March 2024 March 2024 | Page 18

18 March 2024 Pamplin Media Group

Men ’ s Club

� From Page 17
bottom of the cup . Chris Bensel stated that this is the first hole-in-one on this hole that he is aware of since he ’ s been the golf pro here . Well-done sir , and here ’ s to many more . Gene joins Glenn Ferguson in the pool for Hole-in-One money for the 2024 CMC golf season .
Expectations and golf , that four-letter word
Life is too short to be angry or a curmudgeon all the time , especially on the golf course where we come for relaxation . Keeping that in mind , let ’ s look at a bit of the lighter side of golf , and how it affects our beliefs . I ’ m speaking about faith and false confidence .
False confidence , where you just know you can make that shot over water and the sand bunker next to that tucked pin on the water hole . False confidence says “ No problem , I ’ ll go for it .” Faith on the other hand is “ something you believe that no one else in their right mind would believe ” ( a quote from Archie Bunker to “ meathead ” on All in the Family ). Often these two doctrines will meld together during a round to sabotage your score . Sometimes they stick it to you two or more times during a round . Let ’ s face it , some of us are slower learners than others . In golf , faith and false confidence will frequently be offset by , of all things , playing smart . Playing smart will bring you back to the reality of doing the simple and safe thing , instead of putting on a remarkable display of faith and false confidence for your group . Though boring , oftentimes the smart move can help you achieve the highly coveted E score ( previous article ) and provide bragging rights ( in the form of complaining ) for the next 20 rounds . While playing smart and my name have rarely been tagged together in the same sentence , faith and false confidence usually are on display quite regularly .
Looking for the positives in any situation
When faith and false confidence show up in my group I look for the positives . Rather than laugh or throw darts at myself or another stick master , I simply say “ How unfortunate , and at least now you have a good angle in .” See , that ’ s positive . Try it , but only with good friends or those you can outrun . Always try to find the positive . Seriously , we all try to bring out our inner Phil Michelson from time to time and , unlike Phil , our efforts are often penalized where his were usually rewarded ( Let ’ s not forget 2006 U . S . Open at Winged Foot ). Even if you sleep in a Holiday Inn Express the night before , you are likely to fail . I ’ ve tried it . Let ’ s all look forward to better golf , improved scores , a bit less false confidence and putting faith in our golf abilities in its proper place . Here ’ s to playing smart .
Chili / Chowder Scholarship Fundraiser dinner
A group of 106 hungry and fun folks attended the first annual Chili / Chowder Scholarship Fundraiser dinner recently in support of student employees here in Charbonneau . Over $ 700 was raised in support of the fund . The Charbonneau Men ’ s Club , Charbonneau Women ’ s Golf Association and the Women ’ s Niners hosted
Gene Harp , with Steve Werts , recently hit a very rare hole-in-one on the seventh hole of the yellow course .
the event kicking off the 2024 golf year . WeI wish a special thanks to Carol Riley ( CWGA co-president ), Bee Benesh , Mary Fieweger , and Lindy Anderson for helping with the event . The event featured special recipes provided by The Market Café . Thank you Nicole for a delicious repast . Good fun , good food , good cause , good people and a wonderful evening . Thank you for your support .
Loss of a friend
On a sad note , we would like to inform you of the passing of one of our favorite golfers and friends , Don Fish . Don slipped away peacefully the first week of January amidst family members
Fish
COURTESY PHOTO
and a few friends . Always a positive character on and off the course , he shared a quick wit and smile , with a devilish grin .
For me , personally , Don was one of the first members to welcome me to Charbonneau , share a beer , and “ fill me in ” on just how things worked around here . We “ double dated ” in a few couples tournaments and shared a sip or two from his special flask . Fun was his middle name , and he was always welcoming and eager to join in . As he said “ Not everyone gets to live this long ( 90 ) and I ’ ve been blessed .” True to form , one of his last requests was to enjoy a beer every day until the end . May we all be so fortunate to pass with the style and grace of Mr . Fish . Rest in peace good friend and kind sir .

CCC Board Application Process Now Open

Homeowners interested in serving on the Charbonneau Country Club ( CCC ) Board of Directors need to submit an application and Bio to the CCC Activity Center Front desk by Friday , March 15th , 2024 . The CCC Nominating Committee will meet with applicants between March 16th and March 27th .
Board Director terms are for three years . Voting takes place in May , and new Board members will be announced at the annual meeting on May 15th . A packet of information for prospective applicants , including a Notice of Interest form , is available in the CCC Activity Center Office .
For more information , please contact : CCC General Manager Jim Meierotto at jim @ charbonneaucountryclub . com or call 503-694-2300