Come and Gone

Opening Day finally arrived last Saturday with 14 Pot Gamers making an appearance.  Details are sketchy with all Gazette reporters attending The Masters.  Billy D did not shoot his normal 82 (but 84) but did convert his 3 birdies into skins for a cool $33 in his pocket.

Sunday brought another 14 players to the first tee however a few rain drops produced the first crisis for the new old Commissioner.  There was a drop out after the teams were picked which caused teams to be unbalanced.  The offending player earned himself a double X from the Commish, which puts him on the edge of expulsion and a parking lot chat.  Brad-Brian fresh from thousands of swings in his new range shot out of the blocks with a 74, with 5 birdies.  He propelled his team to a sweep of all 3 sides and earned himself 3 skins.

Cheez left The Villages today and will wind his way northward with two stops in NC to visit kids and grandchildren.  He will arrive early next week.  However he will not be at any Pot Games until he preps his house for the market.  Plus he will be paying green fees so the pain of opening his wallet and handing over cash will be a deterrent as well.

Bear made his annual trek to Augusta to take in The Masters.  This year for the first time in 9 years Mrs Bear made the trip as well.  After spending all day Thursday walking the manicured hills of Augusta National, they met their boys for dinner and the exchange of the Patron Badges.  Then they headed down to Hilton Head.  With the Harbour Town course closed for play for this weeks tournament they were able to walk on the course.  The 18th green is tiny when you see it up close.  Their suitcases were full coming home with all the Pot Gamer requested Master's Pro Shop purchases.

Warmer weather should improve the number of Pot Gamers making their debut.

Drip Drip Drip

14th Hole as of Monday April 7th

With the snow on the course in neat little melting rows clear of the fairways and greens, The Big House has decided the time to start collecting some cash is now.  Mad Dog announced to The Gazette and it was confirmed by Tractorman, the course will open this Saturday the 12th.  There will 27 holes open to start.  So if the new old Commish gets his act together and arranges a tee time, the first Pot Game of 2014 will be on Saturday.  Chances are very strong however he will be a no show so whatever Pot Gamers do show up they will be on their own to create a format.

The endless winter has dragged on so long, Pot Gamers have been traveling out of state to play.  Last week Pudge and Otis headed to MA and TJ headed to CT.

You can tell its Spring time when:

Jay Esch playing 16th at Cypress Point

Jay Esch sends in pictures of his FL yard full of flowers or the places he has played golf this past winter.
Commish has to rescue the donkeys from ankle deep mud in their paddock.
Cheez endures the wrath from the "Sticks" for heading home to NH with the other "Snow Birds".
Tractorman gets ready to cut the diabolical pin placements that he has been dreaming up all winter.
Deacon polishes up his deck stories by telling them to other patients in the hospital when he gets his treatment.
Mad Dog uses his winter bowling injuries to miss the first Pot Games until his game rounds into shape.
Rama goes on 24 hour 7 day a week duty to keep the equipment held together with rubber bands and baling wire.

 Pudge's Red White & Blue Poster

Chuckster is asking for more hours in the Pro Shop so he can save enough money to pay his first half property tax bill on his new house.
Birdie breaks out his tee shirt collection and blue jeans to be ready for opening day.
Skrocki adjusts his work schedule so he can play golf during the day and work nights.
Chimney puts away his brushes and vacuums and cleans up his trusty putter.
Gretchen and Ginger put away their winter clothes in favor of shorts and bikinis much to the pleasure of Billy D and Pudge.
House waits in the parking lot to see if Commish will allow him to play in the Pot Game.
Bear makes his annual pilgrimage to The Masters to haul back hats, shirts and other gear for fellow Pot Gamers.