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FORE! • SMOKE SIGNALS ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT with the Big Canoe Players Group BY JOHN WILLOUGHBY • PHOTOS BY GOLF PRO STAFF I


n the late 80’s a group of Big Canoe golf members out of Cobb County started playing together on weekends under various names. About seven years ago, the group had grown and the name “Players” was adopted. The Players maintained their desire to attract participants with a handicap of 18 or better. The Players currently have about 40 members with regular games every Friday and Saturday. The group also recently started another small group playing on Wednesdays. Friday matches usually have 20 to 30 participants and are divided into


teams of 3 or 4 and compete for skins or 9-hole totals using 2 or 3 of the team member’s scores. The Saturday games are individual matches using the Stableford System. In the summer months we utilize the Players tees. Throughout the year the Players will have tournaments


separate from the Men’s Golf Association (MGA), such as a one-day Member Guest, Players Club Championship, Players vs. Regulars, and most participate in the annual Mountain Ryders Cup matching the Rednecks and Hillbillies. The Players will brave the cold and stay active throughout the winter months. Matches have tee times on Friday starting at 11:00 a.m. and Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m. To play with this


group, you need to be prepared to exchange friendly criticisms, as most of the members have been friends for years. This is not to discourage new participants. In fact, we need new blood, who want to have fun and play some good, competitive golf. The Players group of guys consists of a variety of personalities and interesting backgrounds from former professional athletes to doctors to businessmen—all of which make for not only great golf, but interesting conversations. Participants will add their $20 on Friday and $10 on Saturday


to a pot, and then gather in the Pub after play to share a beer, a few jabs, and distribute winnings. Most will tell you that when all is said and done, it was a break even year.


Lively, competitive golf


FEBRUARY 2012


2011 Fall Member Member Champions. Ted Cooper and John Willoughby.


Jeff Turner, Ed Tomblin and Nick Martin, part of the Players Group, at the Mountain Ryder Cup.


System and your Big Canoe Handicap Committee


BY THE BIG CANOE HANDICAP COMMITTEE T


he purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The System provides a fair course handicap for each player, regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s Handicap Index up or down as the player’s game changes. At the same time, the System disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability and promotes continuity by making a handicap Index continuous from one playing season or year to the next. A handicap Index is useful for all forms of play, and is issued only to individuals who are members of a licensed golf club. Two basic premises


underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review. An acceptable score may be defined as a 9-hole or 18-hole score where a golfer plays their own ball tee to green following “The Rules of Golf.” The player and the player’s


Te USGA Handicap


Chuck Phillips posts a score in the handicap computer. PHOTO BY GOLF PRO STAFF


Handicap Committee have joint responsibility for adhering to these premises. The Big Canoe Handicap Committee is comprised of golfing members from the MGA & WGA. Each member serves a two year term with a portion of the members rotating off the committee each year. The committee tries to maintain a balance of representation of each golfing group within the Big Canoe golfing community.


It is the responsibility of the Big Canoe Handicap Committee to ensure that the policies of the golf club are consistent with “The Rules of Golf” and “The USGA Handicap System.” The Big Canoe Handicap Committee must ensure the integrity of the USGA Handicap System. Should these obligations not be adhered to, the golf club would jeopardize its authorization to maintain its USGA Handicap License.


It is important that all individuals maintain a USGA Handicap at Big Canoe and understand that the USGA Handicap System provides all individuals the privilege of competing worldwide on an equitable basis. The Big Canoe Handicap Committee takes pride in its work to ensure that this privilege is maintained for all members.


The moment of truth approaches for all who play this wonderful game. PHOTO BY RANDY LEWIS


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