The entry list for all of the Special Events have now been posted. The Founder’s Day tournament has filled up quicker than last year and a waiting list has been started. Waiting lists for the 2-Man Ryder Cup and 2-Man Pick Your Partner will be starting with the next entries for both of those tournaments due to their filling up quicker than expected.
Newsletter
Close to Pin Holes – Weekly Schedule
Revised 3-20-2018 – Yardages adjusted for a few holes per Handicap Committee review.
The Division VPs have the primary responsibility for selection of the CTP holes and positioning (Forward and Back) for each weekly tournament. in 2017, Rick Hines, VP Division 5, pulled together a consolidated list of suggested CTP location for each weekly tournament that is included here.
We expect that most Divisions will be using these positions. However, the VPs may make changes as they feel appropriate and will confirm via email to the Starters before a tournament. Since most of our courses continue from year to year, we will make CTP changes as needed for new courses added to the weekly tournaments,
This will give you a peek before you get to the course. This will be included online as an additional resource.
Selection of the holes requires some thought to make this competition fair and challenging without picking holes that are excessively long or short. We try to have both a Forward and a Back CTP on each of the front and back nine. However, some courses don’t have a good layout.
Forward CTP Holes
- 110 to 115 Yards Average
- 145 Yards Max
- 83 Yards Min
Back CTP Holes
- 140 to 145 Yards Average
- 165 to 170 Yards Max
- 100 to 105 Yards Min
Several courses will have both the Forward (Red) CTP and the Back (Yellow) CTP on the same hole. This is to prevent having exceptionally long or short holes. For example, the 190 yard par 3s at The Prairies or Florissant or the 225 yard 18th at Normandie would not be included.
The STARTERS can use this list instead of selecting CTP holes by themselves. They will use the VP email instructions or pick used the suggested CTP holes and position in the spreadsheet. However, STARTERS will still prepare the CTP Cards for the selected holes and get these to the first group or the hole assigned group.
We will simplify the Starter’s Instructions and delete the detailed description on selecting Closest To Pin locations for each weekly tournament.
Suggested CTP for 2018 Weekly Tournaments
Division 9 – Try It, You May Like It!
Pop Quiz!
- What is Division 9?
- Where and when is Division 9?
- Who can play in Division 9?
- How does Division 9 play affect you handicap in Divisions 1 – 5?
- What does it cost to join Division 9?
- What does it cost to play with Division 9?
- Why should you be playing in Division 9?
- Division 9 is our little secret for even more fun and fellowship. Nine holes of competitive golf like Division 1 – 5, with many continuing to play a full 18 (final nine for fun, practice, grins, whatever)!
- Division 9 plays every Wednesday morning from about March 15 to about November 15 at Riverside Golf Course in Fenton, Mo. Start time is about sunrise with about 1 1/2 hour registration. It is a great way to extend your golf season.
- Any registered member of Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf can join and play in Division 9.
- Trick Question – It does NOT affect your handicap, qualification for championship, or eligibility for Special Events.
- Division 9 only members pay an annual registration fee of $28. Division 1 – 5 members can join Division 9 for $2 the first time playing plus $1 for each round for prize payout.
- Fees to play in Division 9 (green and cart) are $21 for a full 18 holes to as little as $12 for 9 hole walkers.
- Why add Division 9 to your schedule? Easy!
- Fun, inexpensive, competitive golf on Wednesday morning.
- No commitment required, just show up and make up a foursome.
- Relatively close location for almost all of our Missouri members.
- Great way to get in some practice before Thursday or Friday events.
- Extend your season with a great group of golfers.
- Great way for new golfers to get into Metro Seniors, learn rules, forming foursomes, meeting other golfers, making new friends.
- Will not affect you handicap or anything else in Divisions 1 – 5.
- More opportunities for Hole In One (Metro Seniors pays $100 for Division 9, too)
- Great way for golfer with health issues or simply cutting back on golf to stay in the game.
Now that you are interested, CLICK HERE for even more information.
Special Events Schedule for 2018
The Special Events Committee lead by Frank Mantia has put together a great mix of events for 2018. We have new courses and some really good venues.
Here is the schedule short form.
- 24 April 1st 100 – Indian Mounds – $21 no lunch 0730 SG start
- 15 May Ryder Cup – Gateway National – $51 includes lunch limit to 120 players 0730 SG start
- 26 June Pick your partner 2 man scramble – The MO Bluffs – $52 includes lunch limit 120 players 0730 SG start
- 16 July Super Seniors – Sunset Hills CC Edwardsville, IL – $63 includes lunch limit 120 players 0730 SG start
- 14 August Founders Day – Whitmoor CC – $59 includes lunch 0730 SG start
- 11 September Same Flight Individual tournament – Annbriar GC – $42 no lunch 0800 SG start
For the complete schedule information and a link to registration information see the Special Events Schedule Page.
Holes In One for 2017
Back in 2016, we reviewed the Holes In One for the regular weekly seasons for 2013, 2014, 2015. We had 14 Aces recorded over 28,000 rounds of golf – 1 for every 1999 rounds. CLICK HERE to see the details.
Click Here for a Golf Digest information on Holes In One.
So – how did we do in 2017.
6 Holes In One for regular weekly tournaments covering 10,109 total rounds.
1 Hole In One for every 1685 rounds played. Plus we had another Hole In One at an extra outing.
We are still about halfway between the typical “amateur” and the “low handicap” golfer referenced by USGA.
Pretty good for a group with average age of 70 and average handicap of 20.
The 2017 Hole In One class:
| Weekly Tournaments | Division |
| Eldon Hulbert | 3 |
| Peter Knese | 4 |
| Roy Migneco | 5 |
| Rick Hines | 5 |
| Ron Deines | 5 |
| Brad Bradley | 2 |
| Ham and Beer Special | |
| Ron Pierson | 3 |
Special note – these guys have handicap guides ranging from 17 to 26. Three are in C Flights.
New Officers for 2018
With the new year, we have changes in officers. The following changes were approved by the Board of Directors for the 2018 Season.
Rick Hines has completed his term as Past President and on the Executive Committee. He is continuing as VP for Division 5.
Bob Zaruba has completed his term as President and moves to Past President and continues on the Executive Committee.
Dave Wicks, as of January 1 will be the President and will continue on the Executive Committee.
Larry Roth, currently a Director for Division 1, has been confirmed as First Vice-President and will begin serving on the Executive Committee.
Don Skitt is stepping down from the Secretary position. Craig Carothers has been confirmed by the Board as our new Secretary.
As previously announced, Denis Carter is now our Treasurer, replacing Ed Gautier.
Finally as a special recognition, Herb Walker has stepped down from responsibilities on the Board after 18 consecutive years of service.
Please be sure to express your thanks to these folks. They have kept this organization healthy, fun and vital for many years.
New Scorecard Developments – 2018 and Beyond
CLICK HERE to try out test scorecard (web page based)
Our Smartphone Survey showed that most members have smartphones and know how to use them with APP and websites.
We will be exploring Mobile Data Entry to get our weekly tournament scores in faster, more accurately, with less time, and less cost. This would eventually replace the green Universal Scorecard. Each tee group would complete the electronic scorecard AFTER their round just like we do with the green card on an available smartphone. Once completed, the form would be sent electronically to OurGolfStats.
Completing the electronic scorecard will take 3 to 5 minutes if you have all your player hole scores from you course scorecard. (THE ELECTRONIC SCORECARD 0IS NOT TO BE USED FOR SCORES ON THE COURSE!)
While on the course, use course scorecards, announce all players hole score at the end of a hole and write these down. Use these agreed hole scores for the electronic scorecard.
We will still use “course” scorecards as a backup until we have a better backup alternative.
Web Page Test Scorecard
We have a sample scorecard form for all to try out. This version is web page based. Anyone can open the scorecard, input data and submit to a storage on our server.
Simply click on the link, enter the information and “submit”. No IDs, no Passwords, no sign-ups required.
Most of the form is point and click. Easy, fast and accurate. Nine and eighteen scores are totaled automatically. Form in test includes only Division 1 names and numbers, but all 2018 courses and tee locations are installed.
This is a work in progress so you comments and feedback are needed.
CLICK HERE to try out test scorecard.
APP Version for Android Smartphones
This same scorecard is also available as a APP for Android smartphones. You must install the ODK (Open Data Kit) app from the Google Play Store. Then I can provide the needed links to get the Scorecard Form loaded. The form has the required information to submit the data.
If you want to try this out, please contact me – Dave Wicks, david.l.wicks@gmail.com.
2017 Pace of Play Results – Full Season
The 2017 season is finished. The Pace of Play data is analyzed.
2017 RESULTS
Overall Pace of Play (POP) for 2017 was GREAT! And a huge IMPROVEMENT. Our gross averages for all tee groups across all Divisions and courses was under 4:30, a 15 to 20 minute improvement as compared to 2016.
Although there were several complaints when we started, during the year we have received many positive comments about members appreciating the faster play. In discussions with courses for 2018 schedules, many acknowledged that they saw improvements.
The detailed data now shows that an overwhelming majority of our members can and do play at pace between 4 and 4:30. All ages and physical and golf abilities have been playing quickly. This reinforces that being ready to play and staying aware are far more important than skill, age or physical capabilities in pace of play.
2018 and Beyond
Focus on pace will continue. We can still improve. Every year new members will need to understand and practice.
Reverse Shotgun starts were clearly identified as a problem for pace. No Reverse Shotgun starts are on the 2018 schedule (and probably not into the future).
Split Tee starts are the fastest. We have more Split Tee starts for 2018.
Improved pace can also be a source of new membership as our reputation for fair, competitive, and speedy play grows.
We are not seniors who play golf.
We are good golfers who happen to be seniors.
For 2017 details – see below.
2018 Membership Renewal Now Open
Metro Senior Members,
It is time for you to began the your membership renewal process. You have until December 31, 2017 to renewal your membership and maintain your position in your current division, or transfer to a different division.
If you wait until after January 1, 2018, you will be grouped with new members on a first come first serve basis and when the 160 member limit is reached you will be frozen out of your desired division.
Division 5 was at 160 members last year, while Divisions 3 and 4 were almost at 160. To guarantee your position in Divisions 3, 4, or 5, then you should get your renewals in.
Please use the following link: On-Line Renewal Form
If you elect to mail in your renewal application (see attached file) the check should be made payable to – Metro Seniors.
The completed renewal form and check should be mailed to:
Dan Glenzy
14 London Ct.
O’Fallon, MO 63366
Thank you,
The Membership Committee
2017 Smartphone Survey Results
Thank you for your responses.
The evolution of smartphones has generated the opportunity and need to make communications “mobile friendly”. As an example, our Metro Sr website automatically resizes for the smaller smartphone screen. We also need to look for improved ways to communicate Metro Seniors news and perhaps weekly VP tournament announcements (emails?).
Over the last several years, ideas for improving our weekly tournament scoring process have bubbled up. Ideas have outrun the technology. Our current “paper based” Universal Scorecard process is:
- Time consuming – members and data entry
- Time delayed – mailing, bulk data entry
- Relatively expensive – mailing, printing, data entry
- Error prone – input and data entry
- Affects every member
Technology now exists. Smartphones are now in wide use. Essentially hand held wireless computers connected to the internet and central servers/systems.
Applications (APPs) that use smartphones for “Mobile Data Entry” are widespread and some are virtually free. These allow easy point – click data entry, automatic completion, error checking and math. They also allow immediate data transfer for use in central databases (like OurGolfStats).
We are exploring the opportunity to utilize Mobile Data Entry as a replacement for our current paper scorecard system. Within a few years, we expect that this will be the standard everywhere.
The decision for us is should we start now or wait. The Smartphone Survey will help in deciding when we start.
Do we have a “critical mass” of smartphones?
Do members have enough experience to use website or Mobile Data Entry APPs?
Do members understand the issues, problems, delays, costs, and time for paper scorecards?
Can we develop Mobile Data Entry that is faster, cheaper, higher quality and that members will use?
Do we see more opportunities?
- Fast, accurate, real time course surveys or course conditions reports
- Improved pace of play measures, real time
- Reduced efforts and time for volunteers (Starters / Scorers and administration)
- ???? More Ideas?????