Event Update

Bocce Ball!

What is it? A new event we are holding once a month on the driving range tee. It is a ball tossing game for all ages. It continues to grow in popularity and is a great chance to meet new members. Check your monthly club event calendar for specific dates, or contact Johnathan Curci for more information.




Bocce (sometimes anglicized as bocci or boccie;is a ball sport belonging to the boules sport family, closely related to bowls and petanque with a common ancestry from ancient games played in the Roman Empire. Developed into its present form in Italy, (where it is called Bocce, the plural of the Italian word boccia which means "bowl"), it is played around Europe and also in overseas areas that have received Italian migrants, including Australia, North America, and South America (where it is known as bochas; bolas criollas in Venezuela, bocha (the sport) in Brazil), initially among the migrants themselves but slowly becoming more popular with their descendants and the wider community. The sport is also very popular on the eastern side of the Adriatic, especially in Slovenia (where it is known as balinanje or colloquial playing boče or bale from Italian bocce or palle meaning balls), Croatia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Hercegovina (in Serbo-Croatian known under the name of boćanje or simply playing boće (colloquial also bućanje or playing balote), originating in Italian boccie).  In Southern France the sport is also popular and known as Boule Lyonnaise.

Rules and play

Bocce is traditionally played on natural soil and asphalt courts 27.5 metres (90 ft) in length and 2.5 to 4 metres (8.2 to 13 ft) wide. Bocce balls can be made of metal or various kinds of plastic. Unlike lawn bowls, bocce balls are spherical and have no inbuilt bias. A game can be conducted between two players, or two teams of two, three, or four. A match is started by a randomly chosen side being given the opportunity to throw a smaller ball, the jack (called a boccino or pallino in some areas), from one end of the court into a zone 5 metres (16 ft) in length, ending 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) from the far end of the court. If the first team misses twice, the other team is awarded the opportunity to place the jack anywhere they choose within the prescribed zone.
The side that first attempted to place the jack is given the opportunity to bowl first. Once the first bowl has taken place, the other side has the opportunity to bowl. From then on, the side which does not have the ball closest to the jack has a chance to bowl, up until one side or the other has used their four balls. At that point, the other side bowls its remaining balls. The team with the closest ball to the jack is the only team that can score points in any frame. The scoring team receives one point for each of their balls that is closer to the jack than the closest ball of the other team. The length of a game varies by region but is typically from 7 to 13 points.
Players are permitted to throw the ball in the air using an underarm action. This is generally used to knock either the jack or another ball away to attain a more favorable position. Tactics can get quite complex when players have sufficient control over the ball to throw or roll it accurately.

Our Bocce Ball court, the driving range tee

Bocce Ball being played in Italy

Weather Update

Wild Winds

So what's the deal with these winds?  The last few weeks we have been experiencing very high winds here in the High Desert. That's nothing unusual for us, we are used to the wind blowing most of the time, especially in the late afternoon.  You can almost set your watch by them but the problem is they just don't let up at night. The wind has been consistently blowing 20 - 30 mph during the night with gusts up to 40.  We may get the occasional night where they calm down but in the seven years I have been here at SVLCC, I can never remember a period where they just don't seem to be letting up.  As I write this, the Weather Channel is issuing a high wind advisory starting at noon today with a chance of gusts up to 50 mph.  You may also have heard of the recent damage in Lancaster where several telephone poles blew over.  We have had some minor damage on the golf course with medium to large branches breaking off and falling out of the trees. Many of you have expressed your concerns to me about trees in precarious spots or dead trees located around the course. I am aware of these situations and have been taking steps to minimize any risks. 

Wild Winds and Irrigation

The other problems we are experiencing with these winds is dry areas or as we like to call them, "hot spots" on the golf course.  When the wind blows all night long the distribution uniformity of the sprinklers is very poor.  The wind blows the water or mists it as it exits the sprinkler head causing very little water to make it to the ground or where we would like the sprinkler to water.  And after several nights of strong winds and daytime temperatures in the mid 90's, it takes it toll on the course because of the lack of irrigation. This is why we are looking so dry right now. Several weeks of these winds and the course is really showing it.  You will notice members of my staff watering during the day.  We hand water or manually spot water these hot spots to get some much needed water down. You will see employees hand watering greens and areas surrounding the greens, tees and even fairways.  It has been a battle, we apologize for any inconveniences you may have encountered during your round of golf but remember without the water we have no grass. Sometimes Mother Nature is a tough foe, this is one of those times, pray for rain. 

Audubon Update

Golf and the Environment

From Audubon International- The Benefits of Tall Grasses on Golf Courses

Weather you are a scratch golfer or a weekend duffer, you have likely noticed that many golf courses are allowing taller grasses in roughs and out of play areas. Chances are you heard or even said yourself:

"If they would just cut this grass I would be able to find my ball"

"Why are golf courses permitting maintained turfgrass to grow tall under the trees or along the edges of water features, in all the spots we are not supposed to land but sometimes do?"

"Is it because the staff is lazy?"

"Is the club trying to boost its golf ball sales?"

The actual reason for allowing taller grasses, prairies, or wildflower meadows to grow in out of play areas is not to penalize errant shots, but for the many environmental and economic benefits they offer.  These include:

Golf Benefits

• Provides distinctive contrast to the highly maintained playing surfaces
• Adds interest and beauty to the round of golf
• Enables golf courses to showcase the nature of the game

Environmental Benefits

• Creates needed habitat for plants and wildlife
• Adds diversity
• Provides travel corridors for wildlife to safely move through the course
• Reduces the need for regular pesticide and fertilizer applications
• Reduces water use
• Minimizes erosion
• Showcases the unique regional natural heritage where the course is located, and often helps to protect rare plants and wildlife

Financial and Labor Savings

• Lowers maintenance costs and reduces the need for high intensity or time consuming maintenance
• Reduces equipment wear and tear
• Reduces cost for gasoline, pesticides, fertilizers and water
• Increases funds for other needs and enables staff to concentrate where it really counts

You may have noticed naturalized areas around the golf course.  We are starting with natural drainage areas and will include waterways and shorelines. The area behind 12 green is growing in nicely and looks great.  Some of the other areas are just starting to grow in and should look better with time.

Naturalized Area between 12 green and 14 green

Drainage ditch across front of 15 leading to naturalized area

Drainage ditch left side 4 green

Drainage ditch left side 4 green looking toward tee