The group met in Atlantic City Airport. Well actually everyone else was onboard when Andy Swanson and Rich Antczak arrived at the terminal. In Myrtle beach we stopped for our traditional breakfast at the Cracker Barrel. We were surprised at Litchfield check-in with a $100 cash card each, good at all the golf courses and a $250.00 dinner for us all at Webster’s.

We checked into Avain Forest    That afternoon our first match was at River Club. It was a beautiful day and the course was in wonderful shape. Charlie Ranucci was on fire playing the back nine first, delivering a sweet 37 with a Sandy and a birdie. Rich Antczak captured the first greenie on 14 while Charlie took 17. Lazarchick (LZ) made a sandy on 18. After nine holes Lazarchick and OB were tied for second with 45 on the cards.

The front nine proved a challenge for everybody. Charlie birdied 6, struggling home with a 49, good enough for low gross 86 and low net on the day. Lazarchick took the greenie on 2 and dropped a beauty from off the green on 6 for a nasty. Andy Swanson took the greenie on 8. Bob had a nasty. Greenies paid $10 Each player threw 5 bucks in the Greenie pool. Charlie collected $2 for each player for the low net. Each player paid $1 for Nasties (in the hole from off the green), Sandies (up and down out of the sand)or Birdies.

Charlie $45 , LZ $24, Bob $17, Andy $10, Rich $10

Total Strokes 789 for 8 players

Dinner at Litchfield Beach Fish House     –

We devoured the Hush Puppies!

Up early we were the first customers for breakfast.

Myrtle Beach National was the venue for day 2.

Kings North played tough, however the course was in superior condition and the putting was fast. Everyone predicted Lazarchick and Ranucci would deliver the low gross scores and become Captains to pick scramble teams. Not on this day. Both LZ and Charlie took an 8 on the last hole giving Andy Swanson the low gross score of 94.

When asked about the low score, Swanson said the hole looked huge!   

Rich Antczak shot 97 which took low net and he became the other Captain. Bob Daino, LZ, and Rich shared the greenies which paid $ 13 each. Bob got the extra buck because he met Phil in 6th grade and Phil ran the greenie pool. Charlie had a birdie on 15 and OB had a nasty on 2.

Meanwhile 8 players delivered 59 strokes playing the par 5, #6 hole, The Gambler.

Rich $27, Bob $14, LZ 13, Charlie $7, OB $7

Total Strokes = 805

The first Scramble was played on the back nice of South Creek. Team Swanson , Andy, LZ, Phil Stocker and Chris Garand won the scramble, collecting $50 each. LZ dropped a 15 footer on 11 for a Birdie. Andy Swanson made it 2 under with another long one at 12. At 14, Chris dropped a beauty for -3. Just when the wheels were turning, they came off. Everyone missed the par putt at 15. On 16, Phil Stocker asked to be lead putter. He promptly dropped a long Birdie to move the team back to 3 under and made it -4 on the next hole. They dropped par on 18. Team Antczak, Rich, Charlie, OB and Bob just couldn’t drop the long Birdies. They Birdied 14 and 18 for 2 under, collecting $25 each.

Dinner at Pastaria 811  –    Outstanding Food!

Pawleys Plantation with the fastest greens and the challenging 69 yard par three was Day 3. The weather was even warmer. Pawleys proved to be a significant challenge for all and not just because we had company on the course.

Playing the back first, LZ birdied 16 and posted the low gross 43. However playing 5, 6 and 7, 10 over pushed him to a final score of 95. Charlie took low gross with a 92. The big winner was Andy Swanson with a birdie on 3 followed by a nasty, birdie on 5, finishing with a gross 94 and the low net. Phil Stocker chipped in a nasty from the drop zone on 14. Andy, OB, Charlie and Bob each collected $10 for greenies.

Andy $45, OB $10, Charlie $10, Bob $10, Phil $ 7.

Total strokes= 784

Deciding the Scramble winners must be under par and would win it all if their opponents were not, proved too difficult. Captain Bob with Charlie, Chris and Phil finished even after starting birdie, birdie. Captain OB with LZ, Andy and Rich finished plus 1, taking a bogy on 8 and all pars otherwise. No winners!

Prime Rib Smorgasbord at Webster’s on Them!   Muscles were superb!

The battle moved to Willbrook Plantation on day 4.

With the coffers full, the stakes went up. Greenies were now $20 for closest and $10 for the next closest. Birdies, Nasties and Sandies each paid $10. LZ played the front lights out delivering a sweet 39. The greens did not roll with any consistency and he missed Birdie putts on nearly every hole. He did capture closest to the pin on 4, with Charlie 2^nd and on 6, with Rich 2^nd. The best game however, came from Bob Daino. He use 41 strokes on the front after starting with a Birdie. He game was smooth and methodical. He took both 1^st and 2^nd closest to the pin on the difficult 12^th hole. With a Birdie on 18, he caught LZ and they shared a low gross 86. Bob easily he took low net for $20. Charlie made a Sandy on 12. Andy had a very long Birdie on 6. In the other foursome, OB started with a Bird and Chris found the hole on 11. Rich took closest to the pin on 17. Andy was 2^nd. Rich was keeping score in one cart and needed remedial education from Phil to get the numbers added right. In his defense he disclosed that he had to attend summer school for math!

Bob $70, LZ $40, Andy $20, Rich $20, Charlie $20, OB $10

Total Strokes = 753

There was no scramble promising a huge payoff for the last day.   Lunch at Pastaria 811 & Take out Chinese for Dinner.

Litchfield would conclude the Myrtle Beach Experience. It was the Big Bucks Day!

The format now included low score front, low score back and overall with handicaps as well as the usual stuff. Chris (43) and OB (45) tied the front ($40 each). Charlie (41), Phil (45)and LZ (42) tied the Back ($26 each). OB (93) beat out LZ (87) by a stroke to take the overall ($80). Putting was difficult on unpredictable, slow and bumpy, greens. Charlie took a Sandy on #4. Rich dropped Birdie on #8. LZ sunk a nasty on #9 ($10 each).

OB was closest to the pin on #2 ($20) with Charlie second ($10). No one hit # 7. Andy Swanson took a double Greenie all by himself on # 12 ($60). Phil took #17 ($20) and Charlie was second ($10).

Total Strokes = 756

In the Scramble, OB, LZ, Andy and Chris faced Bob, Charlie, Phil and Rich. The teams were well matched and when it was over they shared the pot ($27 each), both teams finishing -1.

OB $140, Andy $60, Charlie $56, Phil $46, Chris $40, LZ $36, Rich $10

Rich Antczak at the packed car , blowing smoke , imitating Charlie on the Golf Course.

It took us a combined total of 3886 strokes to play 117 Holes of golf in 5 days. LZ and Charlie each averaged 91.8 strokes a day. Andy averaged 95.8, Chris 97.2, Phil 98.4, Bob 99, Rich 100.6 and OB 102.8   A total of $1324 was paid in prize money. OB was tops money winner with $219 just edging out Andy at $212. They did well on the Big Money Days. Charlie and LZ had the most “wins” but on the money side took in less, each collecting $190 total.