The James E. Vos Memorial Golf Invitational: Sandbag City: 2014 Handicaps Announced

A Buddies Trip...A Lasting Legacy

"When buddie's golf succeeds it resuscitates the soul. We return to our lives as if from a spiritual retreat, reminded by imperfect pastors that we ought to quit chasing perfection and enjoy life." Golf Digest, December 2009.

A lesson like that knows no offseason. In 1988 four friends hatched an idea to spend two days in northern Michigan competing in three two-man events over three different courses--the winning team earning a full-course dinner and bragging rights until next year. It was right after the first 36-hole day, sitting on the deck at Shanty Creek Resort, watching the sun set over Lake Bellaire, reliving shots hit stoney and stone-like, mesmerized by a fervent purple and pink sky, the four friends instinctively knew, "This is perfect."

A trip was born, a lasting legacy begun. Since that first trip, friends and family have gathered each June, bound by the rich traditions of the game and lasting friendships forged in the cathedrals and cellars of Michigan golf: Boyne, Treetops, Garland, Wuskowhan, The Legend, Cedar River, The Chief, Wicked Trick, I mean, Crooked Stick, Bay Harbor, A-ga-ming, Black Forest, Antrim Dells, and countless others.

What began as four friends, 54 holes over two days has grown to as many as 28 golfers, 162 holes over 4 days. We are bound by the very things that make up the pillars of golf: love, honor, and respect.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Sandbag City: 2014 Handicaps Announced

Byron Center, MI--In what could only be suspected as player sandbagging, the James E. Vos Memorial Invitational executive committee announced the handicaps and tee positions for the participants of the 2014 tournament. With very few exceptions every player in the field went up, based on last year's tournament play at Hawks Eye and The Chief.

Topping the list and tied for low handicap are Sam Vos and Mark Ox, both at +7, and both bucking the trend, lowering their handicaps by -1 from last year's starting handcaps.

Mark "Payne" Ox

Sam "Bubba" Vos

Their +7's came in vastly different styles. Sam, considered the more swashbuckling, Bubba Waston-aggressive young gun of the two, shot an amazingly consistent 80-81-80-81 to reach his +7. The more classic swinging Payne Stewart-like Mark Ox was less consistent but went consistently lower as the week wore on, shooting 82-85-79-76.

No other player save these two is in single digits and, with the exception of Mark Rice (+10) and Jim Baker (+19) every other player's handicap index went up.

Leading the sandbagging coming into this year's tourney is Cam Van Koevering and Kyle Vander Wal. Cam's +14 is a full five (5) strokes higher than last year with Kyle sandbagging right behind at +11, four strokes higher than last year. Kyle was the model of inconsistency going 88-83-91-79 while Cam pretty much decided to go all in for the higher handicap and shoot a cool set of 90's pretty much every time out.

Cam "SB" VK

Kyle "SB" VW

Apparently, the family Vander Wal had this little charade planned all along. Not to be left out, Papa Vander Wal averaged 86 for the tournament last year nudging his handicap up two strokes to a cool +11.

Papa Vander Wal

The scariest increase comes in the higher bracket. Rodg Rice, one of the tallest of timbers in the tournement also went up two more strokes sending his handicap to an exceptionally scary +27. The tournament executive committee is considering a manual adjustment down to Rodg's handicap as some of the tournament's participants have claimed they will boycott the tournament if they have to play against Rodg at a +27! No one, repeat, no one, wants to take on the Senior Rice carding a +27.

+27...ya, right.

All this sets up for a terrific 2014 tournament. Indexes are below. Tees indicate tee played in the 2012 tournament to achieve the current handicap index. Rookie handicaps are estimated as are the tees from which they play.

Name, Tee, Index
Jim Baker, White, +19
Chris Grek, White, +15
John Mulder, White, +24
Mark Ox, Blue, +7
Mark Rice, Blue, +10
Rodg Rice, White, +27
Dan Rosema, Blue, +13
Jeff Stuk, White, +17
Dave Tanis, White, +17
Dirk Tanis, White, +18
Jeff Tanis, White, +13
Owen Tanis, White, +21
Ken Terpstra, White, +14
Cam Van Koevering, Blue, +14
Don Van Zee, White, +12
Don Van Zee, Jr., White, +18
Dan Vander Wal, Blue, +11
Kyle Vander Wal, Blue, +11
Jack Vos, White, +20
Jon Vos, Blue, +13
Sam Vos, Blue, +7
Bob Warners, Blue, +20
Jim Warners, White, +18