After 29 weeks the Winter Classic is here or at least it will be on Saturday.

We have had some good weeks and some bad weeks. This year we saw bad golfers play well and good golfers play bad.

We saw Leon win 3 Majors. We saw Joe, Rock and Dan win their first individual trophies. We saw Dave shoot a 105, Jake shoot a 108 and Chris shoot in the 120s (three times)

We saw Dan shoot a 98 (Twice), Leon shoot a 97 & a 99 and Rock shoot a 90 with Joe at the Rider Cup and shoot a 99 on his own.

We saw the start of new careers. We saw families grow and we saw an old house built a new.

We played at 15 different golf courses between March and Oct. We went from 3 Majors & the WCC to 7 Majors and the WCC plus a Broken Joe Championship in a FedEx format.

What we didn’t see was Joe get to the 80s (again) but neither did Chris or Jake. We didn’t see Dave, Jake or Chris win one of the 7 Majors. We also didn't see any golfer play EVERY week.

We didn't see Cold Springs and I wished we didn't see Chicopee or Shaker Farms. We didn't see Leon get us a discount at Southampton (again). And finally, we did not have to see much of Matt's terrble golf game.

But with all of that said, it really doesn’t matter, Saturday is the day that we have all been waiting for. A chance to have YOUR name on the Winter Classic Championship Trophy. A chance for glory and redemption (at least until next year).

The Winter Classic will be played at Ledges Golf Course in South Hadley. The first tee times are 7:30 & 7:40. The 2nd round starts at 12:20 & 12:30.

Group A

Cart 1 - Dan & Rock

Cart 2 – Dave & Jake

Group B

Cart 3 – Chris & Ray

Cart 4 – Leon & Joe

2nd round carts will be determined by handicap scores from the 1st round.

WCC Handicaps are a combination of the Yearly Handicap, Average Handicap and like the old days, your best score handicap.

Dave – 18 – 20 – 81 / 9

Jake – 25 – 26 – 92 / 20

Joe – 27 – 30 – 90 / 18

Chris – 27 – 33 – 91 / 19

Dan – 35 – 39 – 98 / 26

Leon – 36 – 38 – 97 / 25

Rock – 36 – 38 – 99 / 27

WCC Handicaps:

Dave – 16

Jake – 23

Joe – 25

Chris – 26

Dan – 33

Leon – 33

Rock – 34

Points: Welcome to the Original Major. This Major comes with triple points.

Only the top 6 player will move to the first round of the Broken Joe Championship. Since Matt is already out that means that the season is over for the last place player at the WCC. You are welcome to play but you will not receive any more points.

Tie: In case of a tie after 2 rounds, those golfers will play the first hole again (if it is still light). If there is still a tie then they will play a round at Pine Knoll for the Championship on Sunday morning.

Reminder - Rules for Broken Joe Golf (April 16th 2016)

1. Count all of your strokes. If you can’t, the rest of the group will help you.

2. You cannot improve your lie, stance or swing.

a. Improving the Situation

The Rules forbid improving the situation in which a golf ball has come to rest. Don’t fluff your ball. If your ball lands in a divot you must play it as it lies or take a one stroke penalty.

b. Exception: Stance

If your ball lands such that you are not able to stand on playable ground--such as if your stance would be on a cart path or sprinkler head--you may move your ball one club length from the spot where it lies, but not closer to the hole.

3. Lost ball off the Tee Box, hit the provisional. Hit the provisional if you even think that it might be lost or unplayable. (Add one stroke)

4. 2nd lost ball off the tee, drop ball, drop 2 club lengths from where the ball went into the woods (probably not on the fairway). Your riding partner must agree where the ball went in and the place to drop your new ball (Hitting 5)

5. Lost ball – Hit the ball from the same place with a one stroke penalty (provisional if unknown) or Hit from where the lost ball was lost and take a 2 stroke penalty.

6. Water -.If a ball is found in a water hazard or if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not), the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a. Proceed under a one stroke penalty by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played or

b. Drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped

7. Unplayable ball. A player can determine at any time that their ball is unplayable. Choices:

a. Hit the ball again from the last place you hit the ball (provisional if unsure). One stroke penalty.

b. Drop the ball 2 club lengths (no closer to the hole). 2 stroke penalty

c. Drop the ball in a straight line backwards between the unplayable ball and the hole. 2 stroke penalty.

You cannot have the distance and only one stroke penalty except for water holes.

8. An unplayable ball in a bunker must be dropped in the bunker.

9. Relief is given if your ball is on a cart path, ground under repair and any manmade object. One club length and no closer to the hole.

10. Grounding your club in a hazard (sand or water), add a stroke. You may ground your club on the fairway, rough and off the tee.

11. Hitting the wrong ball – add two strokes

12. ​During a Major you must finish every putt, call your score when pick up your ball and turn in your scorecard. Both cart drivers will keep scores.

13. Any player who witnesses a violation of the rules must say something before teeing off the next tee back.

14. $2.00 a week is collected ($64 total) from each member for the FedEx Cup. Dan will take care of this fund.

15. $3.00 is collected from each member for each Major Trophy

16. Tee times will be made on Saturday or Sunday when all members are free both days. In cases where one or members have a commitment on one of those days we will have a split weekend. 4 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. In any case where a member has commitments on both Saturday and Sunday, may play on a weekday.

17. Monday starts the new week.

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