I can’t believe I’m writing this, but we’re nearly two months into the 2015 golf season. Birch Ridge opened on April 6 this year, a full week ahead of the previous record opening date. Of course, the outlook wasn’t entirely sunny in April. Inclement weather rendered some days just about unplayable, but Alaska golfers can’t complain about a little hail here and there!

The end of May is treating golfers a little better. Nothing wrong with 70 degrees and sunshine on a golf course.

The Hook-a-Kid-on-Golf camp concludes this Saturday. Special thanks to Bob Sizemore and Jane Stein for organizing the camp. The kids have been a joy to work with this year. I will be taking pictures of the miniature duffers out on the course the next two days and posting them to our Facebook page for parents to view.

The Birch Ridge Golf Association Junior Camp is set for June 8 to 12. If you have a little golfer in the family and you’re interested in them participating in this year’s camp, please call the pro shop at 262-5270. Registration forms are available at the golf course.

Thanks to Mike Andrus, we have new tee markers on our tee boxes. The new markers are a welcome change from our old “birch” markers. We also have some new 150-yard signs to give the course a little touch of character. The golf course is in great condition relative to this time of year. The greens (priority one) are coming in beautifully. We’re about two weeks away from some really great putting surfaces.

There are a number of new faces on the BRGA Board. Gary Davis is the new president. Tim Cowan, Kevin O’Fallon and Dee Richards are also new to the board. They join incumbents Lori Riggs-Bishop, Leona Jackson and Sally Hoagland.

Old Folks Golf

Fifteen veteran ball finders ventured out to Birch Ridge to explore new ways of taking two-stroke penalties. From the chaos emerged Tom “Two-Step” Boedeker. Boedeker captured low net with a skillful 33. Jim “The Man With No Nickname” Bennett took closest to at the sixth with his greatest shot in a lifetime filled with prolific ball striking. Nobody placed their ball on the eighth and Ed Robinson rolled in the long putt at the finishing hole.

Tuesday Morning Ladies League

A handful of voluptuous women arrived at Birch Ridge Tuesday morning with intentions of playing great golf. Diane Simmons proved to be the best with a startling low net victory (score not provided). Simmons also took closest-to honors at the eighth. Chiya Bazan paired with Denise Cox and Louise “Rock the Cradle” Schadle to post the top team score. The ladies rainless streak continues.

Thursday Night Couples

Thursday Night Couples play begins this week at 6 p.m. This is the most romantic golf on the peninsula!

Joke of the Week

Bill was 26-over-par by the eighth hole. He had landed a fleet of golf balls in the water hazard, and dug himself into a trench fighting his way out of the rough. When his caddy coughed during a 12-inch putt, Bill exploded.

“You’ve got to be the worst caddy in the world!” he screamed.

“I doubt it,” replied the caddy. “That would be too much of a coincidence.”