September 2007 Volume 1, Issue 5
Inside this Issue
2	Lone Tree Results
4	Bennett Valley Results
5	Upcoming Tournaments
7	President’s Corner
8	Rules Trivia
Bell Golf Club Of San Francisco

I

All the News that Fits, We Print

Letter from the Editor

Tom Weir

Bell Golf Club of San Francisco Eatablishes Dominance

Smiling like Tom Waton at a Ryder Cup match, our own Tom Baker coached the club to victory over the East Bay club in our first match play contest. Down 16 – 8 at one point, the club won its last three matches to prevail 23 – 19. Tom attributes the victory to his keen pairings and strategic match-ups. Some of our teams had to overcome as much as 18 strokes. The clubs had a $7 per player merchandise fee for this event. The money is applied to the merchandise fund for the Club Breakfast. The team match was 2 man best ball per hole with 2 points each for front, back and 18. Team results are listed in the results section.

Lone Tree

August 18, 2007

Field Low Net

Dennis Dahlgren 66

Closest to Pin

			#2			Ken Silva
			#5			Steve Spiva
			#11			Maurice J Piccari
			#17			Roy V Riddle
		Net					Net
Ken Silva		69		Susanne Piccari			68
Leonard Pruss		70		Ray Straka			69
Roy V Riddle		71		Art Palomo			72
	Flight 1				Flight 2
	Name		Net		Name			Net
	Dahlgren, Dennis		66		Piccari, Susanne			68
	Silva, Ken		69		Straka, Ray			69
	Pruss, Leonard		70		Palomo, Art			72
	Riddle, Roy V		71		Pruss, Stacy N			72
	Calkins, Leon		72		Spiva, Steve R			72
	Piccari, Maurice J		72		Robles, Jose A			73
	Panelli, David Jr		73		Straka, Karen L			73
	Perrino, Charles T		73		Adair, Robin			74
	Baker, Thomas L		74		Colella, Roger E			74
	Woodmansee, Loren		74		Lowe, Ronald			75
	Rittweger, John		77		Weir, Tom			78
					Oliver, Michael J			79

Lone Tree Match Play

August 18, 2007

Match Play

Team 1	C.H.	POINTS	Team 8	C.H.	POINTS	SF Total	EB Total
Leonard Pruss	2	0	Darrell Santos	17	2
Dennis Dahlgren	15	0	Kris Mally	23	2
		0			2	0	6
Team 2	C.H.		Team 9	C.H.
Roy V Riddle	7	1	William F Jardin	14	1
Maurice J Piccari	11	1	Rudolph Marchetti	28	1
		1			1	3	3
Team 3	C.H.		Team 10	C.H.
Leon Calkins	10	0	John A Neyhouse	14	2
Art Palomo	16	2	Steven J Neyhouse	28	0
		1			1	3	3
Team 4	C.H.		Team 11	C.H.
Ken Silva	14	2	Ed Mori	29	0
Charles T Perrino	15	0	John Belmondo	29	2
		0			2	2	4
Team 5	C.H.		Team 12	C.H.
Steve R Spiva	16	2	Robin Adair	34	0
Tom Weir	23	2	Robert Wahlstrom	40	0
		2			0	6	0
Team 6	C.H.		Team 13	C.H.
Loren D Woodmansee	14	2	Marion Rogers	18	0
Roger E Colella	23	1	Mike J Nobriga	24	1
		2			0	5	1
Team 7	C.H.		Team 14	C.H.
David Panelli Jr	13	0	Jorgen O Vindum	17	2
John Rittweger	14	2	Marius B Tapiador	23	0
		2			0	4	2
						23	19

Bennett Valley

September 15, 2007

Low Field Net

Jose Robles 56

Closest to the Pin

#5

Chamberlin, Todd S.

#8

<none>

#11

Palomo, Art

#15

Baker, Thomas L

Net

Woodmansee, Loren D

67

Rittweger, John

70

Colella, Roger E

72

Flight 1

Name

Net

Robles, Jose A

56

Woodmansee, Loren D

67

Rittweger, John

70

Colella, Roger E

72

Benas, J Duncan

72

Calkins, Leon

72

Coogan, Larry A

74

Panelli, David Jr

76

Slusher, Randall C

76

Baker, Thomas L

77

Spiva, Steve R

77

Fosdick, Tom

77

Palomo, Art

78

Eldridge, Harold Jr

79

Chamberlin, Todd S.

82

Philpot, Brian E

86

Larson, James WE

WD

Upcoming Tournaments

Tom Weir

Pairings announced for State Telco. The 43^rd Annula State Telco will be held September 29 and 30 at Blacklake and Avila Beach Golf Courses. Both Days will be 8:30AM shotgun starts. BCFSF is playing Blacklake Saturday and Avila on Sunday. The club is fielding three, six man teams this year.

	Blacklake - Saturday September 29
Hole	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
Lake
1A	Dennis Dahlgren (12.9)	L. Woodmansee (12.2)	Larry Salerno (12.5)	Frank Novick (10.3)
1B	Tom Baker (4.0)	Roy Riddle (5.3)	Joe Shaman (9.3)	Alan Mangini (12.7)
3A	Tom Fosdick (7.3)	John Brown (6.6)	Joe Gardner (3.3)	Tim Clark (10.6)
3B	Pat Rogers (7.1)	Ken Silva (11.0)	John Hill (7.8)	Kirk Adams (14.0)
4A	Leon Calkins (8.8)	Joe Cadena (18.4)	Mike Carrera (7.7)	John Jenkins (19.7)
4B	Dave Panelli (12.2)	John Rittweger (12.4)	John Smyth (14.6)	Jack Cunningham (14.8)
5A	Maurice Piccari (8.1)	Susanne Piccari (33.1)	F.W. Shriver (13.2)	John O'Loughlin (12.5)
5B	Todd Chamberlin (20.9)	Brian Philpot (24.5)	Ed Mori (25.2)	Jack McDaniel (19.9)
Canyon
1B	Steve Spiva (14.4)	Tom Weir (21.5)	Tojo Tseng (14.0)	Paul Matsuoka (21.3)

	Avila Beach - Sunday September 30
Hole	Player 1	Player 2	Player 3	Player 4
1A	Tom Baker (4.0)	Roy Riddle (5.3)	Mike Meredith (10.8)	Scott Sloan (5.3)
8B	Dennis Dahlgren (12.9)	L. Woodmansee (12.2)	Jim Hill (14.7)	Randy Tonascia (9.4)
9A	Todd Chamberlin (20.9)	Brian Philpot (24.5)	Marius Tapiador (19.5)	Rodrigo Conel (28.1)
10A	Steve Spiva (14.4)	Tom Weir (21.5)	Rich Tando (21.1)	Michael Ardizzone (14.5)
10B	Tom Fosdick (7.3)	John Brown (6.6)	Joe Shaman (9.3)	Alan Mangini (12.7)
11A	Pat Rogers (7.1)	Ken Silva (11.0)	Joe Gardner (3.3)	Tim Clark (10.6)
11B	Leon Calkins (8.8)	Joe Cadena (18.4)	Mike Sidoti (7.2)	Gus Garcia, Jr (21.6)
12A	Dave Panelli (12.2)	John Rittweger (12.4)	Manny Padilla (15.3)	Brooks Carpenter (12.9)
12B	Maurice Piccari (8.1)	Susanne Piccari (33.1)	Janet Howard (28.6)	Khushriw Machhi (20.3)

Paradise Valley, Fairfield, CA Saturday October 20

10:30 AM First Tee $82 Green Fees Club Breakfast, 1-2-3

Offering Solano’s Best

Paradise Valley, praised as being number one golf course in Solano County and Best Value in the North Bay area, has a spectacular layout that is enhanced by oak studded fairways and meandering creeks. It’s a favorite for golfers who enjoy a walking round of golf and is playable for golfers of all abilities. For the more experienced golfer who likes a challenge, the length of the golf course from the back tees will provide plenty of challenges; ball placement and club selection is key. While playing Paradise Valley, don’t be surprised if you see some unsuspecting spectators. A glimpse of deer, pheasants or other wildlife is not unusual at Paradise.

Come on out for this event. In addition to a great breakfast, a chance to play 1-2-3, and a glimpse of deer, the club will also conduct its annual awards ceremony. The club championship was not determined until the Bennet Valley results could be certified. Congratualations to Jose Robles, with 132,908 points. Runner up is Dennis Dahlgren, with 127,783 points. Tom Baker, Leonard, Pruss and Steve Spiva rounded out the top five. The list of merchandise for this year’s event is impressive. As always, you must be present to win.

BGCSF 2007 merchandise

1 Bag Boy three wheel hand cart 1 Callaway Golf Carry Bag

1 Nike 60 degree Lob Wedge 1 Ping 60 degree Lob Wedge

1 Cobra 25 degree hybrid (5 iron) 1 Odyssey White Hot putter 35 in.

1 Odyssey White Hot putter 34 in. 1 Calloway golf Hat Red

1 Footjoy golf Shoes eComfort size 10.5 1 Footjoy golf Shoes GreenJoys size 10.5

1 Cutter Buck golf shirt Red XL

1 Adidas golf shirt burnt orange XL

1 Adidas golf shirt Blue L

1 Greg Norman golf shirt L

1 Adidas wind shirt Red XL

1 Adidas wind shirt Light Blue L

1 Adidas wind shirt Tan XL

1 Doz. Titleist NXT golf balls

2 Doz. Titleist NXT Extreme golf balls

1 Doz. Titleist NXT Tour golf balls

1 Doz. Bridgestone e 5 golf balls

3 Doz. Callaway Logo golf balls

President’s Corner

Steve Spiva

 
President’s Message
 

It was another great day at the golf course.  Getting there was a bit challenging as the traffic was not the best.  It was worth the drive however as the course was in good shape as was the weather. 

It's been a while since I saw so many trees and narrow fairways, I made friends with plenty of those trees.

We had a pretty small turn out, not sure if it was location or time of year but if folks have thoughts please share them with your board members.  The course took good care of us.  For those who remember the facilities last year, they have finished the new buildings and it is outstanding.  I would highly recommend playing there under the current conditions. 

Jose stole all our money again, the description of his game was "he was on fire".  If he keeps playing like this I'm going to set him on fire or have the competition committee lower his handicap to 10.  Just kidding Jose, great round. 

The next tournament is in October and is the annual breakfast.  I hope many of you make that tournament as it is always fun.  I will not be able to attend this year so it's a good excuse for all of you to show up. 

Remember, lets get a strong membership drive going for next year.  Take some forms to your friends and family.  Let's pump up the membership.  I'd like to see at least 40 players at each tournament next year. 

State Telco

Tom Fosdick announced the teams for this year’s State Telco Tournament in September.

Team #1

Dennis Dahlgren

Loren Woodmansee

Tom Baker

Roy Riddle

Steve Spiva

Tom Weir

Team #2

Tom Fosdick

John Brown

Pat Rogers

Ken Silva

Leon Calkins

Joe Cadena

Team #3

Dave Panelli

John Rittweger

Maurice Piccari

Susanne Piccari

Todd Chamberlin

Brian Philpot

Rules Trivia

Tom Weir

For the serious golfer, some information straight from the USGA. Thanks to Roger for this content.

First, for the serious golfer, a series of rules straight from the USGA. Thanks to Roger for this content

Course Rating and Slope Rating

One may wonder exactly how a course is rated to determine the USGA Course Rating™ and Slope Rating^®. Courses are rated by teams who typically work as volunteers for the authorized golf association in each state or region. These teams have been trained to evaluate courses based on the USGA Course Rating System.

A Course Rating is primarily determined using objective measurements. The vast majority of time a rater spends on the golf course is spent collecting measurements to various obstacles in the normal landing zones as well as around the greens. Each of these measurements is referenced to a chart of defined standards to determine a table value for the obstacle. In addition, there are adjustments that can be applied to the table value if conditions are present that make the obstacle more or less significant then the table value.

The USGA Course Rating System™ looks at two things for each hole, effective playing length and obstacles. The effective playing length of each hole is determined based on the measured length and adjusted for five possible factors which are:

• Roll - how much more or less roll a player receives compared to the standard
• Elevation - the change in elevation from tee to green
• Dogleg/Forced Lay Up - is the player able to cut a dogleg or does a dogleg/other obstacle cause the player to hit less than a full shot
• Prevailing Wind - the average wind speed and direction of any prevailing wind
• Altitude - on courses 2000 feet or more above sea level, the ball will travel farther based on the altitude

The effective playing length factors can either make a hole effectively shorter or longer than the measured length. For example if a hole is thirty feet down from the tee to the green, it will play effectively shorter than the same hole if it were flat or uphill from tee to green.

There are also ten obstacle ratings that are evaluated by the rating team on each hole, although not all ten may exist on a particular hole. These obstacle factors are:

• Topography - how topography affects stance or lie and whether the shot to the green is uphill or downhill
• Fairway - the width of the fairway in each landing zone and other factors which make the fairway easier or harder to hit
• Green Target - how difficult it is to hit the green with the approach shot
• Recoverability and Rough - recovery problems if the player misses the fairway or green
• Bunkers - chances of getting into a bunker and the difficulty of recovering from the bunkers
• Out of Bounds/Extreme Rough - the proximity of out of bounds or extreme rough from the center of the fairway landing zone or green and whether the out of bounds or extreme rough must be crossed
• Water Hazards - the proximity of a water hazard from the center of the fairway landing zone or green and whether the water hazard must be crossed
• Trees - proximity of trees and difficulty recovering from them
• Green Surface - the speed and contour or slope of the putting green
• Psychological - the cumulative effect of the other 9 obstacles on a player

Once the rating team has determined the rating values for the effective playing length factors and the obstacles, these values are then plugged into a formula that converts them into a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating. The authorized golf association reviews those values against other facilities in its region and then issues the Ratings. Without authorized golf associations, implementation of the USGA Course Rating could never take place.

For more information on this week's topic, visit Week 4.

Etiquette

Etiquette is defined on Merriam-Webster's OnLine dictionary as "the conduct or procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in social or official life." In golf, it is the conduct and behavior that is expected by all players on the golf course. While it is important to know the Rules of Golf, one might argue that it is even more important to be familiar with the Etiquette guidelines provided in "Section I" of "The Rules of Golf" before playing the very first round. Following these standards will result in you and those around you to have maximum enjoyment of the game.

The overriding principle of Etiquette is that consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times. There are 8 topics that make up the "Etiquette Section", the first which we already covered in the introduction.

The Spirit of the Game
As golf is played without the supervision of an umpire or referee, the individuals participating are responsible for playing by the Rules. Regardless of how competitive a player may be, he should conduct himself in a disciplined manner, demonstrating courtesy and sportsmanship at all times.

Safety
While golf may not be considered a "contact" sport, there are safety guidelines that must be followed. Before making a practice swing or a stroke, players should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to be hit by the club. Depending on the lie, the swing or stroke may result in stones, pebbles, twigs, etc. to fly and others should be clear of this potential hazard. In addition to those in the group, players should also be mindful of those on the course, whether in a group ahead, or on a different hole. Don't be embarrassed to shout "fore" if there is a danger of hitting someone.

Consideration for Other Players
Whether on the teeing ground, the putting green or in between, players should be careful to not disturb other players by moving, talking or making unnecessary noise. Additionally, the player can make the round more enjoyable for those in his group by simply positioning himself in an area that won't cause a distraction, for example, on the putting green, standing away from another player's line of putt to avoid casting a shadow over his line of putt. Players should remain on or close to the putting green until all other players in the group have holed out.

Pace of Play and Priority on the Course
It is important to play at a good pace at all times, even during a casual round not in competition. It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front, not in front of the group behind. A group is encouraged to invite the group behind to play through if it is falls a clear hole behind. There are many ways to improve pace of play without waiving or modifying the Rules of Golf, such as noting wind and yardage as others are playing, taking several clubs to the ball if riding in a cart, observing the line of putt while others are playing, and playing a provisional ball if the ball may be lost outside a water hazard or out of bounds. A group's pace of play determines its priority on the course. A faster group of 3 should have priority over a slower group of 2.

Care of the Course
The superintendent and his crew work long hard hours to provide the best possible conditions for play. To preserve these conditions, players should avoid causing damage to the course throughout the round. Avoid removing divots when taking practice swings or by hitting the head of a club into the ground. Also, around the putting green use care when placing bags or the flagstick on the ground and removing the flagstick from the hole and properly replace it once play of the hole is complete. Observe local notices regulating the movement of golf carts. Always leave the course in better condition than you found it, and repair any damage you may have accidentally created. Examples include smoothing footprints in bunkers, repairing any divot holes and ball marks on the putting green.

Penalties for Breach
A player is not penalized for a minor isolated breach of etiquette. However, if a player consistently disregards these guidelines during a round or over a period of time, and has an effect on others, it is recommended that the Committee consider taking appropriate disciplinary action. Such action may include prohibiting play for a limited time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is considered to be justifiable in terms of protecting the interest of the majority of golfers who wish to play in accordance with these guidelines. In the case of a serious breach of etiquette, the Committee may disqualify a player under Rule 33-7.

If players follow the guidelines in this section, it will make the game more enjoyable for everyone. As a player, you can be a leader following good etiquette yourself and provide a good example to those around you.

For more information on this week's topic, visit Week 1.

Rules Trivia

Tom Weir

For the less than serious golfer, some rules straight from Tom Weir

Rule 1.a.5
A ball sliced or hooked into the rough shall be lifted and placed on the fairway at a point equal to the distance it carried or rolled into the rough with no penalty. The golfer should not be penalized for tall grass which groundskeepers failed to mow.
 
Rule 2.d.6 (b)
A ball hitting a tree shall be deemed not to have hit the tree. This is simply bad luck and luck has no place in a scientific game. The golfer must estimate the distance the ball would have traveled if it had not hit the tree and play the ball from there.
 
Rule 3.b.3 (g)
There shall be no such thing as a lost ball; the missing ball is on or near the course and will eventually be found and pocketed by someone else, making it a stolen ball. The player is not to compound the felony by charging himself or herself with a penalty.
 
Rule 4.c.7 (h)
If a putt passes over a hole without dropping, it is deemed to have dropped. The law of gravity supersedes the Rules of Golf.
 
Rule 5.
Putts that stop close enough to the cup that they could be blown in, may be blown in. This does not apply to balls more than three inches from the
hole. No one wants to make a travesty of the game.
 
Rule 6.a.9 (k)
There is no penalty for so-called "out of bounds." If penny-pinching golf course owners bought sufficient land, this would not occur. The golfer deserves an apology, not a penalty.
 
Rule 7.g.15 (z)
There is no penalty for a ball in a water hazard, as golf balls should float. Golfers should not be penalized for manufacturers' shortcomings.
 
Rule 8.k.9(s)
Advertisements claim that golf scores can be improved by purchasing new golf equipment. Since this is financially impracticable for many golfers, one-half stroke per hole may be subtracted for using old equipment.