Chris McIntyre on the tee at the Links at Summerly.
There are several pre-1900 gutty golf events planned for 2017, but the second annual Gutty Golf Spectacular on the Links at Summerly in Lake Elsinore, Calif., was the first to tee it up, played over March 11-12.
Although the weather reached 90 degrees both days, the contestants had a blast! The links were in good shape for Saturday match play, using sand tees and playing as a bogey 78 at just over 5,100 yards. 
Special scorecards with yardages, hole names, and bogey were also used for the event. Day one started with a morning match play round, followed by lunch and drinks at the course. With this group of hickory golfers, the event does not end at the course. Most of the players headed over to the hotel for pool time and more drinks, followed by a tourney dinner and margaritas. Up a wee bit late, hallway putting, and poolside chipping contests continued. As for the golf, Saturday’s matches had some close calls, with two of them being halved.
Sunday morning started with Chris “Auld Mac” McIntyre using a fancy contraption called an “iPhone,” capturing a few swings of a gutty golfer hitting a gutta percha ball attached to a string. Mac was pretty brave recording this shot. Could this have been the first gutty driving range? Click here to see a video of the slow motion shot.
The stroke play competition had some stellar play this year. For those who have not had the chance to play this course, it can be a challenge. The course has many burns that come into play, lots of mounds and sandy waste areas, and a bit of water too. That being said, it is very fair, and a great links-style course to play gutty golf on.
This year the score dropped considerably. Five players bettered the winning score of 93 from last year’s event, with two golfers within 9 strokes of the bogey (par). Rudy Kastelic had a great showing with a net 75, for second place net. Bob Keeler showed his domination of the links firing a very low net 68 to take the net championship. Left-handed gutty rookie Doug Richards stole the show shooting an 87 gross using only four clubs, all irons! Closest to the pin winner was Larry Sonnenberg, and Auld Mac once again won the long drive this year (only this time with an iron!) Results sheets are posted below.
We hope many of you gutty enthusiasts will join us for the next Gutty Golf Spectacular next March. There is talk of possibly moving the event in 2018 to simulate an Open rotation. Catalina Island has been mentioned.
Fare & Sure,
Pacific Coast Hickory Golfers
A view of the course and distant mountains.
