Course maintenance a responsibility for all

Golf course maintenance is obviously a very important aspect of the game. Fairways mowed regularly, second cut maintained, dead trees removed, the grass on the greens kept at the right height, sand traps raked, cups moved to a fresh location — all tasks performed by course staff. Due to COVID-19 the Little River Golf Course staff is bare bones. Course Supervisor Terry Stratton and Kerry Gilmore are the main every-day maintainers with Ignacio Andrade doing much of the fairway mowing. Thanks to you all, you are doing a great job.

That being said, Terry commented to Notes that in the past year he has never seen on the golf course so many unrepaired divots and unfixed green ball marks. He speculates that this increase in the lack of repair etiquette may be a result of a pandemic boom in new, inexperienced golfers.

New golfers are always welcome at the Little River Course, as golf always welcomes new players. Golf is there for all to play. But Terry said he has also noticed experienced golfers committing these repair etiquette transgressions. Personally, the last few times I have played, I have seen many unfixed ball gouges on the green. The fellows I play with fix all ball marks — whether made by their ball or not. That’s the spirit we need to cultivate.

The maintenance staff would like to reach out to club members to please be more conscious of repairing divots and ball marks. Set an example. Be a role model. In a friendly way, if your playing mates forget to replace that divot, then just say something. Recently, one in my golfing group placed a rather large divot on top of his head covering a bald spot. If only.

The question of the day on the course last Friday: “If for some imaginary reason you were caught out on the course wearing what you have on now and had to survive the night out on the course what would you do?”

The first to respond was Butch Carlstadt who shot an 85 three under his age. “I’d go into the woods find some branches and construct a little shelter.” Good idea. Butch could Air B & B it on the weekends.

Jim Corsar said he would find where the deer burrow into the bushes and take up residence there. Dave Hautala said he had a relative who hunted in the woods and would spend the night in a hollowed-out, standing redwood. That, Dave claimed, is what I’d look for.

Jim McDannold’s plan would be to dig a hole, maybe using his sand wedge, fill it with pine needles, climb in and cover himself with needles. Sounds warm and comfy.

Scott Deitz looked up at the fairway, contemplated, and said he would journey up to the corner of the fourth fairway and find a spot on the hill. Southerly exposure. When confronted with the question, “range rat” golfer Linda Howe said, “I’d rent a room at the Inn.”

Please send listings to events@ advocate-news.com, 690 S. Main St., Fort Bragg CA 95437, or call 707-964-5642 x 6091. All phone numbers are area code 707, unless listed otherwise.

AA (Alcoholics Anonymous): 877-546-9286.

Al-Anon: All conference call meetings: Sunday Parents Al-Anon, 7 p.m. 1-503-3006851, Conf. Code 628355. Monday Fort Bragg Al-Anon, noon, 1-651-369-9478, Conf. Code: 559765. Wednesday Mendocino Al-Anon, 6:30 p.m. 1-651-369-9478. Conf. Code 798298. Friday Step, Tradition, and Concept Al-Anon, 11a.m. 1-651-369-9478. Conf. Code 991951.

Coastal Street Medicine: health checks for homeless. every Wednesday, 9-11:30 a.m., Hospitality Center, 101N. Franklin, Fort Bragg. Contact coastalstreetmedicine@gmail. com or 617-435-8412. Compassionate Friends: for bereaved parents, 964-5229. Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: meets every Thursday online or on the phone at 3:15 p.m. For more information, call Irene at 964-1931 or Elena at Safe Passage Family Resource Center at 961-1100.

Grief Group: Every Thursday from 3 to 5 p.m, currently conducted via phone. Call 9648987 to be added to phone list. Sponsored by Friends of Health.

Hospitality Center: drop-in services, Monday through Friday, 9a.m.-noon, 1-3p.m., 101N. Franklin St., Fort Bragg, 961-0172.

Mendocino Coast Marijuana

Anonymous: Saturdays, 3 p.m. Zoom meetings only. Call 707409-0091or email mendocinocoast.ma@gmail.com for Zoom meeting access information. mendocinocoast-MA.org. 305 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg. Mendocino County Behavioral Health Warm Line: telephone-based non-crisis support that provides emotional support and compassion for Mendocino County residents. Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 472-2311. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis (a danger to oneself or others) and need help right away, call 1-855-838-0404, 24⁄7 toll free crisis line.

Men’s Cancer Support Group: second Thursday, 10a.m., via videoconference. 937-3833. Narcotics Anonymous (NA): Mendocino/Lake County hotline, 485-9110.

National Alliance on Mental Health: 24-hour helpline: 1-800-950-6264.

Project Sanctuary: domestic violence/sexual assault services, Inland Crisis and Support Line at 463-4357; Coast Crisis and Support Line, 964-4357 (964-HELP), 24-hour crisis line.

Safe Passage Family Resource Center:

325 E. Redwood Ave., Fort Bragg, 961-1100.

Senior Peer Counseling: Free telephone counseling for seniors during COVID-19, weekly, one-hour, Redwood Coast Senior Center Program Coordinator, Elizabeth Morton, LCSW, 707-961-4310. Women’s Cancer support group: 1st and 3rd Monday, noon, videoconference. 4673828.