Harry Mussatto Golf Course Newsletter
Volume 20, Issue 1 | December 2014
A Note from the Director Time to be Ambassadors
By Mel Blasi, Director of Golf
Nobody would doubt that we live in a day of video games, internet searches and a brain fog of technological advances. My wife begged me to get a smart phone for 3 years… until I finally gave in. And ever since then… I feel like my life is overwhelming. How do I have time to do all the things I really enjoy when I have to keep up with so many other “important” things? Golf has certainly taken a hit during the last 10 years of social media, advancements in technology, and the hustle to get to the “everything else.” There is so much to entertain us every second of every day that it’s easy to get distracted from the really important things. New millennial age thinking includes characteristics of “proficiency now” or “instant gratification.” People want to be good at whatever they are doing without a lot of sweat and sacrifice. This attitude is often contrary to what golf represents. The experts at Golf 20/20 know that getting people to play golf is perhaps at its most challenging time. Programs like “tee it forward” and “big hole golf ” are two recent ideas to promote and introduce the game of golf to more people. The First Tee and Hook a Kid on Golf are two junior golf programs that target young golfers as the future of the game. Other ideas getting attention are having more 9 hole activities or even going to 6 hole or 3 hole games. Most of today’s golf promotions offer an alternative to traditional golf that takes less time and is less difficult for the beginner. The Harry Mussatto Golf Course offers many opportunities for golf instruction, golf leagues, scrambles, classes and clinics. While these activities are all important to teaching and growing the game, we can and must do a better job of attracting more golfers. In 2015, we plan to provide some “target” events that will give all of us an opportunity to introduce more men, women and children to this wonderful game. As these opportunities are planned, we hope you will mark them on your calendar and participate with us in bringing family, friends, and neighbors out to the golf course. It will be imperative to the survival of the game for all of us to become ambassadors any way that we can. MB Buy your 2015 Season Pass by 1/30/15!
The First Tee
By Lia Lukkarinen, Assistant Director It was another fantastic summer with our WIU First Tee program. Mother Nature cooperated and we enjoyed many wonderful weather days during June and July. The First Tee Staff served 90 kids this summer, with nearly all of them certifying at their skill level.
The First Tee of Western Illinois University was founded in 1999, and after 15 years this summer was our final season. We thank all of you who were involved with the program in any capacity. The youth of Macomb has benefited from The First Tee, and we will look forward to providing a new and challenging junior golf program next summer.
Women’s Morning League
WIU Men’s League
The Women’s Wednesday Morning League enjoyed another great golf year. Each week an email is sent out to find out who is planning to play. A big thank you to Roselyn Chown for helping choose the teams for play. Players are rotated each week so everyone has a chance to play with different people. We have a great time and players of all skill levels are invited to come and join us. A planning meeting for the 2015 has been scheduled for breakfast on February 27, time and place to be announced. If you are interested in joining our league please contact Melanie Rawlins at (309) 837-4139 or Melanie.rawlins@ gmail.com.
The WIU Men’s League had another great year in 2014. This was our 2nd year of the new format and we ended up with 6 teams with a full 8 players on each team. Each week league members play 9 holes in a stroke play format with 9 hole handicaps used to calculate net scores for each player and each team. Closest to the pin awards and skins are also part of the weekly league activity so there is plenty of opportunity to win something. This year we had a very close race in both the first ½ and second ½ seasons. The first 6 weeks saw Bowen’s Bruisers capture the top spot with 25 ½ points with the Bushwood All-Stars only a ½ point behind at 25. The second ½ was decided by the same score with Crowley’s Cruisers edging out Montalvo’s Muscle. All four teams qualified for the Playoffs which provided some great drama. The final night also includes a barbecue dinner and awards presentation at the end. A special thanks this year to Scott Barclay and Dan O’Neill for providing pork chops and corn on the cob for the dinner. In the end the Bushwood All-Stars were too much on the front 9 finale, shooting a final round 132 net to capture this year’s League Championship.
Women’s Evening League The Harry Mussatto Women’s Golf League plays on Wednesday evenings at 5:00 from the first week of May until the second week in August. The league grew this year to 25 members of varying ages, skills and abilities. The top four overall finishers were Janet Wigglesworth, Youhwa Shin, Nancy Sackett and Natalie Hall. The league’s format of group play and games gives every member a chance to play, to improve, and to enjoy the company of other golfers. Highlights of last season included the addition of 6 new members, great weather, and a golf course in excellent condition. From beginner to expert player, the Harry Mussatto Women’s Golf League offers camaraderie and competition for everyone who loves the game of golf. Contact Vicki Green (vgreen3@comcast.net) and/or in April check the women’s bulletin board in the clubhouse for information on the upcoming season.
First ½ Bowen’s Bruisers 25.5 points Bushwood All-Stats 25 points
Second ½ Crowley’s Cruisers 25.5 points Montalvo Muscle 25 points
Playoff Finish 1st 2nd 3rd 4th
WIU Senior League The WIU Senior League had excellent weather and a lot of fun during the 2014 season. Each Tuesday the senior men choose teams for a 4 man scramble event. Play is alternated from front to back 9 each week and the league tried to do at least one luncheon per month. Luncheons range from pizza and chili to steaks and burgers. If you are interested in inquiring or joining the WIU Senior Golf League, please call the Pro Shop @ (309) 298-3676. The following members of the Senior Golf League will be serving on the Committee for 2015. Larry Rawlins
Kirk Abernathy
Bushwood All-Stars Montalvo Muscle Crowley’s Cruisers Bowen’s Bruisers
Men’s League Winning Team
Dick Keene
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Scott Barclay Don Myers Dan O’Neill John Schreiber Bob Smith Kendall Litchfield Marc Lawver Chad Russell
Western Illinois University
Rules Corner
Golf Course Employees 2014
Lost Ball/ Out of Bounds
Pro Shop
“A ball is determined to be lost if it is not found or identified by the player within 5 minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it.” “Out of bounds is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee.” When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts. Out of Bounds is normally marked with white painted lines or white stakes. Rule 27-1 states that “if a ball is out of bounds, the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played.” If the ball was played from the teeing ground, it may be played from a tee. While a lost ball or a ball out of bounds is technically a one stroke penalty the player also loses the distance of the shot, thus termed “stroke and distance” penalty. For example, if a player hits a ball out of bounds on hole #2 at HMGC, the player would be playing their 3rd shot, incurring a penalty of one stroke plus the distance of the first shot.This procedure is different than if a ball is hit into a water hazard. Distance is not entirely lost and a ball may be played from a point as near to where the ball entered the water hazard as possible. Often players apply the water hazard procedure to a lost ball or a ball out bounds. Just remember, stroke and distance means you must replay your shot from its original spot and you will get it right.
Heather Althoff Eli Blasi Mel Blasi Emily Brink Allison Clinton
Natalie Hall Connor Jachino Ryan Jandak Lia Lukkarinen Jacob Schietlin
Richard Sample Ross Smith Brian Sullivan Kristi Tschudin Adam Zembruski
Rangers/Player Assistants A big thanks again to our golf course rangers who volunteer their time each week to come out and help with assisting players, monitoring the pace of play and helping to keep our golf course looking beautiful. Our tees have never looked better and the rangers deserve a lot of credit for filling divots and keeping sand in the sand containers. You’re awesome guys!! Kirk Abernathy Ron Ray Chuck Gosnell Rich McCann
Grounds Crew Kevin Hainline Bob Lambert Jeremy Nickel Jim Miner Jeff Stockton Mike Estes Tyler Harker
William Dabrowski Gary Lafary Andrew Thurman Mac Price
HMGC is on Facebook! “Like” us! facebook.com/HarryMussattoGolfWIU Course Improvements/ Projects The 2015 golf season will bring a couple of new looks to the golf course. On hole #18 the long awaited new forward tee will be opened in early Spring. The new tee is located just to the right of the cart path where the path turns west toward the green. The hole will be approximately 340 yards. Also on hole #18, a new area has been created behind the green for watching players finish their rounds. A memorial area is also being planned with trees a table and a bench. A huge thank you to Mike McNeil and Joe Sullivan for making these areas of improvement possible for the golf course. Harry Mussatto Golf Course
2014 Hole in Ones Hole in Ones
Congratulations to the following players who made hole in ones in 2014! Julie Davis Hole #3 Vicki Green Hole #3
8 Iron 9 Wood
1 tto sa us M e y rs r r ou Ha C lf Go
Western Illinois University
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Congratulations WIGA Winners Men Dave Shalley
Women Kathy Veroni
Scramble Winners Memorial Day Scramble
Dick Marcott Bob Marcott
Tom Conway Ron Peterson
Red, White and Blue Scramble
Rod Figge Brad Greenshlaw
Labor Day Scramble
Richard Sample Logan Boltz
Mac Schlicher Ryan Runge Kevin Boltz
Little Peoples LP Collegiate Championships
Men Women
Keenai Sampson Jordan Bormann
Maryville, IL Parkston, SD
HMGC Match Play
1st Place 2nd Place
Ian Nelson Janet Wigglesworth
Macomb Open
Men Women
Rod Figge & Gil Day Kathy Veroni & Becky Allen
Early Bird Rates
end Friday, January
30, 2015!
Check out our Membership Add-ons! Add your grade school, junior, and senior high school children to your Season Pass Membership for only $75.00 each!
Save with our Golf Course/Rec Center Combo! Western Illinois University Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Retired and their Spouses or Domestic Partners are now eligible combine the purchase of a season pass to the Harry Mussatto Golf Course and a yearly membership to the Spencer Student Recreation Center! You get a discount on both! The Golf/Rec Combo is only $690 and add your Spouse or Domestic Partner for only $510—a total Combo Savings of $275!
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