2015 IN REVIEW...

My daughter Paola & husband
Jeff, gave me this print of
Jordan Spieth after his Masters
win & before U.S. Open win.

This is a photograph of the last group in the
Par-3 Tournament at Augusta National in 2014,
which I named "34 Major Memories" in honor
of the number of majors won by the "Big 3".
Palmer did not play in 2015, and 2016 is not
looking good... will we have to rename it
"The Big 3's Last Journey"?

This has to be one good golf year to remember, both locally and in the professional world. In the professional world, the inevitable happened: young Jordan Spieth, and one of ma favorite golfers since 2013, made it to number one.

A year after coming in second in his first Masters (2014), behind Bubba Watson, Spieth blew the field in 2015 by 10 shots and tied the record for low 72 hole score at 270, 18 under par.

These six ladies were the first to play in the "Ladies Monday Night Out"
Group grew to over a dozen... Maybe we'll have 2 dozen in 2016!

During the year, except for the Open Championship (9 three putts) no one putted like Jordan, nor hit more greens in regulation. He continued his hot streak by winning the U.S. Open at "municipal golf course" Chambers Bay, and despite spotty putting, was one shot out of a playoff for the Open Championship ("British Open") won by Zack Johnson. He finished his majors by taking second to Jason Day in the PGA Championshipto. The "Road Hole" at St. Andrews proved to be the toughest par 4 in the world.... again. It also proved to be the difference in the end. Jordan Spieth, like Tom Watson in 1984 bogeyed The Road hole to finish one stroke back of first place. Spieth finished 2015 by coming in second and third in the two closing tournaments of the year, in which he was defending champion (The Australian Open and Tiger Woods' Hero Challenge). 

The Tuesday Night Scramble had the most
participation ever.

Double Eagle on #4...Best thing?
He was playing with dad!

At the end of 2015, it was disappointing that the PGA of America decided to cancel the Grand Slam of Golf because of the controversial statements of Donald Trump, Republican candidate for the presidency. The Grand Slam was going to be played at one of his courses. I won't get into politics here, but the PGA robbed us of a weekend of great golf featuring the the year's major winners. I would hope that Trump is a member at Augusta, what is the PGA going to do? Ask the players not to play The Masters until Augusta gets rid of Trump? Come on!

Dr. Michael Robinson and son Michael Jr.
we, to my knowledge, the first
father-son golfers to make a hole in one in
the same year at Elk City Golf & C.C.
(This picture is of the time Sr. made his)

And speaking about Augusta National and The Masters, I had the pleasure of going too the 2014 Masters and attended the Par 3 Tournament (where I found Steve and Vicky Chambers!). Anyway, we wanted to see the last group, always formed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. As we saw them start #1, we did not realize that Palmer would not join Nicklaus and Player in 2015 due to a hip operation. Now, this year, as I saw Jack Nicklaus play the Father & Son Tournament a week ago, I could not believe how much he has aged in one short year, and how painful it seemed to be for him to play and walk. Will he be able to play nine holes walking this coming spring? Only time will tell. Will Palmer rejoin the group? Again, we'll know in April!

Craig Martin
Senior Co-Champion

Joby Gray - Club Champion

Locally, we had more members play than in any of the previous three years, and as usual, we had a year full of laughs and well played rounds. Our Club Championship had a record number of entries and ended up with six flights in the men's division and three flights in the senior division. We were a little short in the women's field. 

The Tuesday Night Scramble for men, had it's matching night for women, this one on Mondays. A group on bout 12 ladies found time to play many 9 hole rounds together on Mondays, and it was great to host these ladies who took fun to a new level. Seriously! I'm yet to see a group that plays bad golf (no offense intended) with so much fun.

Ann Cowan
Women's Champion

Jeff Donaghey
Senior Co-Champion

Elk City's streak of GPN Bank Bedlam Cup wins was cut at four as the fifth edition of this popular tournament was won by our east and competitive neighbors of Clinton, OK. Elk City's teams came in second and third.

Finally, as usual, we have our "News Makers of the Year" list (and poster). And here are the News Makers:

Kaleb Keith (double eagle #4)

Dr. Michael Robinson (hole in one #17)

Michael Robinson Jr. (hole in one #10. Qualified for the Dornick Hills Jr. Invitational, placing 8th among 144 participants)

Ryder Cowan (10 year old junior champion, qualified for second straight year for junior championship at Pinehurst)

Tom Gilliland
Super Senior Champion

Grady Lantz
Most Age Matching Rounds

Logan Gore​ (2nd in State Tournament, Best of High School, All State, hole in one #2 in Clinton during tournament)

James Ainsworth​ (hole in one on #17)

Dave Rogers (hole in one #10)

Dr. Craig Phelps (hole in one #13)

Joby Gray​ (Club Champion)

Craig Martin​ (Senior Co-Champion, Mid Seniors Champion)

Jeff Donaghey (Senior Co-Champion, Young Seniors Champion)

Andrew Albert​ (Club Championship Runner Up)

David Poole (Champion "AA")

Brandon Thomas (Winner "AA" Net)

Luke Phillips - Wins Elk City Shootout with Joby Gray and "Thumper" Galyean in field!

Luke Phillips
Elk City Shootout Champion

GPN Bank Bedlam Cup Champions
Clinton Team

Brad Spitzer​ (Champion "A")

Jack Christian​ (Winner "A" Net)

Craig Phelps (Super Seniors Low Net, Winner "B" Net)

Greg Dodson​ (Champion "B")

Kim Jordan​ (Champion "C")

Roy Garrison​ (Winner "C" Net)

Greg Minter (Champion "D")

Mike Proctor (Winner "D" Net, Winner Young Seniors Net)

Haley Gunkel​ (Women's Runner Up)

Ann Cowan (Women's Champion)
Grady Lantz (Most rounds matching his age or better! - too many to count!)

Travis Williams (hole in one #5)

GPN Bank Bedlam Cup
Elk City Red team (2nd Place)

GPN Bank Bedlam Cup
Elk City Blue Team (3rd Place)

Alex Alvarez​ (hole in one on #17)

Red Team Bedlam Cup (2nd Place): Ronnie Smith, Braden Butcher, Kaleb Keith, Bryce Butcher, Ali Adam Lewellen​, Jordan Williamson​, David Poole, Blake Johnson, Tyler Windsor​, Damon Butcher, Aaron Kauk​, Brandon Thomas, Jeff Donaghey, Craig Martin, Joby Gray.

Blue Team Bedlam Cup (3rd Place): Rusty Ridling, Tom Gilliland, Jack Coody, Paul Gunkel, Jason Minter, Greg Minter, Ricky Nagle​, Bob Miller, Rachel Poole, Rocky Andresen, Chase McAbee​, Keith Hulen​, Greg Dodson, Jeff Rule, Kallen Nichols​, Craig Phelps, Anya Alvarez, Shawn Wilson​.

Chase McAbee - Joins The U.S. Army

Kelsi Wilson - Joins Coast Guard

A special mention to Chase McAbee and Kelsi Wilson​, both of whom joined the armed forces in different branches, and to both of whom we are grateful for their commitment.