A Brief Tour of the Goat Tracking Museum, circa September, 2009:
We'll rely on Sherpa/curator Jeff for better explanations on the significance of some portions of the pic above left, but the synopsis of the exhibits in the Goat Tracking Museum displayed above is....
PIctured at left, (top left, moving clockwise) the backs of the scorecards from each Goat Track that was "fortunate enough" to be part of the GT Minor Event Rotation in 2009, tastefully framed (slightly larger picture at right); mid-right (and a backdrop for lower right), the GT bag towel that Sherpa Jeff earned based on his low (Callaway) net score at the 4th GT Minor Event of 2008 at Airways; next, (bottom) some random golf balls, (panning up) the 2006 Goat Tracker of the Year Trophy, the first ever awarded, at the GT Open in April, 2007. "Nothing says 'golf expertise' quite like a girls' basketball trophy." Last but not least, the "No Minors Allowed" sign. It may have originally had a home at Keney's 19th, but we can't say for sure, nor do we know how it ended up in the Goat Tracking Museum, other than by "charitible donation."
The 2010 GT Minor Events
The GT British Experience, 7/22 at The Tradition GC-Windsor
(review still under revision; to be posted soon)
The Willie Li Memorial Open, 6/24 at the Urban Goat Track, Keney
On what could only be described as a Keneyriffic late afternoon, we embarked on the fifth (yes fifth) annual Goat Track Minor Event at the inimitable Keney Golf Course in the north end of Hartford. This GT Minor Event shares one thing in common with the PGA Tour event (Travelers Championship) held a few miles south of the UGT at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell this week; a lot of name changes. Since 2006, Keney has hosted the second Minor Event of the GT season and has been referred to as: The Urban Goat Track Open, The Don't Leave Your Car Windows Open, and the Willie Li Memorial Open. This year, it came close to being renamed yet again, as The Minor Disappointment (runner up was The Minor Minor), based on what was shaping up as historically low turnout for this Event; definitely not in the spirit of Willie Li.
That said, there were rumors that the 2008 Goat Tracker of the Year, known as Wink, might make the trek up from New Jersey for this Minor Event. Any potential disappointment about attendance was quickly swept away when Wink showed up. We shouldn't have even questioned whether he would show, based on his classic quote from last year, prior to the fourth Minor Event at Airways (as noted by Sherpa JB), "Wink called me to say he was driving up for some Tracking. I said, 'Hey, that's a long ride for just 9 holes and by the way, it may rain.' Without a second's hesitation, Wink responded, 'That's what the Goat Tracker of the Year does. See you later.'" Understandable why that quote is memorialized on the GT Notable Quotables section of the GT home page and why Wink earned the 2008 Goat Tracker of the Year Award.
Moving on, those who did participate in the 2010 Willie Li Memorial Open took to the Track like a duck to water, or, possibly in a more familiar context, like crabgrass to a tee box.
There was a "threat of severe thunderstorms (with golf ball-sized hail)" hanging over this event per the dopplerheads, and not for the first time, either. Pending disaster, aside from that which shows up on our scorecards, seems to be part of what makes this a classic GT Minor Event. Not that we want to push the hubris envelope (as the Tracker known as Friar Tuck says, "the gods always punish hubris"), but if we didn't know better, we'd think that the golf gods, for some reason, seem to look favorably, if not smile, on this Minor Event. We've been pretty fortunate as far as not getting pummeled by forecast thunderstorms and having most enjoyable conditions to pummel away at the course.
As for the Minor Event itself, a few observations, some of which are in line with prior GT Minor Event reviews:
Track Acumen: We play plenty of goofy-looking shots, but not many have risen to the "high standards" of Track Acumen lately. Displays of Track Acumen have a way of being accidental, but can always be spun, using the Scott Van Pelt term, as "a useful golf shot." Of the three "unconventional golf shots" we witnessed during this round, as much as we'd hate to give the nod to Golfer Number Two, he earned the biggest golf clap; mainly because his display of Track Acumen earned him a par on the 17th. Somehow it found some space between the overhanging limbs he was trying to stay under from the hardpan lie near the tree root where it started; then the shot just seemed to take on a life of its own as it landed well short of the elevated green and...just...kept...crawling...up...to...the dance floor (we're no strangers to topspin on skulled shots, but that shot seemed to have just a bit more than topspin). It's almost as if the ball, after being slobbed around for several holes said, "enough of this crap. we will not be denied par on this hole!" And it wasn't. Nearly brilliant "shotmaking." As for the runners-up, Wink threw a nice bounce against the only tree on the right side of the 15th fairway to set himself up for a decent 2nd shot; Joe did an excellent job of skullf***ing a shot across the narrow bridge on the same hole, adding an element of excitement to what could've otherwise been a boring approach shot.
Course Improvements: It's a love/hate relationship. We hate (strong word, let's use "don't really like" instead) the folks currently running Keney for killing Dollar Day, but we're willing to go along for the "course improvement ride" because it is a cool course that...may, just may... have been "slightly neglected" for the past 15 years (that we're aware of, possibly longer) and some "improvements" wouldn't be such a bad thing.
Focusing on the small stuff, as is our habit, the tee box alignment on #15 (pic pending) was just too funny; we've never seen criss-crossed tee markers. Kudos. Possibly even better was the fact that, as Joe pointed out, it looks like they're constructing a new "championship tee" on the 16th hole (should've taken a couple of pics to to put it in perspective, but unfortunatedly did not), which will no doubt put any gollfer on the 15th in a perilous position. We're accustomed to seeing the Hartford and State Police near Keney, but Lifestar, not so much. Consider it a lock that after that "championship tee box" becomes playable, someone playing the 15th will be helicoptered out.
Other Minutiae: We documented it after the first GT Minor Event of 2010, so we may as well do it here, too. Brooks shot an impressive 42 to earn low gross honors and all the accolades that go with it, which are essentailly none. Sherpa Matt's course record of 39 from 2006 is still in tact and, based on Brooks missing a very makeable birdie putt from within ten feet on #17, probably wasn't in any jeopardy.
We were glad to have a committed (or soon to be committed) group on hand to enjoy this Minor Event at the Urban Goat Track. Aside from a few raindrops, it was an exceptional evening of Tracking, only to be surpassed by the contact high achieved on the drive out of Keney Park.
The GT Open, 4/15 at The GT, Copper Hill
On this sunny, late afternoon, the Goat Trackers kicked off the fifth official Goat Track Minor Event season at the esteemed Copper Hill Golf Club.
There was some pre-first tee agida when the "nominating committee" learned that the winner of the 2009 Goat Tracker of the Year Award would not be able to attend the season-opening GT Minor Event to receive his trophy. We were of course disappointed, but not all that surprised. This did not, however, put a damper on the proceedings, as Sherpa JB set the tone for this Minor Event, and the 2010 Goat Tracking season, with yet another stirring and inspirational speech to put us in the proper frame of mind as we prepared for another season of serious sod beating. The Sermon from the Golf Mount always makes the first Minor Event of the year a truly emotionally moving experience
From the First Tee, it appeared that there had been some course improvements made to the GT in the off season; also stands to reason that those improvements may have looked even more impressive to anyone flying a couple thousand feet above the course on an approach to nearby Bradley International Airport.
We appreciate the history of the game and at the first GT Minor Event of 2010 (which is played the week following the Masters), we were inspired by classic Augusta National landmarks, such as the Hogan Bridge and the Eisenhower Tree, when we dubbed the pond in front of the 2nd tee at the GT "Geoghegan's Pond" (we'll work out the logistics of putting up the proper signage at a later date). Anyone who's read prior Minor Event recaps knows that Sherpa Matt has earned the title of "GT Natural Historian" largely based on his expertise regarding reptilian copulatory activity in and around said pond, with other field research to round out his resume. Matt set the tone on the first hole when he found a "pregnant or overfed" gartersnake near his ball in the swampy patch between the 1st green and 9th tee. The pond on the 2nd was like shooting fish in a barrel for the Dr. Doolittle of Goat Trackers.
- although the signs were subtle, we did learn that turtle mating season was in full swing and...
- based on that, we drew the conclusion that the motionless turtle, half-submerged, head down in the pond had apparently "mated itself to death;" good for him; went out in what was most certainly a slow-paced blaze of glory.
Shockingly, there were no displays of Track Acumen that garnered enough attention to earn the sleeve of "limited edition Goat-Track.com imprinted golf balls" ($5/dozen at Wal-Mart, who wouldn't strive for that?) offered as a prize for such efforts. We'd like to think that the lack of noteworthy Track Acumen displays was a result of raising our standards, but who are we kidding?
Other "Highlights" and Random Observations from the GT Open
Scenery: One of the houses abutting the left side of the 4th hole has an impressive new stone patio. Sounds like minutiae and probably is, but...we've been disappointed for years by the lack of swimsuit model sunbathing activity at what we thought was an ideal location on the deck at the house overlooking the 8th tee. We are once again optimistic.
Course Improvements: Aside from the greens not being nearly as unputtable as they were for most of last year (somewhat disappointing; even the 4th, the "benchmark green," was navigable with merely a few bounces), the most striking "improvement" to the Goat Track was t
he new tee markers. We took a picture of one...because that's the kind of stuff we pay attention to. Sherpa Matt, with his finely tuned sense of "feng shui," added the can of Miller High Life on the 2nd shutter click, just to frame it properly. Upon seeing the Miller can on the tee box, one of the Trackers in the group behind us on the tee commented, "Hey! Who got laid off?" Just livin' the High Life, baby; a tasty beer at a tasty price.Etiquette, an alternate take: The 5th hole seems harmless, and generally is, if you've dipped yourself in mosquito repellent beforehand, but it can be tricky, especially if someone else plays your ball. It was almost uncanny how Sherpa Jeff benignly asked, "Anyone playing a Titleist? after finishing the hole with Sherpa JB's ball. This was of course after Sherpa JB took a drop and played out of the same greenside bunker twice, experiencing "sand trap deja vu" on an over-and-back that left us speechless. Kudos to Sherpa Jeff on the Jedi Mind Trick.
This Minor Event kicked off with the "challenging" number of seven eager participants. With history as a guide, we split into a foursome and threesome. Ultimately though, the irresistible force of playing with something more than a foursome led us to play the last two holes as a 7-some, something we've resisted since the 2008 UGTO. This resulted in two things: enough shiny objects used as ball markers on the 8th green to possibly signal aliens for a landing and 2) a great back and forth on the 9th tee with the twosome that we insisted play though our group:
"You guys wanna play through after we finish teeing off?"Other Minutiae, just because we usually document this kind of stuff: Golfer Number Two won low gross, which, based on the number on the card, should probably be renamed "least gross."
"Not a big deal, but sure. Thanks. I wish i had that many friends to play golf with"
"They're not friends."
Well put, Sherpa Jeff.
In the end, the GT Open was a great time had by all. We may not be able to predict how many times a putt will bounce on its way to or around the cup, but we can predict with "metaphysical certitude" that the first GT Minor Event of the season will unquestionably be a lot of fun. And we were dead-on there. We were also glad to have a new Tracker enter the fold; not sure whether he knows what he's in for this season, but he seems unfazed so far, and that's a good sign.
The GT Championship, 8/27 at Airways
Despite going through a fairly dank summer, it took only one week for Mother Nature and the Airways Maintenance Staff to return this fine Track to prime form for the fourth Goat Track Minor Event of the season. Nothing short of sublime.
For most of the nine Goat Trackers who made their way to this illustruious Minor Event, it was a return to the conditions we've come to expect at Airways; possibly why we always save this Goat Track for the final Minor Event of the season. We love that this course plays a "little bit differently" mid to late summer...and that's why it's a cornerstone of the GT Minor Event rotation.
It didn't hurt that we had our customary five-some out there; it seems that it's just not a GT Minor Event unless there's a five-some involved.
Nearly right off the bat, or at least on the 11th, GTC made the astute observation that high-lofted shots would do no good on this Track...at least not on this day; better to go with the low screamers. Play to what the Track gives. Brilliiant. That set the tone for further displays of Track Acumen.
The best Track Acumen displays we observed were on the 13th, when we saw impressive bridge caroms from both groups on the par-3, the second more mind-boggling than the first. Outstanding.
As for the "usual displays" of Track Acumen, no one dinged a drive off the barn on #18, which, although slightly disappointing, was fine; it was nearly as impressive that the five-some was looking for all five of its tee shots in the vicinity of the same maple tree in the left rough as darkness closed in.
The BCC Thing: As noted on the BCC page, it's widely know that Airways' BCC's tend to mingle among the AARP-eligible crowd. Some semi-neophytes who shall remain nameless, were disappointed. A true Goat Tracker knows enough not to be disappointed. Why? Because when the rest return to school... who's there to serve and pour your beer? The Airways BCC, that's who!
(BCC Thing continued) "The Tube Steak Episode": Apparently things have no chance to go anything but awry with a BCC who may be hard of hearing. Golfer Numer Two didn't quite catch the initial exchange, but was on board for the follow-up, which was no less bizarre.
It seemed to start off with a harmless, "What are you offering?" At Airways, there is no more harmless question; it's a beer in a cup, generally end of story. Then there was a "surf and turf" follow-up and a "tube steak" response, which set the story-telling wheels in motion. If the BCC were offering "tube steak," of course this had to degenerate into a weird transgender conversation, courtesy of Wink. Truly memorable, if not truly unshakable.
Moving on: As it turned out, with Sherpa Matt announcing scores off the cards that only a few of us wanted to hear or make public, Wink and Sherpa JB shared low gross honors. It gathered enough of a ho-hum response on the drinking deck that they weren't forced back onto the course for a sudden death playoff, which could've been pretty literal, had they resumed play, given how dark it was.
As Sherpa JB noted (and we at Goat-Track.com concur), "Many thanks to Sherpa Jeff for taking the reigns on the Event Coordinator front (last year too)." Thanks to all for their efforts and participation. We seem to have a Goat Track Minor Event routine down, but it's hardly routine...and that's what makes it good Goat Tracking.
The quintesential sendoff was, "Order what you want, we're closing up, leave your empty pitchers on the porch. Thanks." If this isn't the classic close to the Goat Track Minor Event season, someone please tell us what is.
The Dank British Experience, 7/23
On what became a rainy early evening, nine dedicated Goat Trackers made their way to the Tradition GC in Windsor for the third Minor Event of the Goat Tracking season. A perfect level of participation, since it allowed us to get a five-some on the course, which is something of a staple at these events.
We may have been playing the same front 9 as we did at this event la
st year, but
you'd never know it by looking at the course. Gone were the mushrooms
sprouting from the greens, the grass sprouting from the middle of the
pond on #3 (pictured at right), and most of the other
conditions that truly made this Track stand apart, even from the other
distinguished courses in the GT Minor Event rotation. Hell, the patio
on the 19th was even open! The folks at the Tradition certainly pulled
out all the stops when it came to prepping for this Minor Event. Thanks
go to Sherpa Jeff for coordinating the effort.Two's a coincidence, three's a trend: This Minor Event seems to be gaining in stature each year, based in large part on the weather conditions. Unsettled in 2008 and downright soaking wet in 2009, the Tradition has provided us the conditions necessary to recreate the ambience of the British Open at this Goat Track Minor Event. So much so, that Sherpa Matt dared think ahead to next year's event, wondering whether we might be so fortunate as to have microbursts or something similar in store.
Shot of the Day: There was some lively discussion on this subject and three nominees came to the fore: Joe's 50-foot putt on #5 (with a few interesting bounces along the way), his shot through the pond on #8 (possibly with some assistance from a turtle's back), and Matt's drive on #9 (which his driver followed for a good 30 yards before giving up the chase).
Just so it's been properly documented, Sherpa Matt did have the distinction of winning low gross (or least gross, based on what the scores were), barely eking it out by one shot. For his efforts, Matt received the satisfaction of knowing he was a little less horrible than the rest of us on this day and not much else.
After experimenting with East Hartford/Long Hill CC in the first year of the GT British Experience, The Tradition has firmly rooted itself, like crabgrass in a GT fairway, as the preferred Track for this Minor Event. With any luck, it won't be developed into condos anytime soon.
The UGTO 6/25, a/k/a "The Willie Li Memorial Open" (Check the 2006 UGTO review for better context)
This year's Urban Goat Track Open, a/k/a "The Willie Li Memorial Open," was different from UGTO's past, but that's what makes it a classic Goat Track Minor Event. The co-event coordinators, Sherpa Jeff and Sherpa JB, did a great job of getting this Minor Event on Track, so to speak. Tee times, sure that was easy; a blind squirrel could've pulled that off, provided we didn'tknock it out of a tree first, but getting the Great Room to stay open past 8:00, that was sheer Goat Tracker Influence. Of course, we made sure to leave the golf course/cricket fields before the "post-sunset police crackdown" came, which was inevitable, given recent developments at the UGT.
The level of participation for this Minor Event was difficult to predict, but ended up being respectable, maybe even just about right. Having a 5-some in the mix and a GT Minor Event first-timer on board was a good combination.
We vowed not to revisit the 7-some train wreck of the 2008 UGTO, but a 5-some, in "violation of course rules," was right in the GT Minor Event wheelhouse. There were some tense moments when it had to be cleared by "clubhouse personnel" to make sure that it wouldn't slow the pace of play for the next group...sometime Friday morning....
Jen, the Keney BCC, brought with her some sanity, in addition to charm and liquid refreshment, to the situation on one of her stops. "You are the only guys on the course." We're not sure whether it's a step up, but we fully support Jen if she wants to work in the pro shop setting up tee times.
Kickers: We threw a few out there, including "most errant tee shot/best recovery" and "longest putt."
Although "longest putt" generally isn't somthing we'd consider at such a prestigious event (because it may require use of a tape measure), it seemed like a good idea, since Golfer Number Two figured it wouldn't be longer than eight feet, based on recent rain-enhanced glacierly putting conditions. As Rabbit Ears and Golfer Number Two agreed and pointed out prior to the Minor, "It's best to gauge the speed of the greens by the amount of casual water you can see in the right rough on #9 as you drive past it to the parking lot." Their expertise is to be respected based on the "Rooster Tail Dollar Day Putting Experience."
Astonishingly enough, Brooks and Golfer Number Two drained putts of 30 and 20 feet, respectively, without incurring injury by swinging from their heels. Bravo!
Not for a lack of effort, but this GT Minor Event didn't yield as many classic displays of Track Acumen as we had hoped. Dennis may have had the best "conventional" shot of the day, nearly holing out from behind the greenside bunker on the 8th, but that said, it's all about quality over quantity.
It all worked itself out in a karmic GT way, as the clear winner of "shot of the day" combined aspects from previous GT Minor Events. It may have started with Sherpa Matt trying to wrest the "anti-Lorax" title from Sherpa Jeff, by nailing every tree in sight, with mixed results. It certainly gained momentum when Matt violated the 90-degree rule. And it came to a nearly crushing climax when Matt, in clear violation of the 90-degree rule, blocked a temple-bound shot from Jeff with his wrist. As Matt picked himself up off the ground, Jeff, ever mindful about Track management, asked, "Hey, did you see where my ball went?" More dangerous than we'd like, but in a way, the quintessence of a Goat Track Minor Event.
It's safe to say that Jeff doesn't like his anti-Lorax status f****d with by other GT Sherpas. Those who dare to break the 90-degree rule do so at their own risk.
The GT Open 4/16 at the Goat Track (a/k/a Copper Hill GC, f/k/a Fox Run at Copper Hill)
Pictured above: (left) 2007 Goat Tracker of the Year, Sherpa Matt, presenting the prestigious trophy to 2008 Goat Tracker of the Year, Wink, behind the first tee at the GT; an award ceremony so moving that it induced a narcoleptic episode from the recipient; (top right) a close-up of the 2008 Goat Tracker of the Year trophy. To paraphrase JFK, "some people say, why present a remaindered sailing trophy for a golf event? Goat Trackers say, why not?" (bottom right) the cart corral, a favorite landing zone for Sherpa Matt's shots on the 9th hole and the place where the beer cart sits idle, unfortunately.
Baited anticipation. It's the only way to describe the buildup to the 2009 Goat Track Open. New course management (taking a page out of the WWE playbook, they "got the Fox out"), combined with an early course closing last year (i.e., before snowfall) made the Goat Trackers who look forward to this spring ritual more than a bit anxious.
That anxiousness quickly subsided though, when the skies were fair, the parking lot was only half full, and it became clear to the eight steadfast Goat Trackers who made their way towards the first tee that this was going to be a great Tracking day.
As is our tradition at the first Goat Track Minor Event of the season, we presented the Goat Tracker of the Year Award for the prior Tracking season, which is always an emotionally moving ceremony. There's always a lot of speculation over the winter as to who may be the lucky winner and it just adds to the buildup for the first GT Minor Event of the year. This year's recipient, the Tracker known as "Wink," came from great distances to to earn and accept this prestigous award. An abridged testimonial from a member of the top secret nominating committee (think free mason society) that bestows this honor is attached.
Kickers: Breaking with tradition a bit, but still in good Goat Tracker form; they weren't discussed until after the hacking was done. While "best Shot off a Tree" has been a staple of GT Minor Events almost since their inception, it was unspoken and acknowledged amongst the Trackers that this kicker may not be in play in its usual form (mainly to give someone other than Sherpa Jeff, a/k/a the Lorax, a crack at it). Even when confronted with the un-level playing field, Sherpa Jeff showed some of the "skill" that earned him the 2006 Goat Tracker of the Year award. We may have tried to dumb down the kicker by calling it something inane like "shot of the day," but those in the know are well aware that it's all about the "best display of Track Acumen" and Jeff's "multimedia" shots (using both the water and trees in one magnificent display on #2, for example) demonstrated a skill level we all aspire to. The hope among the rest of us is that we can apply such skill and also...possibly...make par.
Track Conditions: First off, we were hopeful that there would be no drastic changes to the Goat Track since we last played it...and we were pleased.
Sure, new management may have made its mark by putting in shiny new plastic tee markers, color coding the flags (front, middle, back) and jamming some striped 150-to-the-green sticks into the middle of fairways that we rarely visit, but we know enough to recognize that these cosmetic changes can't seriously alter the Track.
On the first hole, Golfer Number Two sprayed a couple of shots into the soft spots to the left and right of the fairway to check for potential sinkholes; fortunately, there were none.
We were concerned however, that the muskrat that serves as the GT's unofficial mascot was missing from the pond on #2. On the other hand, since the pond wasn't in its usual green state, we were pleased to see that it provided a good landing/swimming spot for some mallard ducks, a reasonable tradeoff.
The greens were a topic of discussion among the two foursomes and at the 19th. One word that consistently came up was "craterous." As Sherpa JB noted in his 2008 "Mouth Closed Open" recap, "the greens at the GT are most accurately described as awful." What came across this year was the quintessence of the axiom, "there is no break on a green at a public course." To make up for the lack of break, as Mel noted, one had to factor in how the ball would jump/bounce out of the craters. The 90-degree hops were truly impressive to watch.
In all, it was a great start to the 2009 Goat Tracking season. We're looking forward to the next GT MInor Event, the Urban Goat Track Open, at Keney in late June.
A recap of the GT Minor Events of 2008...
8/13/08: The GT Championship
Acting Event Coordinator Sherpa Jeff did a great job by moving this Minor Event up a week, to what by consensus is/was/will be known as the Best Tracking Day of 2008. This is a great example of how he earned the first official Goat Tracker of the Year award in 2006.
After the last few rounds played at The Goat Track (as well as other local Goat Tracks) in late July/early August, the consensus was that none of our favorite Tracks would hit their usual prime midseason form this year, based on cooler temps and more rainfall than usual. (Oddly enough, Simsbury Farms came the closest to hitting prime Track form, after a car accident nearby broke a water main and shut down irrigation on the course for a few days in July).
While not the golden harvest hue that we've grown accustomed to this time of year, Airways did not disappoint at all. Sure, the greens were the most puttable of any at the four Goat Tracks that were part of this year's "Minor Event rotation," but that was precisely where you got sucked in. Airways attempted to throw the seasoned Trackers off their game by going Costanza on us, i.e., doing the exact opposite of what we expected. We expected slow, brown, and crabgrass-filled greens; we got (relatively) quick, green, and fescue-filled greens. We expected dry, we got dank. We were truly impressed, although shocked was the first word that came to mind for many of us.
After making the necessary adjustments to the Track conditions, we were able to press on along with the others that sought to take advantage of the Best Tracking Day of the Year.
Some observations on Track Acumen at Airways, which is always at the crux of a Goat Track Minor Event:
"Don't hit off that, it'll explode" Great observation by Joe to keep a potentially unsuspecting Judy from hitting off the shifting grass on the 10th hole, knowing that once the surface gets punctured with a divot, it's just not a mess that you want to deal with. Also, a golf clap for the Airways groundskeeper, who may have introduced a cutting edge technology, hydroponic turf.
Nominee for Track Acumen Shot of the Year: Sherpa Matt on #17. Despite getting a great and somewhat mindboggling bounce on his drive (great use of the cart path), Matt felt compelled to test his Track Acumen by leaving himself the most difficult shot imaginable on his third shot. Buried in the opening of the cedar tree to the left of the green, he went with the scoop shot, possibly jai-alai style, and hit the green on a shot that most would concede required the use of a hand wedge. Too bad not everyone saw it; and because no one else saw it, we can't be sure that a Keebler elf didn't help him out of that hollow tree.
Someone has to do it...and fortunately Jen hit the barn on #18. It may not have been the broad side of the barn as Matt noted, but therein lies the Track Acumen. One can't hit the broad side of it and have the ball kick near the fairway; better to use the narrow side and get your ball back into play. Well done, Jen. It just wouldn't be an Airways event on the back 9 if none of us dinged the barn.
In all, the GT Championship was all that could've been expected of a Minor Event and in some aspects was much more.
7/23/08: The clubHouse of Windsor Experience
(a more detailed review of the front 9 at the Tradition GC can be found on the CT GT page)
On this unsettled, overcast summer evening, five intrepid Trackers made their way to the nearly vacant Tradition GC (tradition of what, we're not quite sure) for the inaugural Minor Event at this Track. The Tradition was selected to host this prestigious event in part because it was located in a town with a regally waspy name, Windsor, true to the "British experience" that we as Trackers hoped to enjoy at the Minor Event held around the same time as the British Open.
The scoring format for this Minor Event was more informal than some other Goat Track Minors; we were more interested in what the course had to offer than in who would win what, which was good Tracker form.
Highlights of the Minor Event:
The event started off on shaky footing when we discovered that there was no BCC and the clubhouse restaurant was closed, but we pressed on, eventually finding the first tee, where the sign was nearly completely hidden by five-foot high ornamental grass. There are many ways to make a course challenging; making it difficult to find the next tee is merely one of them.
The 90-degree rule: The sign posted near the practice green was probably intended to discourage those with carts from doing further damage to the fairways, which were in rough shape.......make that midseason form. Sherpa Jeff, however, had a slightly different interpretation, sending an unprecedented number of shots off to the right at near 90-dregree angles. His attention to detail was most impressive. Nearly as impressive was the footwork required to sidestep the occasional low screamer.
Books on Tape: The pro shop attendant was kind enough to provide us with a yardage guide, since none of us had played this Track before. Matt took the initiative to channel Jim Nantz at the Masters while he read the description of each hole from the booklet on every tee box. This truly added class to the event.
Dedication to one's Craft: This was the first GT Minor Event in a while that didn't include a kicker for "best shot off a tree." Even so, as a Tracker dedicated to this area of expertise, Sherpa Jeff threaded the needle on a most improbable shot through the trees on the 7th that left the group awestruck by his Track Acumen.
The Anxious Moment: Given his impressive display of Track Acumen maneuvering his ball through the trees on #7, Sherpa Jeff's dead left tee shot (considerably less than 90 degrees) on #8 left us wondering whether he'd duplicate his previous feat, weaving it through the trees and into northbound traffic on Interstate 91. After the quietest five seconds ever experienced at a Goat Track event, we were able to play on without serious concern over potential loss of life or property.
Affirmation: Prior to this event, while there was some concern over the weather, there was a greater dedication to seeing it through. As Sherpa Jeff noted, "If it were 15 degrees cooler, it would be perfect and if it rains, so what?" It appears that our dedication was rewarded by the golf gods, as it were. As Matt showed us on his cell phone after our round, the only area in Connecticut that wasn't a bright color on Doppler was a radius of ten miles or so around our location. Were the PGA players at Birkdale so fortunate? Of course not.
Despite the inauspicious start to this Minor Event, the consensus among the seasoned Trackers is that the Tradition has dislodged Long Hill CC as the frontrunner for next year's "British Experience" in the GT Minor Event rotation. We look forward to an even better Goat Tracking experience on the back 9 the next time around.
6/25/08. The Urban Goat Track Open
On an absolutely Keneyriffic late afternoon, the 3rd annual Urban Goat Track Open was held at the nearly inimitable Keney Public Golf Course. There was some concern when one of the Trackers was late because he had received bad directions (exit 35, wtf?), but fortunately Matt just arrived a bit late and we didn't have to watch the 11:00 news to find out that he got carjacked in the north end.
The field for the second GT Minor Event of 2008 included one Keney newbie and two seasoned Trackers not familiar with all that is a "Goat Track Minor Event," which made for an interesting round.
Format: With seven participants, this event had a certain "Chinese fire drill" aspect to it, starting with not knowing which 9 to play. The rangers/ambassadors on the 1st and 10th tees passed us back and forth like a joint at one of the parties on the other side of the park. We ultimately teed off as a 7-some on the back 9 (a first for this event), conceding that we may have to break into two groups to keep "the man" off our ass. The match was scored on a team best ball format, Institute Trackers vs. non-Institute Trackers.
Kickers: Reaching back to a GT Minor staple, "Best Shot off a Tree" was in play as well as "Most Ridiculous Save (on a par 3)," both of which reflect the kind of Track Acumen that we look for in a Minor Event. Sherpa Jeff started the round off with a drive off a tree that a squirrel chased back onto the the fairway. While impressive, it wasn't Jeff's best work and didn't really "wow" the judges and none of the other shots that careened off trees (and there were many) were all that noteworthy. In hindsight "Best Save" was a bad call because we all apparently left our ability to score in the parking lot. "Best Use of Course Features" wasn't in play as a kicker, but Judy probably did more work on local bridges during this round than the DOT has in the last six months.
The Round: Mel gets bonus points for his clutch performance, closing out the team best ball match with a big putt and the low score on 15 and then ducking out to meet "other obligations" immediately afterwards. "Walking off into the sunset" both literally and figuratively; this was a classic Goat Tracking moment.
We did play the last six holes as a 7-some (or 6-some after Mel left), which was unprecedented on this Track, as far as we know, and was a bit of an adjustment for those not accustomed to this aspect of a GT Minor Event. We're glad we could broaden their horizons a bit in this regard.
Track Conditions: Dave (a/k/a "Rabbit Ears") and I noted that some of the tee boxes "firmed up" amazingly quickly, following the deluge of rain on Monday, so they were closer to peak midseason form than we expected and there were a few tees broken pegging up to back that up. Greens were about what was expected speed-wise; however, there were at least three comments from Trackers who shall remain nameless referring to how how they didn't play the break properly. Truly mindboggling, since as noted on TRAQ FAQ, "there is no break on a green at a public course" (a universal truth of Goat Tracking).
The second Minor came to something of a fitting end, with the irrigation kicking in within 10 seconds of the last putt being made on 18, flushing us from the course and not allowing anyone to dwell on on our less than stellar play anywhere other than the Great Room or the parking lot. Kudos. While this Minor Event had a different feel to it than some of our other adventures, it was enjoyed by all and we're looking forward to the next one.
Goat Tracker of the Year Award presentation: We did this on the fly, on the 11th tee box while we were waiting to hit, which was good Tracker form, not being too ceremonial and whatnot. Matt was most gracious in accepting the award, knowing that his efforts had been acknowledged and that they had been an inspiration to all other Goat Trackers, as he cited some of the memorable Goat Tracking moments that earned him this award. On the other hand, Sherpa Jeff, as former reigning Tracker of the Year, noted (on the green at #16, we think) and we'll paraphrase, "Is he clearing stuff out of his putting line? Is it possible that this whole thing went to his head? Whatever happened to having some Goat Tracking standards?" While we took a picture of the award presentation, the person with the camera was too much of a moron to clear the old pictures out of memory and we don't have a picture to post here (unfortunately) other than a picture of the trophy itself taken a couple of months ago. We deeply apologize to the Goat Tracking public and hope they ask the proverbial question, "does anything say 'golf expertise' quite like a sailing trophy?"
4/23/08. Minor Event #1, The Mouth Closed Open (held at The Goat Track a/k/a Copper Hill) report filed by Sherpa JB
Hacking and Tracking at 5:25 sharp, this group of seven Goat Trackers was poised for action at the #1 tee on this warm, sunny evening. Sure, we didn't get out as early in the Tracking season as we had hoped, but here we were, ready to hammer the ball. New Trackers included Judy, Stephanie, and Paul. Each was a pleasant addition to the GT family. Stalwarts Matt, Sherpa Jeff, Mel, and I rounded out this golf-challenged group. Thanks to all for their attendance, to Lou for his presence on the first tee as honorary starter, and to the defending Goat Tracker of the Year, Sherpa Jeff, for his inspirational speech before the first drive.
Atmosphere: Gnats and other species of bugs swarmed our group with such intensity that we named this Minor the "Mouth Closed Open." These little black fiends kamikazed into our mouths, noses and ears in a futile attempt to interrupt our concentration. Fortunately, the bugs were overmatched by our superior intellect as we closed our mouths and kept swatting as we finished up strong, then headed to the bar for refreshments. Quit golf because of a few million annoying bugs? Not us, we paid our $$and were committed to taking our 50 - 70 swings over 9 glorious holes. We went off as a 7-some, which didn't raise an eyebrow from the pro shop staff. We love that the GT has an inattentive staff and a haphazard attitude toward golf etiquette.
Notables: Stephanie pounded the ball off the tees and demonstrated the true Tracker spirit by maintaining a positive attitude while experiencing the ponderous swarm of gnats. Unfamiliar with Sherpa Jeff's "directional impairment", she attempted to assist by interrupting Jeff as he "lined up" facing directly towards the tree line to the right of the #6 tee. Perplexed by anyone offering to help him, Jeff stopped his backswing, uttered contemptuous phrases, reset himself and hit his best shot of the evening. Thanks, Stephanie!
Track Conditions: The greens at the GT are most accurately described as awful. Since it's rare to see greens in such poor condition in late April, credit goes to the maintenance staff at the GT for this accomplishment. The tee boxes were as we like them, bare with broken tees scattered everywhere, another indication of top-notch maintenance. Thick pond scum was not evident as balls hit into the water on #5 sank and disappeared, rather than sitting on top and turning green. We will have to adapt.
A Recap of the four GT Minor Events of 2007...
9/20. The Fourth Minor (doesn't need a name, but is known as the GT Championship) at Airways GC. This event generated about as much interest as the FedEx Cup Playoffs, unfortunately, but those who did participate enjoyed "a Tracking day that was too good to pass up" as Matt noted. We played the back 9 at Airways, which meant we had no shot at duplicating the "Funnel Hole" experience at Minor 3.5 in 2006 on the front 9 (as noted in the 2006 Minor Notes below), but there were enough other notable aspects during the round to offset that. Most noteworthy:
Best shot off a tree has now become a staple of every GT Minor event. Curt made a couple of valiant Barthman-esque efforts and takes that honor for the last minor with a great ricochet into the fairway.
To paraphrase a Star Wars line, "Use the rough, Luke." A well-placed worm-burner in the rough at Airways would roll forever and given the "track acumen" in our group, we took full advantage of that, with the exception of the first hole, when we all sent screamers over the brook behind the green. "Nice grouping," as they say in the world of darts.
Most comical course feature: the "no fishing, no swimming, no diving" sign in front of the brook on #16. Based on experience, I don't think that the BCC comes around often enough for any of those options to become viable (i.e., no one would be impaired enough to dive into 6 inches of water), but I could be wrong.
Most puzzling course feature: the tethered beer kegs in the pond on #18. I'd still like some closure on this one. None of us could figure it out. Is it a fountain? Enquiring Trackers want to know.
8/8. The "East Hartford British Experience": We didn't "cross the pond" for this Minor, but we did trek across the Connecticut River, which was about as good a symbolic gesture as we could manage. Predictably enough, attendance was relatively low for this event for various reasons (trouble clearing customs, travel agent screwed up, dog ate my homework, etc.), but quantity was more than offset by quality regarding the field for this Minor. Of course score, although it was kept, was completely irrelevant, which left us more time to focus on the truly important aspects of both this Track and this truly monumental event, the first Minor held at EHGC. Some observations regarding both, recapping this historic occasion:
- Standings for "Tracker of the Year" and "GT Rookie of the Year"
- Obviously, the turnout did not help the chances of several early contenders for "Tracker of the Year", but it's still too early to take them completely out of contention prior to the Fourth Minor. There are currently rumors circulating that question their dedication to the Minors, which of course is an important consideration to the voters.
- The running for "GT Rookie of the Year", which has basically been a one-person contest thus far, has been opened up in the eyes of the voters. Despite there being an early frontrunner, this award is far from a lock.
- "Karma, ain't it a bitch"
- There was another rumor floating that the "2006 Tracker of the Year" would be suspended for one Minor for not keeping score at the UGTO, no matter how meaningless that task may seem to be (see notes on the faux pas in the UGTO notes below). There was no need to enforce a suspension; apparently the Tracking gods took care of that, rendering him injured and unable to participate, unfortunately. We all noted that Tracking karma is not something to be taken lightly.
- There was another rumor floating that the "2006 Tracker of the Year" would be suspended for one Minor for not keeping score at the UGTO, no matter how meaningless that task may seem to be (see notes on the faux pas in the UGTO notes below). There was no need to enforce a suspension; apparently the Tracking gods took care of that, rendering him injured and unable to participate, unfortunately. We all noted that Tracking karma is not something to be taken lightly.
- Noteworthy holes on the Track (we played the back 9, so this was new [browned out] turf for us all)
- #13, paraphrasing Caddyshack, "We have a marsh and a ravine. The ravine would be good for you." A great, marshy, schmeggy pond surrounded by cattails that reminded me of the Terp Track. What a cluster of a hole with trees & a ravine (overflow brook) on the right and the pond on the left corner. This is where Matt really started to pay homage to the anti-Lorax, a/k/a the absent and injured Barthman, with his ability to find every tree with his errant shots (despite Matt's efforts, Sherpa JB won "best shot off a tree" by gaining a solid 60 yards on his drive on 16 and landing it in the fairway). Lessons learned by the big hitters on this hole, don't look at the fringes of your skirt and try to finesse the hole by teeing off with an iron, it won't work. Take out the big lumber, aim for the water, grip it, and rip it.
- #14 "It's like grass seed on steroids"; that's what we saw on this fairway; closely cropped grass with a patch of hypergrowing, foot-high witchgrass surrounding the 217-to the green sprinkler head; something that only the most seasoned of Trackers could appreciate.
- # 16 "UGA" as in "uga, uga, uga". Sherpa JB, in his scorekeeping duties, thought it wise to make this note on the card to pre-emptively exorcise any demons that could be potentially summoned by recording 3 double bogey 6's on the card. This is part of why he's a High Sherpa.
- The "Triple Tee Box". Paraphrasing a Sammy Haggar song title (from his pre-Van Haggar solo work), "One, Two Three Tee Box." After Sherpa JB posed the question, none of us could recall playing a course that had 3 tee boxes (8, 14, 16) lined up like a driving range (not all pointing in the same direction, fortunately). As JB noted prior to this Minor, "this event has real potential for disaster." We now know where that potential disaster lies.
- #18 "The Gallery", closest I'll ever come to feeling like I'm participating in a PGA event. EHGC has a great porch/beer garden adjacent to the 19th that overlooks the 18th green. It reminded me of 18 at TPC River Highlands and to a lesser extent the Brennan course in Stamford, with the crowd applauding and or/ridiculing incoming groups while we were on 16. Oddly enough, when we all hit the green in regulation on 18, the crowd was silent, possibly stunned silent, but we all doffed our caps on our way off the green anyway.
6/14. The UGTO (Urban Goat Track Open): being at Keney on Flag Day just added an extra something special to this event. While we had two participants withdraw very late due to "injury", it did not dampen the spirit of this event for the others who found their way to the UGT (a respectable turnout of 10). Sherpa JB was kind enough to offer some thoughts on the UGTO...
"The greens fees could've been $20 and I would have been happy to pay it, just to see RT standing on the 4th tee box at Keney, a veritable galaxy away from his "comfort zone". We had a well-attended event on a spectacular early evening on a historic course, making this Minor a truly enjoyable experience".
Onto the minutiae...
First & Least, the scores...we went with a format of low gross and individual best ball. If there were a best ball winner, he'd match cards with the low gross winner to determine who won the UGTO. Sherpa JB took low gross with a 43 and no one could separate from the field on individual best ball; four tied with one best ball (Matt, Rich, Glenn & Lou). As we all know, score is secondary to the other accomplishments on the Track during a Minor.
"Kickers": We opted to go with "furthest from the green" (on a par 3) and "best shot off a tree". Initially, some consideration was given to "most trees hit during the loop", but after further reflection (see comments on 2006 Minor 3.5 further down on this page) we figured that Jeff would have that locked up before he took his clubs out of the trunk.
Furthest from the green: Goes to Curtis for his effort, or lack thereof, on #3, just clearing the junk in front of the elevated tee box. Runner up, Matt (who initially lobbied for this distinction on his own behalf) for his airmailed shot on #6, which required some serious "Track acumen" to get onto the green.
Best shot off a tree: it looked like Sherpa JB had this wrapped up with his drive on #2, which had a projected flight path through someone's kitchen window, but it hit a tree and bounced nicely into position for his second shot. It wasn't until we hit #9, when Mel showed a level of "track acumen" that makes other Trackers jealous, that JB lost his spot for this distinction. In our foursome, three of us hit into the trees in front of the cart barn. With his expertise, Mel deftly used one tree to slow down his shot and redirect it to a second tree that guided his ball to the apron in front of the green. Truly masterful and inspiring.
Still more minutiae...
Rookie of the Year update: Curtis did nothing to hinder his dogged pursuit of the GT Rookie of the Year Award and seems to be excited about his prospects in what appears to be a one-man race.
Scorekeeping, or "how the mighty have fallen": Still trying to figure out why Jeff decided not to keep score; this is a real head scratcher. Not that any of us really give a shit about the score; we can always shred or burn the scorecards afterwards as appropriate, but this was something that none of us would've expected from the reigning 2006 Tracker of the Year. More importantly, it set a bad expample for other new Trackers in his group, one being his own son! I'm truly baffled by this turn of events. Hopefully, he takes some time to think about what that girls' basketball trophy sitting in his office (that he was presented in recognition of his Tracker of the Year accomplishments) really symbolizes.
Club Selection: On the flip side of the scorekeeping debacle, the 2006 Tracker of the Year gets some points for helping Matt replace the disintegrated woods in his bag for a total cost of $5, courtesy of a church rummage sale and a garbage can (only a non-Tracker throws clubs away and Simsbury is full of them).
5/11. The GT Open, the first one's finally in the books!
As always, the first Minor at the GT was a momentous occasion, marking the official start of the 2007 Tracking season. JB did an excellent and underappreciated job as Event Coordinator. The weather cooperated and it was a truly spectacular event (not that crappy weather would've made it any less spectacular, quite the contrary). Some of the highlights from the 2007 GT Open:
1) The 2006 Tracker of the Year award ceremony: An emotional event for all involved. At the brief award presentati
on, JB eloquently summed it all up by saying, "nothing says 'golf expertise' like a girls basketball trophy."
[Presentation of the 2006 Goat Tracker of the Year award: left to right: Matt (runner-up), Lou (presenter), and Jeff (proud recipient of the award; kind of reminiscent of another "major award" (video clip)]
2) Rookie call-ups: there were two call-ups, one took full advantage, the other is left with a chance for redemption at the 2nd Minor and has some serious ground to cover as far as the voting goes for "Track Rookie of the Year". Curt's tenacity and overall "Track acumen" were a surprise to all of us and he appears to be on the "Fast Track" to Tracker success. The lies that he was willing to play from were exemplary of everything we aspire to; hitting from the woods, ditches; name the hazard and he'll hit from it.
3) Turtle mating season: Matt is the unofficial "Natural Historian" as it pertains to "reptilian copulative activity" at the pond on #2 at the Goat Track and his observation that there was some kind of "turtle orgy" going on was just the kind of observation that we as Trackers appreciate. Spring is definitely in the air!
4) The first Minor was later than anticipated, but so what? Last year's first Minor was about three weeks earlier, but as noted by Sherpa JB, it's all about "contemplation before execution" or something like that.
A recap of the 2006 GT Minor Events...
Minor 3.5 at the Landing Strip a/k/a Airways GC
(logged 9/28/06)
While this outing wasn't hyped as a Minor and was only a foursome, there were enough noteworthy aspects of this Track excursion to give it a place on this page. With a foursome steeped in Track tradition (Matt, Jeff, Jim, Lou), they covered all bases when it came to recognizing what made this an outstanding round. This event was originally scheduled for the GT, but due to a shotgun tournament there (can't quite wrap my mind around that one) we had to go to plan B.
Starting with some of the usual Track criteria that get scrutinized:
Tee Boxes: kind of like being an oil wildcatter in Oklahoma, you needed to be either very luck or very skilled to find the right spot to drill, i.e. where you weren't going to break a few tees trying to get a peg in the ground.. Also noted, the two-toned crabgrass, kind of like that brunette everyone knows who has dark roots & blond tips.
Greens: unexpectedly fast. It took a few holes to figure out that it was because they were hardpan. Jim still tries to refute rule #1 re. putting on a public course; once he gets past that, he'll be better off.
Notable events of the day...
Best goofy looking shot: Jeff was the anti-Lorax, beating the living shit out of nearly every tree out there, or so it seemed, so picking one of his masterful masse shots from such a long list was very difficult.
The Funnel Hole: To provide the backdrop, #6 at Airways is a 302 yard par 4 with a tree cutting into the fairway on the right. Matt's drive seemed to be Norwood (wide right), but near the cart path. No one saw it land. As we approached our drives, we were close enough to see Matt's drive on the green! We could find no explanation other than the fact that he seemed to hit what is now referred to as "the funnel", an upward sloping apron on the right edge that will funnel your shot into the green, defying both logic and physics. The only (weak) parallel I can draw is that of a miniature golf hole where you putt to the right and your ball goes through a pipe right to the hole. To test the "funnel theory", Lou shanked a wedge into the funnel...it kicked left when it should've been between trees on the right and left him with a puncher's chance at birdie. Jeff, with his most masterful, but unconfirmed shot off a tree behind the green was also in play. Only Jim, who actually hit a textbook approach shot missed the green. Go figure. Matt drained his putt for eagle and none of us had more than bogey, which is pretty rare. The "funnel hole" has officially earned a place in Track lore. (the status of "the Funnel Hole" was reaffirmed in Track lore at the first Minor of 2007, when its mysterious properties were further reflected upon by all who experienced, yet cannot explain it)
Third Minor (9/7/06 at the GT, replacing the event tentatively scheduled at Airways)
(logged 9/8/06, courtesy of Event Coordinator/Sherpa JB...and an excellent, insightful report at that, providing all the pertinent details)
Well, the conditions were perfect for last night's Tracking. Great group of guys (6) and a nice little top on the BCC. The evening's highlight was Jeff chopping out of the greenside bunker on #3. After 2 or 3 hacks, Jeff finally connects and the ball jumps up with backward spin. Jeff expertly catches the ball with his left hand and, in one motion, flips it on the green. Best "shot" of the night. Jeff topped off that accomplishment by dropping his pants and mooning us while we were waiting on the tee. Nice touch. This is the type of golf behavior that we are looking for. His actions on #3 truly define Jeff as an expert Tracker.
Another highlight was Matt hitting his approach shot on #9 into the golf cart corral. The ball hit the gravel, smashed into the side of the beer cart, and rattled around in the fenced area. Matt, being the golfing purist that he is, asked for a ruling. I saw no OB stakes and permitted a free drop; Matt was back in [competition on] the hole.
We used a complex format to determine the winning group. Best two balls were counted and the Matt/Tim/John group celebrated in the clubhouse while the Jeff/Russ/Jim group rattled off a number of excuses.
(editor's note: Although I wasn't there to see Jeff's expert use of the "hand wedge", his outstanding performance at this event pretty much gave him a lock on the "Tracker of the Year" award)
The UGTO (originally known as The [Don't Leave Your Car Windows] Open), 7/27/06 at Keney
Based on the unprecedented turnout for this event and the overwhelmingly positive response from those who participated, Keney has cemented itself as the UGT (Urban Goat Track), a counterpart to the GT, which is quite possibly the highest form of praise a Track can achieve.
As a frame of reference, most tournaments/outings have kickers like longest drive, closest to the pin, etc. The kickers for the UGTO were: farthest from the pin, best shot to go OB, worst shot to stay in bounds, and best use of "course features" (shots careened off bridges, bunker lips, rakes, yardage markers, etc.
Best shot to go OB goes to Matt for his drive that ended up in the brook, or the schmeg near it on #2. Too bad because he could've gone even lower than 39.
Worst shot to be dead to rights OB, but end up in play: shared by Willie and Dave for truly ugly, yet playable shots.
Farthest from the pin: Lou for his effort on #6. As Matt so aptly put it, "the hole's a hundred yards, he hit it a hundred yards, and he was a hundred yards from the pin. It was like an equilateral triangle." (you wouldn't think that there would be enough room on a par 3 to go that wide of the pin and still be on the same hole, but if you play it properly, you can) Tough to top that.
Willie Li gets special recognition for grabbing the bull by the horns and filling in at the 11th hour when there was a last minute bailout. In addition, he gets the ZZ Top (or Blue Velvet [depending on your pop culture frame of reference]) "sharp dressed man award" for playing in business casual attire, complete with penny loafers, which Rabbit Ears thought were just stylish golf attire...it's a metrosexual thing, I guess.
As for the less important stuff, like scoring..."Sweet Swingin'" Matt (as he refers to himself) had his A++ game, capturing low gross with a 39, but in the end it wasn't enough to get his team over the hump and the overall individual/group/team best ball match ended in a draw.
The GT Open 4/28/06 at the GT, of course
Good buzz for the first event of the season at the venerable GT with turnout about average at 6 players. This event was held before the Goat-Track.com site was up & running, so it wasn't well documented. That's not expected to be an issue for the inaugural event of the 2007 season.
