The forecast for Saturday’s 2017 Chosen FORE (ball) was rain with a passing thunderstorm. Our tee times were for 7am, with the rain not coming until 9am, I thought we might get 9 holes in before we had a lighting delay, but as usual, I was wrong. Hell, we got a rain shower before I even left my house.

I was impressed that everyone showed up to compete despite the terrible playing conditions, well, everyone except Matty Sludge. I guess no one knew, to include the Sludge Monster himself, that this was the day that he was going to sleep in. There were unconfirmed reports that Matty was outside Big Y selling his latest products.

While this is the first year that Matty Sludge did not show up for the Alternate shot competition, the fact of the matter is that he was in no shape to play the last 2 years before that. When Matty Sludge was confronted by text message during the Chosen FORE, Sludge was not just belligerent but down right aggressive as if this was somehow not his fault. This got me wondering so I called my friend Dr. Phil and asked him to weigh in on this.

“Matty obviously has some underlying issues and he probably still lives with his mom. I think when it comes to the Alternate Shot Completion, Matty truly feels the pressure when he has to perform well with and for a team mate. This is probably something that he carries around from past relationships.”

Well that certainly opened my eyes, I will ask the Competition Committee to do away with an event that puts that kind of pressure on any one of our members.

Back to golf:

For the first four or five holes we got some rain but then around 8am the lighting was here and the Golf Course blew the horn telling us to get off the course.

We all stood around waiting for Franconia to let us back out to play. Mountain Man Jake was pretty quiet and in fact we didn’t see him for a while. He was acting like an undercover agent waiting for a last minute meet up. Just before we got the “all clear” Jake returned to the group. He must have completed his mission because he was ready to go back and play.

Back to the course we go...

As my group is finishing up the 9th hole, I see Dave and Matt T sitting in a golf cart together… waiting. It seems that after the 9th hole Jake had gotten a call for another secret mission. That leaves 3 with a DNF on a wet day of competition golf. Maybe Jake will tell us this story after a day of golf.

I was told that Jake and Matt T had a score of 54 after nine holes. With that kind of number, I nor Chris had a problem with Dave and Matt T playing together for the rest of the round for score. After all, in my opinion, they should not be punished for showing up on a crappy day and their playing partners didn’t or couldn’t stay.

Up to this point the weather wasn’t really that bad, it was wet but at least it wasn’t cold. For my group the rain really started coming down hard around the 13th hole. By the time we got to the green on the par 3, 14th hole, the rain was flowing freely and the green was pretty much flooded. My team’s drive was just off the green but with the green’s being soaked with water, our putts were not going anywhere. We final finished with a 6. As we were leaving, Rock complained that the whole 13th green was now under water and his team got a 9. What can I say but “play on”, we all have to play under the same conditions.

On to 15th hole. We all drive to about the same place but once again the green would be flooded. In this case there was actually a small stream running downhill directly through the hole. Dave bangs a hard putt and the ball catches the stream and into the hole it goes. At least now we know how to play the greens.

The 16th wasn’t too bad and the rain had stopped. The green was still flooded but not as bad. My team got a 5 because I just could not hit the putter with everything thing I had. I would take a natural putt and it would only move a few inches in the deep water. My partner, Party Man Dan, was not happy.

By the 17th hole it had completely stopped raining but we were wet, I mean deep down soaking wet. In fact, Dave took off his shirt because it was “sooo heavy”. Thank goodness, Dave put his heavy shirt on at the 18th tee box.

By the 18th we just wanted it to end. Wet, hot and disappointed as we head to the Clubhouse to get a drink. Of course the talk would always move back to Matty not having the kind of commitment, competition or comradery to make it at a Broken Joe Golf event.

Dave and Dan counted the score cards and after about 8 or 9 trys they determined that there was tie between Dave & Matt T and Dan & Joe with a score of 103. I was quietly happy because this would make 3 years in a row that I have been a part of the winning team. Hell yea, I’ll take the tie. Of course I knew that all score cards had to be certified so I didn’t celebrate too early.

Once I got home, I checked the wet score cards. I had to go through my spreadsheet about eight times because the numbers were not coming out as they had at the club house.

Actual Scores:

Dave & Matt T – 98

Bryan & Rock – 104

Dan & Joe – 105

Chris & Eric – 109

Joe T & Rey – 117

It seems Jake & Matt T didn’t have a 54 on the front 9, they actually had a 49. Dan & Joe didn’t have a 48 on the front 9, they had a 50. I guess we are back to counting with our shoes off.

Once Rock hears about Jake & Matt T’s front 9 actual score, he files a formal protest. Since it is his surprise birthday party, I quickly rule in his favor and give Dave & Matt T their front 9 score of 54.

Final scores

Dave & Matt T – 103

Bryan & Rock – 104

Dan & Joe – 105

Chris & Eric – 109

Joe T & Rey – 117

Well, at least the scores are closer.

Weekly Money List

Dave - $3.24

Matt T – 3.24

Bryan - $2.76

Rock - $2.76

Dan - $2.22

Joe - $2.22

Chris - $1.68

Eric - $1.68

Joe T - $1.20

Rey - $1.20

Jake – DNF

Matty Sludge – No Show

Leaderboard

1st – Rock - $17.82

2nd – Bryan – 17.79

3rd – Chris - $15.57 (moves from 5th to 3rd)

4th – Matt T - $15.48 (moves from 8th to 4th)

5th – Joe - $15.35 (moves from 7th to 5th)

6th – Joe T - $15.30 (moves from 3rd to 6th)

7th – Eric - $14.82 (moves from 6th to 7th)

8th – Jake – 14.01 (moves from 4th to 8th)

9th –Dave -$13.92 (Stays at 9th)

10th – Dan - $12.12 (Stays at 10th)

11th – Ray - $10.39 (Stays at 11th)

12th – Matty Sludge - $8.75 (Stays at 12th)

Week 9 - Regular Play at Franconia

Saturday – 8/19/17 - 7:00am Shot Gun

Group One

Cart 1: Chris (19) & Joe (22)

Cart 2: Rey (29)

Group Two -

Cart 3: Dan (31) & Matt T (35)

Cart 4: Matty Sludge (36)

Sunday – 8/20/17 - 9:04am

Group One

Cart 1: Jake (16) & Joe T (23)

Cart 2: Bryan (24) & Eric (31)

Out – Rock (29) and Dave (15)

A quick look at the upcoming schedule:

Sept. 2nd, 2017 – 3 Club Challenge

Sept 16th, 2017 – Commissioner’s Trophy

Sept 23rd, 2017 – Boyle Golf Tournament

Sept 30th, 2017 - Rock's BBQ Bonanza

Oct 7th, 2017 – Winter Classic Championship (2 Rounds)

Oct 21st, 2017 – BJG Championship – Round One (Top 8 from WCC)

Nov 4th th, 2017 – BJG Championship (Finals) (Top 4 from Round One)

Fees owed:

Dan - $40.00

Dave - $10.00

Matty Sludge - $9.00

Bryan - $4.00

Chris - $3.00

Eric - $1.00

Joe - $1.00