Cape High golf team picks up sixth win
The Cape Henlopen High School golf team is inching closer to a winning season and perhaps a spot in the state championship team tournament.
The Vikings hosted the Laurel High Bulldogs April 24 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club, beating the western Sussex squad 192-228.
Medalist Tyler Reed led all scorers with his 45, followed by three Cape golfers who tied each other for the remaining scoring spots for the day. Michael Johnson, Luke Branner, and Tanner Nickerson all posted 49s.
Quincy Duckworth and Maddie Baptiste also tied each other for the nonscoring spots on the Cape team that day, finishing with a pair of 54s.
The team record is now 6-2, with five matches remaining, including a real challenge against statewide No. 2 Caesar Rodney which was scheduled for May 1.
Local club competition results
The Kings Creek Country Club Ladies 18-hole Golf League began its 2013 season April 25.
Judy Wetzel took first-place honors in the first flight. Patty Marvel finished in second, while Anita Pettitt came in third in that flight.
In the second flight, Carol Simon finished in first place, followed by Joanne Yurik in second and Pattie Magee in third.
Marvel also won closest to the pin for the day, on the par-3 fifth hole.
Myrtle Beach memories
Cape Gazette reporter Nick Roth and I made separate pilgrimages to the Myrtle Beach area a few weeks ago.
Nick graciously agreed to share his opinions of the five layouts he played.
In an upcoming column, I will follow up with my own impressions of the five courses we played, a week behind Nick’s foursome.
Roth stayed in a North Myrtle Beach condo. All of his courses were within a half-hour’s drive. One thing to bear in mind about Myrtle Beach is that dozens of clubs are spread out over 60 miles of the Grand Strand. If you are considering a similar golf vacation, I strongly suggest following Roth’s example to save yourself a lot of driving.
His foursome started with Arcadian Shores (http://www.arcadianshores.com; 877-283-2122). As he noted, “The course itself wasn't terribly challenging. While there were trees lining both sides of most every hole, you could usually get away with a poor tee shot.”
His group’s next round was at Blackmoor, where Roth said the 6,200-yard course was full of doglegs (http://www.blackmoor.com; 866-952-5555). Golfers with a power fade or draw could therefore find some holes either work to their advantage or be very problematic.
Roth said the course was very well maintained, with nicely groomed fairways and very quick greens.
His foursome next traveled to Farmstead, a course that's half in North Carolina and half in South Carolina (http://www.farmsteadgolflinks.com; 877-283-2122).
The boundary makes a difference for those seeking beverage service during the round, which is only available in North Carolina.
Roth found this links-style course to be the best suited for his game. “The wide-open layout benefited those in our group who weren't the most accurate off the tee.”
The highlight of Farmstead is its par-6 18th hole, stretching out over 700 yards. Roth pulled out his driver and placed it nicely in the middle of the fairway 275-300 yards off the tee. A 4-iron and 3-wood later and he was sitting next to the green. A chip and a putt and he earned his par.
The next day’s outing took place on the Pine Hills course at Myrtlewood (http://www.myrtlewoodgolf.com; 877-283-2122). This course featured plenty of water and tight, tree-lined fairways. Roth avoided almost all of that and shot his best round of the week, an 81.
River Hills was on tap for the final day of play (http://www.riverhillsgolf.com; 877-283-2122). Roth said, “The weather, slow play in front and the impending nine-hour drive home took its toll on our foursome. The course was tight with some very nicely placed water hazards and bunkers. I'd like to go back sometime in the future and play the course in better conditions to get a better opinion on it.”
