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The Quest to Play the Top 100 Public Golf Courses in the United States

(Updated 1/28/12 - 9:58 p.m.) ... GolfestOnline.com has announced that the annual skirmish best known as the GOLFEST CUP is officially on the books for March 24-25th at the Oak Quarry Golf Club in Riverside, CA. For those of you needing a quick refresher, the GOLFEST CUP pits TEAM California vs. TEAM USA in an entertaining Ryder Cup formatted competition, with the ultimate prize being 12 months worth of bragging rights and the perpetual Sterling Silver Golfest Cup. While it may not exactly be for national pride like the Ryder or Presidents Cup, winning the Golfest Cup makes for pretty good conversation at just about any happy hour - especially if you are on the winning team. What else could you possibly ask for?
Both teams picked their captains for the 2012 adventure. Arizonian Kasey Scheidenlein has been tagged as the kingpin of TEAM USA. Jeffrey Adkins will lead the defending champion contingent from the Golden State. For those of you whom never have played in an "everything counts" event such as a Ryder Cup format, it may be one of the hardest things you ever do from a mental standpoint. Compared to your standard 18-hole leisurely affair where your buds might allow you a bump, a free drop or and the occasional mulligan, it's a play it where it lies deal in the Cup. If it's buried in 5" of wet rough, you better be prepared to dig it out or take an unplayable. Move it and your team automatically loses the hole. It gives you a newfound respect for the PGA professionals that we watch and take for granted on the Golf Channel.

Oak Quarry Golf Club, located in Riverside about 15-minutes from the Ontario Airport, presents an interesting challenge in that it is carved through the historic Jensen Quarry, which supplied limestone, marble and various other minerals for construction in Los Angeles heyday. Today, it's a well thought out golf course that winds its way up, down, and around the local foothills and ravines. There are some very attainable birdie holes, but also a larger collection of flagsticks that scream bogey or worse. Three of the four par threes, including the best par-three in California (#14), require a carry over a ravine or canyon. Ravines also line the entire fairways on nine other which means swinging from the lower extremities will probably get one in trouble. The greens are quick and multi-tiered so just getting there in two doesn't guarantee success.
Saturday's competition will feature Fourball Matches in the morning, and a two-man best ball Scramble in the afternoon. The Scramble was installed in favor of the traditional alternate shot format - which can be mind numbing for those with A.D.D. Singles Matches are on tap for Sunday morning. A win earns your team a point, a tie is worth a half-point, and a loss might cost you your sanity and a trip to the clubhouse bar! As always, it should be interesting, entertaining, and dish up its fair share of epic bunny-hopping moments!
As of right now, because they have the "right of first refusal" to be on their respective teams, here are what the teams look like now. Scheidenlein is looking to add a few more travelers to the mix which will allow the event to grow to 10-12 players per team. TEAM CALIFORNIA is maintaining a "waiting list" of golfers based on the USA body count. The teams will be finalized and announced on February 11th.
TEAM USA: Captain Kasey Scheidenlein (AZ), Jim Dee (IN), Spanky Hayes (AZ), Clyde Hayes (AZ), Greg Haeussler (NV), Mark Pickering (AK), Bob Potts (UT), and Danny Young (AZ).
TEAM CALIFORNIA: Captain Jeffrey Adkins, Jim Allen, Mike Barbone, Kirk Dragmire, John Lundgren, Mike Rittiner, Mark Suzda, and Art Taylor.
TEAM CALIFORNIA won the 2011 event by a score of 10.5 to 5.5. For more info, go to HERE!
(MORE Mulligans & Gimme's)
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