2017 Year End Rankings
FL Members,
I write to you with a wide smile and brown liquor in hand.
As you know by now we have pushed FL off a cliff and straight into 2018. This will bring us into a new age. No more scrolling through 2,251 GroupMe messages to try and find the latest edition of the FL Ledger. No more scrolling to find the latest rankings, the most recent Podcast, or view major tiers.
My goal during Thanksgiving was to write a quick blog post. The blog was going to have a few quick jabs at HB/LAF, release the new rankings, and show us the way to the new year. As I researched sites to write a blog on, i found it may be easier to create a website to post the blogs onto. I briefly mentioned the notion to the committee. Within hours, we had not only created the site, the CEO had forked out the money and actually bought a domain. The dedication never surprises me. From there all hell broke loose. Rick had his best designer draw up a logo, and Chow dug deep into the USGA rulebook to find the intricacies of creating a club. Fore Long is now on Instagram and Twitter.
As we move into 2018 you can be sure of a few things. FL will continue to prosper. Golf will continue to draw us together. HB will continue to over promise and under deliver. Fore Long is in it's infancy stages. We have much larger plans than just keeping this site up for our own shits and giggles. As we move through the year the CEO will explain the direction we are headed. So boys, get out your vodka/redbulls and IPA's cause we've got some rankings to discuss:
Alpha - ALPHA
Drew finishes the year right where he started. Every time you think he might slip, he pulls himself up and titty whips an HB member. He hasn't been invincible, however. He will actually be heading into 2018 on a L1 steak against big bro Bogey. As long as he can keep the older Goodman's at bay in 2018 expect to see this name at the top in next years, year end rankings. An eye popping number to keep an eye on was Alpha's record against Bogey away from The Shire.
2017 Record - (54-6)
Best Win - 2 Day Sweep at Frogman
Worst Loss - (2-4) record against Bogey away from Sun Willows
2nd - JMACK
The Big Cat, JMACK, The Big EZ, and all of the other names we call him behind is back. Justin will roll into 2018 as first runner up. He may be the most responsible person in the chat, which means he doesn't travel to San Diego just to titty slap HB. The Ledger shows only 1 FL round outside Sun Willows in 2017. As with all Goodman's he has an affinity for making The Shire his bitch, making him at times tough to judge. However, he started off the year on a tough stretch losing to lil bro and mitchies a couple times. This pushed him out of the 2 spot and turned him into the worst Goodman, not a place you want to be. But as the year progressed Big Cat went on a roll and won every single match to someone not named Alpha. For this reason he resides at 2.
2017 Record - (36-14)
Best Win - 8-1 v. Bogey in 2017
Worst Loss - back to back losses vs. Mitchies
3rd - Bogey
The Bogeyman rolls in toting a bronze for the year end rankings. Let it be known there is a gap between the top 3 and the rest. The Goodman clan can be had, however, you better make damn sure you bring your A game. Bogey performs his best on the road, in my humble opinion. Yes he'll run out a 72 at The Shire, but his record away from the friendly confines is what seperates him, even from the other Goodmans. He stole a match at Wine Valley, two matches against Alpha somewhere in Washington, and finally curb stomped baby bro at a special Reserve Vineyard. He's 7-14 vs. Alpha all time but 2-11 against JMACK.
2017 Record - (34-20)
Best Win - 72/81 win over Alpha @The Reserve
Worst Loss - Day 1 Frogman
4th - JVC
Yes im going to talk about myself in 3rd person to keep the uniformity of the article. JVC came into the year as the Head of the Kiddy Table. I nice warm and comfortable place to be. By years end the Kiddy Table morphed into one large commune with no real governmental structure. JVC's season couldnt have started off on a worse note. A loss to the Shetland in Yeti like conditions actually dropped JVC into double digit rankings early in 2017. However, during a month long stretch he took down the likes of BG, Captain, Poseidon, and Bogey. A drunk stumble day 1 of the Frogman had many thinking the run was fluke. However, a second day showing beating all but the Goodmans solidified the 4 rankings heading into the New Year.
2017 Record - (15-11)
Best Win - HB Victories/Aspen Lakes Sweep
Worst Loss - Shet @ Stone Creek
5th - BG
Ole BG. What can you say here. He hits the ball a country mile. It may land on the green, it may hit a FedEx building that sits across a 2 lane road and 100 car parking lot. BG actually had a fairly short Fl playing season. Sometimes living in SoCal has its disadvantages. BG owned a 3-1 record against his most common opponent and HB partner Captain. Its tough to track him against other members because of the lack of matchups. Throwing out a 90 against JVC in early summer at Widgi was tough for the commitee to overlook. BG sits at 5 because of his dominance over Cap and Posei. What will 2018 hold?
2017 Record - (11-10)
Best Win - 17 strokes @ Arroyo v. Cap
Worst Loss - 98 @ Torrey v. Alf
6th - Captain
For a man who gallivants around the country, he somehow finds a way to get matches in. Granted half of them are against the Shetland, he makes his way around a golf course. This was the Captains first year showing his face at The Shire. Captain owns an all time 29-17 FL record. However, 13 of those wins have come against Jim Rock. Meaning his -JR record is 13-17. He lost by 11 to JVC at Black Butte Ranch and is still healing from BG's summer long penetration. Anyone whos watched him play knows the talent is there, but the continued question is "why aren't you better?"
2017 Record - (18-11)
Best Win - Pumpkin Ridge Wins v. Posei
Worst Loss - 17 strokes @ Arroyo v. BG
7th - Poseidon
For a guy that lives in the middle of an ocean, he sure does play a lot of FL golf. Two things are certain in this life, Chows reign over JVC and his lack of golf skill while playing HB. Chow averaged an 87 in 2017, he will also be the first to tell you that isnt good enough. A solid day 1 showing at the Shire Match Play was washed away by a terrible day 2. One fateful day in July had him losing to Jim Rock and little bro JVC, im not sure which one hurt more. We know the kid can golf. His short game can hinder his length, but if he can keep the ball in play, his ball striking could move him up the rankings in 2018.
2017 Record - (14-16)
Best Win - Pushing Alpha to extra holes in Match Play
Worst Loss - Aspen Lakes shit show - Putter in a tree
8th - Ricky
Living in Northern Idaho has it perks, playing lost of golf is not one of them. His familiarity with Sun Willows has allowed him to post some good rounds, and put up good showings at the annual match play and Frogman. Away from The Shire has not been so kind to Rick. His day 1 Frogman win of BG, Cap, JVC and Bogey keep him in the 8 hole. Someone from below will need to knock of Rick a couple times to take the OCHO.
2017 Record - (10-20)
Best Win - Day 1 Frogman Wins
Worst Loss - Wine Valley 104 losses
9th - Mitchie
The kid has talent. A couple of his showings at The Shire we impressive early in the year. However, his lack of showings away from the friendly confines against mid-level opposition has him extremely tough to read in 2018. Also, big, last minute news has rolled in that Mitchies may miss extensive time in 2018 because of a raw dog. If he can get out an about on the circuit watch for his stock to rise.
2017 Record - (5-17)
Best Win - JMACK wins
Worst Loss - Double 90 Frogmans
10th - Jim Rock / Shetland
Second Time im writing this as the first didnt save. Thanks Jim. What the Shetland lacks in wins he makes up for in pure attemps. He by far and away has the most matches in FL. He has the swing of Big Titty Phil, yet his ball flight looks more like Hunter Mahan. A 6 Win streak to start the year was overshadowed by the infamous 16 (yes, sixteen) at Wine Valley. As he continues his pursuit across Western Europe his game continues to look more and more like Eastern Europe.
2017 Record - (19-49)
Best Win - Posei @ Aspen
Worst Loss - B2B Gearhart Losses v. Yeti
11th - Yeti
Ohhh the Yeti man. What can i say here. A couple wins over the Shetland late in the year lead you to believe he may tack a few more wins on in 2018. However, the rest of his results remind you other wise. He briefly mentioned something about lessons and fitted clubs. Could this be the year the Yeti finds his way into the open??
2017 Record - (3-20)
Best Win - Wins over Shet @ Gearhart
Worst Loss - Fergie @ Pumpkin
12th - Andy
Not much to say here. His 0-5 record leaves much to the imagination. Hopefully, there is more to come in 2018.
2017 Record - (0-5)
Best Win - Not scoring a 16 on a hole like big bro
Worst Loss -All of em
13th - Flufflerator
Never won an FL match yet talks it up as he's Alpha. Gotta admire it. A recent resurgence into the FL chat has brought him back from the dead.
2017 Record - (0-12)
Best Win - Not dying from Willows Sun Burn
Worst Loss - Willows Sun Burn
14th - Fergie
Remodeling a house, having a child....maybe he'll find more time to play golf this year....
2017 Record - (1-2)
Best Win - Win over Yeti
Worst Loss - Child Virginity
Well thats it boys, the year end rankings. Agree with em, hate em, do whatever you want, but they're here to stay until some meaning matches are had. 2018 looks to be a big year for Fore Long. I've heard rumors of a JVC, Posei, Fergie trip to SoCal where Cap and BG may be lurking. A large FL gathering is much needed in the future. Best luck to everyone starting 2018, unless your playing me.......
