Gale force winds, WDs, and a 12-putt: the story of the SCGA TOC

December 9, 2020 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

- Andy Ho (@techtrainingtip) video screen shot

Things got out of hand at Rustic Canyon, where more players shot in the 100s than broke 85 at the SoCal Tournament of Club Champs

If you live in Southern California and finished a heartbreaking second in your club championship this year, your silver lining has arrived -- you did not have to play in the SCGA Tournament of Club Champions.

Club champions from across the region had no idea what would hit them before they arrived at Rustic Canyon Golf Club on Monday, but when the winds kicked up, eventually hitting 40 mph, chaos ensued.

There is a reason that golf was match play for the first 500 years, and Exhibit A was on full display at Rustic Canyon.

Want to see a +1 handicap 6-putt? Here you go:

What a scene at Rustic Canyon yesterday! Consistent gusts of 30-40 and slippery greens led to some interesting #s:

-2 guys broke 80 (both 1st group out)
-26 WDs in a field of 93
-a 2-handicap shot 123
-This video by @techtrainingtip of Ma rk, a +1, 6-putting: pic.twitter.com/uuMQGkJxzv
— Dylan Dethier (@dylan_dethier) December 9, 2020

When the wind turns a 1-footer into a 40-footer, it might be time to suspend play. Thankfully for this story, they didn't.

It's not often a player beats the field average by 14 shots, but eventual winner Ricky Montanez did just that, shooting a 6-over 78 (without a birdie) and taking advantage of going off in the first group of the day at 7:00am. Jeffrey Pih was also in that group, and shot a 79 to finish second. No one else broke 80.

The 2018 SCGA Player of the Year and PGA Tour caddie Corby Segal posted an 87. Former SCGA Mid-Amateur champ and recent Ojai Senior Cup winner Dan Sullivan shot 89.

How hard was it? More players had rounds in the 100s (nine) than broke 85 (six). Another six players gutted it out to sneak in at 99 and avoid triple figures.

Here’s a 10-second clip for ya. 🤣 pic.twitter.com/dTK0cVxlVn
— Andy Ho (@techtrainingtip) December 9, 2020

According to the course statistics, the scoring average on the back nine was 48.4 and only one hole on the back averaged under a bogey. The par-4 18th averaged 6.12.

26 golfers who either didn't have a sense of adventure, a tolerance for punishment, or enough golf balls withdrew from the event. But one player should be saluted for sticking it out to the very end. Grant Beachley, a 2-handicap, took 123 shots (with a birdie), including 12 putts on the final hole.

Haha yeah that’s me. Brutal. 12 putted 18. Couldn’t get a ball to stop moving to mark. 45 mph winds on perfect undulating greens running at 12... https://t.co/5sZrVIqsQH
— Grant Beachley (@gbeachley) December 9, 2020

We at AmateurGolf.com got to know Grant earlier this year at our Two Man Links at Bandon Dunes, where in winds of 25-30 mph he shot 76 at Bandon Dunes and 74 at the Sheep Ranch on his own ball, so the guy can play in the wind.

Incredibly, the scores at Rustic Canyon were posted to GHIN for handicap purposes.

About the SCGA Tournament of Club Champions

Gale force winds, WDs, and a 12-putt: the story of the SCGA TOC

Men’s club champions are invited to play in this 18- hole event. The club champion must have a Handicap Index of 2.4 or below as of the date of registration. They must be an amateur member in good standing with the SCGA and a member on the club’s act...

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