Play 9 Day on tap for July 23
A round of golf is usually considered to require playing 18 holes, but it wasn’t always this way. That number is essentially a historical artifact based on how the Old Course at St. Andrews was eventually shortened from its original 22 holes.
Other than when playing in a sanctioned tournament, however, there’s no actual requirement to play a full 18, especially when you’re just having fun.
To bring that message home and encourage more playing, the United States Golf Association is urging golfers to play shorter rounds. For example, July 23 is the USGA’s first Play 9 Day, with plans to make it an annual event.
According to a USGA press release, “The program builds on the organization’s ongoing efforts to make the game more accessible, sensitive to time considerations and sustainable.”
According to the National Golf Foundation, more than 4,000 American courses are nine-hole facilities. Nine-hole rounds can be played at most 18-hole public facilities.
Even so, only about a quarter of the total rounds played last year were nine-hole rounds, based on survey data.
The folks at American Classic Golf in Midway will be running their own Play 9 Special July 23. All nine-hole rounds that day will feature $15 greens fees, $6 golf cart fees, and $3 push/pull carts. The executive course will also offer food and drink specials as well as chances to win free future rounds of golf and other items.
Kids 9 and under can play for free July 23, and the fee for juniors 10-15 will be $7 when playing with a paying adult.
Tee times are not a necessity at American Classic, but golfers are encouraged to make them by visiting americanclassicgolf.com or calling 302-703-6662.
Fourth Annual Eleanor Soltner Memorial Golf Outing Aug. 6
A few dozen spots remain for those interested in playing in the fourth annual Eleanor Soltner Memorial Golf Outing, to be held Wednesday, Aug. 6, at The Rookery North.
The event supports Delaware Hospice Center in Milford, and is dedicated to a longtime avid golfer and great lady. This year’s tournament is also played in memory of Don Tiedemann, Bob Graham, Bruce Aden, and Francis W. (Bill) Barney Jr.
Registration and the range both open at 7:30 a.m., with the shotgun start for each four-person scramble beginning at 9 a.m. The lunch and award ceremonies begin immediately after the round.
The fee for each player is $100, and you can make up your own foursome. You can also bring a guest to the award reception for $25 per person.
For more information, including sponsorship opportunities, call Bob Burd at 302-422-3501.
Local club competition results
The Kings Creek Country Club Ladies 18-Hole Golf League played Flag Day July 3.
In this format, players continue the round until they reach their handicap score. Those who don’t finish the round place a flag on the course where their last shot ended. Those who finish the round without going over their handicap keep playing on the club’s putting green until they do. Farthest flag wins.
In the first flight, Tricia Ritthaler won first place, followed by Marilyn Hewitt, with Linda Outlaw and Luanne Zabytko tying for third.
Julie Dickson won the second flight, while Barbara Hines took second, and Nadine Carrick came in third.
Joanne Yurik finished first in the third flight, with Prabhat Karapurkar taking second and Monica Fleischman in third. Luanne Yabytkoat’s approach to six-feet-nine-inches on the fifth hole won the closest to the pin contest.
On July 7, the Kings Creek Ladies 9-Hole group played a game called Even In, where only the even-numbered holes are counted toward the score.
Carolyn Ortwein won first place, while Noreen Buzerak took second. Sue Eisenbrey finished in the third spot, and Nathalie McGregor came in fourth. Helene Guilfoy won the closest to the pin contest on the 16th hole, 35 feet from the pin.
The Rehoboth Beach Country Club 18-Hole Ladies held a mixed team/individual event July 2.
Kathy Carrol, Kim Stockson, Arlene Simms and Linda Tigani combined for first-place net with a score of 120.
Linda Welch, Martha Clendaniel, Genine Fidler and Carol Perry finished in second place, only one stroke back. Clendaniel also was low net individual with her net 65.
Dale Lipnick, Bailey Scheurer, Carroll Medd and Daisey Hudson won the team gross category with a combined 160 score. Joan Crowley was low gross winner with her 81.
