FIRST ANNUAL GOLF NUT OF THE YEAR CUP

Dear Golf Nuts,

Well, the first Golf Nut of the Year Cup is in the recordbooks! But I'm starting at the end, so let me back up...

On Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16, Dragon Ridge Country Club hosted the first GOLF NUT OF THE YEAR CUP and GOLF NUT OF THE YEAR AWARDS CELEBRATION. As you all know from reading the earlier News Feature on www.GolfNuts.com, Mr. Jim Malone #4122, is the 2007 Golf Nut of the Year. (In case you missed the article simply click Golf Nut News and read the article titled: "It's Official! James Malone is 2007 Golf Nut of the Year."

The weekend started with a lively Pairings Party at Dragon Ridge, where outgoing Golf Nut of the Year, Steve Thorwald, GNOTY 2006 shared some of his thoughts about being GNOTY. "It has been an honor and a joyful experience," Steve told the 30+ Golf Nuts in attendance, "last year, I received the title at the SuperBowl Shootout in Mesquite. There were only 4 Golf Nuts in attendance but it was still quite a thrill."

The Guest of Honor, Jim Malone and his wife Alice, arrived a bit late due to a day-long airplane adventure from the East coast. Even though some cagy Golf Nuts tried to keep Jim out late, he chose to retire to be well rested for the 1st Annual Golf Nut of the Year Cup on Sunday morning at Dragon Ridge. The Head Nut and another Nut, Mark Brenkus, closed down the lounge in proper Golf Nut training form.

Honestly, no amount of rest could have prepared the group of 32 Golf Nuts for what awaited them on Sunday. Las Vegas weath in March is much like playing roulette...you're never sure what number will come up! Sunday brought an arctic chill. Although the temperature was 48 degrees, a 25 mile-per-hour wind brought the windchill into the 30s and exposed the "Teeth of the Dragon."

The course couldn't have played much tougher and the scores reflected the difficulty of the conditions and the masterful pin placements (ok, the sickly diabolical and treacherous pin placements.)

The winning score was a Net 66, turned in by Golf Nut Rich Nelson, a 12-handicapper. Second place was taken by Golf Nut Gary Davis with a Net 69.

THere will be a complete story of the tournament, complete with pictures, posted soon on www.golfnuts.com.

Mark your schedule, next year's Golf Nut of the Year Cup is tentatively planned for March 13-15 at Dragon Ridge Country Club in Las Vegas.