City celebrates silver anniversary

This month marks the 25th anniversary that the city of Cape Girardeau has been in the golf business.

To mark the occasion, the city is doing exactly nothing, which is good for area golfers. That means it will be picking up the option for another 25 years in the business as operators of Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Twenty-five years ago, the city signed an agreement with the Cape Girardeau Jaycees to lease the property for 25 years with an option for a second 25 years. This all came for a single payment of $50,000.

"The Jaycees have not made anything different," said Michael Hopen, chairman of the Golf Course Advisory Board. "They're not going to sell the land. As far as we know, it's going to renew automatically at the end of this month. So I guess we're still be in the golf business for at least another 25 years."

Hopen said the city has the first right to purchase the course if the Jaycees decide to sell the 120.4-acre course anytime in the future.

The greens fee has not risen much over the years. Under the city charter, any city fee can not be raised more than 5 percent without voter approval. While golf has become a pricey sport, the fees have increased less than $3 over the past 10 years. They currently stand at $9 for weekdays and $11 on weekends.

"If you check around, we're still the best deal going," Hopen said.

The course operates on an annual budget set by the city, and all green fees and other revenues goes into the city's general revenue fund.

Golfers will find a new practice green in the city's 26th year.

The course's practice green was lost earlier this summer and construction on its replacement was completed Aug. 10. The new green features Tifdwarf Bermuda grass and is 6,000 square feet, twice the size of the old one.

"Once it's mowed and grown in, it will almost resemble bent grass," Hopen said.

Funds permitting, he hopes the new grass can be introduced to the course greens over the next three to four years.

Pair of aces

Kimbeland Country Club yielded two holes in one over the past week.

Sam McCune of Cape Girardeau carded his first career ace on No. 8, a par 3 playing 185 yards. McCune used a 3-wood. Witnesses were Sharon McCune, Jim Jones and Dixie Jones.

Gene Cross of Jackson, Mo., aced a hole which currently lacks a number and merely goes by 'A'. It was a temporary hole playing as his eighth hole that day during course renovation. Cross used a 9-iron to ace the hole which played 115 yards. Witnesses were Bob Hedden, David Thompson and Clyde Huff.

It was the fourth career ace for Cross, 73.

Cape Girardeau C.C.

Robyn Young won the women's club championship at Cape Girardeau Country Club over the weekend, shooting a two-day total of 161.

Young had rounds of 80 and 81 in winning by 15 shots over runnerup Alice Temm (85-91--176).

Joyce Kuntze won 'A' flight by a single stroke over Vicki McKinney and Mary Jane Eftink. Kuntze shot rounds of 97 and 91 for a 188 total.

Edna Ruth Fischer won 'B' flight with a 118 total while Keido Fujiwara took 'C' flight with 216.

In the weekly Women's Golf Association event, Judi Brey was medalist with an 88.

Play of the day was 'Even Holes Score.' Janet White won with a 32 and was followed by Mary Jane Eftink (34) and Pat Strom (35).

Kimbeland Country Club

JACKSON, Mo. -- Lillian Schneider earned medalist at the Ladies Golf Association's weekly competition.

Schneider also won championship flight in play of the day -- 'Low Score on Par 5's.' Other winners were Dixie Jones (A flight), Janis Gilbert (B flight) and Pat Irvin (C flight).

The Kimbeland foursome of Barb Johnson, Peggy Fee, Harriet Drusch and Betty Belote won the Fredericktown Four-Lady Scramble on Thursday. The local entry shot 12-under par.

Chip-A-Ways

Linda Williams and Jean Graham both shot 42s on the front nine to tie for first in `A' flight at the Chip-A-Ways weekly event at Cape Jaycee Municipal Golf Course.

Waunita VanDyke won 'B' flight. Eveyln Riley posted the low-putt total and Lil Angle and Jeana Koch won play of the day -- 'Best Ball Twosome.'