2024 – Welcome

Welcome to the 2024 GCCGL season!

Breaking news! This just in! Kurt “Lip Gloss” Kreyling still hasn’t scheduled the 2024 GCCGL draft. Apparently, the plan seems to be to hold the draft after the season starts. Seriously? Do I have to do everything around here? We have NO draft. The teams haven’t been picked. Of course, if you have no teams, then there are NO team names. And with NO team names, there is NO schedule. For Pete’s sake, Lip Gloss, we’re teeing off in like 10 minutes and YOU couldn’t have more to do! Come on man! #geturshit2gether

On top of that, I have Oliver “Ollie” Livermore texting me for answers because co-commissioner Cupcake told him to contact me! Oh, and I finally heard back from former 2023 GCCGL member, Toby Grainger, 46 days after I texted him about returning as a full-time member for the 2024 GCCGL season. Who responds to a text message 46 days after it has been sent? I knew I should have retired after last season. My new retirement plan is to invest in a mobile hot dog stand and drive around the golf course selling overpriced stale hot dogs and beer to high handicap golfers. This is a great idea! I’m looking for investors! 

But I digress. We have had an influx of new blood over the last two seasons resulting in a 30% turnover in new members! This gives new meaning to the old adage, “In with the new, out with the old”. The commissioner’s office truly appreciates all the support given to the GCCGL over the last 29 years, we really do. Although we still have many long-time members, they have dwindled over the years. That’s OK. Life happens. I have met many good folks and made long-time friendships with a lot of people that have come through the GCCGL and am grateful for it. I truly am. There’s nothing wrong with “Retiring the old fogeys and moving forward with the young studs”. It’s a good thing. Will there be some growing pains? Of course, there will be.

Next season will be the 30th anniversary of the GCCGL! 30 YEARS! My hope is that when I finally do step down from running this league, that it continues for another 30 years. Therefore, I welcome all the newbies. You will be the ones to shape the future of the GCCGL. So, let’s all continue, “Flushing the turds, and embracing the diamonds”. Because it won’t be long before I’m one of the turds.

The 2024 season officially begins on April 18th on the Pioneer front nine. However, we have two practice rounds schedule once again for those who want to get in some practice and start establishing their handicap. The first practice round is April 4th. It will be here before you know it! We highly encourage the newbies to participate in the practice rounds AND to get out on the golf course and play a few rounds and turn in your scores to Jason Nill or Kurt Kreyling so that we can start establishing an accurate handicap for you. Trust me, it is a lot more fun when your handicap is “true”.

The 2024 GCCGL draft will be scheduled shortly (I hope!). Be on the lookout for an email from Kurt Kreyling in the next days (I hope!). We have 24 full-time members which equates to six 4-player teams. The “C” flight will be the 2024 GCCGL captains this year!

We have a few exciting announcements for the 2024 season.

• The new age limit to move to the senior tees is 55 years of age.
  The reason for this change is simple, the game of golf should be fun. Players on average should reach the fairways from their tee shots and the greens from Par 3’s. With the exception of the Willows back nine, this normally isn’t an issue on the Kenton County Golf Course where the GCCGL plays. YOU MUST ANNOUNCE THIS DECISION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AND STICK WITH IT FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON. NO EXCEPTIONS. Although, not a perfect solution, the following formula for determining the tee selection can help direct one towards the proper tee box. Take the distance you hit your driver and multiply it by 28. For example, if your average drive is 210 yards the equation would be, 210 x 28 = 5,880 yards.As you can see, the formula is pretty damn close. Following this suggested formula could help you execute getting to the green in regulation. As a result, your approach shots will be shorter, so you get more looks at birdies and pars. In other words, you’ll have more fun and you’ll probably play faster. Of course, your handicap will adjust accordingly but it’s all relative.
• We are introducing a new match play event named Red, White and Blue!
  It will take place as close to the July 4th holiday as possible. Ever since we dropped the Battle Golf Match Play event, the commissioner’s office has been looking for a replacement and we think we have found it. Check out the event rules here.
  
• Amendment to rule Section 5A-1 – Playing the Card
  A change was made to penalize the card an additional stroke this year. From now on, when a player plays the “card”, then the card will be penalized 4 strokes above handicap instead of 3. The reason for this change was to balance the lower handicaps due to the changes to World Handicap System a few years back. See the 2023 Week 16 blog post for additional details. 

  Section 5A-1 – If a team member does not have an opponent, because no sub was available, he must play the scheduled nine holes and his card will be matched against a card of the player who he was supposed to play based on that player’s handicap. He will receive the point for low net and his absent opponent will be penalized four strokes for the nine holes.

Please take time to read the 2024 League Agreement. You can also view the 2024 GCCGL rotation. The links are also included on the right sidebar under the Other Stuff category on the GCCGL Home page. It is going to be a fun season! We hope to see you on the course and as always, hit ’em straight!

The Portuguese Warrior – GCCGL co-commissioner