Women’s golf thrives at Lake Monticello

Both groups play different formats each week. The 18-hole group plays several two-week events. One, called “Lady of the Lake,” is a ringers event played on back-to-back weeks. Ringers  is a format in which a player’s best score on each hole is all that counts. So, in the two weeks, if a player makes a double bogie on a hole the first week but follows that with a par on the same hole the following week, only the par counts.

Other two-week formats include the President’s Cup, where cumulative scores are what counts, and a member-member format where two women teams compete at best ball net and alternate shot on successive weeks. The 18-hole women also play a league championship tournament which is the only gross score contest of the year. Shattls said that since the competitions are virtually all net score contests with handicaps taken into account, players of all abilities have a chance to win each week.

The 18-hole group also plays in the Jefferson League competition each year. In this competition, six players compete with women golfers from other top venues around the area. The players who compete are self-selected and vary from match to match. The other golf courses involved are Birdwood Golf Course, Green Hills Golf Course in Stanardsville, Glenmore Country Club, Farmington Country Club and Waynesboro Country Club. The Lake Monticello team either hosts a team or travels to another team’s course on alternate years.

Nixon said that although the nine-hole group may be a little less competitive than the 18-hole group, there are some very good players in the nine-hole group and all skill levels are welcome. The nine-hole group also plays different formats from week to week. Captain’s choice is a favorite because it reduces the pressure on some of the players.

Ringers is a format played once a month to obtain a year-end total score of the best score recorded on each hole. This group also plays individual play events with a twist, or a contest inside the contest. In this approach, the best net score wins and there may also be a prize for least putts in the nine holes, or fewest strokes tee to green. Prizes for both group are dollar amounts good for merchandise at the pro shop. The nine-hole group also has competitions with women’s teams from other courses around the area. The groups are social as well, with players getting together after their rounds for breakfast or lunch. Both groups are always looking for new participants.