The following is the 2013 Schedule of Events for the

 

Lake of Egypt Country Club. We hope you can participate

 

in many of these fun outings and get to better know your

 

fellow members.

 

April

 

1 .................................................Monday Morning Men's League Starts

7 .................................................Spring Scramble (Men/Women)

13 ................................................Masters Shoot-Out (Handicapped)

27 ................................................Handicap Open (Guests Welcome)

 

May

 

9 ..................................................Men's League Starts

11-12.............................................LOECC Two Man Championship

20-21-22........................................Senior Match Play

25 .................................................Handicap Open

26 .................................................Tony Stevens Qualifier #1

 

June

 

1-2 ................................................Southern Trust Bank Guys & Gals

15 .................................................Men's League Scramble

22-23 ............................................Men's Match Play (Flighted)

30 .................................................Tony Stevens Qualifier #2

 

July

 

5 ...................................................Pr0-Am

6-7 ................................................Fowler Heating & Cooling Inv.

16 .................................................Bennie's Restaurant Sink or Swim

21 .................................................Tony Stevens Qualifier #3

 

August

 

3-4 ...............................................Men's and Women's Club Championship

24-25 ...........................................Jackson & Gray/I.M.S. 4 Person Mixed

 

September

 

1 ..................................................Tony Stevens Qualifier #4

5 ..................................................Men's League Play-Off

7 ..................................................Men's League Scramble

14 ................................................REA Scramble

 

October

 

12-13 ............................................Two Man LOECC Team Championship

19 ................................................One-Man Scramble

 

 

 

 

 

So I'm playing in a tournament in Texas, and playing pretty good, when on the 10th hole

I hit my second shot into the hazard on the par 5. Not that big of a deal, as I have learned over the years that one bad shot over a four-day tournament won't make or break the round unless you let it. But what happened next certainly did.

 

You hear how you get that feeling that an elephant is sitting on your chest, you get that shooting pain down your left arm, you're short of breath, you're dizzy, your vision gets blurry, you're sweating, and you feel nauseated. You call for a rules official, he calls 911, the ambulance shows up and gets you stabilized, and they rush you to the hospital and 50 minutes later you're resting comfortably with a stent in your RCA.

 

WELL that didn't happen. No elephant, no shooting pain, no trouble breathing, no nausea......just a slight pressure in the chest. It felt like something the size of a hockey puck and the weight of a medium sized text book was just resting on my chest. It wasn't painful, but it was different. At 50-something, we have all experienced all sorts of pains and discomforts....but this was different. My playing partners Santiago from Madrid Spain and Nick from California knew that something wasn't right. Santi brought me water and Nick brought me a Tour official.

After the tour-allowed 15 minutes had passed (actually about 22 minutes), I decided to continue my round. Considering the entry fee of $3500, plus the cost of the hotel, rental car and air travel, I was going to be really ticked off and disappointed if I withdrew only to find out that it was heartburn or an anxiety attack!

 

So I bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes (not my fault), and another Tour official showed up on the 12th to inquire as to the situation. We informed him that we might be having a heart attack, to which he responded "your "kidding" me" (he didn't say "kidding"). He went back to the club house and returned with some aspirin and followed us for most of the remaining round. On the 18th hole, he strongly urged me to go to the hospital and have this checked out. He recommended Tomball Regional Medical Center. Wish I had gotten his name...he was three for three on this day! I turned my card in after playing the last seven holes one under, then proceeded to Tomball Regional.

The Emergency Room receptionist asked if she could help me, and about 60 seconds later I was on a gurney getting an EKG. The doctor asked how long I'd been experiencing the "discomfort" and I said about three hours. He asked how I got to the hospital and I informed him that I had driven, to which he responded "you're "kidding" me" (he didn't say "kidding" either). They like that expression in Texas. He said "according to the EKG, you should be dead". I had 100% blockage in the RCA which they fixed with two stents, and 85% blockage in the LAD that would be taken care of in Carbondale a couple of weeks later. The aspirin I received during the round likely saved me.

 

I'm telling this story because I was lucky. I waited three hours because I didn't have any of the classic symptoms of a heart attack (and I'm stupid). I had no other signs or symptoms that a heart attack was looming. My blood pressure was normal, heart rate around 68, somewhat physically fit, and seemingly in good health. All I can tell you is that if you have any of the afformentioned symptoms, don't wait. Get checked out. Don't let that last round of golf be your last round of golf!

 

And as a side-note to this story.....The entry form for the Champion's Tour Qualifying Tournament is clear. No refunds after you have begun your round. I accept this. Rules are rules. But just being curious and not wanting to just accept that I had wasted $5,000, I called and asked the Tour Administrators if they would consider any type of credit or anything toward next year's event. Their response: "we will discuss it, since this situation is unprecedented. We've never had anyone have a heart attack during Champions Tour School". SERIOUSLY????? It's the SENIOR TOUR!!!! You mean that I'M the only person to ever have a heart attack at SENIOR TOUR SCHOOL???? Have you seen these guys???? Wow!

So go get yourself checked out, go play golf and relax.

 

Love ya

 

Mark

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Junior Membership Offer!!!!!

 

35 years of age or younger......

 

The Lake of Egypt Country Club is now offering a new membership tier for young individuals and families. This new program targets prospective golfers age 35 and younger. The annual membership for a family is $475 and the individual membership is $400. There are no monthly minimums, and members are allowed to bring guests. Membership includes use of the swimming pool (hours are 10:00 to 6:00, 7 days a week), access to both Thursday Night Men's League and Monday Morning Men's League, Club House and Restaurant Access, Driving Range access, and participation in all Club activities such as the Club Championship, Tony Stevens Team qualifications, Match Play Championship, club scrambles and more. Lessons are also available with a Class A PGA Professional.

 

ALSO...the normal $100 Application Fee is being waived until further notice. So if you are looking to join a club at this time, please come visit the Lake of Egypt Country Club and see for yourself. This is a great deal. The Zoysia fairways and tees, the bent grass greens, the scenic Lake, the beautiful pool and the wonderful people make the Lake of Egypt C.C. a bargain for all.

 

If you are interested in taking advantage of this new opportunity or have questions, please call us at (618) 995-2661.

 

As always, if you have questions about anything, feel free to call Mark at 618-922-5588.

 

Have a great day and.......

 

PLAY GOLF!!!!!!!!!!