CARLSBAD, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2010) -- amateurgolf.com kicked off the year on Sunday with the second annual New Year's Skins Game at the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Aviara in Carlsbad.

As most of us played our first round of the year (and said goodbye to a really weird 2009) talk of the day was optimistic about 2010, and hopeful that we'll be able to keep our various resolutions (funny, not one of them was to play less golf). Shirt sleeve weather, and a course in perfect shape -- with some really tough pin placements on the slick Aviara greens -- rounded out a day in which a total of 30 birdies were recorded.

The skins were birdies on holes 1, 2, 5, 9, on the front, and only two on the back nine, on the 13th and 15th holes. For those of you who may have "left one out there" -- all holes were either skinned, or tied with birdies except Nos. 11, 12, 17, and 18, which course architect Arnold Palmer calls the favorite 18th hole he has designed.

The most birdied hole? The very reachable par five 10th, where five players made birdie (SCGA Senior Player-of-the-Year Howie Knodt barely missed his eagle try). Steven Friend made three birdies on the front nine but all were topped, and Michael Bollerud shot the lowest gross score of the day, a solid two birdie 72, but will have to settle for this bit of virtual ink and any side bets he won within his group, that included The Crossings at Carlsbad head pro Gary Glaser.

All in all, six skins were won by five different players, and two long drives and two closest-to-pin contests were won by another four unique players (who didn't get skins) spreading the wealth even further. Andrew Ok of Granada Hills will be pleasantly surprised, by the way, that in the rush of watching the Chargers pull off a last-minute victory and handling the prizes, I neglected to recognize him or pay for his second skin - the check's in the mail Andrew!

A special thank-you to sponsors Bridgestone Golf and 1st Tee/10th Tee (golf balls and energy bars handed out by my son Lawson); Lamkin Grips (new 3GEN technology grips for contest winners); and SKLZ (Gyro Swing and Power Sleeve training aids for contest winners). amateurgolf.com would also like to thank head professional Renny Brown and the entire Aviara staff for hosting this game, which we hope to continue as a holiday tradition.

Skins and prize information is listed below: