When we arrived at Ledges Golf Course there was the promise of glory, if you could see it through the fog. It really was thick as pea soup. But this is the Winter Classic Championship and while it wasn’t cold or raining you couldn’t see 50 feet in front of you, but we teed off anyway

Another problem was that the course was just aerated and the green were sandy and wet like Hampton Beach. They did give us a discount so that was something. Better than what we get from Southampton.

Round ONE:

The Front 9:

Dave – 45

Joe – 46

Chris - 47

Jake – 48

Dan & Rock – 51

Leon – 52

After the first 9 holes there is only 7 stroke difference between first and last and we weren’t even looking at handicaps yet. The scores were tighter than this guy's shirt and everyone was here to play.

The Back 9:

Jake - 43

Dave – 44

Rock – 46

Joe – 47

Leon – 50

Dan – 54

Chris – 57

Scores after the FIRST ROUND (Actual Score / Handicap Score)

Rock – 97 / 63 (-9)

Jake – 91 / 68 (-4)

Joe – 93 / 68 (-4)

Leon – 102 / 69 (-3)

Dan – 105 / 72 (Even)

Dave – 89 / 73 (+1)

Chris – 103 / 77 (+5)

Rock took a commanding lead and the rest of us were just trying to stay close but in the Winter Classic Championship you have to play well for 2 Rounds.

Round TWO:

The Front 9:

Dan & Leon – 44

Dave – 45

Joe – 54

Jake – 57

Chris – 59

Rock – 63

Yes, when the wheels fall off they do so very quickly. Joe, Jake, Chris and Rock saw some ugly 10s, 11s and even a 12. Meanwhile, Dan & Leon are playing like they have a 16 handicap (Dave).

The Back 9:

Chris – 44

Dave – 45

Joe – 51

Dan – 52

Leon – 55

Jake – 57

Rock – 64

Chris, after shooting a 59 on the front, shows that he is a competitor by finishing strong.

Leon and Dan fall off their front 9 pace but still manage decent scores.

Jake and Rock must have started celebrating early with some heavy drinking to earn those scores.

Joe plays the back better but he knows that his day was done when he got the 12 (3 balls in the water) in the front 9. At this point he just doesn’t want to be the person cut for the Broken Joe Championship which starts the following weekend.

On the 15 Hole at the green, Leon gets impatient and decides he has waited long enough for Ray to get on the green. Leon’s putt is short but when he goes to mark his ball he gets hit right on the top of his head by Rays chip to the green. Leon is so dazed that he thinks he marked the ball but actually puts his marker away and leaves his ball while wondering around trying to remember his name. After we stop the uncontrollable laughter we check to make sure Leon is ok and ask ime to mark his ball so we can all move on. Next year I will need to institute a concussion protocol.

Scores after the SECOND ROUND (Actual Score / Handicap Score)

Dan – 96 / 63

Leon – 99 / 66

Dave – 90 / 74

Chris – 103 / 77

Joe – 105 / 80

Jake – 114 / 91

Rock – 127 / 93

FINAL SCORES (Actual / Handicap / +/-

Dan & Leon – 201 / 135 (-9)

Dave – 179 / 147 (+3)

Joe – 198 / 148 (+4)

Chris – 206 / 154 (+10)

Rock – 224 / 156 (+12)

Jake – 205 / 159 (+15)

That’s right, for the second year in a row we have a tie.

In a dramatic, come from from behind victory in Round 2, Dan shoots 9 under to Leon's 6 under to force a playoff.

It was a looonnngggg day, coupled with some bad golf and a little alcohol and people are going to be cranky.

Ties were covered in the previous week’s post but I guess some people didn’t read it. It was nice to finish two rounds and it still be light out. This gave us time to play a 3 hole playoff.

My first mistake was trying to put my clubs away. I should have gone right to the clubhouse to figure out the scores. Instead, I got people in the parking lot trying to do the math in their head and me with a tiny piece of paper confirming Dan & Leon’s tie score. I understand that people are excited but I needed to make sure that the people who added the score did so correctly which I never did get a chance to do (until Monday). I did want to get everyone’s scores written down so I knew who shot what. It took a couple of days for the Bartender to get me a piece of paper big enough to write it all down.

Next I needed a drink but the bar was crowded. I asked Leon to grab me a beer while I went to the men’s room. When I came out Leon had made no progress get anything at the bar, in fact he may he went backwards. I sent him outside to get his bag ready while I tried my luck at the bar. After what felt like a week of another bartender going on and on about something, I finally interrupted and ask for a couple of beers so we can finish playing the Winter Classic. Sorry but we are burning day light.

On the way to my cart Chris asked me what my final score was. I told him the handicap total because I had just written them down. He didn’t want those scores, we wanted the ACTUAL score. I didn’t know it off the top of my head because I has heading out to the playoff with Leon. He wasn’t happy with that answer and so we just exchanged pleasantries.

On to the 3rd Hole Par 3.

We get to the 3rd Hole Par 3. We flip a tee to see who goes first. Leon is up. Leon hit his shot on the green but on the left side. Dan’s turn. The crowd is talking when someone yells during Dan’s back swing. Plop… the ball goes about 8 feet. There is much discussion (I use that word loosely) but no sense making matters worse. Dan needs quiet. 2 more bad shots and Dan finally gets on the green. Leon 3 putts for 4 and Dan ends the misery with a 5. Leon is up by one after One.

4th Hole Par 4: This has water all the way down the left side. I start to sweat because this is where I got my 12 by putting 3 in the water.

Leon is up first and hits a shot drive to the right just into the hill. Dan hits a hard drive but it too goes right, but further and deeper than Leon’s. Dan hits a provisional but it is worse than the first one. Let’s hope he finds the first one.

The search is on. They find Dan’s ball and he hits back down to the fairway. Leon does the same thing. Dan’s next shot is just over the green. Leon hits it on the green but short. Dan hits an incredible wedge shot and makes par. Leon 2 putts for 5. We are all square again.

5th Hole Par 5: Dan is up first. He hits the ball and it leaks left. Just to make sure he doesn’t have to take 2 strokes, he will hit a provisional. Leon hits a great shot straight down the fairway.

Dan finds his first ball and hits again and it ends up down near the green. Leon’s 2nd shot goes left towards the woods. He hits a nice provisional but he finds and plays his original ball.

Leon’s 3rd shot heads right and hits a cart and bounce back left. Dan’s 3rd shot goes to right and into the woods. After some conversation Dan drops and hits another ball, hitting 5. Leon’s 4th shot makes it to the left side of the green. Dan’s 5th shot lands about 6 feet from the hole to the right.

Leon’s 5th shot (putt) is soft and short. Dan’s 6th shot (putt) is good and he finishes with 6.

More “discussion” breaks out in the gallery which test Leon’s nerves. Leon needs this putt to take it to another playoff hole. This time Leon hits it too hard and the ball rims out. Leon finishes with a 7.

DAN WINS THE WINTER CLASSIC.

Congratulations to Dan for bringing back the honor of the Carabine name to the Winter Classic Trophy. It was tough to root for one or the other, Leon represented the “old guys” but Dan is a Carabine. Dan has really come into his own and I don't consider him a bride’s maid anymore.

Leon had a pretty good year winning 3 Majors and holding points lead for 25 straight weeks. Leon over came one of the worse 5 week scores I have seen in a while only to bounce back and tie in the WCC.

The playoff holes were not the most “professional” outing that I ever saw. Yes, we were having some good fun while playing the 2 rounds but once there was a tie I believe it becomes serious business. The rest of us already KNOW we are losers but one of these two will be victorious and the other will have a year to think about being the first loser. I think we need to a little more consideration during a playoff.

In the end I blame myself (along with Rock and Jake). Had I played better in the 2nd round then there would not have been a tie which means no playoff holes. We could have all relaxed and told tales of disappointment. I’m just glad there were only 8 golfers instead of 25 or 50.

But in the end, there is always next year….