjoyable and fun.

However, if you are competitive or interested in improving your game, it is a good idea to start out with the basics. Amazing how a couple of lessons can help your game move along.

Closing Thoughts

For local golfing news, go to www.golfkenai.homestead.com and see what is happening at the Kenai Golf Course. You will find the 2002 tournament schedule, listing of weekly activities, junior dates for activities, golfing items for sale, and all sorts of golfing news and links.

Don't forget to mark your calendar for the upcoming Kenai River Festival on June 8 and 9. It is one of my favorite festivals. I know you will enjoy it.

There is something for all to enjoy, music all day, food, craft booths, river activities for kids and best of all you may run into friends you haven't seem in ages. With our long days you will have time to take in the festival and still get in a round of golf.

The trees are filling out, the cranes are about, fish are being caught and the moose calves are making a showing.

What a time of the year!

Gather up your golfing equipment and head out to the course.

See you at the Pro Shop.