/ LINKSLETTER
Issue 2006 No. 5 / Half Moon Bay Men’s Golf Club / December 2006

PRESIDENTS LETTER

By Bruce Greene

For those of you who were unable to attend the December Quarterly, this Linksletter issue will bring you up to speed. The Quarterly meetings provide a perfect opportunity for the Board of Directors and the membership to exchange ideas and suggestions. After applying some adjustments in the meeting format, the content shared at the Quarterly meetings has provided considerably more substance. The enhanced value of the Quarterlies has caused an added demand to participate, such that the event continues to sell out. Therefore, we will attempt to negotiate an increase to our Quarterly player limit with HMB management, in order to support the added demand and to provide a better opportunity for the membership to participate.

As we announced at the December Quarterly, we have completed the primary objectives stemming from the Sept Quarterly, which was to publish a number of HMBMGC policies and to bring our club By Laws up to date with our current operating standards. As members of this club, it is important you be aware of these policies & our By Laws. The HMBMGC web site’s Club Document section, located under the main tab “Club Information”, has now become a library to support these & other reference materials, for your personal review. Our Administration, as well as future administrations, will continue to add documentation to this section (library), which will become a resource documenting our club’s historical evolution for all members to enjoy, at their convenience.

The HMBMGC continues to be a very active and very special club organization. The HMBMGC web site is a strong mechanism supporting our growth and our activities. This technology has greatly reduced many administrative hours, reduced substantial printing costs which has helped towards supporting other operational costs, definitely enhanced our lines of communication with the membership, and has significantly increased the efficiencies associated with tournament logistics for the administrations and the active member’s mutual benefit. After the web site was first launched, for several months less than 30% of the membership was connected to the site and only about 10% of the tournament sign ups paid on line. Now, over 90% of the membership is connected to the site and 75% - 80% of the tournament sign ups are paying on line. Golf Fusion has announced it will further enhance the on line payment experience, as a result of a system wide conversion currently taking place. Once this is triggered on January 21, 2007, members paying on line will experience a much easier payment process. A $1 “convenience” fee will be applied directly & only to the member paying on line, which will generate a savings for the HMBMGC’s account because the HMBMGC account had to absorb the PayPal convenience fees, directly. The Bank of America on line payment system integrated into Golf Fusion’s technology is far more user friendly, extremely secure, requires no registration procedure, no off site log in requirements, no special usernames or passwords, no funding source verifications, and allows users to utilize any credit card they prefer, at any time. In other words, many of the PayPal complaints will no longer be a factor and this will provide an added convenience to members previously disenchanted by PayPal experiences. Members who have not experienced the PayPal system will soon appreciate the ease of paying for tournaments on line and securing your tournament sign up, promptly. Golf Fusion has also planned a number of other system wide enhancements, which will provide visible improvements to the HMBMGC web site experience. The Board will point these out to you as they become available.

The Board of Directors has a number of objectives to satisfy in the year ahead of us, which we believe will further enhance your experiences within this club. We will be bringing these items to your attention in more detail, once we have structured the proper organization to manage these objectives. In the meantime, we hope you, your family, and your friends have a very enjoyable holiday season; and, we hope you have the opportunity to enjoy some games of golf! Play well!

TOURNAMENT REPORT

By Don Prestosz

We have some exciting events coming up next year and are in the process of finalizing two away events.

For your convenience, a list of tournamentsis provided below so you can plan your schedule for 2007.

2007 Schedule ofHMBMGC TOURNAMENTS

January 20: 4 Man 3 Best Ball format

February 17: "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly". Always a fun event. Two man team format

March 7: Quarterly ( 2-Man Best Ball)

March 17: NCGA 2-Man Qualifier

April 21: The Stableford Open

May 20+21: The Invitational

June 6: Quarterly ( Individual Best Ball)

June 16: NCGA Individual Qualifier

July 21: "The Scottish Cup"

August 18: "The Ryder Cup"

September 5: Quarterly

September 15/ 16: first rounds, September 22/23, final rounds The Club Championship

October 20: The Bash

We had a great run this year with a 15% increase in our tournament participation rate at our monthly Club Tournaments. For future golf events and tournaments for the upcoming year check our fantastic website at: and if you have not done so already, GET CONNETED! Thank you for your support and participation throughout the year! Don

SENIOR’S REPORT

By John Elerding

I want to invite everyone 50 and older to join the HMBMGC Seniors. We have 135 Senior Members and I know there are many more of you that just don’t know what a bargain it is. The annual fee is $50 and you are eligible to participate in all of our events when the season starts in April. Only the NCGA 2-man Best Ball Championship requires you to be 55+ to advance to the sectional qualifying round. I’ve scheduled 13 events so far and hope to add two or three more. We’ll be playing at most of the Peninsula’s premier Country Clubs including Lake Merced, Stanford, Peninsula, Green Hills, La Rinconada and Palo Alto Hills. Give me a call or send an email if you’re interested in joining.

Tournament Results:

  • 5th Annual Member/Guest Senior Invitational on November 1st – 19 teams enjoyed another great autumn day in Half Moon Bay, due to the smaller than normal field there were extra tee prizes, hosted drinks and a prime rib lunch. Low Gross with a 77 in a card-off was the team of James Bass & his guest Chris Rhodes winning $220. Low Net, also in a card-off with a 63 was the team of Max Lofland & his guest Rick Harding winning $220. Complete tournament results are available on the Senior web-site.
  • Senior Turkey Shoot a.k.a. Beat the Pro was held on November 15th and as promised, Head Pro Kevin Niessner shot a smooth 86 which accommodated most of the field with a $30 gift certificate. The few players with net scores of 86 or higher won’t be identified in this column in spirit of the holiday season.

New developments:

  • As you know, the Men’s Club has been posting member’s Adjusted Gross Scores in all Club tournaments for several years now, while the Seniors have relied on self posting. Unfortunately, there were indiscretions last year. With the change in Club officers effective October 1, 2006, we implemented the Men’s Club Score Posting Policy for Senior events, too. The complete policy is available on the Men’s Club web-site for your review.
  • There have been a few situations where one or more Senior Club members were issued a reduced handicap index by the NCGA, yet no adjustment was made during competition. Going forward, Senior events will comply with the Club Handicap Policy which you can also access on the Men’s Club web-site.
  • Good news, we anticipate launching a new on-line payment system for most Senior events in the near future. Many of you made this suggestion and we listened.
  • Better News, the Seniors have accumulated a surplus in the neighborhood of $10,000 and I intend to spend most of it in 2007! So far, I’ve decided to reduce most tournament fees, increase some awards and pick-up the green fees for the semi-finalists and finalists in the match play competition for the Sr. Club Championship. I’ll monitor the surplus throughout 2007, but elicit suggestions for new events and ideas that will make this coming year even better than currently planned. Send me a note () with your ideas. Here’s one idea – A monthly senior skin game, maybe a $5 or $10 buy-in per player and the club doubles the pot. Let me know if you’re interested.

HANDICAP REPORT

by Andy Anagnostou

Kindly note we have two new policies relating to Handicaps and Posting Procedures. They are located on the website for your viewing pleasure. Go to theCLUB INFORMATIONtab, click on CLUB DOCUMENTS, then at the bottom you will see the HMBMGC HANDICAP POLICY and the HMBMGC SCORE POSTING POLICY.

I encourage all of you to take the time to read them. It details our rules, penalties and procedures when it comes to your handicaps and the posting of your scores. For example, most of you have heard of a R being put next to your index reflecting a Reduction by the NCGA due to exceptional tournament play. Well you may also receive a M next to your index which means the HMBMGC Handicap Committee has Modified your index due to your performance in our tournaments.

As for posting, the HMBMGC Handicap Committee has come to realize that this is a bigger problem than anyone imagined. The bottom line is, if you post every eligiblescore and try your best on every shot, you will have nothing to worry about. We are striving for a fair and balanced playing field for all of our events, and just as importantly, our social play.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

By Michael Montgelas

As the New Year approaches, its always good to look at new approaches to your golf game. Trying new swings or different clubs and balls are ways to do that. Another is to consider playing with different members in the club. You may find it leads to new friendships and actually improve your game.

While playing with the same golf group each time is nice, I have found that those tournaments where you are matched up with different players results in some fun memories. Our tournament formats give you a chance to experience both choices. Remember we have some really good golfers in the club. By playing with one you can

help improve your technique and follow through.

On another note, I recently read that Silverado in Napa is offering a special golf package during the week (Sun-Thurs) for $199. This is good for two golfers and includes a one bedroom suite with fireplace, plus a round of golf with cart for each player on one of the resort’s two Robert Trent Jones courses. The package is called “Golfers Dreams” and is good thru Feb. 28. There is also a special package on weekends at $279. The number to call is 707-257-0200 or check their website at silveradoresort.com.

TREASURER’S REPORT

By Jaan Palm-Leis

Our club remains financially strong as we progress through our tournament calendar. The final numbers are not in yet from the Invitational, but we do not anticipate any major cost over runs or surprises. We should close the year by adding to the surpluses left to us from previous years.

HMBMGC CASH POSITION
Cash Available 12/15/06 / $ 66,224
Payable to Senior's / (6,750)
Total Cash Available 59,474
EXPENSE
Month / Tournament / Budget
Tournament Expense:
Dec / Quarterly / 650
Dec / Turkey Shoot / 1,775
Jan / 4-Man 3 Best Ball Net / 1,200
Feb / 2 Man Good, Bad & Ugly / 1,330
Mar / Quarterly / 650
Mar / NCGA 2-Man / 1,760
Apr / Stableford Open / 1,155
May / Invitational / 20,000
Jun / Quarterly / 820
Jun / NCGA Individual / 1,475
Jul / Scottish Cup / 1,870
Aug / Ryder Cup / 1,950
Sep / Quarterly / 650
Sep / Club Championship / 3,763
39,048
Overhead Expense:
NCGA Dues / 9,800
NCGA Qualifier Fees / 825
NCGA Team Match Play / 400
Hole-in-One Payouts / 500
Golf Pro Assistance / 1,000
Board Meetings / 2,000
Website / 1,500
Newsletter/Printing / 3,700
PayPal Fees Absorbed / 2,300
His and Hers / 500
Duke's Cards / 1,200
Trophies / 2,000
Total Overhead Expense / 25,725
Total Tournament & Overhead Expense / 64,773
Contingency 4% / 2,591
Total Expense / 67,364
Budget Surplus (Deficit) / $ (7,890)
Money Market Balance / $ 5,800
Senior's Cash Balance / $ 13,590
PROTECTING THE FIELD
By Torr Lewis
“Root Canal”
Who among us looks forward to having a root canal? Yes I’m talking about the dental procedure. No one? Well I’m not at all surprised. For those of us who have had the “pleasure”, we know it is nothing to look forward to. I had my first root canal back in the 1980s, and it was no picnic. Unfortunately I ended up having the procedure done again on the same tooth in 2005. To my surprise however, it wasn’t bad. IT wasn’t bad at all! There was no pain and I was in and out if less than an hour.
The connection to this article on the Rules of Golf is simple. Reading the HMBMGC Local Rules Policy is not so bad either. However based on the survey work that I’ve conducted and based on my general observations, very few members have read the policy. It has been posted in the Club Document section on the web site since October 1st. I mentioned it to the entire field at the shotgun start for “The Bash”. It was printed in its entirety and mentioned again by myself at the shotgun start of the December 6th “Quarterly”. And yet there was a 10 to 15 minute discussion on Pace of Play (HMBMGC Rule 5) at the “Quarterly” where it was painfully obvious that none of the discussion participants had EVER read it. I was astonished! I mentioned this to a member who quickly reminded me that “no one really wants to read about rules”. Then it hit me. He is right! I in fact had the same habit prior to being in this position. Rules sheets passed out before tournaments went unread by me for nearly two years! In those days I thought “well, I’ll read them in the event that something comes up”.
See? I get it guys!
Now, just to make sure that YOU get it, I’ve written all of that just to say this.
  • USGA Rules Govern HMBMGC Events
  • HMBMGC Local Rules Are the ONLY Exceptions
  • Violation Penalties are Also Listed in the Local Rules
  • Should a Sign, a Card or a Statement by a Person of Authority Contradict the HMBMGC Local Rule, the HMBMGC Local Rule Takes TOTAL Precedence
  • Ignorance is NOT a Valid Excuse
  • It Is Every Member’s Responsibility to Protect the Field by Knowing the Local Rules

BOARD of DIRECTORS

Gentlemen, below is this year’s HMBMGC Board of Directors listing, complete with contact
information for your convenience. Please feel free to contact any of us with your suggestions and
concerns as we are striving to continually improve the quality and general experience of membership.
BoD Position / Officer Name / Phone Number / Email
President / Bruce Greene / 650.595.5512 /
Vice President Vance Verderame 650.593.4711
Secretary Michael Montgelas 650.726.7886 /
Treasurer Jaan Palm-Lies 650.560.9656 / 650.726-7886 /
Tournament Director Don Prestosz 650.726.3437 / 650.560.9656 /
Rules Chairman Torr Lewis 650.520.6493 / 650.726.3437 /
Handicap Chairman Andy Anagnostou 650.444.1609 / 650.520.6493 /
Seniors Director John Elerding 650.598.9911 / 650.444.1609 /
Social Chairman Ozzie Valdes 650.814.9148 / 650.598-9911 /
Member @ Large Eric Ladd 650.728.7642 / 650.814.9148 /
Past President Mike Vreeburg 650.369-2921 / 650.728.7642 /
HMBMGC POB 871 Half Moon Bay CA 94019 / / 1