The morning started off with some high winds and heavy rain right at daybreak. The course got .63inches of much needed rain. By the 9am shotgun start the course was dry enough to allow carts to drive in the fairways.

There were 13 teams that started with a yellow ball and eleven teams returned to the clubhouse with their ball. The tournament is divided into two divisions. One is a regular dogfight and the second is the Yellow Ball division. If a team loses its Yellow ball they are eliminated from this division but they are still competing in the regular dogfight. The entry fee was $30 per golfer above the cost of golf. Each captain establishes a rotation for the Yellow Ball prior to the start of the tournament. Each golfer has to play with the Yellow ball on every fourth hole. Ie (1,5,9,13,17), (2,6,10,14,18), (3,7,11,15) and (4,8,12 ,16).

The skins payout and the closest to the pins are rewarded to the Yellow Ball score only.

The regular dogfight winning teams were as follows. The teams of (Brandon Fincher, Steve Dean, Corey Dailey and David Gaston) tied for 1^st place with the team of (Ray Ferguson, R D McDonald, Chris Palmer and Kimberly Stubbs). Both teams were +16 points above their quota. They split the $440 for 1^st&2^nd place Finishing in 3^rd place was the team of (Cooper Dean, John Harris, Hondo Galloway and Jan Parton) they were +12 points above their quota. 3^rd place won $100.00

The Yellow Ball division was won by the team of Fincher, Dean, Dailey and Gaston. They were +7.75 points above their quota. 1^st place won $300.00 2^nd place went to the team of (Mike Sweatman, Doug MacMurdo, Caeman Jernigan and Steve Sorrell).2^nd place paid $200. They finished at + 6.75 above their quota and finishing in 3^rd at + 4.75 and taking the $100.00 prize was the team  (Mike Griffin, Ray Lineberry, Daniel Leverton and Jeff Kimbrel).

We had six skins awarded. Cooper Deans team won a skin with an Eagle 2 on hole #5. Eric Smith’s team had the only birdie on #8 and they also won a skin with the only birdie in #17. Mike Sweatman’s team scored a birdie on #10. Mike Griffin’s team scored the only par on #15 and Brandon Fincher’s team had the only Yellow Ball birdie on #16. Each skin paid $43.

Kimberly Stubbs won the individual most over. Kimberly was +8 above her quota for the $60 pay out.

Stan Elliott was the closest Yellow Ball on #4 (10’2”). Jason Berry was closest on #8 (7’2”), Mike Sweatman was 9”10” on #14 and Chris Anelo was 9’9” on #17. Closest to the Pin paid $24 each.

A special thanks to Ray Lineberry and PaPa John’s Pizza for furnishing the pizza lunch that everyone enjoyed during the awards ceremony.

We hope to do it again at some time in the future.

Thanks again

Tony Parton

2023 MGA SEASON ENDING DOGFIGHT WRAP UP

We had 48 members to play in our year end MGA dogfight. The weather cooperated and we had a really nice December day to play.

The MGA provided a breakfast buffet before the MGA meeting and dogfight. The meeting brought about a couple of proposed rule changes and two new persons on the tournament committee. Max Whitfield and Bobby Denty were the members added.

The winners in the dogfight were as follows. 1^st place went to Tony Evans. Tony was 6 points above his quota. 2^nd place went to Moses Ngirailab at +5. There was a tie for 3^rd place all at +4. They were Jimmy Brasher, David Mills, Steven Powell and Eric Smith. Cory Baird and Jim Gorman finished at +3 each to get in the pay back. Finishing out the pay back was Ray Ferguson, Terry Pruet, Brian Galloway, Harry Gaither and Jim Brown all finishing +2 above their quota.

We had a closest to the pin on all four par 3s. Andy Payant was closest on #4 (1’6”), Moses on #8 (8ft), Jeff Ingram on #14 (5”8”) and Terry Brown on #17 (1” 7”).

The top six dogfight finishers advanced to the $1000.00 ($500 cash/$500 Charity) shoot out that took place exclusively on hole #18. Two were eliminated during the 1^st two rounds and it came down to Moses and Steven Powell. Moses outlasted Steven after a couple of rounds to take the 1^st place prize in the shoot out.

This dogfight and shootout paid out a total of $1960.00. That is a very impressive pay back for a $20 entry fee. The only way we can continue this is through each of you participating in our regular dogfights whenever you have an opportunity. Two dollars from each dogfight participant goes to the MGA. This amount along with the $25.00 annual dues is how we hold these events as well as make contributions to local charities.

Congratulations to all the prize winners and thanks to all the 48 members that participated. A special thanks to the staff here at Alpine for their effort to assure that this event was enjoyed by all that participated.

We had 36 golfers compete in our Black Friday Yellow Ball Dogfight. Nine Yellow Balls went out and only Seven made it back to the clubhouse. The weather was perfect and the course is in good shape considering the lack of rainfall in our area. If a team loses the Yellow Ball, they are eliminated from the Yellow Ball portion of the dogfight.

The winning team in the Yellow Ball portion was the team of Ken Roe, Eric Smith, Kevin Carpenter and Chuck Daugherty. They scored 28 points with the Yellow Ball and that was 5.5 points above their team quota of 22.5. 2^nd Place went to Ray Ferguson, Jason Berry, Steven Powell and Button Johnson. They finished with 25 Yellow Ball point which was 3.75 above their quota.

The dogfight winners were the team of Mike Sweatman, Mike Griffin. Steve Dean and Jimmy Berning. They had a total of 96 dogfight points and that was 5 points above their quota of 91. 2^nd place went to the team of Hippie Cleckler, Tony Parton, Ray Lineberry and Michele Whisman. They finished 1 point above their quota of 94.

R D McDonald won the closest to the pin on #4, Ray Lineberry and Cooper Dean were both 13’6” on #8. Tony Parton was closest on #14 and Ken Roe was closest on #17.

Congratulations to all the winners and we hope to do it again soon.

2023 Ladies Club Champion

2023 Alpine Bay Golf          Club Champion                  (Chris Robertson)

2023 Club Championship Wrap Up

We have officially completed our (2023 Summer Season Tournament Series) with the Alpine Bay Golf, Club Championship.

We had an amazing 64 members to compete. The weather was beautiful on both days although it was pretty warm on up into the day, but that’s what you expect in August in Alabama.

The course was in great shape with lots of grass in the fairways.   That seemed to have limited some of the distance on most of the golfers shots. The greens were in good shape and rolling at a fair speed.

The MGA (Men’s Golf Association) furnished breakfast on Saturday morning and fresh donuts on Sunday morning. A catfish lunch was prepared by the food truck, Traffic Jam on Saturday.  PaPa John’s furnished pizza for all the golfers and workers on Sunday afternoon.

We had 10 members to move back to the Blue tees and compete for the ultimate prize of 2023 Club Champion. Congratulations to Chris Robertson for capturing the title. Chris shot a 73 on the final day to move ahead of the field. He had a two day total score of 153.   He finished two strokes ahead of Jeff Bullen.  Chris was awarded with the $1000.00 check and his name on the Club Champion trophy. In the net division of the Championship Flight Max Whitfield finished in 1^st place with a net total 144. Cory Baird came in 2^nd with a net 146

The 2023 Ladies Champion is Michele Whisman. Michele finished three strokes ahead of Patti Wilcox to take the title. Patti came in 1^st place on the Net portion of play. We had seven ladies to compete for the title. We want to see that number grow before next year’s event,

Shane Harris was the winner in the 1^st Flight. Shane shot a two day score of 159 to distance himself from the remaining 11 members that were in his flight. Eric Smith finished in 2^nd place. On the Net score the 1^st place title went to Steven Powell with a net total of 136 and 2^nd place went to Andy Payant with a net 139.

There were 16 members in the Senior Division. Moe Bassett successfully reclaimed the title of Senior Division Champion. Moe fired a two day total of 144 to edge out Harry Gaither by one shot. On the net side, Tony Parton finished in 1^st place with a net of 136 and 2^nd place went to Ken Roe with a net score of 142.

In the Super Senior Division, Bobby Denty edged out Mike Sweatman on a call back to take the Super Senior title.  Both golfers finished with a two day total of 149. We had 19 members in the Super Senior division. Third place went to Tony Evans. On the net side, John Harris came in 1^st place with a net score of 135. Doug Macmurdo finished in 2^nd and Jim Gorman took 3^rd. Doug netted a 143 and Jim also had a 143. Doug won the callback on #18 to take 2^nd.

The proximity prizes for closest to the pin on all par 3s were as follows. Day 1 #4 went to Mike Gardner. #8 went to Moses Ngirailab, #14 Chuck Daugherty and #17 went to Jim Gorman. Day 2, #4 Mike Sweatman, #8 Max Whitfield, #14 R D McDonald and #17 went to Mike Sweatman.

Dirk Walker professional art gallery donated three magnificent paintings and Ace Hardware in Pell City donated a pellet grille.   They were given away during the awards ceremony. Shane Cleckler, Bill Cotney and Jimmy Ray each won a painting and Andy Payant won the pellet grill.

We had $3160.00 in the MGA bonus pot. Each member that had competed in a minimum of 24 dogfights this year was awarded a portion of the total. If you are one of the eligible members, it was added to your club credit at the course. We had 36 golfers in the club championship that qualified.

Once again, thanks to all the staff in the clubhouse and on the grounds crew for all that you do for  Alpine Bay. We are blessed to have a fantastic staff. Thanks to the volunteers that help out in any way that we ask. You all are very special to us and we really do appreciate each one of you.