Prieskorn Isolates Final Holes at Sparty
In the first event of the new season in a Covid-19 world, Mike Prieskorn socially distanced himself from the field with a birdie on the 17th and a clutch par on 18 to secure a 1 shot win at the Sparty Classic. His 1 under par 71 edged defending champ Ron Hiestand who led much of the day and came close to taking the coveted Sparty trophy back to home quarantine. Kevin Gregoire finished 1 over par in third and Mike Geisser took 4th at plus 2 on the Fieldstone Golf Club layout that played tougher than usual despite a nice spring day. Prieskorn notched his 18th Tour victory in his 185th start and moved to 2nd in the MT World Rankings. David Martin made his milestone 200th start on tour. Martin’s first start on Tour was in the year 2000.
We’re Baaaaack!
As we move through Covid-19 and the current Michigan Executive Order is set to expire on Thursday, April 30. Both Calderone GC and Fieldstone GC are planning to be open and ready for Golf on the first weekend of May. We all realize that the first 2 tournaments are predicated on the current Executive Order expiring or not being extended under the current rules. With that being said we are planning on playing our first 2 tournaments of the year under some very specific rules that all members need to adhere to for the safety of our competitors and fans.
Anyone who wants to play in the Sparty Classic or the Chelsea Classic the deadline to register for the tournaments is going to be Sunday, April 27. That is several days later then normal. Email your registration as normal to: [email protected]
Before registering, please review the guidelines below before registering to make sure you are capable and ready to adhere to them. The entry/Greens Fees for both events are being adjusted for a change to a walking tournament. The Green Fee for the Sparty will be $46 and at Chelsea Classic will be $37 (still includes a drink ticket)
Guidelines:
Guideline ONE is the most important:
If you are feeling sick, running a temperature, fever or have any signs of being sick you cannot play. If you have already registered and realize you are feeling sick then you must email Chuck Withey and withdraw. You can withdraw up to 30 minutes before the start of the event at No Charge. You just need to email Chuck and/or text him at (734-564-5826) to notify him that you’re withdrawing.
While playing golf each person is responsible for maintaining their own safe practices. This includes to what level of safe practices a member chooses to utilize including and not limited to using hand sanitizer, wearing a face mask, and wearing latex gloves. Each person is responsible for choosing their own level of safe practices while always maintaining social distancing.
These Tournaments are walking only. No electric/gas carts to be rented.
Players are NOT allowed to walk onto the course until 20 MINUTES before their scheduled Tee Time. You can arrive to the course parking lot before your 20 minute restriction but do not walk onto the course – this means driving range, practice green or clubhouse until 20 minutes before you tee time. THIS IS VERY CRITICAL.
Do not congregate at the clubhouse, practice green, driving range or general course area in groups greater then 5 people. Maintain social distancing of 6 feet.
Expectations for play at the Course –
No Ball Washers
No Rakes in the bunkers
No Closest to the Pin Markers will be used
Pins to remain in the cup (do not remove)
Cups upside down or a pool noodle in the cup.
If your ball goes into a Bunker and it lands in a foot print or a spot poorly leveled by a previous player you can smooth out the spot and reset the ball. Point out the issue to other players in your group and advise that you are fixing the bunker and resetting the ball.
If the ball is stuck in a foot print on a slope in the bunker and when you repair the bunker the ball rolls down then a player can choose to push the ball into the sand to keep it in the slope or leave the ball at the bottom of the bunker where the ball came to rest. Again point this out to other players in your group for confirmation and to maintain competitive integrity.
We will Putt out all putts (except for the normal 3 putt rule). Please note if a putt hits the pool noodle or part of the cup (upside down) and then rolls up and out of the cup or bounces off the noodle/cup it will be considered a made putt. It may happen 1 or 2 times during a round depending on how you hit the putt.
Members will print their own Scorecard (email will be sent with the excel spreadsheet and you just enter your player # and the excel scorecard will print your correct scorecard).
Common Card – at the bottom of your scorecard is a “common card” the person in your group keeping the common card will use the bottom of their scorecard.
End of the Round – BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR CLUBS TO THE CAR. You must complete all scoring duties in RTS (Real Time Scoring) and Common Card. The final score for all Players in your group must be confirmed in RTS and on the Common Card
The Member keeping Common Card is responsible for telling the Commissioner that all scores are done and accurate.
Scorecards will NOT be turned in to the Commissioner. The group member keeping the common card will be responsible for letting the Commissioner know that scores are accurate.
Dispose of your scorecard properly at the course or at home.
After your Round DO NOT congregate at the clubhouse or at/with the Commissioner. Please limit your after round groups/conversations to no more than 5 people and maintain social distancing of 6 feet.
In the event of a players tied at the end of the event We will continue to adhere to our Putt Off Rule. Those members tied for 1 st need to be at the course and will then head to the practice green to conduct the Putt Off. Those members that are still there to watch the Putt Off need to maintain social distancing of 6 feet.
Closest to the Pin contest – We will not have any Closest to the Pin or Long drive contests in the month of May. We will instead award 2 gift cards based on random player selection. The Commissioner will give the each of the 2 winners their $15 Dick’s Sporting Goods Gift card after the round.
Please stay safe and I hope to see all sometime in May.
Any Postponed tournaments will be added back into the schedule as best as can be managed. We will keep the schedule update to date as changes are made.
Thanks
Chuck
Corona Now 4-0 on the Season
Governor Whitmer has extended the stay at home order until April 30, so all four April events are now postponed. They will be rescheduled as soon as courses re-open and we can acquire new dates. Everyone stay safe and practice your short game.
Virus Knocks Us Out of Bounds
On Monday, March 23 Gov Whitmer issued an executive order for Michigan to Shelter In. I know several golf courses are allowing people to play golf. As a Tour we see great benefit in being outside and playing golf but we also believe it is important to be good Citizens. First and foremost we want all of our members to stay safe and healthy. Please practice social distancing and follow good healthy hygiene/practices if you are out and about.
With that as the being said. The Q School events for Saturday April 4 th and Sunday April 5 th are being postponed. City of Livonia has closed their golf courses until April 13 th . I will attempt to reschedule the Q School events in the first 2 weeks of the Tour schedule as a 2 nd event on a Saturday or Sunday with an afternoon tee time.
Regarding the opening weekend of Tour Events – Saturday, April 18 th and Sunday, April 19 th we will work towards playing those events. Remember to register for those 2 events (Pineview and Sweet 16) by Thursday, April 9 th . As always I will send out a group email listing the members that have registered on Friday, April 10 th .
Email entries to:
Please stay Safe and Healthy and I will see you all in April.
Chuck Withey, CEO
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