Recap Boating and Drinking

For boaters and recreationalist concerned about boater safety, alcohol is the deadliest factor when it comes to accidents on the water. Statistics on this accidents as well as information on regulations and safety tips can be found on the United States Coast Guard website. Alcohol regulation on water around the United States is difficult to control because of the lack of standardized rules compared to cars on roadways. With the previous ease of access to rent watercraft inexperienced boaters can take control. Alcohol is a factor that leads to almost half of all incidents with inexperienced or distracted boaters making up the other half when it comes to accidents. Another source that can provide safety tips as well as answer myths and truths about alcohol on the water is the Boat U.S. Foundation. 

Preview of Boating and Drinking

A common sight on the lakes of North Texas during the summer are boats alongside other recreational activities taking place around the lakes. Even if someone does not own a watercraft, places like Waterway Adventures, which offer boat and various other rentals, can be used to gain access to go out on the lakes. Meadowmere Park is another place that offers access to the lakes by renting out camping grounds; access to a beach and swimming area, and kayak rentals can also be used by someone trying to experience a good time on the North Texas lakes. With the ease of access to get on the heavily populated waters safety should be a concern for many. Incidents involving alcohol are commonplace, and the difficulties in regulating consumption on the water has some fearful.

Recap- Golf Course Floods

Following a record setting precipitation fall in May, some of the North Texas golf industry is still reaping the effects of the flooding. Bridlewood Golf Club faced rain 23 of 31 days in May, but was for the most part unaffected otherwise. While golf could not happen during those rain days, they only faced flooding on one green and were able to get the course back into its full capacity within that day with a full maintenance team effort to clear the green. Other courses were not as lucky, like Old American Golf Club, which is located on the east side of Lewisville Lake. With the Lake reaching its record level Old American was forced to close, and has remained closed, as they need the water level to return to at most 526 feet. Once that happens they face a recovery effort of cleaning off the 16 holes affected by water. Not all is bad as some recovery has already been able to take place. For 47 straight days the greens at Old American sat completely submerged under water, but with the lake level receding they have been able to salvage and clean up what they can, although they still face a long road for the course to be in its full playing conditions again.

Preview- Golf Course Floods

North Texas has received more than its fair share of rain recently, following what was considered to be an extremely dry 2014. In 2014, North Texas received 21.32 inches of precipitation, the second lowest since 1963. But this year, with an already above-expected precipitation total in April, North Texas broke a 115-year record with 16.96 inches of rain falling in May. Lewisville Lake in Denton County reached an all time high at 537 feet and caused significant flooding in the surrounding areas. Resulting problems were road closures and businesses facing damage, although many were able to reopen almost immediately. One of the hardest hit industries was golf in North Texas, and while some courses were able to withstand the storms others are still under severe flooding. As a result of the flooding, the Byron Nelson, a PGA event which took place in late May, was forced to shorten the 14th hole and had limited spectator sections in some areas around the course. Although the flooding is a distant memory for some, it is still unknown how major of an impact the flooding will be to golf in North Texas.

Recap of BMGC British Open

In the featured group today, Tom Williams shot a net score tournament low of 64. Gould finished with a 76, Fitzgerald at 81, and Kessler had a net 76. The conditions stayed consistent throughout the day and the round was played in five hours and 14 minutes. The winners of the BMGC tournament will not be announced until tomorrow because of the delay in the 2015 Open Championship. Each team in the BMGC is assigned a member of the top ten after completion of the third round, and the final round score along with finishing position is added to those of the BMGC members. In todays action Williams looked impressive only missing two fairways in regulation. Fitzgerald was able to make the longest putt of the day at 34 feet. Kessler had his short game working today, but struggled off of the tees putting three shots into the water. Gould highlighted his round with consistency paring holes two through eight. Williams has his group in the best position to win the tournament, but all eyes will be on the final round of The Open Championship on Monday. Action can be followed on ESPN or on The Open Championship twitter feed. 

Preview of BMGC British Open

On Sunday July 19, 2015 the Bridlewood Mens Golf Club is hosting an event called the British Open. There are ten groups consisting of four members each participating in a shotgun start at 7 a.m.. The entry fee for members is $25 and green fees. The tournament will consist of one round of all eighteen holes at Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound, Texas. The weather is scheduled to be a sunny day with a high around 103 degrees, winds are expected to be five to ten miles per hour from the East. Conditions on the course look to be in fantastic shape. Once the shotgun start commences golfers will begin on hole 14 all the way through hole 3. The highlighted pairing today will be the group of Rick Kessler, Harold Gould, Sean Fitzgerald, and Tom Williams starting on hole 15.