Barry Vermillion

“My whole life flashed before me – I couldn’t believe I had been that bad.” — Lee Trevino, on being hit by lightning on a golf course in 1975

It has been said that the chance of winning a lottery are about the same as being struck by lightning. Depending on many factors this may not be true — the lightning strike may be more likely to occur, such as on a golf course.

This week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas. For your consideration, here are some 2007 lightning statistics provided by the Web site www.struckbylightning.org.

There were 43 lightning fatalities nationwide, 38 men and five women, and all victims were outside when they were struck. Florida had the most fatalities with 10. Texas followed with seven, Georgia had three, New Jersey, Colorado, Missouri, and South Carolina had two each. Another 15 states had one each. The 20-29 year old age group had 15 deaths followed by the 10-19 year old age group with seven fatalities.

Though lightning can occur throughout the year in North Texas, it is during the summer when most thunderstorms are actively roaming around our area. Take precautions if and when you are caught on the course during a thunderstorm to prevent any chance of winning the electrical-lottery top prize.

A better idea for Denton area golfers to get the latest local weather data by logging on to the Denton Record-Chronicle Weather Blog at http://drcweather.beloblog.com before heading out to the course so you will know before you go if it’s going to be weather to golf, or not.

Lake Kiowahole-in-one

Mark Anthony, formerly of Denton and now a Lake Kiowa resident, will be registering a hole-in-one with the U.S. Golf Registry. Mark made his perfect shot Oct. 24, 2007, on the Lake Kiowa Golf Course’s No. 13 130-yard par-3 with an 8-iron. Witnessing the shot were John Beck, Rusty Clark, and Phil Hill.

GainesvilleMen’s Golf Association

The Gainesville Men’s Golf Association monthly tournament was played Feb. 9 at the Gainesville Municipal Golf Course.

Here are the results: 1. David Leonard, Robert Adams, Steve Harbin and Tommy Riddlehuber, 59. 2. David Hughes, Casey Martin, George Hardcastle, Clint Huhnke and Paul Albert, 60. 3. Jim Wohlgemuth, Tom Fogwell, Joe Maddison, Randy Brown and Bill Morrow, 62.

Next month will be an individual stoke play event beginning at noon March 8. All golfers are invited to register for the tournament and consider joining GMGA. Membership for this tournament entry is not required.

Deadline for registration is Friday, Mar. 7.

For more association information and to register for the tournament call the Gainesville Municipal Golf Course clubhouse at 940-668-4560, or email Kevin Gann at ganndolf6603@yahoo.com.

Lake ParkMen’s Golf Association begins play

The Lake Park Men’s Golf Association started the 2008 season Saturday with their annual War On The Shore tournament.  The format is a Ryder Cup-style match between two teams composed of LPMGA members played at the Lake Park Golf Course in Lewisville.

The Stars team defended their 2007 title successfully by a final score of 10.5 to 7.5.   Members of the winning Stars team are captain Scott Higginbotham, Alan Magill, Bill Lambert, Don Birdsall, Max Luce, Rudy Flores, Tracy Daniels, Frank Daniels, Ray Loos, Al Brazauskas, Don Jones, Mike Miner, Tom Cleaver, Tom Arbon, Chris Bennett, Fred Peck, Jon Albrecht and Jeff Lawson.

The next event is a member-guest two-man best ball tournament scheduled for March 8.

Dues for 2008 are $50 and include handicapping through the GHIN system. Tournament fees are $50.

For more information call Scott Higginbotham, LPMGA President at 972-221-3966 or 214-952-9745.

St. Patrick’s Day Senior Classic

WinStar Golf Course in Thackerville, Okla., will conduct the St. Patrick’s Day Senior Classic golf tournament beginning with a shotgun start at 1 p.m., Monday, March 17, for golfers age 55 and over.

The format will be a flighted two-person team event with six holes alternate shot, six holes low ball, and six holes scramble. Prizes, gift certificates and cash will be awarded to the top three teams in each flight.

Registration fee is $65 per player and includes green fee, half cart fee and lunch beginning at 11:30 a.m.

Deadline for registration is March 5.

For more information and to register call the WinStar Golf Course clubhouse at 866-466-1482.

BARRY VERMILLION can be reached at 940-566-6890. His email address is bvermillion@dentonrc.com  . For more area golf news log on to www.dentonrc.com/sports/golf  . If you have any area golf news or events call or email the details to golf@dentonrc.com .