Kreyling Korner – Week 3 – 05-03-18

That’s one hell of a way to start the 2018 MOW record – 0 for 2 in week 2.  Bounce back in week 3?

THE LIPSMACKER MATCH OF THE WEEK  

A/B Group – Brian “Scratch” Turnwald vs. Danny “Snoodles” Roller – two of the league’s best square off in week 3.  Historically, these two have met twice and the overall record stands at 1-1.  What gets interesting is when you look at these career statistics individually.  Danny, in his 11 seasons as a full-time member, has amassed a record of 79 wins, 44 losses and 7 ties with 3 championships.  This equates to a 61% win percentage and a 27% championship percentage (made this stat up but I like it – Danny wins a championship on average once every 4 years).  Why don’t we talk about this guy more when it comes to hall of fame voting?  Turning to Scratch, in his 2 seasons as a full time member he has a record of 19 wins and 13 losses with one championship.  This is a 59% win percentage and a 50% championship percentage.  I think Scratch needs a little more time to see how his win percentage and championship percentage hold up, but it’s also worth pointing out that in his only other season he finished in second.  So who to pick?  As Cupcake’s mom always says, “strokes are the great equalizer.”  Danny gets two…and I have insider knowledge that Turnwald has been focusing on training more for a half marathon than playing golf.  I give the nod to Danny.  GLOSSY PREDICTION – Snoodles wins 5.5-4.5.

C/D Group –  George “Portuguese Warrior” Almeida vs. Matt “the Politician” Bedell – Bedell pulling the rare MOW consecutive weeks in a row.  Love this match-up in week #3 for a couple reasons.  First, George plays the underdog role as his historical record versus Bedell is 1-3.  You know what makes this even sweeter, the PW’s little attitude about how he always “carries” his team.  Just this week old George and Cupcake were going after each other in a flurry of insults, which is becoming a weekly occurrence.  The sequence of events went something like this:

George – Cupcake you suck and have everyone fooled; you created fraudulent bank statements for a beer drinking golf league. 

Jason – George you suck and you fix the schedule so you are always at an advantage…and you haven’t won a championship since 2008…and you’re short

George – go figure out this rubix cube you color blind bastard.  And it’s not my fault I haven’t won a championship, my last three A players have been Goldie, LG and Meat.  My back is tired from carrying the team.    

What the hell George?  Calling out team members and not accepting any of the blame yourself.  By my math, you haven’t won a championship in 9 years.  You blamed others in 3 of those 9 years…what about the other 6?  Look in the mirror you little Portuguese Weasel!  There were other reasons why I liked this match but I forgot what they were.  GLOSSY PREDICTION – Bedell wins 6-4.

THE KREYLING KORNER

 Let’s talk about some offseason headlines.  I know, I know – we are in week 3 and this would have been a better post in week 1.  Unfortunately, work got in the way the first couple weeks of the season.  As they say, there is no better time than the present so let’s take a look at some of the major headlines that affected the golf world and the “not” golf world.

 New Golf Rules

The R&A and USGA unveiled changes to existing rules of golf that will become effective in 2019.  Some of the major highlights include:

• No penalty for putting with the flagstick in the hole
• Dropping procedure – drops can now bet taken from the knee as opposed from shoulder level
• No penalty for a double hit
• Balls lost or out of bounds – Alternative to stroke-and-distance penalties: A new local rule will be available in January 2019, permitting committees to allow golfers the option to drop the ball in the vicinity of where the ball is lost or out of bounds (including the nearest fairway area), under a two-stroke penalty.

I know what you are thinking, LipGloss – who cares?  We really don’t play by these rules anyway?  That is true, this is a fun league and none of us would ever enforce a penalty for a double hit.  But, it will eliminate the “that’s a 2-stoke penalty” comment when someone makes a putt with the flag in.  I also find it interesting that the governing bodies allowed each course to adopt a rule eliminating stroke and distance penalties.  I imagine almost all public courses in the country will adopt this rule.  This will save a lot of time if you are stuck behind a bunch of old guys on a weekend morning and they swear to play by the strictest of rules.   On a personal level – I was hoping they were going to allow belly putters again…I miss my belly putter.

Tiger Woods Returns

There probably has never been a more polarizing figure in golf than Tiger Woods.  On one hand, he can be argued as the best to ever play (although for my money, you have to beat Jack’s 18 major record to be the best).  On the other hand, his off-course transgressions have left a stain on his legacy that many fans simply cannot get over.  I see both sides…but man is it fun to have him back. 

Golf is better with Tiger Woods.  Period.  I started playing golf when I was in college – the summer of 2001 to be exact.  Not so coincidentally, it was the summer after Tiger won the “Tiger” slam (look it up you young bucks).  I’m willing to bet a lot of the guys in our league around my same age have a similar story of why they started playing.  Tiger made the game cool.  And the masses agree.  Tiger’s Sunday round at the Valspar Championship in March, where he was in contention to win on Sunday, had higher TV ratings than any other golf tournament outside of majors since 2013.  The most amazing part is he is not only playing, he’s putting himself into contention after 4 back surgeries.  Welcome back Tiger – the golf world missed you.

The Future of the GCCGL?

Perhaps the biggest offseason headline affecting the GCCGL is the news that broke on December 4, 2017.  Prysmian Group announced a definitive merger agreement in which General Cable would be purchased for $30 a share.  Obviously, this has resulted in a lot of work GCC employees mixed with uncertainty about the future.  As we got closer to the golf season, it made me question what happens to the GCCGL.  Does the league continue?  If so, how many of the faces change?  Will the name change to the PGL?  At the end of the day, I always think there will be a core group of guys from this league that will continue playing at Kenton County every Thursday night.  That being said, I think we should all take this year to appreciate the beauty that is the GCCGL – the greatest golf league in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area.

Until next week – fairways and greens my friends.