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A Peculiar Obsession
By Mike VanZandt
I started playing golf with my Dad in the early 60’s. We played at least a thousand rounds and did so until he was in his late 80’s. Almost everyone in my family has played or continues to play. We played on many Thanksgiving Days and an equally shameful number of December 25ths. I’ve worn my golf shoes to church so I wouldn’t be late
Swinging for Santa
The Bolivar Peninsula Lions Club held their 3rd Annual Swinging For Santa Golf Tournament, July 11th at “The Ranch”, Wallis Smith Community Golf Course. All proceeds benefiting local Bolivar families for Christmas. After the original April 25th rain out, the tournament was rescheduled for a Hot Hot Hot make up date in mid-July. That’s okay, 48 golfers came out in full force to enjoy
Welcome to the Ranch at Crystal Beach
By Mike Van Zandt
If you can manage to bring your golf clubs to the beach without risking a trip to divorce court, you’re in for a unique experience. The Ranch at Crystal Beach offers a Par 36, nine-hole, links style layout playing 2750 yards. The Ranch is open every day from dawn to dusk. Like Disney’s Magic Kingdom, no alcohol is sold at the Ranch, but feel free
Not Just Another Day at the Ranch
By Mike VanZandt
Sweet Swinging Charlie Brannan selected his 9-iron for the 105 yard shot into the green on the 5th hole Tuesday at the Ranch. Hitting a soft fade, Brannan and his playing companions watched gleefully as the ball hit the green and tumbled into the cup for Brannan’s first hole-in-one. Congratulations Charlie. Unfortunately for Charlie,
TCF Golf for Scholarships
Dabney Harrison pulled it together again for the Bolivar Peninsula Chamber of Commerce. With 36 players and 9 teams, the Texas Crab Festival Golf Tournament teed off on Saturday, November 8th, promptly at 9am. As the team golf carts wheeled around the golf course, the beverage carts kept up a steady pace, Gray and Terri on one side of the course with Bloody Marys and Tom and Georgia with Mimosas
Weekly Ranch Report, Oct-19
Age Defying Armstrong Carries Team to Sunday Win…Greedy Twosome Scalps Ranch Regulars…
Weekly Ranch Report
Mikeska Carries Harrison & Brannan to Rare Sunday Win…VanZandt Wins as Buchanan Collapses…Lady Golfers Begin Fall Series…Giddens Romps Past Thursday Hackers…
O’Brien Ace Highlights Unusual Round
By Mike VanZandt
Shannon O’Brien’s scorecard in the after-scramble game on Sunday, September 14th, showed he shot a 41 to finish third behind arch-nemeses Michael Comeaux and John Milby by two shots. The record reflects O’Brien fired four sixes, two fives, two threes and one glorious one for his strange total of 41. Shannon’s eleventh career hole-in-one came on
Local Legend Leaves Peninsula
By Mike VanZandt
With a saddened heart and best wishes for his future, I would like to say goodbye to Michael Mitchell, head golf pro and Mr. Everything at the Wallis Smith Community Golf Course for the last four and a half years. Mitchell will be long remembered for his immense contributions to the success and continued operation of the Ranch after
Weekly Ranch Report
By Mike VanZandt
Comeaux and O’Brien Share First Place
Playing the Michael Comeaux designed gold Par 3 course, where all the tee shots are 135 yards out, Shannon O’Brien birdied the tough 5th hole to tie Comeaux for first place on 8/12. Dabneyesque Harrison birdied the 9th hole to finish solo third with a 32. Head golf instructor Mike Mitchell tied
Sandy Shores Foursome Stinks Up the Ranch, Margo Johnson Almost Wins Par 3 Contest
By Mike VanZandt
There are a lot of things to love about the Sandy Shores Subdivision at Crystal Beach. It’s a close knit bunch of wonderful people who never hesitate to contribute to their community. It’s well known for throwing some of the best parties on the beach and its residents giving generously of their time and money to help others. On Thursday,
David Buchanan’s Stunning Ace Leads to Course Record
By Mike VanZandt
After three-putting the first two holes for bogeys, David Buchanan had no reason to suspect that Tuesday would be anything special. Even after he knocked in a 35 foot chip for birdie following a fat tee shot on the third hole, it seemed a pretty normal round. However, after pars on the next two holes, Dave was only one over par and had seemingly
Williams and Millender Heroics Overshadowed By Ace, Turquoise Spells Trouble for Local Regulars
By Mike VanZandt
Tuesday’s Par 3 Tournament was highlighted by David Buchanan’s first ace, but a few other golfers had memorable days as well. Shannon O’Brien had two birdies to tie Terry Millender at 28. Millender’s one over par round included seven pars, a double bogey, and a birdie on four that limited O’Brien to a single skin. Mike Comeaux’s 29 left him in
Sunday Scramble Changes Time and Format, Buchanan and Milby record wins
By Mike VanZandt
The long running Sunday morning scramble has changed from 9-holes to 18-holes starting at 9:00 every week. On the first 18 hole event, Mike Comeaux, Mike VanZandt, and James Irvine captured first place with a 6 under par 66. Shannon O’Brien, Paul Williams, and Lance Ferguson tied John Milby, Charlie Brannan, Ray Pietramale, and
Thank You Julia and Wallace Smith from the Golf Community
Over fifteen years ago Julia and Wallace Smith brought golf and the exclusive Rancho Caribbe’ Subdivision to the Bolivar Peninsula. Their selflessness and hard work in maintaining a golf environment for the citizens and guests of this community has been a wonderful blessing. More than golfers have benefited. Literally dozens of charitable organizations have breathed life into their projects through
O’Brien Birdie Skins Field
By Mike VanZandt
Shannon O’Brien left five dollars in the prize fund for Michael Comeaux Tuesday, June 7th in the Par 3 contest from the Gold Tees. On the course set up by Sweet Swinger Charlie Brannan, O’Brien and Comeaux both shot 4 over par 31’s to split the $10.00 first place money, with O’Brien adding $110.00 to his bulging bank account. John Milby, who
Milby Has Last Laugh as O’Brien Wins Par 3
By Mike VanZandt
Shannon O’Brien shot the day’s low score of 30 Thursday at the Ranch but only took home ten bucks for his effort while John Milby’s birdie on the fifth hole earned him the only skin of the day and ninety dollars. Shut out of the skins pot were deadly putting Charlie Brannan and Sage Road ace Ronnie, who covered each other up with birdies on the third
Paul Williams Ends Drought as Comeaux Falters
By Mike VanZandt
Paul Williams, local Casa Mare’ Executive, earned his first skin in months from the Gold Tees in Tuesday’s Par 3 contest with a chip in par on the fourth hole. Michael Comeaux, whose busy work schedule limits his playing time to a mere 27 holes a week, scattered five bogeys and four pars on his way to a season high (for him) 32 and
Former PGA Pro Carries Team to Benefit Win
By Mike VanZandt
Donnie Cork, a former PGA Mini Tour Player who rarely tees it these days except for exhibitions, showed the skills that almost led him to stardom as a professional golfer Saturday as he carried his team to victory in the 3d annual Ranch Benefit Tournament. Along with super senior Ray Pietramale and Lakeside Country Club ace Robert Brown, the
Rare VanZandt Birdie Skins Par 3 Field
By Mike VanZandtTuesday’s Par 3 contest got washed out when the thunderstorms hit shortly after the field teed off at 5:15 so the skins pot was doubled for Thursday’s event at the Ranch. On the 100 yard seventh hole, your golf writer hit a nifty little 9 iron about ten feet from the hole. After Michael Comeaux, Dabney Harrison, and Robin Giddens made their pars, Mike VanZandt approached his putt. The putt
Armstrong Magic Wins Sunday Scramble
By Mike VanZandt
John Milby hit a towering 3 wood into a brisk breeze from 175 yards out to the front fringe on the Par 5 fourth hole. Mike VanZandt and Ray Pietramale had already missed their eagle putt chances on the hole when trusty Will Armstrong pulled his wedge and knocked down the eagle chip from 35 feet to send his team to a 5 under par two-shot win in
Comeaux, VanZandt Throttle Regulars in Par-3 Events
By Mike VanZandt
Steady Michael Comeaux’s four over par 31 wasn’t pretty but it was good enough to win the 6/17 Par 3 contest from the Gold tees Tuesday. Comeaux also won two skins worth $25 each while Mike Mitchell’s opening hole birdie on the 3d hole won the other skin. Shannon O’Brien and Robin Giddens both birdied the 7th hole to deny each other a share of the
Pietramale Carries Wong and Pettit to Scramble Victory
By Mike VanZandt
Jason Pettit and King “Sonny” Wong drew Ray Pietramale for their third and final player in Sunday’s scramble and were ecstatic with the results. Pietramale’s hot putter and laser short game fueled a 4 under par 32 that edged five other teams by two and three shots. In a playoff for second place money were all-time Ranch leading money winner
