Golf -18 Hole
The 18 Hole Golf Activity home course is Boundary Oak Golf Course in Walnut Creek and the group plays weekly at many courses in the bay area. To see a complete listing of the courses, make a tee-time reservation, or for other golf information, click on the appropriate link in the menu on the right-hand side.
If you have and questions or would like to join us, please contact David Platter.
Golf Committee Members:
Chairman – David Platter
925-283-9146
golfplatter@Hotmail.Com
Membership / Handicaps / Data – Buddy May
Treasurer – David Green
Special Tournaments – Frank Bosworth
Golf Course Manager – Don Dennler
Marshals Director – Kevin Winkler
Communications Director –
Advisor – Pat Hoy
Website Coordinator – Buddy May
Current golf outing results, schedules and photos follow:
June 2026
Stockton’s Elkhorn Golf Course was where the Discovery Bay Chapter came to grips with golfers from Branch #8.. The contest was designed so a two man teams would play against another two man teams on an 18 hole course. This is what happened:
After four hours and thirty minutes of nail-biting competition, 46 golfers managed to strike a total of 4130 different golf balls down a well groomed empty fairway and when finished the tally confirms Branch # 8 won a 6-3 victory..
Already there is clamor for a return ‘take on’. Suggested courses would included Elkhorn or Swenson Park Golf both in Stockton. Then there is the Dublin Ranch or Diablo Creek in the Bay Area that might be considered.
Now back at Boundary where pre-Elkhorn warmup has been completed. Don Dennler won the net score while Peter Jordan shot the low gross. Then there is Tilden located deep in the charming Berkeley mountains where Jim Regan tied with Howard Nep posting a net 71. Also at Tilden new member Mike Volan tied Peter Jordan for the best low gross.
During the longest day of the year (June 21) the Bosworth Shamble was played at Boundary Oak. It turned out to have many competitive matches. The games finished with a tie for first place that included the team of Winkler, Mason and Johnson and also the team of Volan, Schweitzer, Evanoff and Regan.
Many good days and lots off fun.
David Platter
May 2026
Stan Johnson won the four club tournament with a 63 net. At another outing, Rick Trudell shot a net 68 with a gross of 81 during the Diablo Creek contest. In addition, he was the par achiever with eight. Also, Rick survived all eighteen by scoring no hole higher than a bogey. Conclusion: When you are hot you are hot.
Iran’s golf program is an embarrassment. The country has only five golf courses while The United States enjoys 16,000 plus. With only five, Iran is not poor. With tons of that oil stuff, cost is not a sandy excuses. When a Sir Branch 8 members find himself in a bunker surround by sand, he manages to get out to play another day. Other countries have coped with adversity.. Take tiny Switzerland with a counts around 100 courses. Their golfers are not allow to complain even while facing hazardous mountains filled with snow.. Cold Iceland has the most courses per capita with 61. Also, they allowed play during dark days and through tough Icy winter storms. We believe if Iran obtains a few additional golf courses, there will be peace and happiness throughout the universe.
David Platter
April 2026
Pat Hoy took honors with 82 gross score and a 69 low net at the Diablo Creek during an April tournament.. Rich Knowles also marked a net 69 at Franklin Canyon play.. Golf is good.
Rain was not the only reason the Bosworth Tournament was moved from April 20 to April 27th. We wanted to avoid problems that occur after last minute drop-outs. When weather is about to change, it forces a revamping of all the foursome teams. When ‘rain’ is mention, we face five to twelve players cancellations. Though Buddy’s computer is capable of recalculate so many changes, the result often is confusing to players..[ must sign new player, new times etc.] ..So ….best to push tournament off a week and we did…
New subject :Tuesday, June 16, 2026, our Branch has been challenged by The Discovery Bay Sir Branch. They want to have another round of two man vs two man contest using a match play format [ same rules as last year.] The Elkhorn Golf Course was selected which is located in Stockton.. This golf club is only an hour and eight minutes from Walnut Creek. A shotgun 9:00 o’clock is when all will start. Tuesday June 16, 2026. With a special rate of $50 each including a cart. Treasurer [Dave Green 588– 2nd avenue,– San Francisco, ca, 94118 ] will collect and pay our half of the bill on the day of the contest..
As of now there will be 20 players from each Branch [total 40 players] divided into two man teams.. If Interested! Join the group. The commitment sheet is located on our Hotline’s golf sign-up page. Scroll down to the bottom part of the page and add your name…It will be fun.
David Platter
March 2026
Kevin Winkler was tops during a tight tournament at Franklin Canyon the March month. From the 17th tee he shot a ‘hole in one’. With excitement from everyone about his proficiency, he remained humble. He has risen to iconic status and has taken a step way from normal golfer.. It was a feat that entails hitting a golf ball about the length of a football field and into a 4 1/2 inch hole. One DOES need a glass of magic to make such a shot.
San Ramon golf course management said they will close this play ground. Apparently, future plan include building houses. It is their belief assembling buildings would be more fun. Golfers hope they will fail. We prefer golf. Franklin Canyon had the same mindset then changed their mind when thousands of grumbling campaigners raised their voices..
The scramble tournament played March 16th at Boundary was won by the Peter Jordan, Dick Jordan. and Frank Bosworth.. Teams were assigned by Frank Bosworth using Buddy Mays’ magic data. As it turned- out, all matches tallies were close with victory being decided by a few wayward putts.
David Platter
February 2026
Guy Fischer has set a new branch standard as he tore up the course at Boundary by posting 11 pars and then added a birdie . Guy also became the first club member in the last three years to receive a ‘zero’ on the Buddy May’s bad hole column. ‘Other’ is a nice way of saying higher than a boggy.
It was new member day at the golf course. All our fresh players finished in the top half at the Boundary Oak scoring,. Names like to Guy Fischer , David Kurtzman, Ed Lichtig, Allen Forester, Joe Faulds arrived and played impressive golf..
Wow! Eric Benson.—-Golfers take note. He has turned into a determined swinging tiger. During the first five holes at Diablo Creek, Eric posted a series of unforeseen pars . Then he went on to finished the final part of the eighteen holes play with his best round of golf ever.
Pat Hoy is one of our key commanders who steps in when there is an absence. Pat is known as the ‘game fixers’ and always is there when someone yells for help. During play, Pat’s name usually ends up in the top-tier of our tournaments.,
Not to forget Kevin Winkler who schedules marshals for each competitions. This is not an easy job since 54 tournaments are arranged every year. However, his work has rewards in that Golf club executives are delight with our Branch since our marshals keep everything organized and moving.
A complete audit of David Green’s treasury books were recently completed and the reported states David is in 100% in compliance . After examining everything David Green received a triple’ A’ grade. Say it again.. a perfect 100% score.
David Platter
January 2026
On the first tee at Paradise Valley, hot Pat Hoy and finished with the best gross score and best net play. It was the same achievement that Jackie Kaneshiro had accomplished a week earlier at Franklin where he also won both titles. Not to forget Eric Benson, who the month before won the net score at Boundary and Steve Burrows showed his skill winning the raw score at the same tournament.. It was a fitting way of completing the last year golf outings…
Did you realize there are some rules the Pro know and we should consider….It is important because such golf procedures might save you from a golfing disasters . Below two examples..
- Rule [19.3]: YOU CANNOT LOSE A BALL ON THE FAIRWAY as long as all your playing partners witnessed your shot go to the fairway and then not be found. No penalty! Just drop a ball at a place where it should have been and play from that spot.. [It is an only on the fairway rule]
2..[Rule:-16] Real story with Tiger Woods as the star.. On the 18th green at Pebble Beach. Tiger was laying ‘2’. When he putted the ball too hard and it went past the hole then scooted down the green and off the putting service then stopped in the forward part of a bunker. Question: What did Tiger do next?
He yelled >>”Unplayable”<<. Then Tiger took a one stroke penalty, placed a second ball where he had just struck his first putt and then hit the golf ball into the hole. That gave him a happy ‘5’. Instead of attempted to plow out of the bunker, back to the fairway then onto the green with two or more putts for a ‘7 or higher. Yes! Tiger knew the golf rule.
We can do that.
David Platter
December 2025
We are fortunate to have Buddy May with us. He insures that all of our golfing statics are inscribed into the NCGA data base. This gives each of us a verifiable index. Sometimes it is required at distant courses. It also is necessary for our match play in order to keep each team competitive.
In 2025 we had many achievements. Only a few are mentioned below:
- In the raw tally posting, Steve Burrows had four different tournaments where his scores were in the seventies.
- Carl Sand won six net tournaments and also during one outing his scoring performance was 40% lower than his handicap.
- Stan Johnson won five net tournaments.
- On hole #2 at Boundary, Buddy May, five times won the closes to the flag contest.
The influential Ed Lichtig who joined us in late 2025, has been at work. Since his arrival Ed has encourage many golfers to reside at our club: So far this includes: David Kutzman, Guy Fischer, Greg Johnson, James Freeman, Howard Nep, and Terry Thomas. They are now roster members. These skillful golfers play every week in different golf groups.
What Ed likes about our set-up is the Dennler contract arrangement that assures our Branch acceptable tee times, locations, as well as cost for each match. The signup sheet also allows our players to select their starting times and foursomes. Except for at Boundary, David Green makes one payment for all of us which eliminates long lines. It also kept us from paying for reported no-show and their cancelation penalty.
N0vember 2025
As we enter the winter season where golf courses have weather restrictions. Please check our sign-up sheets the day of our play. Restrictions such as cart path only, field muddy, rain is expected and general condition of the course. David Green gives a tally 5-7 days in advance of play. Don Dennler has contracts with the courses giving us time and cost. This is done sometimes a year ahead of play. We have an excellent reputations with these clubs giving us an advantages over others golfers.
New member Ed Lichtig had a blistering game performance at Diablo Creek this month with 131% better than his handicap ratings. Others great players who exceeded expectations would included Eric Benson, Don Dennler, Buck Cheshire and Jack Schweizer. [all above 100%]
On another subject. Several Golf magazines have given reports on golf equipment. Below is their suggestion on golf balls…
1..Some of the worst golf balls for seniors: Bridgestone Tour BX, Pinnacle Gold: Mizuno Pros, Callaway Warbird. Srixon Zstar Dimond
2..Some best golf ball for seniors: Titlist AVX: Wilson Duo Soft: Sirxon Soft Feel: Tailormade: Soft: Callaway Super Soft. However, seniors who swing exceeds 90 mph, then The Titleist Pro V1x should be considered.
October 2025
Our October tournament, Frank “Bongo” Bosworth’s creation, was named Bingo Bango Bongo. It rewards short game skills and gives 3 points on each hole. A point for first player on the green, another point for closest to the hole, and a third point for first to hole out.
Congrats to our very sensitive and shy Terry Mason who tore up the course with an impressive 19 points. The two Jims (Smrha and Regan) managed 17 points each.
During this summer our group held a match play against SIR Branch #161. We won 7 of the 10 matches. The contest was staged at the Diablo Creek Country Club. A stand-out game was with our team of David Green and Rich Knowles. They scored a record breaking 13 to 1 victory over their opponents .
On sad personal note. I wish to thank my friends for their consoling words during a difficult time. Your comforting understanding was welcome and appreciated. Our family is very grateful.. My Barbara was a wonderful lady. We were married for many years. There was no one like her. She will remain in my thoughts, prayers, and soul forever.
David Platter
June 2025
While playing in the Franklin Canyon tournament, Steve Burrow’s gross scored was seventy-six. [76]. This takes talent.
Arte Chan net was best at Blue Rock West and also at Blue Rock East games. Don Dennler received winning honors at Franklin Canyon and San Ramon… Both Arte and Don winnings were posted below par. [five net tournaments won by two golfers] [again talent]
San Ramon went several years not being on our schedule. A difficult morning highway cluttered with mean automobiles became the visible villain. However, now traffic has become somewhat better giving us access to these golf links.
This 6,525 long golf course was built in 1946. Ten years ahead of highway #680. It has received a good ratings by Yelp’s Service and cost have been kept under control. Ground keeping expenses runs around $200,000. [ $350,000 is normal] San Ramon pays only $35,000 for pumping in reclaimed water. . [ Normal tap water around $400,000 ]
Every course has a story and San Ramon does shares a few narratives. For example, one home owner living near hole #3 complained his house was being hit 2000 times a month. Each day his yard mirrored the reminisce of a snow storm. To the home owner such a bombardment was like living in a war zone. Finally, management moved the tee out of the way and closer to the fairway. Problem solved…happy home….
Peter Jordan Terry Mason
