Shoreline Seniors Golf Club

A Member Club of the NCGA and USGA

PGA Pro: Joe DeBode 2940 N. Shoreline Blvd, Mountain View, CA 94043 Pro Shop: 650-903-GOLF

President: Jim Whitaker VP: Don Sutton Treasurer: Bruce Fujikawa Secretary: Syed Hyder

Tournament Chairman: OJ Pilcher Newsletter Editors: Bob Williams and Hideo Hashimoto

Website: shorelineseniorsgolfclub.org Club email address: shorelinesenior@yahoo.com March 2006

Dates to Remember:

June 26, 2006 BBQ Shotgun Foursome Scramble-Guest Day

August 16, 2006 Poppy Hills Tournament

September 18, 2006 Annual Meeting-Shotgun Best Ball Foursome

October 27, 2006 Annual Dinner-Dance

March Schedule: Game Greeter

March 6, 2006 Best Nine Front or Back Al Lui

March 13, 2006 Low Net (T) Hugo Straub

March 20, 2006 Point Par Charles Gordon

March 27, 2006 Better Ball Twosome Bob Cunningham

Board News…

Tee Time Survey: As noted in the February 2006 Newsletter, the Board of Directors is studying other means of assigning tee times. The Board is interested in the views of Club Members and has developed a survey for your response. It is important that we hear from as many Club Members as possible, whether you play regularly with the Club or not, so please take a few moments and complete the survey attached at the end of this Newsletter. We will use your responses to assist us in developing a tee time assignment procedure that will be as fair and equitable as possible. We look forward to hearing from you. We need your responses by March 8, 2006. For questions, contact Hideo Hashimoto, Don Sutton, or Jim Whitaker. A copy of the Tee Time Survey may be found in the Official Club web site by clicking tee times.

Meet the Seniors…George Fink…

Of the 15 or so Shoreline seniors interviewed at random for short sketches in the Club Newsletter, not a single one had been born in California…until today. George Fink is a native of Los Angeles.  He won admission to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served 28 years in uniform attaining the rank of brigadier general. After leaving the service he held senior positions in private industry as a civil engineer. George and his wife, Carol, are avid hikers and recently completed their 50th Elderhostel excursion which have taken them to all parts of the world, including Norway, England, the Greek Isles, the Galapagos, and Alaska. Golf and tennis also keep George in shape. The Finks have three sons and have lived in Los Altos for 31 years.

To Interested Golfers…Villa Siena Foundation Fundraiser…

The Sixth Annual Villa Siena Foundation golf tournament will be held at Shoreline Golf Links on Friday, May 19, followed by a post-tournament barbecue on the Villa grounds, 1855 Miramonte Ave, Mountain View (next to St. Francis High School) followed by dinner at 5PM. The entry fee is $150, which includes the green fee, cart, coffee and donuts, box lunch, and barbecue, together with great prizes. Dinner only is $30.00. It is a fundraiser for elderly residents who have outlived their resources and have no close family members to help. Art Brew says this is a weekday tournament and is ideal for retired golfers. For more information, contact Villa Siena at 650-964-6484 or Shoreline Senior Club Member Art Brew at 650-386-5084.

From the Desk of Paula Bettencourt…

Shoreline Sailing Lake: You may be wondering what is happening on the north shore of the Shoreline Sailing Lake. Water from San Francisco Bay Estuary’s Outer Charleston Slough enters the City owned Inner Charleston Slough daily through tidal action.  Large tide gates installed by the City several years ago help regulate the flow and prevent flooding.  From Inner Charleston Slough, the water is currently pumped underground to the Sailing Lake.  It is released into the Lake through ports.  At the southeastern end of the Lake, a weir collects the overflow and the water is released into Permanente Creek via a series of pipes.  The outflow at the Creek is just under the vehicular bridge leading to the Rengstorff House.  From Permanente Creek, the water flows back out into the Bay. 

The City began construction on the Shoreline Sailing Lake Water Supply Project in November 2005.  The project consists of a new pump station by Inner Charleston Slough (ICS), two new discharge ports into the lake, lake intake structure, 1200 feet of 42” and 997 feet of 24” High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, 1725 feet of lake bank stabilization and the abandonment in place of the existing distribution system that runs through Coast Casey Forebay and under the lake.  The new distribution pipeline runs in the levees to provide accessibility for maintenance.  It is sized to allow large flows back from the Lake to the ICS to ensure the channel is scoured daily.  The daily scouring will prevent siltation from closing off water flowing from San Francisco Bay.  The lake level was lowered three feet so that work could begin on the first phase of the project, which was bank restoration.  Without the new Shoreline Water Supply Project, in a few years, the inner slough would accumulate enough silt so that pumping would be difficult, if not impossible, and the Lake would be left without a water source. 

New Range Hours: We will monitor the activity at the range to insure the new hours are not adversely affecting golfers. Very few people have been using the range during the last hour the facility is now open.  Especially during the winter months, low temperatures and winds in the evening often make it uncomfortable for practice.  For example, during December, an average of one medium bucket of balls was purchased daily from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Effective March 1, 2006, on a trail basis, we will be implementing a new schedule:   March, April and October – last ball sold at 7:00 p.m., range closes at 7:30 p.m.; November through February – last ball sold at 6:00 p.m., range closes at 6:30 p.m.; May through September – last ball sold at 8:00p.m., range closes at 8:30 p.m. The new schedule will allow for optimum usage of the facility and still provide many opportunities for patrons to access the facility.  It will improve our energy conservation efforts. It will also allow us to more efficiently use staff time so that we may provide better overall customer service. 

Dirt Import for Spring/Summer 2006: As in the past, this spring and summer we will be importing dirt to correct sinkholes and other low areas on the course. For 2006, we will be concentrating our efforts on Holes 18, 13 and 10.  On Hole # 18, dirt will be added directly behind the green toward Permanente Creek which is the area damaged due to work related to the underground fire we experienced this winter.  We will also be filling in the sinkhole in front of the instructional tent.  In addition, Superintendent Steve Crane plans to add mounds in the area to discourage people from walking through the range on their way back to the Pro Shop.  At Hole #13, the approach and apron (about 50 to 75 yards away from the green) have been under water at various times over the winter season.  Fill will be added to these areas and a drain line installed to eliminate the wet spots.  A temporary green will be used for approximately one week.  With work being done in front of the green and truck hauling to the right, the temporary green will eliminate any problems or safety issues associated with the project.  At Hole #10, the old cart path (the curve as you approach the green) will be removed.  Fill will be added to the left side of the newer cart path.  Mounds will also be added with the area graded toward the Sailing Lake.

New Bridge In Place… As the picture below illustrates, the new bridge has been installed by the driving range. It is still closed to traffic, however, but it is expected to be up and running in a week. Until then, we can admire it and contemplate the ease of accessing the back nine and the driving range.