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time. He doesn’t want another episode like last year when they destroyed the 15th fairway. He has undertaken an aggressive spraying campaign to eradicate them. The course is looking good – real good – otherwise, and preparations are well along for play of the Aiken City Amateur Championship (more below). That includes keeping the fairways mowed to good height, shortening the roughs, dressing bunkers and waste areas and many other things. Feel good – play The Creek! The Cedar Creek Club Championship returned this year after being postponed the past two due to the course renovation, and it attracted a nice turnout including several participants from among our fellow members at The Aiken Golf Club. Matter of fact, the men’s club champion is David Postma from AGC who came from behind in the second round to take the title. Veronica Leigh convincingly won the ladies club championship.
The senior division was won by Bill Beck (below left) from AGC and Lee Nightingale (below right) of Cedar Creek captured the super senior division.
Dan Skiff was runner-up to David Postma and Jay McDermott took low net in the champions division. Mimi Wittkamp captured low net in the ladies division. Jim Roland was close behind Bill Beck in the senior division while Greg Oates came in low net followed by Dave Smith. Bill Todd followed Lee Nightingale among the super seniors with Frank Beaty and Bill Fink taking low and 2nd low net, respectively. The Aiken City Amateur Championship will kick off Friday evening, September 8th, with a putting contest at the James M. McNair Sr Memorial Putting Course at The Aiken Golf Club and social with food and drink provided by Mellow Mushroom for registered entrants. The first round of the championship will be played at Cedar Creek Golf Club on Saturday and the concluding round on Sunday at The Aiken Golf Club. The Championship features four divisions with gross and net prizes in all and is open to all residents of Aiken County and members in good standing at any Aiken County club. Additional details are available with registration forms at both Cedar Creek and Aiken or online at: http://www.aikengolfclub.net/city-amateur-championship.html . Registration deadline is September 5th. Cedar Creek will host its annual Crystal Cup competition, a 27-hole Ryder Cup style match, between the Bluejackets and Redcoats on Friday, September 15th, with the pairings party and social the evening before at the Grille. Limited to 84 players with equal numbers of ladies’ and men’s foursomes, registration is open at the pro shop. Sign up now to assure your place in this exciting event! Note also …the Men’s Golf Association will conduct a remembrance service at 8 a.m. on the 15th at the 7th green memorial garden for those who have “played through.” September’s events will conclude with a Community Golf Scramble on Saturday, the 23rd. The 18-hole scramble will include men’s, ladies’ and Jack & Jill divisions. Registration is also open at the pro shop.
As promised last month, the 15th fairway opened for play on July 26th. The course is fully back! With the amount of rain we’ve had and favorable growing conditions the course is in great shape. A new mower is a good addition to the equipment inventory, but Gary and his crew are having a time of it keeping up with cutting greens, tees, fairways and roughs. Feel good – play The Creek!  Master Tutor Rob Rosche Cedar Creek was again host in late-June for the Hook A Kid on Golf program conducted annually under the direction of Joe Spencer and Larry Peyser of the Aiken Junior Sports Association and locally organized by Mike D. with the professional assistance of Kenny E. and volunteer expertise of Cedar Creek members and others. More than 30 young guys and gals took up clubs to learn the joys of the game with the promise of many years of enjoyable golf ahead. The many volunteers included Art & Bev Schuenemann, Bill & Donna Hunkele, Rob Rosche, Earl Bennett, Jack Taylor, Ann Marie Cox, Brent Boore, Ron Andrews, Charles Hightower, Pat Shealy, Mimi Wittkamp, Jerry Kothera, Will Livingston, Deri Beard, Kathi & Barret Smoking and Ken Wilson in addition to Jim McNair, Jr, Gary Frazier, and Michael & Andrea DelSignore who contributed behind the scenes.  The club has a busy schedule ahead with the Club Championship this month followed by the first round of The Aiken City Amateur Golf Championship on Saturday, September 9th; the Crystal Cup on Friday, September 15th with the pairings party the evening before and a Community Golf outing on Saturday, September 23rd. The Club Championship returns after last year’s hiatus due to the course renovation. Open to all Cedar Creek members as well as Legacy and Players Club members of The Aiken Golf Club the event will be contested the weekend of August 19-20. Details were previously announced and are available at the pro shop together with registration. The “City Am” will feature member golfers from Aiken area clubs including Cedar Creek and The Aiken Golf Club and will conclude with the final round on Sunday, the 10th, at The Aiken Golf Club. Registration forms are also available at the pro shop. Watch for additional details of the Crystal Cup and Community Golf. The Men’s Golf Association along with many individual members of the MGA recently made a contribution to Jim for the construction, finishing and installation of tee markers including hole number plaques at Cedar Creek similar to those at The Aiken Golf Club. Jim was very appreciative and personally thanked everyone at the MGA monthly meeting on July 11th.
The Cedar Creek Golf Club Course Tour with views of all holes, fairway layouts, and greens representations depicting slopes and contours has been completed. Thanks to Dave King and his many contributors for development of the Tour. Check it out – you’ll see the course from an entirely different perspective. Go to: http://www.cedarcreekgolfclub.net and take the course tour!
Ted Miller, a mainstay on Gary’s staff for the past 4 plus years, has left us for a position with ASCO Valve Manufacturing in Aiken. But Ted may not disappear altogether; we’ll likely see him on weekends augmenting Gary’s crew. Favorable weather conditions including a good bit of rain together with Gary and his crew’s TLC are making the course look better by the day. Gary is also keeping a close eye on the 15th fairway with the thought it will be open for play in mid- to late-July. Feel good – play The Creek! The Aiken Golf Club has a full stable of new carts. If you haven’t been there recently, head on over to AGC not for the pleasure of traveling in a new cart but teeing it up on a course in top-notch condition. Revised cart fees at AGC are $18/18 holes, $11/9 holes or $160/month. The Cedar Creek Community Golf Scramble sponsored by Cedar Creek Living Magazine and its many advertisers was a “sold out” affair – 100 guys and gals, winners all, playing fun golf with many prizes and a great lunch and post-round barbecue.  Some of the Many  Morgan Calhoun (CC Living) & Julia And a couple more ……….
Shudder the thought, but we seem to be on track for an issue a month. In April it was a lightning strike that blew out the controllers for a large part of the irrigation system. In the middle of May the deep well pump used to fill Golden Pond that feeds the whole course irrigation system failed. Needless to say, Gary wasn’t a happy camper, and if he didn’t appear to be his usual jovial self at times, there was good reason. Greens aeration became a start-stop-start affair with two days of rain interrupting the process. But Gary and his guys “got ‘er done” and the greens will return to their usual excellent condition in a few days’ time. Feel good – play The Creek
The Cedar Creek Community Golf Scramble in conjunction with Cedar Creek Living magazine was postponed due to rain to June 17th. The field is full at date; however, in case of cancellations others will be selected from the alternates list in the order they signed up. Time is short, but there are still a couple of days to sign up for the Double Header tournament on Saturday, June 3rd. Proceeds from the event support the Aiken Baseball Academy Showcase team and local resident Joshua Ray in his pursuit of a baseball scholarship and career. Stop by the pro shop to sign up. Cedar Creek will host the Peak Amateur Series on Saturday and Sunday, June 10th and 11th. First known as the Cadillac Cup and then the Regions Bank Amateur Series, Peak Talent Capital Solutions of Augusta assumed corporate sponsorship in 2016 and brought Cedar Creek onto the schedule for the first time this year. The Series features 9 tournaments in the CSRA that attract the best amateur golfers with a season ending match between the top Georgia and South Carolina event finishers during the season. Come by on the 10th and 11th and watch the area’s top amateurs put their games on display. The club will host Hook A Kid on Golf during the week of June 26-30. Mike D. and Kenny Evenson will lead the affair along with Head Kid Joe Spencer and his staff. Volunteers are needed to assist with mentoring the kids during the week. A signup sheet is on the hallway bulletin board. If you can spare a morning or two and enjoy working with the youngsters to promote their interest in the game and future play please join us! The Men’s Golf Association is a proud sponsor of the Silver Bluff High School golf team and plays host to Coach Brad Johnson and team members for an end-of-season tournament and post-round burgers at the Cedar Creek grille. Silver Bluff’s Camden Kinard paired with MGA members Mike Lesick, Don Roettger and Andrew Wilson to capture team honors this year. Ray Naramore presented Coach Brad Johnson with the MGA’s annual donation for the team.
 L to R: Coach Brad Johnson, Cameron Widener, Brandon Goings, Logan Brock, Jake Ormand, Nick Meeds, Camden Kinard & Jacob Barton
Other MGA members playing with the Silver Bluff team included Ken Brace, Bill Egge, Craig Ellis, Bill Ely, Bob Kistler, Ted Lawrence, Dick Leach, Greg Oates, Rob Rosche, Art Sotak, Dean Spiro, Phil Stack, Rich Stamm and Dean Wood. Lost and Found: There are many lost and found items such as clubs, head covers and virtually any other thing used or worn on the course at the pro shop waiting to be claimed. If you’re missing an article, check at the pro shop. Items not soon claimed will be consigned to a charitable organization for sale. An early-April storm and lightning strike raised havoc with the irrigation system which caused no end of problems. The entire back nine segment along with holes #1 and #9 on the front were lost for several days while Gary checked and re-checked control boxes and valve switches, traced and verified operability of electrical lines, and made repairs. Greens aeration that had been scheduled for the end of April is delayed for now. The 15th fairway is showing signs of recovery, but still no projection as to when it will mature. We extend a warm welcome to Sam Timms who will be joining the staffs at both The Creek and Aiken Golf Club. Sam is a PGA Life Member (Retired) who hails originally from Aiken. He has served as head professional and director of golf at courses in South Carolina (Myrtle Beach), Florida and Puerto Rico and is “returning home,” so to speak. Feel good – play The Creek!
Meanwhile, Wesley’s brother George IV earned his ticket to the PGA Latin America tour through qualifying in Mexico in January. When last seen in early-April he was preparing for a journey to Argentina. Here he is at the range: For more about the Bryan Brothers and their trick shot artistry: The Cedar Creek Community Golf Scramble in conjunction with Cedar Creek Living magazine will be held on Saturday, May 13th. The field is full at date; however, an alternates list is being maintained in the event there may be cancellations among those currently signed up. Stop by the pro shop and ask to be included on the alternates list if you wish. Alternates will be selected in the order of their signup. In addition, in the spirit of the day being a “community” event, lunches will be available for non-golfing friends and neighbors for which orders are also being taken at the pro shop. Let’s make it another great Cedar Creek community affair!
The Friday Evening Scramble resumes on May 12th with a 4:30 p.m. start and every Friday weather permitting until September/October. Played as a two-person scramble with a nominal entry fee and multiple prizes signup is at the pro shop hallway bulletin board. The grille will offer food selections and drinks following. Thanks to both POACC’s maintenance chief Neill Wyman and Bill Hunkele for the cold patch work on Belle Mead Drive and Club Drive between holes #2 and #3 to lessen the jolt on the golf carts when traversing the curbs at the cart path crossings. As announced last month, colorful new scorecards for The Creek have been ordered and once proofed for production will be arriving. You’ll like ‘em! Spring work is well along around the course. The first round of weed control and fertilization is complete. Greens have been lightly sanded to maintain evenness of the surfaces and promote growth. Aeration should occur toward the end of April. Otherwise Gary’s crew – Ted, Austin, Jay and Ricky with help from “Rangemeister” Frank Beaty and Bill Todd – put forth their best efforts daily to mow greens, dress bunkers and perform other maintenance chores as well as remove nature’s waste to improve both the condition and appearance of the course. The 15th fairway is still problematical with no projection as to when it will mature, but all in all we will enjoy much improved playing conditions during 2017. Feel good – play the Creek! The bag stand at the entrance to the cart lot was missing for a couple of weeks. It’s back and looking like new.  This month’s kudos go out to Bob and Kathy Gilliland who performed their magic cleaning, refreshing and painting the restrooms at #5 as they did the restrooms at #15 last year. Super job, Bob and Kathy!
A crew of guys did a cleaning job – a big time cleaning job – on the cart barn. Big thanks to Bill Fink, Bob Gilliland, Doug Groft, Bill Hunkele, Jimmy LeBert, John Moynihan, Bill Robinson and Mike Wittkamp. In addition, Frank Beaty and Bill Hunkele put their paving skills to work and patched several potholes on the back nine cart paths. Julia is giving the pro shop a new look and stocking the pro shop shelves with new spring and summer merchandise. Good-looking stuff it is, and there’s more to come. (Everybody needs new “stuff!”) Aiken Golf Club is also restocked. Just a reminder -- member discounts apply at both clubs. Shop to your heart’s content! Now that the new course ratings and slopes have taken effect Mike D. is working on producing bright, new and colorful scorecards for the Creek. The cards will reflect also a couple new tee combos – black/green and green/red. No April Fools’ this – Masters Week begins April 1st – let’s welcome our guests! Gary and his crew are looking forward to the growing season, but so soon? The extraordinarily warm weather through February has not only brought thoughts but genuine signs of spring growth. Noticeable as well and as promised by Jim when he told us that both the TifDwarf MiniVerde greens and TifGrand tees and fairways would hold their color through the winter is the course has maintained its “greenness” through the mild winter. Greens are being walk-mowed with only a little less frequency for now, but soon to become an everyday task. And it won’t be long before the fairway mowers come out. Feel good – play the Creek It’s great to have golfing neighbors. It’s even greater to have great golfing neighbors. No, not Cedar Creek – we know they’re great. We’re talking about Three Runs Plantation – our equestrian community neighbors down White Pond Road. What is less well known is that many of them are avid golfers. While their spouses are off riding the trails or practicing their dressage movements, the guys (many who don’t ride horses) occupy their time playing golf. The guys gather at least once a week and play at various courses in the area but principally at Cedar Creek and Aiken Golf Club. While some are full-time residents of Three Runs, others are part-year residents who travel from their northern homes to winter in Aiken. During the winter months the group grows to 15 or more but during summer months it shrinks to six or eight. The fellows enjoy a special comradery and good sportsmanship through their weekly get-togethers. While the core group is men, women are certainly welcome to join in. The main organizer, Ron Hopkins, arranges tee times and polls the group for players. Thanks to his efforts, the gatherings afford individuals an opportunity to meet not only other of their Three Runs neighbors, but Cedar Creek club members as well. Say “Hello” and get acquainted with our Three Runs neighbors! Left to right are Dennis Beaudoin, John Ketterer, Tom Bryan, Ron Hopkins, Kirby Hill, Randy Foco, Dan Venner and Frank De Prince. Missing from the photo is Ron Hutchins, the photographer.  New course ratings and slopes go into effect March 1st. There’s nothing special we need do; proper input of scores adjusted for equitable stroke control as always for the tees played is all that’s necessary. The computer does the rest. There will be, however, a transposition of the red and green tees. The red tees will become the most forward tees, and the green tees will take the place of the former red tees. The adjustments in course ratings and slopes were announced several days ago. In addition, due to changes contributing to the playability of the course made by Jim and Gary during their renovation handicap hole ratings have also been revised and will be announced soon.
We had a nice turnout for the four-club tournament on Saturday, February 25th. Kathy Gilliland took first among the ladies with a net 70. She was followed in a four-way tie for second by Ann Marie Cox, Donna Imbrescia, Linda King and Kim Matthews all with net 72s. In the men’s division Bill Fink claimed first with a net 65 followed by Mike Wittkamp with a net 67. There was a five-way tie for third by Lee Covert, Jack Grados, Dave King, Dick Leach and Paul Sheiman with net 69s.
Masters week is fast approaching in its customary time slot during the first full week of April. Promoting guest play at the revitalized Creek as well as Aiken Golf Club benefits us all. If you know out-of-town golfers coming to the CSRA to enjoy the Masters invite them to play both the Creek and AGC. One of golf’s lesser known axioms: It is easier to hit a ½-inch branch 30 feet in the air from 100 yards than it is to hit a 3,000-square-foot green from the same distance. This is ordinarily a slow time of year, but not for Gary and his crew. During January they distributed mulch in areas around the course to give them a refreshing new look, and they remain hard at work clearing underbrush and removing debris as well as dressing and re-dressing bunkers. It’s a never-ending job, but one which shows the pride Gary takes in improving the aesthetics and maintaining the superior condition of the course. Behind the scenes refurbishment of course equipment is also being undertaken in the maintenance facility in preparation for the growing season ahead. Feel good – play the Creek! We can also note the course improvements Jim and Gary are undertaking. The heavy rains in early January caused major erosion including a complete washout of the cart path through the low area at #9. Work remains to be done, but the cart path has been restored and other improvements made to lessen the effects of drainage both down the hill from the ladies tee and through the area below the men’s tees. Thankfully the second round of Mother Nature’s dampening of the course toward late January did not exacerbate the erosion. The other area of improvement is in process forward of the ladies (red) tee at #12. An extraordinary amount of seepage at and near ground level has been an ongoing issue, which can be seen in the photo below. Thus the cart path is being extended to prevent damage from cart traffic in that area. All should be aware to remain on high ground with carts while repair work is completed and the new cart path installed and opened for use.
The warm January temps are having a good effect in one sense. Jim and Gary report growth has appeared in the 15th fairway. It won’t be sufficient to open the fairway any time soon, but it may give the fairway a jump start when warm spring weather arrives. When traveling the cart paths it’s good to keep all four wheels on the paths. A good deal of wear is showing at the edges of the paths in many areas and the grass has been significantly harmed especially where the paths make sharp turns. New signs have appeared at the driving range reminding us that use of the facility is “free” for members only. Guest players are also welcome to use the range in conjunction with their daily fees. Others are obliged to visit the pro shop to remit a range fee for use of the range. New water cooler enclosures and trash receptacles are appearing on the front nine compliments of Art Schuenemann, Rich Stamm and Dean Spiro who constructed and installed identical ones on the back nine. Thanks guys! Looking ahead, the club will host a four-club tournament on Saturday, February 25th for both ladies and men. Signup is open at the pro shop. Looking further ahead, Masters week occurs the first full week of April. Promoting guest play at the revitalized Creek as well as Aiken Golf Club benefits us all. If you know out-of-town golfers coming to the CSRA to enjoy the Masters invite them to play both the Creek and AGC.
We hope everyone had a joyful Christmas and extend best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year with much enjoyable playing time at the “new” Cedar Creek Golf Club. Feel good – play the Creek Huge thanks to all who contributed to the employee Christmas fund. The staff and maintenance guys are truly grateful!
The newly renovated tees, fairways and greens are holding their color and with Gary and his staff’s excellent work the course will remain in good condition through the cold weather months. Turf colorant is being applied to the greens to further give them enhanced appearance. Beyond that the crew is busy daily clearing and cleaning areas of Mother Nature’s debris throughout the course. (Another friendly reminder …….let’s take pride in the course, which is to say let’s fix ball marks, repair/fill divots everywhere, rake and smooth bunkers and observe cart restrictions when in force.) If you haven’t renewed your (annual) membership and handicap service now is the time to do so. (Handicap service should be renewed no later than January 10th.) Mike D. and the pro shop staff are there to help. The Men’s Golf Association will hold its annual Par 3 tournament on January 14th. A concurrent par 3 tournament for ladies will also be held. Registration is open at the pro shop. Enjoy January! Dormancy has set in around the course. The good news is that although growth has practically stopped the tees, fairways and greens will hold their color longer and remain in better condition through the winter. Roughs will brown out and become less coarse. Please be mindful to fill tee and fairway divots even if they are not yours. And though the greens are firm ball marks may be noticeable and in need of repair. A little extra attention to the course during the cold weather months will insure better growth and playing conditions in the spring. Feel good – play the Creek! The Cedar Creek Golf Club Christmas sale will begin on Saturday, December 3rd, and run for two weeks. All merchandise will be offered with significant reductions and there will be special items available for sale. Stop by the pro shop and pick up that special item for your Christmas gift list. Annual membership rates for Cedar Creek will remain the same as 2016 for 2017. CCGC members will continue to enjoy full golf membership privileges at The Aiken Golf Club and vice versa. The annual range plan option will continue – a card-based “membership” – that entitles holders to unlimited use of the range in addition to two 18-hole green fees per month (cart fee required) at either Cedar Creek or The Aiken Golf Club. Both annual and daily fees will be published soon. Speaking of gifts, how about a gift for the aspiring golfer or even something for those who are looking to improve their games? A great idea! Kenny Evenson at The Player’s School has gift certificates available for lessons for just that purpose. Give Kenny a call (439-2086) or email him: kennyevenson@hotmail.com. In the spirit of the season and as a way to show our appreciation for the loyalty and dedication of the pro shop staff, cart guys and grounds crew to members and guests of the club contributions to a Christmas fund are invited, which Jim will distribute to those who extended their best efforts along with friendly greetings and smiles throughout the past year. If you so choose please leave your contribution with the pro shop staff by Monday, December 19th. The Cedar Creek ladies 18-hole group closed out another enjoyable season on November 17th with a 9-hole scramble followed by a delightful lunch and awards ceremony at the Grille. Officers for 2017 are Cookie Caruso, President; Pat Wilson, Vice President; Marge DePalermo, Secretary and Pat Shealy, Treasurer. Jackie Huey, Anne Kelty, Ann Marie Cox and Meg Atkinson will serve as Tournament Chairs. Meg will pull double duty as Handicap Chair and Ringer Book custodian. Louanne Langmo will continue as Sunshine Chair. Are there any ladies out there who would like to become a Cedar Creek “lady niner?” The ladies 9-hole group is a great bunch of gals who play on Mondays year-round. For more about the “Cedar Creek Niner Ladies” check Marcia Hayes’s blog at: http://cedarcreek9.blogspot.com. Principal contacts are co-presidents Ann Schneider (803-514-2549 or email: annschneider70@gmail.com) and Chris Lesko (908-797-0327 or email: christinelesko@hotmail.com). Other officers are Mary Haring, Secretary, and Janet Koertge, Treasurer. All ladies are welcome to get in touch with Ann or Chris to join the group for some fun golf both at home and away. After earning the awards in 2015 Bob and Kathy Gilliland were crowned most improved golfers again for 2016. Congrats to both! The annual Trifecta tournament was held on its customary day after Thanksgiving. The event features two-person teams and three types of play – 6 holes each of scramble, better ball and alternate shot. A good turnout resulted in close competition and results. Andrew Wilson and Dean Wood took first place honors followed by Aiken Golf Club members Dennis Conrad and Bob Tucker. Tom Brusky and Bill Todd shared third place with Veronica Leigh and Steve Santos. A three-way tie for fifth place included Carole & Rich Stamm, Greg Oates & Don Roettger and Dave Beveridge & Jim Mitchell. Closest to pin awards went to Steve Santos and Bob Tucker. How about a New Year’s Eve dinner close to home? The Grille is planning just that. More information forthcoming ……. Jim and the staff of Cedar Creek Golf Club wish all members and guests a Merry Christmas and a Healthy, Happy and Prosperous New Year!
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