Wednesday Woes

Under cooler conditions twelve Pot Gamers teed it up for a little 3BB.  They played the weekend format complete with skins and $20 entry fee.  Team #1 Pudge, Bow Pete, Birdie and Billy D on paper the clear favorite got off to a rocky start with a mystifying +12 on the front nine of North.  Team #2 Bear, Skrocki, Cheez and Skooger was the wildcard team as they teeded off because Skooger hadn't played in two weeks, Cheez was in a very fragile state recovering from the dreaded "Chinese" disease, Skrocki has been schizophrenic shooting either high 60s or mid 80s and Bear can't putt into the hole and they shot a mediocre +5.  Team #3 Mad Dog, TJ, Walt and House proved to be the team to beat as they cruised to an easy +2 front.  Pudge rallied his team to shot a respectable +6 on the back as Bear's team succumbed to the pressure and imploded to +12 and Mad Dog's team tripped up to shoot +9.  Mad Dog did collect 2/3 of the Pot which sent him into the Club House to buy all the drinks.

Low scores of the day were Mad Dog 76, Bear 76, Walt 77, Pudge 79 and TJ 79.  There were 8 skins worth a measly $7 a piece (Birdie 2, TJ, Skooger, Billy D, Pudge, Walt, Mad Dog).

Mad Dog on the strength of 2 birdies nipped Bear for $2 making the YTD Mad Dog up $2.  Bear accepted the challenge laid down by Pudge on the 1st tee to play a match and came out on top for a $1 (which has been sent away for framing to hang on his trophy wall).

Cheez shot an easy 39 on the front only to see his dream of a smooth 75 be taken away by his second shot on 14 that careened off the stonewall in front of the 15th tee.  After that a million thoughts raced through his head, not one of them positive.  Game over for the rest of the round although to his credit he tried to the end.  It really made no difference as the rest of his team was headed south with him.

The City Championship is filled with Pot Gamers in the Senior division which will make for a small pool of Pot Gamers over the weekend.

TJ has created a foursome of Pot Gamers who he hopes will bring him the elusive SP NH Championship on Monday.  The Pot Gamers are hoping first prize is a free pass if you get caught speeding card.

Deacon reports he is putting the finishing touches on his Invitational.  For those fortunate to have been give the secret handshake your $120 payment is due August 1st. (Cash Only just like buying a beer at Bretwood).  Sandy has agreed to host the "Pic-Em Party" again this year.  Several rumors are swirling around as to who will be the Captains.  Here are what we have heard so far...Deacon and Blue Tees; Billy D and Birdie; Rama and House and rematch of Bear vs Cheez.

Latest Commish rumor is he is breeding donkeys for donkey basketball and has no time for golf.

Sr Pro has asked for a moment of silence as Gino's is slated to close this weekend.  "I don't know what the F__k I am going to do.  It is like I lost my best friend..F__kers."

Chuckster's new "Big House" is taking shape high on the knoll opposite the driving range.  It only took months and thousands of dollars in Municipal fees to be able to start building.  What a city...  It should be nice when it is all finished with the indoor driving range and heated pool.

Heat Wave Weekend

First came the rain, then the flood, then the bugs and now the heat.  Saturday 21 Pot Gamers tried to beat the heat with an early pre 7am tee off, but by look of dripping wet shirts on the deck,  it didn't work.

Saturday

Mad Dog with calculator in hand created seven teams of three playing 2BB on the crowded South course.  The Dog could not muster enough ambition to join in but no one is sure why, other than in his last venture he lost $5 to Bear and filled the air with F bombs after missed putts.

Team #1 featured Triple N, Chimney and Bill M.  Followed by Team #2 Pudge, Jay S, and Fireman, Team # 3 TJ, Jay Esh and Rama, Team # 4 Bear, Dickie Mac and Andy Mac, Team # 5 Skrocki, 40 and Dr Dave, Team #6 Bow Pete, Tractorman and House, Team #7 Sandy, Joey M and Billy D.

As teams finished the front nine word spread that several teams were at even par until Skrocki's team reported they were -1 which everyone thought was good until Sandy's team finished with -2 to take the front.  The back nine proved to be easier somehow as two teams were -2 only to have Skrocki's team go crazy with -4 to sweep back and overall.

There were six skins worth $17 a piece by (Joey M, Pudge, 40, Cheez, Triple N and Billy D).
Low scores were Skrocki 69, Triple N 70, Jay Esh 71, Bow Pete 73, Bear 74 and Pudge 74.  A total of 15 players broke 80, which is an unusually high percentage.

Skrocki played Bear in Mad Dog's absence and clipped him good for $8 with his 5 birdie day.  Rama got deep in House's pocket when he shot 77.  Billy D broke form and shot 77 messing his perfect record of always shooting 82.  Dr Dave keeps his winning streak alive as he continues to take home pieces of the pot.

The seats in the shade were most popular on the deck as temps were soaring into the high 90s.  All Anheuser  products are on the outs at Bretwood so everyone has to scramble to find something new to drink.

Sunday 

With a high percentage of Pot Gamers only playing one day on a weekend the number of players on Sunday dropped to 16.  Mad Dog before he went on grandfather duty was able to put together four teams of four to play 3BB on the North Course.

Team #1 led by long driving but iron chunking Captain Luke had 40, Chimney and Billy D.  Team #2 Captained by Bear fresh off his loss to Skrocki along with Dougie, Cheez and Rama.  Team #3 High 70 Shooting Sandy Captained Andy Mac, Birdie and House.  Team #4 Captained by Love Number Shooting Skrocki with TJ, Bill M and Fireman.  With three teams shooting either +8 or +9 one team rolled along at +2, Team # 2.  The back nine Sandy went to the whip and his Team #3 responded with seven birdies and a score of -3.  Their score was good for the back but not overall as Bear's team took that by 2 shots.

There were five skins worth $16 a piece (Bear, Rama, Luke, House and Dougie).  Low scores of the day were Bear 72, Andy Mac 74, Sandy 78 and Billy D 78.  Half the field broke 80 including the Cheez with 79.  Rama lost a few bucks to House on the strength of House's birdie, birdie finish.  Bear got revenge on Skrocki winning back all his money from Saturday plus a few dollars.

Cheez fragile as an antique vase worrying about the dreaded laterals wasn't helped when Deacon rolled up in his cart on the third tee box and in his booming voice said "Hey Phil, I heard you aren't shanking anymore."  Nice guy.  Cheez hit draws or baby hooks all the way around instead as he made his goal of breaking 80.  The "Sticks" at the Villages may take him back after all.

Commish despite the hot weather was a no show again.  Rumor has it the losses to Birdie damaged his psyche to a point where he can't pull the trigger anymore.  Either that or he has had to fill in catching for the Swamp Bats.

The Anheuser boycott by The Big House lasted only a few days as the Budlights and Michelob Lights will be flowing next weekend.  So Murt's dream of having Miller Lites in the cooler ended before he could buy one.

Next weekend is the Cities which will wipe out most of the players for the Pot Game.

Back In Business

The Gazette is ready to report tales from the Pot Game after the editor made it back across the border from sunny PEI.

Pudge announced that Sully has laid down a challenge for Pot Gamers to venture to his course in Maine on August 3rd to play a match against his heavy drinking low scoring group. Let Pudge know if you want to go. It will cost $50 for green fee and cart.

Wednesday's mid week Pot Game produced 14 players braving the soaring 90 degree temps and rotting grass stink.  even though there were uneven teams it was decided to play 2BB.  Team #1 Triple N, Walt and Dougie set the pace with a front nine even par. Team #2 Mad Dog, Bow Pete and Cheez were a little slow out of the box with only a +3.  Team #3 Bear, Sandy, Billy D and House started slow but closed strong to shoot +1.  Team # 4 Pudge, Skrocki, Birdie and Blue Tees kicked off with a birdie on the first hole and never looked back making a total of 9 birdies on the front to win going away with -5.

The back nine was a little more competitive with Pudge and Bear's team tied at -1 and the other teams shooting +1.  So Team #4 won 2.5 sides and got to buy all the libations for the dehydrated Pot Gamers.

Low scores of the day Triple N 74, Bear 74, Pudge 75, Sandy 76 and Walt 76.  Nine players broke 80.  No Cheez was not one of them as he has become addicted to Chinese food of late.

Bear got deep into Mad Dog's pocket for $5 which makes YTD All Square.

House's new putting grip looks like his hands are folded like he is praying.  Tough to look at but he thinks his ball is rolling better.  Let's just say the jury is still out on that.

Mad Dog filled the air with F bombs during his round to point that Cheez and Bow Pete thought they were playing Sr Pro.

Billy Ds name has been submitted to USGA for the most consistent golfer of the year.  He shoots 82 give or take a stroke every time he tees it up.  As 81 on Wednesday proved.

Parts of the North course look like low tide mud flats and smells even worse.

Over The Border

Even though the Gazette is shut down for a few weeks, when news breaks we are on it.

The Little Bow Pete Archery shop is under investigation by both the Tobacco and Firearms unit and Drug Enforcement Agency. It seems Bow Pete has been shipping bows and arrows to a radical tribe of pigmies in Botswana. The type of arrows that can be fitted with poison tips. Drug Enforcement wants him for distribution of Deer Antler spray, not the wimpy kind VIjay Singh was taking but the kick ass kind which would take a low 80 shooter and make him into a low 70s shooter. It seems that several members of the Pot Game turned him in to authorities after he was beating them with his low scores and collecting all the Pot money. We interviewed one of the secret informants. "Everybody can get lucky once in a while but this has gone too far when I take him to a Pro Am and he out drives me and shots a lower score than me. I am the Pro that is not suppose to happen. I had to do the right thing. Plus Birdie told me he voted for Obama so he deserves what ever is coming to him."

Run to Gino's as fast as you can because it is being replaced by Duncan Donuts later this summer. Can you picture Sr Pro sitting at the counter sipping on a latte instead of his 6th Coors Light. What is this world coming to...

That's all for now.

The Inside Scoop

The new TaylorMade R1 Black driver has made its way into the bags of Fireman and Billy D. The bottom of the club looking like a compass was glued onto it.  Both players have it toed in (closed) at least 2 degrees to ensure as Billy D likes to say "I will never cut this driver".  Reports are both are still cutting it a little bit.

Cheez has convinced all the Mid-Week Pot Gamers to stay on Villagers time which means they don't tee off until sometime after 8am.  It will stay that way according to the "Want To Be Commissioner" Cheez until July 1st , when they will arise early to tee off at 7:45am.

Gazette will be on a news Black-Out until July 15th.  Editor will be away for the next three weeks.  Any cub reporters who would like to send in some news we will try to get it online.

Loy continues to show up for Pot Games hoping to match cards with Commish but every week is disappointed.  Loy does keep busy though having to fend off House from stealing his cigarettes on the deck.

When Pudge is one of the youngest players in the Pot Game you know the group is not doing enough recruiting of fresh young talent.  The youngters probably haven't been asked to play in the group, but even if they had unless their politics are right of Attila the Hun, have thick skins to protect them from the verbal barbs and f bombs and can tune out constant complaining about format, unfair teams, playing the ball down, etc., they probably would not fit in.  So we are faced with the graying of the Pot Game stocked with players who can't remember names, can't see where their ball went, don't know what their yardage is because they forget to charge their SkyCaddie's the night before and can't remember which way their putt breaks even though they had the same putt yesterday.

Monday is the annual NHPGA Pro Am Senior played at Pheasant Ridge.  Pudge is bringing Commish, Billy D and Fireman to do battle against Mad Dog, Triple N, Bow Pete and Cheez.  The winners usually go to eat at Longhorn and the losers stop at the McDonalds drive thru.  Who do think will take the title this year?

Friday June 21st will be the first official day of summer, which means after that the days get shorter and winter and snow are just around the corner...  

Father's Day Surprise

The same number of Pot Gamers turned out on Father's Day as they did the day before twenty one, which made the numbers of teams easy for Mad Dog to figure out.  However the players were quite different than the day before with first timer Dicky Mac being dragged out by his son Andy, Vinnie debuting in 2013 and Birdie bringing a guest Dan K.

The seven teams were as follows:

Team #1 Bear, Bill Mag, and Billy D; Team #2 Luke, Fireman and Coach Roy (one of the original Bushman); Team #3 Tractorman, Bow Pete and Loy: Team # 4 Cheez (captain again), Andy Mac and House; Team #5 Otis, Vinnie and Deacon; Team #6 Skrocki, Birdie and Dan K; and finally #7 Sandy, Dicky Mac and Chimney.

Even though weather conditions were ideal the scores were high for 2BB.  On the front Luke's team #2 shot even par and lead by one over Tractorman's team #3 going into the back nine.  Sandy's team # 7 and Skrocki's team #6 tied with +1 on the back.  But Tractorman's team #3 hung around in second place on both nines to be able to take the total at +3.  So the teams proved to be evenly matched.

The surprise was in the individual scores which were higher than expected with only 5 players breaking 80.  Low scores were Bow Pete (the same guy who does handicap adjusting when he plays on Bear's team) 75, Bear 78, Dicky Mac 78, Sandy 79 and Birdie 79.

There were three skins worth $35 a piece (Birdie 1, Chimney 1 and Billy D 1).

Mad Dog was giving golf cart rides to his Grandson so was unavailable to lose money to the Bear.  However the next day at the Keene CC Pro Am, Mad Dog did lose $2 to Bear to make the YTD, Mad Dog plus $5.

Happy Father's Day

If your Father is still alive be sure to give him a call or a hug and for those of us who have lost our Fathers it is a time to remember and reflect on all the good times in the past.

In honor of Father's Day the over/under will return tomorrow for the first time in 2013.  The opening line on the Deacon is 87 and Cheez is 82.

Father's Day is your opportunity to play golf, drink a few beers on the deck and go home and watch the US Open on tv.  Of course that is what most Pot Gamers due every weekend. 

Eagles Have Landed

On Father's Day eve eagles were flying in from everywhere on the South course. Twenty one players split into seven teams of three to play 2 BB under a foggy start.

Teams were as follows:

Team # 1 Pudge, Jay Smith, Bill Mag; Team #2 DMac, Forty, Billy D; Team #3 Mad Dog, Brett, Birdie; Team #4 Bear, Joey M, Dr. Dave; Team # 5 Luke, Jay Esh, Blue Tees; Team #6 Cheez, Tractorman, Deacon; Team #7 Skrocki, Dougie, Skooger.

Bear's team on the strength of 4 birdies and an eagle roared out to a sizable lead with -6 on the front. The scores for all three players were between 32 and 38. Both DMac and Luke went to the whip on the back nine to lead their teams to under par scores of -2 and -3. So Bear's team won 2/3 of the Pot and Luke's team on 1/3.

Low scores of the day were Bear 72, Jay Esh 72, Mad Dog 73, DMac 74 and Joey M 74. A total of 10 players broke 80. Four players made eagles (one on 2nd hole, three on the 10th).

There were four skins worth $25 a piece. ( Bear 2, Skrocki 1, Tractorman 1)

Bear got $3 from Mad Dog so the YTD Mad Dog $7 up.

DMac was out of the money for the first time all year, but Dr Dave kept his streak alive of showing up and have pieces of the Pot handed to him. He has yet to experience the $20 beer.

Jay Smith returned to the Pot Game after years away but never missed a beat with his quick wit on the deck.

Cheez somehow was a Captain again much to his displeasure but Tractorman did the card for him so he could concentrate on his game. But when he barely beat out his C player with a score of 85 that strategy won't be repeated.

Joey M cruised to a rocking chair 74 with solid ball striking and timely putting. Jay Esh after tuning his game up on the golds for the last couple weeks shot an easy 72 to help his team grab a piece of the pot.

Almost Made It

Thursday's weather called for late morning showers but with a start time of 7:30am it looked likely that the Pot Gamers would just make it before getting wet.  They didn't make it past the 12th before the skies opened up soaking all participants.  With 10 players, Chuckster created two powerhouse teams to battle it out. 

Team #1 Captained by Triple N included Skrocki, Dr Dave, Walt and Bow Pete jumped out to a early lead with an amazing +5 in the best 4 BB format on the front.  But Team #2 Captained by Mad Dog with Bear, Cheez Billy D and Fireman were nipping at their heals with their own great front of +6.  Lead by the strong play of Billy D on the back nine Team #2 shot a record +1 which was more than enough to win back and total when Team #1 shot +11.

Despite initial moaning and groaning by Mad Dog and Cheez about the 4 BB format leading to slow play, everyone got around in just over four hours even while getting wet.

Low scores were Triple N 75, Skrocki 75, Mad Dog 76, Bear 77, Billy D 78 and Cheez 78.  Mad Dog got $1 from Bear to make YTD $10 Mad Dog.

Pot Of Gold

If the Gazette was correct in their prediction Rama is about to get quite a windfall when he makes his hole-in-one on the North's 3rd hole.  If you paid into all three pools that are still alive you can win $860 to buy drinks for all Pot Gamers.