Rancho Sierra Golf Course

• Shirley's Corner - News from the Clubhouse
• Men's Club News
• Tips from the Pro
• Rules Corner
• Superintendent's Corner

Shirley's Corner - News From the Clubhouse

Hello to all our Email Friends,

Can you believe Easter is just around the corner! This year is going way too fast and with the weather not cooperating with us, it hasn’t been a golfer’s delight. Hopefully we are getting into nicer weather.

For those who don’t know we have a Driving range card “unlimited” for 30 days starting on the day you purchase it for the cost of $29.95. We also have a family range card for the driving range for only $49.95. That way the whole family can take advantage of improving their game. You know what they say, “The family that golf’s together …” Well, you know.

We just received a shipment of Bo Weekly golf hats - bright orange and camouflaged with green, Wear one of these hats and you can’t be missed on the golf course … anywhere really. Although you might hear a lot of FORE!!!!!!!
 

[Editor’s Note: Why do people yell “FORE” anyway?]
The USGA references the term as long ago as the 1700's and the British Golf Museum has referenced it as far back as 1881, no direct definition but there are basically two explanations that make the most sense.

Think of the word “fore” like a ship’s fore and aft (forward and back), so instead of yelling “watch out ahead”, or “ball heading forward" for short you can just yell “fore”.

Or think of “fore” like “before”, as you might say “watch out before you get hit by my golf ball that I hit so badly that it might hit you even if you are 2 fairways over.” (Thanks to tydaniels.com for this content)
[End Editor’s Note]
 

We are still waiting to hear from our customers about giving us some crazy and fun ideas for our Wacky golf ball tournament. Come on golfers! I know you’re just as crazy as me and the rest of the staff.

If you don’t have plans for Easter Sunday, make a tee time for Rancho Sierra Golf Course as our Sundays are booking up fast. With all the rain, the course is in great shape and you can't help but enjoy yourself.

Take care and happy golfing. We hope to see you out here soon.

Shirley

Men's Club News

Sundays

Tuesdays

Thursdays

The Ultimate Bad Round

Have fun, enjoy yourself, respect the course, your fellow players, and the game of golf.

Bob Gonzales

Tips from The Pro - The Flop Shot 

• It is not this.
• It is certainly not this (trust me, you do not want to see this).

In essence a flop shot is a type of chip or pitch that creates much more arc and loft than a regular chip or pitch. The result is that when the ball hits the green, it tends not to travel as far. Flop shots take a fair amount of practice to hit well consistently but should definitely be in the arsenal of any golfer. I've seen golfers hit a flop shot literally over small trees and land the ball right next to the cup when a normal chip shot was impossible.

When do you use such a shot? Typically when you are close to the green and there is an obstruction (tree, building, bunker, etc.) directly in your way.  You can also use a flop shot if you are off the green, perhaps below an elevated green, and the green is severely slopping away from you.

The trick to hitting a flop shot is to open the clubfact a little more than a typical chip or pitch, and try to exaggerate your swing so that the clubface is more parallel with the ground and sky. One way to accomplish this by dropping your back shoulder through the downswing. This will cause the ball to jump off at a higher angle with more loft than a typical chip shot. It also helps to flick your wrists as you come through which will help create some backspin. This is definitely useful for pin placements that are closer to the edge of the green form where you are chipping as you can safely try to target the center of the green and watch as the ball slowly rolls back to the pin (with practice of course!).

PGA Professional Phil Mickelson is the master of the flop shot. Check out Phil's flop shot at the 2008 Colonial.

It's a hard shot, but if you perfect it, the flop shot will come in handy and save you strokes.

Now go out there and play great golf!

Rules Corner - Hitting off the Wrong Green? 

In playing golf, we all have the days we are playing well and then there are those days when we just didn't bring our "A" game. Golf is a game of precision, so if you are just a little off, you can get into some interesting situations.

One happened to me not too long ago.  I hit my second shot into the green, but I badly misjudged the wind and used the wrong club. I also hit the shot very solid. However, instead of hitting the intended green, my ball sailed over the green to yet another green behind and to the right of it. I actually landed on the wrong green! What do I do now?   

Actually, I sort of lucked out. Rule 25-3 says:

25-3. Wrong Putting Green

a. Interference

Interference by a wrong putting green occurs when a ball is on the wrong putting green.

Interference to a player's stance or the area of his intended swing is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

b. Relief

If a player's ball lies on a wrong putting green, he must not play the ball as it lies. He must take relief, without penalty, as follows:

The player must lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When dropping the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the wrong putting green and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.

Penalty for Breach of Rule:
Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.
 

So I was able to drop my ball.  A chip and a putt later, I was in with par! (Just kidding, I took a 6). 

Have fun out there.

Superintendent's Corner 

It's spring, and with all the recent rain, everything has really started growing. As a result, Rick, Pedro, Adam, and the rest of the grounds crew are now quite busy with all the course and driving range maintenance. We are continuing our improvements as well as mowing more and irrigating more. The course looks very nice and the staff really loves getting complements (hint, hint).

Over the next few weeks, we'll be punching and sanding the greens. This is necessary to keep the greens healthy and growing vigorously. Call the golf course  at 661-946-1080 to find out exactly when we'll be punching. I know some people don't like the sandy greens, but they grow in quickly.

Other tasks include cleaning out the lakes and canals, punching the tee boxes, driving range, and fairways, fertilizing the fairways, and planting and pruning trees.

If, during your visit to Rancho Sierra, you have a suggestion, please feel free to let the starter know, or again, send me email at taiken@ranchosierragolf.com.

Come Out For a Round of Golf

At Rancho Sierra, we pride ourselves on being the friendliest and most affordable course in the Antelope Valley. We welcome golfers of all abilities and all ages, from beginner to advanced. Our course offers something for everyone - it is not too hard for the beginner nor is it too easy for most low handicappers. Come out and meet Shirley, Tracy and the rest of the staff. And when it comes time for planning your golf outing or tournament, give us a call at 661-946-1080. We can help you throw a great party.

If there is anything we can do to make your golf experience better, or if you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to email me at taiken@ranchosierragolf.com.