Buddy Meola

March was a very busy month for the Cottonwood Men’s Golf Association (CMGA) with a two-day event on March 7 and 8. It was a Ryder Cup Competition. There were 40 Blue Team members and 40 White Team members. The two-man teams played a team best ball on Saturday. The team won a point each for winning the front nine, the back nine, and total. After Saturday, the Blue Team had a sizable lead, but the Sunday play was a match play format, so each player had a chance to win a point each for winning the front, the back, and total. The Sunday competition was heated, but the Blue Team’s 102 points bested the White Team’s 79 points.

March 13 was a Flighted Pick Your Partner one netball team competition.

First Flight Winning Team: Tom Baker and Michael Moore, Second Place Team: Steve Schneck and Larry Frink; Second Flight Winning Team: Dennis Heberlien and Dennis Chenier, Second Place Team: Lowell Hargrove and Tim Healy; Third Flight Winning Team: Dan Paxton and Garrett Bertsch, Second Place Team: Doug Friesen and David Platt; Fourth Flight Winning Team: Steve Martz and Ken Nelson, Second Place Team: Jim Govea and Larry Nelson

March 20 was the unique Cross Country Competition. The four-man team played a scramble format. The Pro Shop staff configured the 18 holes into a 9-hole layout. There wasn’t a par score to play to, so the winning team had the lowest total strokes for the nine holes played.

First Place Team: Jack Goyer, Stephan Martin, Bob Kaczmarek, Paco Venegas; three Second Place Teams: Tom Baker, Jim Grube, Jerry Johnston, Brad Reis/Bob Tomsett, Gerry Rooney, John Ladd, Dennis Madigan/Jim Rumplier, Ron Sarnicki, Martin Lopez, Martin Schniepp.

March 27 and 28 was the annual Member/Guest event. Many out-of-town guests enjoyed the nice weather of Arizona and the amenities of Cottonwood Palo Verde. There were a number of father-son teams and friends of residents from out of town. Prizes were also contributed by our sponsors, particularly A-1 Golf Carts, who presented a brand-new golf cart to Marty Hobby for his hole-in-one on hole number 15. There were five flights using the total team handicaps.

First Flight Winning Team: Leif and Eric Lindgren, Second Place: Jim Dubow and Mark Frie; Second Flight Winning Team: Tom Baker and Bob Lujan, Second Place: Michael Moore and Chris Combe; Third Flight Winning Team: Dennis Chenier and Terry Mickelson, Second Place: Bob Kaczmareck and Grant McGrail; Fourth Flight Winning Team: Tom McLeod and Greg Lundgren, Second Place: Jim Grube and Scott Rogers; Fifth Flight Winning Team: Paul Jorgensen and Ron Cox, Second Place: Doug Friesen and Larry Kaufman

April events included the Ace of Aces Qualifier on April 3, a Blind Draw Partner competition on April 10, 3 Clubs and a Putter on April 17, and Pick Your Partner Best Ball competition to be held on April 24.