Page 24 - The Highlander Fall 2024

DRAGONRIDGE GOLF SUMMER RECAP
Brian Sanders
As we near the conclusion of our annual overseed, we fondly reflect on a summer filled with memorable activi- ties on the golf course. In 2024, and after careful consid- eration, the club decided to move the Club Champion- ship from its original fall date to an early summer event, aiming to find our members in peak golfing form. The feedback from the event was well received and we have decided to conduct this championship at the same time in 2025. Congratulations to all our champions listed below:
Men’s Regular Division Gross: Ben Itterman – 147 Net: Dan Paulsen – 143 Ladies
Gross: Tina Mabanta-Hazzard – 151 Net: Debbie Love – 150
Senior
Gross: Brian Wedderspoon – 154 Net: Simon Millington – 148
Super Senior
Gross: Jeff Spivack – 166 Net: Chris Gibase - 152
Brand new this summer was the launch of the Thursday Afternoon Summer Series. Members teed off at 5:00 PM for nine holes of competition and camaraderie, with 20 or more participants joining us each week. Before each round, we gathered on the 1st tee for a winner-take-all stampede. The low score claimed the pot, but if there was a tie, the money rolled over to the following week. We experienced ties week after week in the stampede, and as the pot grew, so did the interest, culminating in a thrilling win by Michael Trump one week ahead of the Summer Series Finale. In the summer-long points race, Debbie Love emerged as our inaugural champion, combining participation points with some stellar play.
On August 10th, we wrapped up the season with a fun, low-pressure event called the Summer Scorcher. Teams participated in a two-person Chapman format, which was well received by everyone. The title “Scorcher” was fitting, as the event took place during record-breaking heat. Fortunately, our professional staff was there to cool off players with a variety of squirt guns, some even filled with a splash of Fireball. Congratulations to the team of Peggy Gore and Wendi Hawk, who won the event with a score of 66 and took home squirt gun trophies!
Looking ahead to the fall, it’s shaping up to be another terrific season for the members of DragonRidge. There are plenty of opportunities for competition, starting with the return of the Singles Match Play Tournament, which will be held over the course of three months. New to the club’s tournament calendar is the Hall Pass Couples Member-Member, taking place on November 16th. The fall season will conclude with the Santa Shootout on December 7th. Keep an eye out for registration and more information coming soon regarding these three events.
The annual Fall Invitational Men’s Member-Guest invita- tions have been sent out digitally, and the event has reached capacity. In addition to tournament play, weekly games will resume, including the DRWGA Ladies’ 18-hole and 9-hole contests on Wednesday mornings, the Men’s MGA games on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, and the Friday cash game, teeing off every Friday afternoon. If you would like more informa- tion regarding the DRWGA, the MGA, or the Friday cash game, please contact the golf shop.
If you find your golf game a bit rusty as we head into fall, the professional team is here to help. Tara Fox continues her clinics and boot camp programs focused on ladies’ instruction, while Mike Davis is resuming his monthly complimentary seminars. Bella Gopwani and Patrick Hanley are leading our junior programming with the launch of Operation 36 for the first time at DragonRidge. Additionally, individual lessons can still be arranged with the professional staff by contacting the golf shop.
The recent dip in overnight temperatures has been ideal for growing ryegrass during the overseed period. Superintendent Scott Delpiere and his team have the course in great shape. As expected, golfers will be limited to cart paths only for the first two weeks following
THE HIGHLANDER MAGAZINE | 24 | FALL 2024