Entries Tagged as 'Sandbagger Chronicles'

Final Notice re Arrangements for Sandbagger XX

Note below there are some slight updating of the room assignments and directions (now including links to maps).

1. Room assignments.

Rick’s cottage (7): Doug Anderson, Jim Anderson, Rick Cunliffe, Greg Jarvis, John McKinnon, Geoff Oliver, Derrick Hockley.

Jeff’s cottage (12): Brian Bonnar, Andy del Castillo, Greg Hodgins, Brian Joe, Blake Johnston, Michael Maidment, Jeff Mains, Steve McMahon, Bruce Murdock, Jack Pantalone, Andrew Posthumus, Lou Riccoboni.

2. Friday plan. Some of us will be golfing at Lombard Glen Friday afternoon, finishing between 6 and 6:30 pm before heading to Rick Cunliffe’s cottage, which is 15 minutes away, on the north-west shore of Bass Lake. Even those who will be staying at Jeff Mains’ cottage (on the south shore of Bass Lake) should plan to convene at Rick’s for dinner and the Star Chamber. (Depending on when you might be arriving Jeff may be at his place prior to going to Rick’s, allowing some to ‘check-in’ early.)

3. Directions.  (Both cottages are on Bass Lake and can be found on the same Google Map.)

Rick’s cottage is on the west shore of Bass Lake.  Find it on Google Maps at: 35 B4 Rd, Lombardy, ON K0G 1L0. Rick’s is reached off of Highway 15 by turning right onto Rideau Ferry Road, then turning left onto Old Kingston Road, and finally turning left onto Road B4.  Please drive slowly on the dirt road.

Jeff’s cottage is on the east shore of Bass Lake. Find it on Google Maps at: 6 B9 Rd, Lombardy, ON K0G 1L0.    Jeff’s is reached off of Highway 15 by turning right onto Otter Lake Road, then turning right onto Road B9.  Stay right at each junction, the cottage is at the end of B9.

4. Friday dinner. Dinner at Rick’s, prior to the Star Chamber, will be served at approximately 8 pm. Past champion Geoff Oliver and returning Sandbagger John McKinnon have kindly taken responsibility for planning and providing the Friday meal.

5. What to bring (aside from your A games). To ease the laundry burden for our two hosts, please bring the following: sleeping bags or bed linens, pillows, towels. If you forget any of this, you will be forgiven (and ok), but it will help if you can bring these items.  Bring a bathing suit.

6. Booze. Please bring your own. We could also use 2-3 additional coolers. Any volunteers?

7. Saturday breakfast. Sandbaggers will eat at their respective cottages before heading to Smiths Falls Golf Course (first group tees off at 10 am, course is approximately 20 minutes away).

8. Saturday dinner. We will dine at Jeff Mains’ Bass Lake cottage. Jeff is planning a beef tenderloin. Michael Maidment has volunteered to assist.  If you want to volunteer for a sous-chef role, speak up.

9. Sunday breakfast. Subject to confirming with the golf course, I think we will have our Sunday breakfast all together at the Perth Golf Course. Tee-off is at 10:30, which gives us plenty of time to ‘check-out’ of our rooms, get to the course (15 minutes), eat and hit some balls.

10. Financial matters: I am collecting nothing in advance. Everyone is to pay for their own golf (rates are very good and include carts). Please remember to bring some cash because I will collect a modest amount from each of you to cover the food we will use at the two cottages (remember to BYOB). I’ll do some tallying when the bills are in but you should expect the assessment to be in the range of $60-$70 each, which is a fine price for two nights accommodation, two dinners and one breakfast. (Note: they did not, of course, request this but I am budgeting for about $10 of each person’s assessment to be used to cover golf for Rick and Jeff, our two hosts.)

 

Update: 20 Sandbaggers to battle for Pewter Mug at Sandbagger XX

Update on Sandbagger XX:

Good day, gents. I have one significant, regrettable loss and two welcome additions to report, as well as some details on start times.

Michel Ranger, 2014 Sandbagger Champion (and author of a record-setting 74 in his Sunday round) has been called away on business.  He will be in Europe for a month.  Michel is very upset about not being able to be with us to defend his title.  He has been spending much of the past few weeks spinning some of us his tales of woe about how his game had gone downhill.  I didn’t see much evidence of a decline in his skills, which suggests that his impressive Star Chamber skills were still being exercised.

Though we have lost Michel, we have two additional competitors joining us: Geoff Oliver (2000 Champion) and John McKinnon (a ‘made man’ in Ricky’s Hinton Avenue mafia and a past Sandbagger). This gives us our biggest field ever and — with 20 competitors — puts a nice twist on our 20th year.

As usual, we have a relaxed round scheduled for Friday for those who are available and in need up a tune-up. The first group will tee off at 1:30 pm, at Lombard Glen. Subsequent groups are booked immediately after. The following 12 are confirmed:

 

Anderson, Doug
Anderson, Jim
Cunliffe, Rick
del Castillo, Andres
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
McKinnon, John
Oliver, Geoff
Riccoboni, Lou

If you want to golf in the warm-up round but don’t see your name above, or if I have you booked in error, please let me know.

For the weekend’s competition, we are booked at Smiths Falls (LPGA superstar rookie Brooke Henderson’s home course) on Saturday and at Perth Links O’Tay for Sunday.

Tee times on Saturday, September 12 are at: 10:00, 10:09, 10:18, 10:27, 10:36 (tell pro Adam Miller that you’re with the Sandbagger group; a special rate has been set up)

Tee times on Sunday, September 13 are at: 10:33, 10:41, 10:49, 10:57, 11:05

The following 2015 Sandbagger competitors will be vying to take home our precious Pewter Mug:

Anderson, Doug
Anderson, Jim (1997 and 2008 Champion)
Arbique, Brian (2005 Champion)
Bonnar, Brian (2001 Champion)
Cunliffe, Ricky (1999 and 2009 Champion)
del Castillo, Andrés (click here to see videos!)
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg (2006 and 2012 Champion)
Joe, Brian (Sunday round TBC)
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McKinnon, John
McMahon, Steve (2004 and 2013 Champion)
Murdock, Bruce (bridesmaid revisited)
Oliver, Geoff (2000 Champion)
Pantalone, Jack
Posthumus, Andrew (2010 Champion)
Riccoboni, Lou

Friday’s dinner will be at about 7:30 pm. We’ll dine at the cottages on Saturday night as well. Stay tuned for details regarding dinners, Star Chamber and accommodation plans.

19 competitors to battle it out at 20th Sandbagger

A quick update on how things are shaping up for the 20th year of Sandbagger…

Defending champion Michel ‘Shiv” Ranger has been polishing the Pewter Mug and counting the sleeps until he has to relinquish the coveted trophy.

Champion Michel Ranger humbly acknowledges adoring crowd, 2014

Champion Michel Ranger humbly acknowledges adoring crowd, 2014

For our milestone 20th year, we have one of our largest fields yet, including 8 former champions. Will this be the year for a first-time winner or will a wily veteran who understands how to deal with the incredible pressure walk away with the cherished chalice once again? (Quick bit of trivia: no one has won the Mug 3 times but four of this year’s competitors have won it twice.)

Tee times for up to 20 participants have been booked for our Saturday (Smiths Falls) and Sunday (Perth) Sandbagger rounds. With a few recent confirmations — welcome Greg Hodgins, Bruce Murdock, Jack Pantalone and Andres del Castillo — we now have the following 19 confirmed for competitive play on the weekend:

Anderson, Doug (tentatively in)
Anderson, Jim (1997 and 2008 Champion)
Arbique, Brian (2005 Champion)
Bonnar, Brian (2001 Champion)
Cunliffe, Ricky (1999 and 2009 Champion)
del Castillo, Andrés (click on name to see videos!)
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg (2006 and 2012 Champion)
Joe, Brian (Sunday round TBC)
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McMahon, Steve (2004 and 2013 Champion)
Murdock, Bruce (bridesmaid revisited)
Pantalone, Jack
Posthumus, Andrew (2010 Champion)
Ranger, Michel (2015 Champion)
Riccoboni, Lou

Still to be Determined

Boychuk, Brian (2011 champion)
Oliver, Geoff (2000 Champion)

Regrettably Unavailable

Feschuk, Scott (doesn’t like us enough)
Hogeveen, Richard (2007 champion; in-laws in-country)
Laframboise, Guy (wishes us well)
Mooney, Brent (1996 Champion; European travels)
Smith, Graham (2002, 2003 champion – the only back-to-back SB winner)

Friday Round

As usual, we have a relaxed round scheduled for Friday for those who are available and in need up a tune-up. The first group will tee off at 130 pm, at Lombard Glen. The following 10 are confirmed. (Tee-times have been reserved for 12 golfers.)

Anderson, Jim
Cunliffe, Rick
del Castillo, Andres
Hockley, Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Jarvis, Greg
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Murdock, Bruce
Ranger, Michel

If you want to golf in the warm-up round but don’t see your name above, please let me know.

Please remember to keep me informed of your status (including any changes), so we can be sure to have enough tee-times, accommodation, food, bibs, alcohol, buckets, etc. We will be dividing up between the cottages of our wonderful and charming hosts Rick Cunliffe and Jeff Mains. Which reminds me…two-time winner Ricky has established two personal bests (89, then 87) this year…and Andy del Castillo registered his own personal best (an 82) on August 20.

SB XX confirmed attendees

Quick update:

For Friday’s warm-up round (130 pm start at Lombard Glen) the following are confirmed. (Tee-times have been reserved for 12 golfers.)

Anderson, Jim
Cunliffe, Rick
Hockley, Derrick
Jarvis, Greg
Maidment, Michael
Murdock, Bruce
Ranger, Michel

If you want to golf in the warm-up round, please let me know.

So far, we have a great field for the weekend, including 8 past champions (and one very hairy three-time bridesmaid). The following 16 have confirmed for competitive play on the weekend (16 spots reserved – I have requested another tee-time at each club):

Anderson, Doug (tentatively in)
Anderson, Jim (1997 and 2008 Champion)
Arbique, Brian (2005 Champion)
Bonnar, Brian (2001 Champion)
Cunliffe, Ricky (1999 and 2009 Champion)
Hockley, Derrick
Jarvis, Greg (2006 and 2012 Champion)
Joe, Brian (Sunday round TBC)
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McMahon, Steve (2004 and 2013 Champion)
Murdock, Bruce (bridesmaid revisited)
Posthumus, Andrew (2010 Champion)
Ranger, Michel (2015 Champion)
Riccoboni, Lou

Still to be Determined

Boychuk, Brian (2011 champion)
del Castillo, Andres (el Foldo)
Laframboise, Guy
Oliver, Geoff (2000 Champion)
Pantalone, Jack (a definite maybe)
Smith, Graham (2002, 2003 champion – the only back-to-back SB winner)

Regrettably Unavailable

Feschuk, Scott (doesn’t like us enough)
Hodgins, Greg (a conflicting golf weekend booked, poor priority setting)
Hogeveen, Richard (2007 champion; in-laws in-country)
Mooney, Brent (1996 Champion; European travels)

Please remember to keep me informed of your status, so we can be sure to have enough tee-times, accommodation, food, bibs, alcohol, buckets, etc.

Sandbagger XX: September 11-12-13 – UPDATE

Gentlemen, start your engines…or at least start polishing your clubs.

Sandbagger XX is shaping up well.  Our defending champion, Michel “Shiv” Ranger, has already accepted the inevitability of giving the famed Pewter Mug to someone of lesser talent but higher handicap. (Yes, Greg Jarvis, that means you won’t win in 2015, either.)

A return to beautiful Badass Lake is on our agenda. (I will acknowledge that Bass Lake is the boring name the locals go by.)  We are fortunate to once again be able to enjoy the comfort of the cottages belonging to Rick Cunliffe and Jeff Mains.  Food arrangements will be settled closer to the date but expect meals to be at the cottages.

As usual, there will be a warm-up round for those available Friday afternoon.  Tee-offs for up to 12 people have been booked at Lombard Glen, the site of one of Rickety Cunliffe’s impressive personal best rounds recorded earlier this summer.  The first tee time on Friday is at 1:30 pm. Please let me know if you’ll be joining us for this round.

For Saturday, the first of our two championship rounds, we will play at the home course of Brooke Henderson, whose $450,000 in earnings on the 2015 LPGA tour still doesn’t get her past the LPGA’s little requirement that she be at least 18 years old to have a tour card.  Rumour has it that Brooke’s professional success is largely due to some golfing tips she picked up five years ago, while observing the Sandbagger contestants battling it out on the 12th fairway. Tee times at the soon to be world famous Smiths Falls Golf Course, Saturday, September 12, 2015 are as follows: 10:09, 10:18, 10:27, 10:36

On Sunday, September 13, the dramatic final round will be played at the rolling terrain and babbling brooks of the Perth Golf and Country Club, notably yet another site where Tricky Cunliffe recorded a personal best score earlier this summer (are you getting the hint?).  Our Sunday tee-times at Perth are: 10:33, 10:41, 10:49, 10:57.

So far, we have a great field, including 8 past champions (who collectively have hoisted the Pewter Mug 12 times in our first 19 years). I already have the following 13 confirmed:

Anderson, Jim (1997 and 2008 Champion)
Arbique, Brian (2005 Champion)
Bonnar, Brian (2001 Champion)
Cunliffe, Ricky (1999 and 2009 Champion)
Hockley, Derrick
Jarvis, Greg (2006 and 2012 Champion)
Johnston, Blake
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McMahon, Steve (2004 and 2013 Champion)
Posthumus, Andrew (2010 Champion)
Ranger, Michel (2015 Champion)
Riccoboni, Lou

Regrettably Unavailable

Hodgins, Greg (a conflicting golf weekend booked, poor priority setting)
Hogeveen, Richard (2007 champion, in-laws visiting from overseas)
Mooney, Brent (1996 Champion, will be away on European travels)
Murdock, Bruce (four time Sandbagger bridesmaid has a son’s birthday conflict)

Still to be Determined (or in some cases still to be heard from)

Anderson, Doug
Boychuk, Brian (2011 champion)
del Castillo, Andres (el Foldo)
Feschuk, Scott
Joe, Brian
Laframboise, Guy
Oliver, Geoff (2000 Champion)
Pantalone, Jack (a definite maybe)
Smith, Graham (2002 and 2003 champion – the only back-to-back winner in Sandbagger history)

Please update me if I have misunderstood your plans, if your plans have changed or if you have just been too busy to respond to my previous messages.

Looking forward to a fine weekend with as many of you as possible!

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Call out for Sandbagger XX

An e-mail invitation went out earlier today requesting RSVPs regarding attendance at Sandbagger XX.

The weekend that seems to line up best is September 11-12-13. I will choose a location in the coming days but can report that I am weighing Canada Club, Tremblant, Bass Lake and Malone, all sites where we have gathered in the past. (Smugglers Glen was unavailable in September.) FYI, Canada Club suffered a fire on July 10, though it was to the owner’s house, not the 10,000 square foot ‘cottage’ that we enjoyed so much a few years ago.

If you’re wondering who was on my invitation list today, the list is below (please let me know if you have any rookies to propose or if I have overlooked anyone):

Anderson, Doug
Arbique, Brian
Bonnar, Brian
Boychuk, Brian
Cunliffe, Rick
del Castillo, Andres
Feschuk, Scott
Hockley,Derrick
Hodgins, Greg
Hogeveen, Richard
Jarvis, Greg
Joe, Brian
Johnston, Blake
Laframboise, Guy
Maidment, Michael
Mains, Jeff
McMahon, Steve
Mooney, Brent
Murdock, Bruce
Oliver, Geoff
Pantalone, Jack
Posthumus, Andrew
Ranger, Michel
Riccoboni, Lou
Smith, Graham

Sandbagger XIX: Record-setting performance gives Michel Ranger first Pewter Mug

Michel “The Lone” Ranger (the golf artiste formerly known as ‘The Shiv’) put on a stunning display of golf at Smugglers Glen on Sunday, en route to his first Sandbagger championship. His record-setting performance in Sandbagger XIX saw him shoot a 2-over par, personal best score of 74, moving him up from a tie for 6th going into the final round to a satisfying first place finish. At the end of his impressive, personal (and Sandbagger Championship) record-setting round, Michel was alone at the top, with a comfortable 6-shot margin of victory and a new nickname.

When Michel made his first Sandbagger appearance in 2006, his reputation as a solid ball-striker and his status as a rookie saw him saddled with a target of 78. The first-year jitters in 2006 saw him stumble his way to a last-place finish after carding a 98 at La Bete and a 103 at Le Diable. His +45 that year was the second highest score above target ever recorded.

Fast forward 8 years, and Michel has clearly come into his game and become accustomed to the burden of a low target. He recorded an impressive 5 birdies and was in complete control of his game until he approached the 17th tee, at which point he foolishly accepted the advice of his playing partners as to which club to use off the tee. The poor advice from a slew of also-rans pretending to be coaches led Michel to a tense situation in which he was compelled to sink a pressure-filled 20-foot putt to avoid his first double-bogey of the day. He calmly got the job done. (Well, perhaps not so calmly, but Michel is known for being very good at keeping it together.)

Tee-times, groupings and rankings for Final Round of Sandbagger XIX

A very tight race this year, just as it should be. Ricky was only one off his personal best on Saturday, despite closing with a triple bogey. He carded an impressive 93. Greg Jarvis, Bruce Murdock and Che are all close behind. Jarvis may be handicapped due to his over-refreshment last night. Brent Mooney might surprise as he should be well-rested following his nap in the bar last night.

10:20

Riccoboni, Lou (+12)
Hodgins, Greg (+7)
Arbique, Brian (+6)

10:30

Joe, Brian (+6)
Maidment, Michael (+6)
Mains, Jeff (+5)
Posthumus, Andrew (+4)

10:40

Johnston, Blake (+3)
Ranger, Michel (+3)
Mooney, Brent (+3)
Anderson, Jim (+2)

10:50

del Castillo, Andres (+1)
Murdock, Bruce (-1)
Jarvis, Greg (-1)
Cunliffe, Ricky (-3)

Star Chamber Targets – Sandbagger XIX

Despite the revolutionary efforts of Senor Che and his ruthless accomplice Shiv, Sandbaggers opted for a much more civilized approach to target-setting than in years past. There was, of course, still a fair bit of whinging. As usual, whingers were penalized (there’s a fine line between making your case and becoming a whiny irritant) and rookies (Scott Feschuk and Mike Maidment) were accorded special treatment. While some analysts might have been tempted to surmise that the outcome of the Star Chamber meant that Bruce Murdock was a favorite to win — given his 96 target and his ability to shoot into the 80s — others who were knowledgeable were able to recall Murdock’s Greg Norman-like tendencies when presented with pressure situations. His favourite dessert is crumble – that should tell you something. If Bruce finishes in the top 3, it will be a sign that he is gaining some mental fortitude. Rick Cunliffe and Andy del Castillo are the odds-on favourites, in my view. Ricky is playing some of the best golf in his life while Andy strikes the ball remarkably well and handles pressure like a seasoned pro. Greg Jarvis can never be discounted, due to his skill and consistency, but living up to the 79 target is quite a task. If he pulls it off this year, his target will be mired in the low 70’s for the rest of the decade. Good luck to everyone.

Anderson, Jim – 90
Arbique, Brian – 94
Cunliffe, Rick – 96
del Castillo, Andres – 90
Feschuk, Scott – 110
Hodgins, Greg – 99
Jarvis, Greg – 79
Joe, Brian – 87
Johnston, Blake – 93
Maidment, Michael -84
Mains, Jeff – 119
Mooney, Brent – 83
Murdock, Bruce – 96
Posthumus, Andrew – 98
Ranger, Michel – 84
Riccoboni, Lou – 90

SB XIX (2014)

With the  British Open now concluded and the Canadian Open upon us, it’s time to focus on another great golf tradition –  the 19th edition of the Sandbagger.  

 
As indicated by email, for 2014 we will be making a return to Smugglers Glen on the weekend of September 5-6-7.

Response has been so good that I had to ask Glen House Resort to add four spots to our reservation.  We now have enough tee times and rooms reserved for up to 20 golfers.

Tee times have been booked as follows:
  • Friday, Sept. 5 – 2:20, 2:30, 2:40, 2:50 and 3:00
  • Saturday, Sept. 6 – 10:40, 10:50, 11:00, 11:10 and 11:20
  • Sunday, Sept. 7 – 10:20, 10:30, 10:40, 10:50 and 11:00
This year, we have a package deal that includes: 2 nights accommodation, 3 rounds of golf + cart, 2 breakfasts, 2 dinners.  The cost  is $431 plus tax per person.

To reserve your spot contact Jeanine Hunter at the Glen House Resort. She will take a $100 deposit. Jeanine’s phone # is 1-800-268-4536 x302. Her email is [email protected].   As of today, there are 18 Sandbaggers who have registered with Smugglers Glen with one or two others still weighing the decision.

 
In case you are wondering, the list of confirmed attendees is below. To help acquaint or re-acquaint some of you with our field, note that I’ve added some links to bios, LinkedIn profiles or, in one individual’s case, videos (click on player names). Note also the presence of a rookie in this year’s line-up – please treat Scott Feschuk with the appropriate level of respect:

 

Hockley, Derrick
Jarvis, Greg
Posthumus, Andrew

I look forward to seeing you all soon.

Here are directions to the course.

In the meantime, in case you were unaware of the true origins of golf, clicking on the link below will be very instructive:

Robin Williams explains golf