"Protecting The Oranges"  That's how Scotty described Saxon Woods new approach to frost.  "Just keep 'em wet and they won't freeze - like the farmers do in Florida."  Which translated into no frost delay for us in spite of 31 degress on the first tee.  I've never played when there was that much ice on the grass.  It got caught in our spikes and turned golf shoes into rollerblades.  Big slippery balls on the cleats dug deep impressions on the greens; a distinct disadvantage to the later groups.

The Fall Classic itself was a huge success - or at least that's what I thought as I collected my third place prize money.   Bramble is a fun format - low stress, great for scoring and camaraderie - a real team event.  And an appropriate note to sound as the  season draws to a close.  If golf has to end then that was the way to say goodbye; with fun, friends and lots of smiles.

Bramble event winners were:
First Place -11               Second Place -9           Third Place -8
Hastings                        Greg Horgan                Cook
Young                           Pfluger                        DiLeo
Condon                         Sigona                         Ennis
Jeff Shearman                Charlie Horgan             Kyle Shearman

Closest to the Pin                                                Closest to The Line
#4  Fately, #7 Kyle, #16 Charlie                                #10 Jeff Shearman

I've posted all the scorecards (click here) so you can review the carnage, but as I typed them I noticed a couple things:
- low handicappers didn't shoot the lights out
- mid handicappers improved a bit over the usual round
- high handicappers carried their teams

For Example:  Klimerman and Goldberg could have played the front side without anyone else in their groups.  Phil counted on every hole of the front nine - Alan's team went 12 holes before they had to use anyone else's score!  And who knows where Ryan and McEvoy would have been without McNaughton, whose ball they used on 16 holes.

It was a great day, a great event and fortunately several people took photos around the course (thanks Andy) and lunch table to help us remember.  Click on images below; drink in the bright sunshine and warm smiles - they need to last all winter:

What a great event.  It's what makes being part of a club so much better than being part of a foursome.  In spite of real challenges on the greens we had some nice scores out there. 

First Place:  Appel, Kyle Shearman, Larry McNaugton and Joe DiFiore at  -6
Second Place: Greg Horgan, Hastings, Greenberg and Kubo at -5
Third Place: Hamerslough, Paul, DiLeo and Goldberg, also at -5
                  (a match of cards went back to a birdie on 14 to decide)
Closest to Pin #4:     Rob Herschenfeld
Closest to Pin #7:     Bran Kubo
Closest to Pin #16:   Andy Eisenberg (repeat of last year's win)
Closest to the Line #10:  Frank Higgins

It was a real pleasure to see everyone again and reconnect.  Like so many other things, the best part of the Opening Day Scramble was the people - seeing familiar smiles and laughing at the same stories we told last year.  Greg ran a great event and Woody showed true inspiration in ordering up a barbeque.  The whole thing just felt like summer is back in Westchester.

Today's format reminded me what a great game golf is.  I can't think of another sport where people of such mixed abilities could play together, have as much fun and learn from one another.  It really is humbling and plays no favorites.  I mean, I learned a ton playing with two 20+ handicappers.  At one point I watched Greg Schimoler sink 53 feet of putts on three consecutive greens!  15' 20' 18'.  He single handedly put us into the running.  And I learned that sometimes you don't read the putts - sometimes you don't walk the line, plumb the bob or die it into the edge of the cup.  Sometimes you just hit it - at the hole - with authority.  I shouldn't have to learn that lesson, but I didn't make those putts, he did.  And Tom Bair taught me that the joy of a new driver can do wonders for your tempo - and hence your distance.  Tom slowed it down and smashed 'em today.  We went into #17 with a 7 iron after his bomb.  So thanks guys.  That was fun; I played better because I played with you.  Let's not wait until next spring to mix it up again.

Scores for all groups are at link under graphic on the right -- as are photos of Groups on the 1st Tee, Shots Around The Course and At The Grill.