Rookery Women’s Golf Association hands out awards

The Rookery Women's Golf Association recently recognized several Cape Region golfers for their accomplishments during the 2023 season.

Janet Montague won the 2023 Heron Cup match play championship, while Becky Caprano was the year’s Rookery Ladies club champion.

B.J. Ferguson won Player of the Year honors in the 18-Hole Ladies League, with Carol Miller earning the Most Improved Player Award. Ferguson also had the best average gross score for the year in the first flight and tied Lisa Orem for best average gross score.

In the second flight, Cheryl Nelson had the best average gross and net scores for the season. Sue Baker had the best average gross in the third flight, with Dottie Pope winning best average net. Pope also tied Camille Croteau and Julie Monarque for most birdies.

Lisa Dillon won the Ringer Card for the first flight and had the most birdies in that flight. Mitzi Reitnouer took second in that flight’s ringer contest, followed by Cheryl Nelson. Sheila Egan made the most birdies in the second flight.

Joan Turci had the most eagles, while Joan Beck had the best attendance among all League players.

Ebersole flings more wins

Congratulations to Austin Ebersole for his continued success on the World League FlingGolf tour.

The course manager for American Classic Golf Club in Midway took second place Sept. 16 in the individual competition for the New England Open at Amesbury Country Club in Massachusetts. The next day, he rejoined his teammate Sam Scannell and won the team title at nearby Apple Hill Golf Course in East Kingston, N.H.

Ebersole then traveled to the Massanutten Resort in Virginia Oct. 21-22. He won the singles contest and finished second with Scannell in the team contest.

BIION footwear making a splash – literally

Some golfers like to wear a bit of color out on the course, and the folks at BIION are right there with them.

If you want your shoes to have multicolored, multi-sized polka dots, they offer just what you desire. For those seeking a bit more subdued appearance, the Canadian footwear company offers several black, white and navy options, especially in their Oxford line.

I spoke with chief designer Bohdan Chreptak, who handles a wide variety of the company’s creative tasks.

BIION’s shoe designs begin with EVA material, a pliable vinyl polymer that molds to your foot shape after a few minutes of wearing.

Several models also come with small vent holes, which also makes them handy for boating. Hexagonal sole lugs in different sizes promote stability and offer anti-slip protection. The shoes are also antimicrobial, making them resistant to mildew and bacteria.

I was most impressed by the new Chelsea boot designs, especially since I tend to play golf in the early morning dew. The side panels stretch easily for slipping into the high-top design, and with no vent holes, they are as waterproof as your British friend’s Wellingtons.

Puddles become just something to splash through, just as you did as a child.

The large lugs on the sole look like they will provide a steady platform for swinging. They also come in a wide variety of cheery colors, sure to lift the moods of those wearing the boots and those around them.

The Chelseas retail for $140, while the other styles range in price from $80 to $120. The models can be bought through the company’s website, shop-usa.biionfootwear.com.

Bushnell devices have the music in them

Bushnell has had a commanding presence in the golf marketplace for GPS and laser rangefinder devices for many years.

Judging from what I saw at its crowded booth at the 2023 PGA Show, the company has no interest in losing its advantage.

I met Trade Marketing Manager Candice Wood to look at new items, two of which are aimed at golfers who love some tunes as they swing, or maybe some walk-up music as they walk to the first tee.

The Wingman View and the Wingman Mini combine GPS and Bluetooth technology. The View uses an LCD screen to provide visual distance data, while the speaker announces the same information in audible form. A removable remote control, called BITE, controls the systems. If desired, the device can also broadcast prerecorded sound bites.

Wood suggested “You da man,” but I think she was being ironic.

The Wingman Mini is a small speaker unit that also gives GPS distances and the custom messages. It has a 10-hour battery life, and either a carabiner clip or magnetic strip makes it easy to put it where desired.

Both devices include free access to Bushnell’s Golf Mobile App.

The View retails for $199.99 and the Wingman Mini sells for $99.99.

Bushnell also offers its traditional rangefinders, leading with the Pro-X3, as well as the Ion Elite GPS watch. The watch comes with greens views and slope data as well as the normal distance information ($209.99 SRP).

The Phantom 2 is a handheld GPS unit featuring a large-font LCD screen. In addition to the yardages to the green, it also tracks up to six hazards per hole.