With the 2024 golf season now well underway and our BMC leagues running at full tilt, it’s high time we gave a special shout-out to our traveling teams (you can find more information on our traveling teams on the website).
Unlike league play, where BMC members compete against other members, the traveling teams play against golfers from other clubs.
And this year we’ve added a fourth traveling team: the 4-Man Over-70 Team. In addition, the BMC supports a 16-Man Team, an 8-Man Senior Team, and a Metro Seniors squad.
16-Man Team
The 16 Man Team is composed of our ultra-low handicappers, the crème de la crème.
In the season opener for the 16-Man Team, an away game against Keller held on May 5, Braemar faced off against a particularly tough competitor. Although it was a nail-biter, the match wound up as an 11 – 13 loss. Nevertheless, many Braemar highlights brightened the result, so the team feels well-positioned to take on Keller in the upcoming rematch. Leading the way for our guys were Michael Kraft and Alex Hintz, with a 3-0 win, and Cutter Tylia and Mike Wangen, winning 2.5 – .5. The rematch against Keller will be played at Braemar on June 2. Stay tuned to see if our home field advantage will help put Braemar over the top in the grudge match.
The 16-Man Team normally plays from the championship tees at Braemar and similar tee boxes at other courses. Team captain Bryan Francis creates the best 16-man line-up available for each monthly match. As with the 8-Man and Over-70 matches, these are gross score, best ball match play competitions. One point is awarded for each nine and one for the 18. Ties are worth a half point.
8-Man Senior Team
This team, captained by Mike Longman, is a showcase for the BMC’s best golfers over age 55.
Opening their season on May 7 at Braemar, the 8-Man Team produced some real fireworks. In what may have been a historic first, Braemar actually pitched a shutout– winning by the remarkable final score of 12 – 0. Hey, a lopsided win is one thing—but, in four matches, not a single loss or even a tie? Incredible. Playing for Braemar were Jeff Roseland (with a .3 hcp.), Mike Kavanaugh (4.9), Tim Smith (4.3), Mark Paetznick (3.8), Mike Longman (3.7), Hans Rasmussen (3.2), Rick Passolt (2.5), and Bill Angel (6.8). Great play, guys!
Theodore Wirth, the victim in this historic competition, will get another shot at our guys in an away game on May 21. Another Braemar win would lead to a sweet 2 & 0 start to the season.
Metro Seniors
The Metro Seniors matches are arranged a bit differently from the other traveling team competitions. Held weekly, these are individual net score matches and are played by a spritely group of golfers as young as 50. Captain Greg Baron sets the line-ups for Braemar. Each match is for 6 points, 2 on the front, 2 on the back, and 2 for the 18.
In their first two matches several Braemar golfers have already had stand-out performances, including Jeff Roseland, sporting a plus 2 handicap, winning all six points in his first match; Chris Reeves, winning all six points in his first match; Dr. Bob Peterson, with a five-point victory: and Dan Berend, with a four-pointer. Our Metro Seniors squad is currently in tenth place.
4-Man Over-70 Team
This year the MPGA introduced a new match play team competition: the 4-Man Over-70 competition. To ensure Braemar could participate, longstanding BMC member Dr. Bob Peterson took the reins and built our Over-70 team.
And, when the bell rang to initiate the season, our 4-Man Team answered the call. On April 30, in an away game against Emerald Greens, Braemar brought home a 3.5 – 2.5 victory. In our second match, a home game on May 16 against Fountain Valley, the 4-Man Team won handily, 6-0. The next match will be an away game on June 13 against Keller. Keller’s talented team is expected to pose a serious challenge to the Over-70 squad starting the year 3 & 0. Again, stay tuned.
The over-70 matches are similar to those for the 16 Man and 8-Man Teams, but with just four players to a team, meaning two best ball matches in each competition. Captain Peterson creates line-ups for the matches.
Dick Helde
Editor, The Virtual 19th Hole
helde.richard@gmail.com
612-306-3590