2022 The Woodshed

2022 – Taken to The Woodshed

The 10th Annual Cider Cup was held on October 22nd & 23rd at the Cynthiana Country Club. It was the warmest weather the event had ever seen, but the dry conditions and steady winds made the Ol’ CCC play firm and fast.

There were 44 golfers (including alternates/subs) competing this year. It tied last year as the largest group ever assembled. There were 3 rookies, two on the Blue Team (Nathan Sowder/Will Renaker) and one (Ryan Howard) for the Red Team. Overall, the Rookies fared well, scoring 6 points while going 6-3-0.

We once again were treated to a great breakfast coordinated by the wives of the Blue Team.

A new addition to celebrate the 10 Year Anniversary was the addition on the Cider Cup Tee-Markers.

Brian Kinsey and Kelvin Winkle turned this winter-time project into a last-minute Friday afternoon finish, but they got it done and they were a great visual add-on to the event.

Team HDCP’s were tight. Taking all 44 players into account, the Red Team had a Total HDCP of 232.3 and the Blue Team came in at 233.3. The closest the 2 teams have ever been. The Red Team (Ray’s) was looking to repeat after last year’s victory and tie the series up at 5-5, while the Blue Team (Austin’s) was out for revenge.

In the history of the Cider Cup, the Red Team had never defended the “Cup”, but the Blue Team had actually “3-peated” from 2016-2018 outscoring my team by 21 points. (9 in 2016, 6 in 2017 and 6 points again in 2018). Anticipation was high on both teams as we readied to “tee it up”.

The 9 Hole Scramble session was first up.

While the Red Team “halved” the session last year, traditionally the Blue Team dominates this format.

The afternoon matches were 18 Holes of Alternate Shot.

Historically, the Red Team dominates this portion of the event, but after a tie, the battle was tight.

Some callouts from Day 1:

Disappointed that Kinsey and I were 2 up with 2 to play and halved the match with Ammerman/McCauley.
Big wins (Scramble)
- Lenox/J.Case defeating A.Sparks/R.Whalen
- Yates/Moore defeating Letcher/Ogden
- Dawson/Thornton besting Feeback/Slade
Big wins (Alternate Shot)
- Lenox/Bolin halving the Whalen brothers.
- Works/J.Case over Taylor/Dawson
- I would also say that the match between Ashbrook/Renaker and mtself and Beau Sanders was one of the most enjoyable I’ve ever played in. Down to the final putt.

So, as we end Saturday’s play, the Red Team was up 10.5 to 9.5 compared to last year when we up 11-9. As we’ve said before, the only thing better than a lead on Saturday night is a win on Sunday.

Once again, the Saturday night event was held in the CCC Cart Barn. It’s amazing the transformation that old barn undergoes! We enjoyed great food from Joe Joe Hinton, offerings from Lexington Brewing and the musical stylings of John Daniel Herrington. We also raised some money during our silent/live auction, player donations and a free club and foot washing service by Richard Wiglesworth.

We also honored the following players with a framed print of the CCC for playing in their 10th consecutive Cider Cup. Stephen McCauley, Rob Ogden, Kevin Letcher, Joseph Ammerman, Mike Lenox and myself.

Steve Slade won the “Ray Sparks Award” for going 4-0 and being the highest point producer last year, but the highlight of the night might just have been Monty belting out his Irish Pub Song entitled “The Drunk Scotsman”. My guess is that this now has become an annual tradition. I’ve provided the lyrics below so we can all learn it before next year.

The Drunk Scotsman Lyrics

Well a Scotsman clad in kilt left a bar on evening fair
And one could tell by how we walked that he drunk more than his share
He fumbled round until he could no longer keep his feet
Then he stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
He stumbled off into the grass to sleep beside the street
About that time two young and lovely girls just happened by
And one says to the other with a twinkle in her eye
See yon sleeping Scotsman so strong and handsome built
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
I wonder if it's true what they don't wear beneath the kilt

They crept up on that sleeping Scotsman quiet as could be
Lifted up his kilt about an inch so they could see
And there behold, for them to see, beneath his Scottish skirt
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Was nothing more than God had graced him with upon his birth

They marveled for a moment, then one said we must be gone
Let's leave a present for our friend, before we move along
As a gift they left a blue silk ribbon, tied into a bow
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
Around the bonnie star, the Scots kilt did lift and show
Now the Scotsman woke to nature's call and stumbled towards a tree
Behind a bush, he lift his kilt and gawks at what he sees
And in a startled voice he says to what's before his eyes.
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize
Ring ding diddle diddle I de oh ring di diddly I oh
O lad I don't know where you been but I see you won first prize

The Srixon “Masters” Bag

I don’t know whose idea it was to collect money and donate the bag, but I can’t tell you how much that gesture of appreciation meant to me. I couldn’t understand why so many different people were bidding on the bag. When Austin came up and presented it to me and said it was from all of you, it knocked the wind out of me a bit. I was overwhelmed, honored, and humbled.

I am not the reason the Cider Cup is what it is, all of you are. You’ve “bought in” to what this is about.

I love the competitiveness, the smack-talk, the grinding over every drive, chip, punch-out, pitch and putt. I absolutely love this event, but I really love getting to know all of you and your families thru the Cider Cup. I’m proud of how many people and causes we’ve been able to impact over the years.

This bag will always be special to me. It was donated by one of my closest friends and it was “re-donated” by all of you. I know it sounds corny, but you are family to me.

As we arose on Sunday to warm, windy conditions, we gathered outside for a short devotional where I spoke briefly about what God was telling me thru the generous act of kindness from all of you on Saturday Night. He was reminding me to love Him with all my heart, mind, and soul. More on that in a bit as there is golf to be played.

On Sunday, Weston Jenkins and Chase Wachter returned from their work responsibilities and tee’d it up for their respective teams.

With a 1 point lead I was hoping that we would hang on in Chapman and do no worse than a tie. We won 6.5 to 3.5. I will have to admit that I did not see the team of Wiglesworth/Stephens defeating A.Sparks/J.Ammerman. I also can’t say that I would’ve predicted R.Howard/G.Howard winning a point against Letcher/Meeks. Those wins made up for R.Sparks/Aldridge losing on the last hole to Dycus/Brazinski and Winkle/Kinsey falling to Miles/B.Ammerman.

Headed into the Singles with a 4-point lead, I was still a bit nervous about the outcome. We were playing 18 Holes of Singles instead of 9 and no one knew what type of effect that would have? I purposely didn’t have my phone on me, so I could only keep myself updated by watching the body language of my team and a few updates from time to time, but my sense was that things were close. Little did I know that we were taking our opponents “out to the woodshed” for an old-fashioned whipping. You would have to go all the way back to Year 1 when my team won 7 of 8 matches to find such a dominating win in Singles. Winning 14-6 was incredible. There were only 5 matches where we didn’t score at least a ½ point.

The final tally was the most lopsided in Cider Cup history and tied the series up 5 – 5.

Some stats from the event:

Eric Sanders, Monty Moore and Nolan Yates went 4-0-0.
- Bob Ammerman also went undefeated with a 3-0-1 record.
Scoring 3 points each for their respective teams were:
- Beau Sanders, Grant Howard, Ryan Howard, Rees Feeback, Shain Stephens and JD Ashbrook.
With the addition of the Rookies this year, we’ve now had 71 players participate in the Cider Cup.
In the 10 years of existence, 415 points have been scored in the Cider Cup and only (4) points separate the two teams.

Financial Impact:

The weekend prior to the event, the CCC was extremely busy with most participants being “Cuppers” fine-tuning their games.
On Friday, the day before the event, we had 17 carts rented and generated over $700 in revenue (carts, food & beverage) to those trying to get in one last practice session.
This year, as the weather forecast was showing temps to be in the 70’s, I didn’t want to cost the club any revenue by closing the course and only needing 16 carts. To ensure we had the course to ourselves and maximize revenue for the club, we rented all 24 carts for both days. Considering that we rented 8 carts at $54 a day, that generated an additional $864 to the club and was part of what we raised for charity.
- For the CCC, the Cider Cup 3 Day weekend generated approximately:
  - $3000 in Cart Fees.
  - $1400 in Food & Beverage
  - $150 in Range Balls
  - $200 in Tips
- Joe Joe Hinton quoted us $15 per meal. I guaranteed him 80, he served 60, so we basically helped him out with a $360 tip.
- John Daniel Herrington was paid $300. Again, supporting our local friends.
- The Auction generated $2725.00 for a grand total of $3589.00!!

The Cider Cup now stands at 5 wins for the Blue Team and 5 Wins for the Red Team.

Congratulations to both teams. There may be a winner each year in points, but there are no losers in the Cider Cup.

Special thanks to:

Grant Howard for his work in getting the course in shape with the weather challenges we had this season.
Joe and Emily Ammerman for opening their front porch to us on Thursday night for the “Pairings Party”.
Amanda Aldridge and staff – awesome as always.
Rees Feeback, Brian Kinsey & Kelvin Winkle for their help on Friday with setup.
Our wives, friends and families for their supporting us in this event.
Tiffani Sparks, Madison Case, Rebecca Stephens, Owen Stephens, Shelly Hall, Sara Meeks and the untold others that provided an incredible Saturday morning breakfast event.
To the Cider Cup Rookies. Thanks for playing. I hope the experience was all you hoped it would be and you’re looking forward to next year as much as the rest of us.
Your generosity. We raised a little over $3500 which will put this over $37K for the 10 years.
Finally, I want to thank all you for playing. It is without question my favorite golf event of the year.

Please check the website at www.cidercup.com as I will be adding stats, info and pics in the coming days.

I’ll leave you with this. As I said in the Sunday devotion, God is working on me with regards to my passions.

He reminded me of the 1st Commandment in Exodus 20 verse 3: “You shall have no other gods before me.”

I have put other “gods” before Him and the Cider Cup is one of those “gods”. I was reminded that I need to pour as much of myself into Him as I do this event. He has given all of us a “circle of influence” and mine became very evident with the generosity that was shown to me with the gifting of the golf bag. I don’t know if there is golf in heaven, but if there is, I want play a round with each of you there.

Last year I referenced this scripture and used a “lost golf ball” as an example. Pay special attention to the last verse and remember that you’re never too far gone for Jesus.

Luke

1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.

5When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”

8But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

God bless each of you and your families.

Ray Sparks