Barry Vermillion

Opinion Page Editor of the Denton Record-Chronicle Mike Trimble asked me the other day, “Does it ever get too hot to play golf?” My answer was, yes, when it gets to 100 degrees, it’s probably too hot for most golfers — unless they can find ways to cool off periodically during the round.

Some golfers are very creative with cooling techniques while others kind of “stumble into it.”

For example, recently a certain golfer playing the Denton Country Club course experienced what he probably thought would be considered an unhappy incident that would be treated with discretion by his four trusted fellow golfers and club members. Not to be.

According to the information provided to me by one witness, golfer Michael J. Whitten did in fact, on or about Saturday, May 31, at approximately 8:35 a.m., lose two brand new golf balls in what was described as two consecutive water shots. The first one was said to be a perfect shot landing in the center of a pool of water and the very next shot was not so spectacular landing in a creek 40 yards away.

Anytime a golfer decides to retrieve a ball from a water hazard it is a disaster waiting to happen (thus, the name, hazard.) The disaster began for Whitten at the time he made his decision and commitment to retrieve the second brand new (at this point was it still new?) golf ball.

The witness said Whitten began his search by thrashing the foliage at and in the edge of the creek for an extended period of time. Not finding the ball, Whitten borrowed what he determined to be a defective “ball grabber” that would not fully extend from a fellow group member identified only as someone named Eames and then he returned to the creek and promptly disappeared in the undergrowth.

While his group continued to play the hole, there was said to be “a loud cry of anguish” bellowed from the creek — then total silence.

Whitten’s cart partner identified as someone named Loveless drove their cart back to the creek in time to witness the reemergence of soaked and mud-covered Whitten who was described as looking like the Creature from the Black Lagoon.

There was no mention as to whether the new golf ball had been recovered, or whether the incident had much of a cooling effect for Whitten.

DRC Golfer Survey 2008 May winner

Eric Voss of Little Elm is the month of May winner of our DRC Golfer Survey 2008 drawing. We will have Eric’s profile for you soon.

If you haven’t done it yet, complete our DRC Golfer Survey 2008 on our Web site at www.dentonrc.com/sports/golf.  When you submit a completed survey you will automatically be entered into our monthly drawing for a chance to win a box of NIKE Golf balls sponsored by WeatherToGolf.com.

DentonArea Golf Association

This month’s Denton Area Golf Association Tournament will be a 2-player 6-6-6 format at Lake Park Golf Course in Lewisville on Saturday, June 21.

Registration fee is $50.00 per player and includes green and cart fee, range balls, and GPS tracking system.

The tournament will be flighted payout for best gross and net scores.

The team must be composed of members within 7 strokes of each others handicap.

Tee times begin at 2 p.m.

For more information and to register call Randy Brittain no later than noon Friday, June 20 at 940-390-1421.

Indian Creek Golf Course

Summer Sizzler 36 Hole Tournament is scheduled for 8 a.m. shotgun start on the Lakes Course, Wednesday, June 25, 8 a.m. Shotgun on the Lakes Course and 1:30 p.m. on the Creek Course.

Entry fee is $100 per player and includes green and cart fee, range ball, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

There will be flag events and a prize fund, flight payout, and an optional skins game.

Format will be 2-player best ball on the Lakes Course and 2-player scramble on the Creek Course.

For more information and to register call the Golf Shop at 972-466-9850.

Lake Park Men’s  Golf Association results

Results for the Lake Park Men’s Golf Association monthly tournament played June 7, individual stroke play results: Gross score- 1. Alan Magill, 69; 2. Scott Higginbotham, 72; 3. Jim Skidmore, 75. Net score- 1. Frank Sypniewski, 63; 2. J.D. Elledge, 66; 3. Ray Brown, 67.

Lake Park Golf Course scramble

Lake Park Summer Fiasco Scramble touts beat the heat at Lake Park Golf Club, Saturday, June 28, with an 8 a.m. shotgun start of the 2-player scramble.

Registration fee is $50 per player, or $40 for Lake Park PDP members and season pass-holders, includes green and cart fee, GPS system, range balls, lunch, on course contests, and flight prizes.

For more information and to register call Christi Emmons at Lake Park Golf Club at 972-219-5661.

Also, for the younger swingers, Lake Park Executive Golf Course is conducting the $20 Summer Swing Special.

Registration fee is $20 per day Monday through Friday. Children 17 and under can play Lake Park’s nine-hole Executive Course as many times as they want from 8 a.m. — 4 p.m.

That’s unlimited golf for eight hours and it begins June 5.

Fee includes a pull cart rental, and lunch of hot dog, chips and a fountain drink.

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, events, or want to submit your name for the Golfer Profile, call or email the details to golf@dentonrc.com .