The Poplar Post – June/July 2025
The Poplar Creek Men's Golf Club Newsletter
June-July 2025
Issue 8
From the Editor
Thanks to those of you who responded after the last issue – most were positive. One member
suggested that answers to the rules questions be included in the same issue as remembering the
question from a month ago was a problem – which I can fully appreciate since I have trouble
remembering what I had for dinner yesterday. So, starting with this issue, the answers to the rules
questions will be at the end of the issue.
I am surprised that more members do not play in NCGA events. In addition to the events for which
we have qualification rounds, there are other events that are open to anyone who enters. In
particular, your editor plays in many Senior Series events. In June alone, I had the opportunity to
play Paradise Valley, Rancho Solano, Yocha Dehe and Eagle Vines. Next week, we will be playing
Pacific Grove and Del Monte. And in August, Baylands, Corica and Tilden Park. The Senior Series
has both individual and four-ball events, better-ball, two-man scrambles, and Chapman alternate
shot formats. Something for you guys over 55 to think about for next season.
And a heads up for those who didn't mark it on their calendar, greens aeration is scheduled for
August 18.
President's Message
As we start to wrap up the 2024-25 Tournament Season, we have some exciting events coming
up. We have our return to Las Positas for an away tournament on July 26th. Then we will have the
make-up 4-Man Scramble on August 9th. Finally we conclude August with our Club Championship,
a 2-day event with a gross champion, net champion, and flight champions. As I have mentioned in
previous posts, the club has decided to help subsidize some food and drinks after tournaments
until the restaurant opens back up. So sign up and come enjoy the tournaments and also some
great comradery afterwards! As always, if you need anything, please do not hesitate to reach out to
me directly.
From the General Manager
I hope everyone is enjoying their summer and playing lots of golf. We have two projects coming up
at Poplar Creek that I want to make everyone aware of. The first project will be repairing several
failed areas in the parking lot, slurry sealing, and re-striping the parking lot lines. This project should
only take 2-3 days total and is scheduled to start in early August. During this project, only half of the
parking lot will be available to park in at one time. The plan is to make all the repairs, slurry seal
during the day, and re-stripe the lines overnight. The second project will be drilling a second
irrigation well. There will be heavy equipment and contractors on the course near the ponds on hole
two starting in the middle to end of August. During the construction, we anticipate moving the back
and middle tees up a couple of tee boxes to reduce the likelihood of errant tee shots landing in the
construction area. If all goes well, the new irrigation well should be operable by late fall.
Tournament Results
Away Tournament At San Ramon
19 member trekked to San Ramon to challenge that course and its island 9th green. The top two
finishers in each flight:
Flight 1
Flight 2
Justin Rouspil -4 net Sid Shimabuku -1 net
Joe Cioni -2 net Bret Evans
Foursome Alternate Shot-Chapman format -1 net
Fourteen teams took on the challenge in this interesting format tournament. Each player hits a
drive, then hits his partner's ball for the second shot. Then the teams choose one ball to alternate
until it is holed out. Winner and runners-up in each flight:
Flight 1
1st
2nd
Paul Karson & Daniel Murray
Saad Saleem & Jason Pollard
ABCD Scramble
Rescheduled to August 9th. You don't want to know why.
Flight 2
Robert Liedtke & Marc Trapani
Walter Koning & Larry Shaw
All registrations will carry forward. If a player can't make the new date he will be refunded or have
his entry fee carried forward. Registration will reopen now for those that couldn't or didn't sign up
for the original date but can on the new date.
12 Man Team Competition
After the drubbing our boys took at Boundary Oak in May, we hosted the Boundary Oak team on
June 5 and suffered a narrow 17-19 loss. Then on June 26, we hosted the Callippe Preserve team
which had won both of its first two matches on the road. Their attempt at a three-peat were dashed
by the Poplar team who won 22-14 for its first victory of the tournament.
On July 10, our 12 man team traveled to Oakhurst, and in 102 degree heat suffered a 13-23 loss.
And the 18th hole at Oakhurst may be the toughest finishing hole in the area.
On July 17 the team traveled to Callippe Preserve and saw its hopes for any post-season play
dashed with a heartbreaking 16-20 loss to the home team.
Upcoming Tournaments
July 26 – Away tournament at Las Positas
August 9 – Rescheduled ABCD Scramble
August 16-17 – Club Championship
September 6 - 2 man Scramble
September 27 – Tournament of Champions
Poplar Cup Standings
Current
Rank Player Number of
Tournaments
Number of
Wins
Total
Points
Points
Behind Lead
1 White, Art 17 4 1,270 0
2 Baltor, Joshua 15 1 990 280
3 Cresta, Brian 11 2 940 330
4 Rueda, Steve 13 3 895 375
5 Cioni, Joe 14 2 890 380
6 Trapani, Marc 12 2 855 415
7 Canepa, Joseph 11 2 815 455
8 Koning, Walter 11 1 765 505
T9 Hansen, Kirk 9 2 725 545
T9 Miyake, Allen 12 2 725 545
Last Month's Rules Questions
Poser Number 1 Answer
Correct answer – c. The swing at a lower branch is not a stroke. There is no penalty for the ball
falling out of the tree; the player must replace the ball or may directly use a relief Rule (such as Rule
19 for Ball Unplayable).
Explanation Rule 10.1; Clarification 9.4a/1; Rule 7.4
Poser Number 2 Answer
Correct answer – b. the original ball is a wrong ball, and the stray ball is in play under penalty of
stroke and distance (one penalty stroke total).
Explanation Rule 19.2a; Rule 18.1
This month's posers:
Poser Number 1:
In stroke play, a player's ball is struck towards a penalty area and is not found. It is neither known
nor virtually certain that the player's ball is in the penalty area, but he drops a ball under Rule
17.1d(2). Before he plays the dropped ball, his original ball is found within the three-minute search
period. What is the ruling?
a. He must not play the original ball. If the original ball was in the penalty area he gets a one-
stroke penalty under rule 17.1d(2) and must continue with the dropped ball. If not, he must
return to where he last played and re-drop the ball with a one-stroke penalty under Rule
18.1.
b. The player dropped under an inapplicable rule. He is penalized two strokes, must abandon
the dropped ball and proceed with the original ball.
c. The player dropped under an inapplicable rule. He is not penalized, must abandon the
dropped all and proceed with the original ball.
d. The original ball must not be played. He must abandon the dropped ball and proceed under
stroke and distance getting the one-stroke penalty under Rule 18.1.
Poser Number 2:
In stroke play, when proceeding under Rule 17.1d(2) a player places a ball when he should have
dropped it and makes a stroke at the ball. The player gets
a. No penalty, provided the player retrieves the ball and drops it correctly
b. A one-stroke penalty
c. A two stroke penalty
d. A total penalty of three strokes.
Points to Ponder
I don't know if Facebook has ever caused the lame to walk but it sure has caused the dumb to
speak.
A recent study has shown that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than men who
mention it.
The meteorologist who devised the wind-chill factor has died. He was 78 but felt like 65.
Correct me if I'm wrong but if you need music on the course to have fun, you're not here for golf-
you're here for a picnic.
Answers to this month's Rules Posers
Poser Number 1
Correct Answer - c. The player dropped under an inapplicable rule. He is not penalized, must
abandon the dropped ball and proceed with the original ball. Rule 17.1c/14.5a.
Poser Number 2
Correct Answer - d. a total penalty of three strokes. Rule 14.3b/1.3c(4).