HAJA RABE

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Before I dive into the upcoming tournament at Moody Gardens, I want to share some thoughts on my favorite subject—mathematics, or as I like to call it, the fascinating world of  statistics. We’re at the halfway point of the season, and while the player count has dipped from 23.6 to 21.1, I see this as a stepping stone rather than a setback. With roughly two players less participating in each tournament, the total purse was about $3,000 less than last year. Several factors contribute to this: four or five of our players are sidelined with injuries, expected to be out for a few more months. Additionally, the current economic climate has people facing tougher financial decisions—prices are up, greens fees included are up . Lastly, the 2025 schedule had courses that kept some players away due to past condition issues, which affected turnout. But despite all these challenges, I remain incredibly optimistic about the league’s future. I believe participation will rebound in the second half of the season as our players recover and as courses improve and become more inviting. And if history is any guide, players always find a way to prioritize their golf—money and passion tend to find a way. 

            Now, let me share some intriguing numbers. When comparing scores from the first seven tournaments to the last two, the average gross score jumped from 83.4 to 86.2—a three-shot swing. Is this worth exploring further? Absolutely. The total yards played in the earlier tournaments averaged about 700 yards less than in the last two.  So it is the the distance of the course. The course index remained fairly consistent across all nine events, so course difficulty wasn’t a major factor. The one red flag? Wind. The average wind speed during the first seven tournaments was about 17 miles per hour, rising to 20 miles per hour in the final two. Excluding the season opener at Pasadena, where winds averaged 25 mph, the difference becomes even more pronounced. This naturally leads us to Moody Gardens—the site of our last HGL event. Known for its high winds and challenging design, it truly tests players’ resilience. The course was in excellent shape, but it definitely “ate our players’ lunch,” revealing just how formidable conditions can be when the wind is howling.
 Remarkably, no player finished better than two over par. However, one player came very close: Juan Rocha was one under par with a three-shot lead heading into the 18th hole. Golf can be incredibly cruel, especially when a playing partner reminds you that you’re winning just before you tee off on 18. Unfortunately for Juan, that comment turned out to be the "kiss of death." After finishing with a nine on his scorecard, he realized he had fallen for one of golf's oldest tricks. When Juan walked into the clubhouse, Haja, Joe, and Gabe felt sympathetic for him, but their sadness lasted only about 15 seconds before it turned to joy. This resulted in Haja taking first place over Joe in a scorecard playoff, while Gabe secured third place. Congratulations to Haja on your second career victory!

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