Hi Everyone,

We’re finally hitting a stretch of nice weather.  I was at the golf course the past two days and you can’t ask for nicer weather.  The temperatures were in the upper 60’s to mid 70’s, the sun was out, it was calm, the air was clear, and the views were stunning (see the pictures in this newsletter). It was so nice and quiet out at Rancho Sierra that you can’t help but have a great, relaxing time. The only complaint I had was with my golf game. Isn’t it funny how sometimes in the worst weather you play your best golf, and in the best weather, you don’t? I didn’t play very well, but along with the rest of the Tuesday Men’s Club, I had a great time.  Happy Spring! (Ignore the reference to winter in the caption above).

E-Giveaway Contest  

From our current list of email subscribers, we selected the winners of a free month of goIf. I did this very mathematically, by taking all the email subscribers and using a random function in Excel to pick the winning numbers. The names/email addresses adjacent to the winning numbers are the winners. Each winner was notified by email and has two weeks to either email me (taiken@ranchosierragolf.com) or come to the course to claim their free month of golf. 

If you didn’t receive an email notice, don’t be too disappointed. If a winner does not claim their prize, then we will pick another winner, and keep doing this until the winners claim their free month of golf. When all winners claim their prizes, we will announce them.

It was such a neat promotion, we’ll see if we can something similar in the second half of the year. 

Form Your Own Golf Club or League

Have you ever thought about forming a golf club or golf league for your work, school, organization, or just a group of people? There’s nothing like coming out to play golf one afternoon each week with a bunch of friends. Why not start your own league? Leagues can be competitive or non-competitive. They can be handicap or non-handicap. Rancho Sierra can help you get your league started. Also, if you want to spice up the game a little bit, we have lots of different ideas for you.  Have you ever played 9 holes using only two clubs? How about alternate shot with a partner. There are lots of creative ways to make golf fun and less competitive. Leagues also get special discounts. Call the clubhouse at 661-946-1080 and talk to Shirley Pfund for more information.
 

Be Careful   
 
For those that are familiar with the course surroundings, you know that there is a house located not far from #9 tee box. Unfortunately, the house had a fire last week and was severely damaged. Evidently, this was due to a grease fire while deep-frying french fries. As far as we know, no one was hurt.

I have been aware of several house fires just in the last few months. A mile from where I live, a stunning 11,000 sq. ft. house burned due to an electrical fire in a basement. Rancho Sierra also had a small electrical fire in the Men’s room a few months ago due to an electrical short. Make sure this doesn’t happen to you. Check your smoke alarms to ensure they have working batteries. It is also good to have to have working fire extinguishers in your house and a plan if a fire does break out.
 

Men’s and Ladies Clubs

 
Now is a great time to join a Men’s Club or Ladies Club. There are three Men’s club days per week – Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday. They start promptly at 9 AM and it is advisable to get there at least ½ hour early to get ready. You can play every time they play or just once in awhile. This is a great way to establish your handicap, get better at golf, meet some great people, and even win a little green!

The Rancho Sierra Ladies Club meets every Wednesday morning at 9 AM. They are a great bunch of ladies and have a lot of fun, so come out and join them.

Superintendent's Corner 

As most of you know by now, we have a new fence all along #9 fairway on the east side.  The out of bounds markers are against the fence posts. The inside edges of the white stakes indicate the actual out of bounds.  We have created a "local rule" that allows a two club length relief from the fence if it interferes with your stance or swing.  So if your ball is inbounds and playable but too close to the fence to make a swing, just measure two clubs away from the fence, no closer to the hole, and drop your ball within that area.

Thanks, and have fun on the course.

-          Steve

 
Note that since we have had some cooler weather in the past few weeks, we will not be punching the greens until sometime in April. Call the course for an updated schedule or check our website – www.ranchosierragolf.com.

Tips from the Pro 

Most players have trouble with the speed of the swing.  Too fast of a swing will usually get things out of control. Here's a tip to help you keep your swing smoother.

When you start the swing, that is, as the shoulder starts to move the club head, count in your head or out loud as if you are dancing a waltz, “1-2-3.” As the club moves, that is “1.” As the club reaches the top of the back swing (where ever that may be), that is “2.” Finally, as it reaches impact with the ball, that is “3.”  This applies no matter what club you are using.  Remember to hinge the wrists and release them at or just after impact.

Have a good round.

-          Steve          USGTF    Lic#4596

Get Good at Golf       

As with many skills, in golf, practice helps make you much better. Our grass hitting area is open on the driving range so you can hit off of the grass or off of the mats – whatever you prefer. We also have two deals that make getting good at golf very economical. You can hit as many range balls as you want for 30 days for a great price of $29.95. If your family is interested in golf or would like to learn, the family plan is $49.95.

We also offer individual lessons at very good prices. Finally, if you are interested in attending a golf camp or have juniors who are interested in learning golf, give us a call. We are planning to offer golf camps this summer and would like to know if you or your children are interested in participating.

Rules Corner    

Here at Rancho we have a unique situation in that we have a lot of "grass bunkers." The subject of how to apply the rules came up at a recent men's club meeting.

I researched the rules on bunkers. A bunker is an area hollowed out with any grass removed and filled with sand or the like. It is a hazard and all rules apply to a bunker as a hazard.  However, any grass within the bunker is NOT part of the bunker, therefore in a bunker that is completely covered with grass is not played like a hazard - you can ground your club, you can remove loose impediments etc.

Have fun out there.                                          -        Steve
 

Thanks for reading this newsletter. I hope that this newletter is not a "snooze-letter." Let me know what topics you would like me to write about.

I also hope to see you at the course very soon.  The weather will be great this weekend, so come on out.




And as always, let us know how we can better serve you.

Sincerely,