March Match Play Madness
Chip-A-Domis
Can you hear it? That haunting little refrain that has gotten a hold of the membership. They are humming it on the tee boxes, tapping to it in the men's room and warbling it a the top of their lungs in the grill.
"It's match play, and it's the most wonderful time of the year…".
"It's the only time all season I can make a low handicapper sweat when playing me. I can have a couple of blow up holes, a train wreck or two and still have 13 shots to play with. Life is grand, said John Jurgins.
It is the best tournament for knee knocking three footers, undiscovered cuss words and colorful post round stories that we have.
Here is a run down of the contenders, the pretenders, and the thanks for playings.
Bubble Boys
To get to the match play portion of the tourney and all of its fun, one has to be among the top 32 qualifiers. Perennial Bubble Boys, Blue Moon Retainer, Freddie Chiape, and myself will be living and dying with each score that comes in. Here is an easy barometer of our weekend status: if we are drinking beer, we are in; if the drink contains ice, we are out.
Contenders
These are the boys who have the match play combat experience to have a shot at the title. "Either these guys have ice water in their veins, or they are just a little daft, but pressure doesn't seem to bother them," said long shot Dennis Andersen. This group includes Art Klein, Bruce Lorin, Howard Stein, John Masters, and column favorite, Gordon Blackstock. Dark Horse Pick: The green hatted Don Delbon.
Bracket Busters
These are the guys you hope end up on the other side of your bracket. They tend to pop up in the third round, complaining about how poorly they are playing and then thump you 4 and 3. Be on the look out for Bob and Jim Jackson, those damned firemen, Perry Saxson, and the long hitting Scott Rehn. Dark Horse Pick: Frank Cesarz.
Thanks for Playing
Since readership of this column is hovering around double digits and is on the verge of going viral, it would not be prudent for me to name these individuals at this time (see me in the bar and I will sing like a bird).
Good luck everyone and enjoy, "The most wonderful time of the Year."