We just returned from our Doral Golf event where enjoyed four days of golf and fun at one of the world’s ultimate golf destinations. The weather cooperated nicely during our stay as we experienced warm and sunny conditions every round we played. The Marriott Doral offered our participants luxurious and spacious guest rooms, delicious breakfasts and dinners and four wonderful golf courses. We played a practice round on the Red course upon arrival then we were challenged the next day by Doral’s famed “Blue Monster”. Many of us had watched the PGA tournament for many years and always wanted to play the Blue Monster so this was a real treat for the entire group. The course was in great condition but what really got me was how challenging the rough is on this course. More often than not your ball would just sink right down and almost be covered by the thick Bermuda grass. Our forecaddie told our group that the grass is twice as deep during the PGA tournament every March. Playing out of that rough and experiencing all the challenges one faces on the Blue Monster helps average golfers like us realize just how talented the PGA Tour Player really are.

Our first 18 hole event was won by the team of Dave & Helen Hoke and Harold & Beverly Heil who shot a 123 in the 2 best of 4 format and won by two seven shots while taming the Blue Monster. Day two featured Men’s and Ladies 1 best of 2 Tournaments on the Jim McClean Signature Golf Course. Bonnie Hawkins and Marion Stephens shot a net 62 for the victory and in the Men’s event, Tom Farrell & Al Slaughter edged out Dave Hoke & Frank Buczynski in a card playoff as both teams carded 57’s.

Our final round was played on Doral’s Great White Golf Course and this layout was my personal favorite. The course is unlike any I’ve played. It’s a Greg Norman Signature Course and is the only golf course of its kind in the Southeastern United States that utilizes coquina -- crushed shells -- as the primary design element on every hole. In designing the Great White, Norman blended strategically demanding fairways with hundreds of palm trees. He then laid out the course in a manner where water comes into play on 14 of the 18 holes, which makes for a challenging, but picturesque layout that must of cost a small fortune to build. Once again Harold & Beverly Heil played some great golf as did their partner Ed Myers and they won the 2 best of 4 format by one shot with a 122.

Thank you again to all who participated and we look foward to seeing you all again soon!