Summer Old Time Tournament Honors History of the Game
Set foot through the door of any of PGCC’s three campuses and you will see the same thing; royal blue letters mounted on a wall informing you that Golf is History, Tradition & Character. At the Professional Golfer’s Career College this statement is more than a welcome mat, it is a principal philosophy. Three times a year this tenet is put to practical use during the Old Time Tournament.
The Old Time Tournament is a competition played in scramble format, exclusively by graduating seniors. Each team is comprised of four players and one caddy. The game begins with each player teeing off from the same spot, with the next round of play beginning where the best shot landed; this is continued until the ball is sunk into the hole. However, it is not the format that makes this tournament unique; it is unique because of the historically respectful manner in which it is played.
Players are outfitted in garb specific to golf’s very early years with students typically outfitted in a uniform of pristine golf shoes, knee socks, knickers, a sweater or vest over a crisp shirt, and a newsboy cap. Though the attire is no longer de rigueur, it is reminiscent of a bygone era that was saturated in style. Adhering further to the traditions of yesteryear, all players, and their caddies, walk each of the 18 holes on the course. Golf carts did not exist when the game was being formed and as a result, the automobiles are excluded from the day’s proceedings.
Transportation is not the only arena in which developmental technology is restricted. During the Old Time Tournament there are no such developments as sophisticated engineering, lightweight materials or adjustable heads. Students play with hickory shafted clubs and older versions of golf balls. Undoubtedly, there is a great appreciation for the advances of the game after the tournament commences, given that both the instruments and types of swings have evolved considerably.
This semester’s tournament victors demonstrated exceptional mastery of these timeless tools and took home the win with 63. Congratulations to Esha Kumar, Lance Peterson, Steve Chi, Gary Gilleon, and their caddie Burt Bilger!
Determining the winner was easy, second place was a different story. A scorecard playoff was used to determine the runner up. The USGA recommends looking to the back nine total, which both teams tied with 31. The next USGA step was to look at the total for the final 6 holes, again, the teams were tied, and the last three holes? You guessed it...tied. Finally it came down to the final hole, which Dr. Gyve’s team won with a birdie.
Closest to the pin honors went to Dayan Gudmondson and Matt Rassier.
The Old Time Tournament is homage to the rich and cherished history of the game of golf and while one of the primary goals is to reward the seniors with a peek into the origins of one of their life’s greatest passions, you simply can’t ignore the fact that a few days before they graduate they are taking away exactly the same lesson they learned upon arrival at PGCC; Golf is History, Tradition & Character.
Summer 2012 International Cup
It isn’t a stretch to think that students at a school filled with golfers would take competition very seriously but every semester that is exactly what happens; competition gets serious. Each campus has designated Captains by vote and it is the Captain's responsibility to select the make-up of players in the field, who plays single matches and who plays teams. Captains are the backbone, the architects of victory, if you will; the leaders and the moral support for I Cup competitors, so, congratulations to Temecula Captains Esha Kumar and Marcia Moyer.
The International Cup marks the close of a semester, and nearly the last tournament graduating seniors will play at PGCC. In typical tournament fashion all of the preceding matches serve to prepare players for the most challenging showdown at the end of each semester.
After making it through the last 6 weeks of qualifying tournaments, the top 36 students compete against the faculty in 4 modified alternate shot ball matches.
The tournament was held July 17th thru the 19th and the Legends Golf Club hosted the competition for PGCC Temecula. This semester’s match was a nail-biter right to the last putt with the thrill of neck and neck competition remaining until the very last shot, leaving students and faculty tied, allowing students to retain the cup for another semester.
Temecula Students: 12
Temecula Faculty: 12
Stay tuned for scores from the Orlando I Cup, students there are facing rain delays. "Good Luck" to all of the Hilton Head golfers who embark on their competition this week!
Summer 2012 President's Cup
Top students at all of the PGCC campuses welcomed the President's Cup Tournament this week. In Temecula the competition was played at the beautiful Legends Golf Club. An amusing tournament first was unveiled on day 2 when the combined age of two players totaled in at a whopping 147 years.
Played in Ryder Cup format, the “P Cup” allows each student to compete against the faculty, a considerable challenge, even for the best of the best. The "P Cup" is just one of several tournaments engaging students in healthy competition, and exposing them to the rules of match play format that directly emulate the Ryder Cup style.
Day 1 is played in four-ball matches, with Day 2 offering individual matches. On Day 2, Junior Jim Burgess and Freshman Chris Wagner, who were paired with Temecula's Dean of Students, Jim "Wilkie" Wilkinson and Dr. Jack Gyves respectively,racked up the only student wins in the tournament. Senior Esha Kumar held her own with a respectable tie in her individual match against PGCC President and Founder Dr. Tim "Doc" Somerville.
Now that the chips have fallen, with one point awarded for every match won, and a half point awarded for every halved (tied) match, it is the faculty who came out ahead at the Temecula campus.
2 days of competition brought scores a total of:
Temecula Faculty – 15
Temecula Students - 3
Congratulations to both teams, and best of luck to the next group of brave students to take on PGCC Temecula's formidable faculty. Good luck to the Orlando and Hilton Head campuses as they begin their showdowns this week. Play well!
