Larry Miller

While playing golf on the Little River course last week, Danny Hervilla, a member of the family who owns the golf course and Little River Inn, took us for a walk back in time. Local golfers will remember Doug Howe, who now lives in Ukiah and used to be the golf course greens keeper as well as a good golfer. However, many of us never knew his father, who was also named Doug. Danny informed us that Doug Howe Sr. was a very good golfer who, back in the early days, leased the golf course from the Inn. In those days, the course was called the Little River Country Club Golf Course. Danny said Doug's game was so good he could easily have been a professional tour player. Growing up on the course, Danny remembers Doug Sr. teeing up and hitting four balls on the fifth hole. “Two of them landed on the green and two on the fringe. He was good.” Danny also remembered Doug Sr. shooting a 59 for eighteen holes. A 59 would be a course record.

The word is out: Korean golfer Si Woo Kim made the first hole-in-one of the 152nd British Open Championship Tournament. The ace was on the 17th hole, a 238-yard par three. Great achievement, a hole-in-one on a 238-yard hole. Just to put things in perspective, our own Collin Fling, last November, aced the 290-yard par four at the Little River Golf Course, an even more memorable golf shot. Thinking about joining the tour, Collin? I don't believe there has been a single hole-in-one on the Little River course yet this year.

The Little River Golf Course has been very busy this July, as local golfers can attest. Looking at the stats, Pro Shop Manager Kathy Shepley, says that compared to July 2023 golf rounds have increased by 25%. Kathy attributes the increase to no sports salmon season, no abalone diving and the hot inland weather. Many folks routinely come to the coast for a get-a-way this time of year to fish or dive. No fishing or diving. What's left? I guess we gotta go play golf. Golf Notes has randomly asked golfers on the course why they are here and where are from. Many have said they are from Ukiah or Willits and are here to get out of the heat.

Local golfers can attest that the Little River Golf Course has been very busy this July. Looking at the stats, Pro Shop Manager Kathy Shepley says that compared to July 2023, golf rounds have incre…

The three divisions of the Little River Men's Club Championships were played last week on a foggy Sunday. It is Fog-ust, August, the month of coastal fog. In the scratch championship division, Colin Fling bested Glen Beck three-up with one hole to go. Colin will next play Phil Dunn, who was last year's Men's Club winner. Matt Howard came out one up with one hole to go over Sonny Hanover, with Dewey Turner beating David Sroaf two up with one hole to play. Dewey and Matt will compete against each other in the next phase of the championship. It took Chuck Allegrini and Zach Brooks twenty holes to finish their match, and Zach walked away as the winner. Zach's next opponent will be Bryan Paulson. In an unexpected outcome, Jason Carmichael bested multiple past Club Champions, Hank McCusker, one up with one hole left. Jason will next play Grant Pardini, who won his match on the nineteenth hole with Jake Pardini. There is no designated tournament day for the next round in this bracket. Players will agree to play each other when it is convenient.

Last week, Little River Golf Course Pro Shop Manager Kathy Shepley and check-in employee Lindy Peters agreed that last Thursday and Friday were the best golf days of 2024: no wind, gentle warmth, and no fog. It's very yummy weather, and the weather does have a say-so in golf. Then, on Saturday, just like the fickle game of golf, the weather became drizzle rainy and unpleasant. You gotta play with what you get.

The 2024 Little River Women’s Golf Cub Annual Invitational Tournament was played on the Little River Course last Tuesday, August 20th. The weather was perfect, and scoring the two best balls on eac…

The 2024 Little River Women's Golf Cub Annual Invitational Tournament was played on the Little River Course last Tuesday, August 20th. The weather was perfect, and scoring the two best balls on each hole was the format. At rounds end, Las Gallitos provided tasty enchiladas, rice, and beans. Thirty-six women signed up for the event, making nine four-person teams. The players arrived from various locations around northern California. Nine players were local members, and each team had one local player. Coming in first place was team Genie Tylor, Susan David, Nancy Acosta, and Ann Fuller, scoring a team of 116. Second place, scoring a team of 122, was Rita Hanover, Shelly Taglio, Nyota Wiles, and Sally Imerone. Third-place winners scoring 123 were team Lynn Botinni, Chong Majias, and Mary Hunter. Closest to the pin on hole two at seven feet three inches was Katy Selzer. Landing closest to the pin on the seventh hole was local golfer Kira Meade at six feet five inches. The most accurate drive or closest to the red line on the eighth fairway was Julie Dunn. The long drive on the third fairway was won by Melanie Gyorfi. Low gross, score without handicap, was Diane Pennington shooting a respectful 84. Low net, score minus handicap, went to Genie Tylor, scoring a nice net 64.

The Little River Men's Club Scratch 2024 Championship has been completed. Grant Pardini, having recently won against Brian Paulson, played against Matt Howard, last Sunday to decide the final winner of the 2024 championship. Matt had recently bested Colin Fling to win the privilege of playing in the final match against Grant. The two competitors began their championship round teeing off at 8:20 on the Little River course and it was a fine weather day, unlike the day before which was cold, foggy, and wet. Locals know you never know about the weather. The pair began the round by tying the first hole, and then Grant won the next two holes. The fourth hole was tied but Matt won the fifth hole bringing Grant's lead to three up. Grant birdied the sixth hole to bring his lead to four holes. Grant and Matt tied the remaining holes making Grant four up after the first nine. On the eleventh hole, Matt parred to Grant's bogie, reducing the lead to three up, but on the twelfth hole, Grant countered with a birdie, regaining the four-up lead. Matt won the fourteenth hole but then Grant birdied fifteen followed by Matt birdieing sixteen. Seventeen was a tie but Matt won eighteen reducing Grant's lead two up after playing the first eighteen holes. Grant finished the round with a 77 and Matt with an 81.

Contractor Richard Craig Tadlock has been indicted on six criminal charges which include advance pay and obtaining money under false pretense.