This week’s Notes are being written Sunday, June 27th from the backseat of Scott Donahoo’s car on the way to Carson City Nevada. I left the coast at 7:00 a.m. with thick fog and 52 degrees. Arriving in Chico the temperature was 88 on its way to 104. We are on our way to participate in the 42nd annual Golf Safari. The Safari had its origin in 1980 when a few Chico school teachers headed for Reno after school ended for the year to golf and relax. One of the original members is Gary Pedersen, a retired Chico school teacher, and I have known each other since we were 3 years old being next-door neighbors in the little town of McCloud. Gary has also played in 16 Little River Abalone Golf Tournaments. Scott just turned off the freeway to take a sneaky shortcut through the orchards and farmland.
We begin playing golf tomorrow on the Eagle Valley East Course in Carson City. I am a 16 handicap at the Little River Course and will be playing to a 13 in Carson City. Not right! Twenty-six hopeful golfers will be competing in this year’s Safari. The Sutter Buttes are receding behind us while the guys in Scott’s car are reminiscing about a golf course once located at the foot of Sutter Buttes called South Ridge. Scott remembers the course, long since closed, as having a good supply of rattlesnakes. Scott said once while looking for a ball he stepped on a rattler.
Last Sunday six two-man teams competed to represent the Little River Men’s Club in the Senior 4-Ball Net Qualifier. The two Jims Jim Elhers and Jim Corsar took the first-place honor shooting a team 65 with Gary Nelson and Dave Coddington placing second with a 69. Jim Ehlers reported the weather was cold and gray. The winning first and second-place teams will now, on August 22nd, travel to Santa Rosa Country Club or Haggin Oaks for the next level of competition. Good luck!
Back on the ranch, a local group of golfers were headed last Monday for the Hidden Valley Golf Course in Clearlake. Because of heat predictions of temperatures over 100 degrees the trip was wisely canceled. Us coasties are not accustomed to playing golf in heat. The group was altering their plan to play at the Sea Ranch course instead.
In response to the question, “What do you say or how do you react to a bad shot.” Grant Miller said, “I grimace, cuss and look for a tree I could chop down with my golf club.” Normal reaction. While Larry Krasner said he shrugs the shot off and says, “I could have done better but I don’t mind. Don’t think twice it’s all right.” Sound familiar?