It’s time for a little R&R.
Islanders Ken Bowers and son Lane were joined by former islanders Sean Breslin, Brett McIntosh and this writer for a weeklong surfing trip to Tola in Rivas, Nicaragua, at the end of May.
All stayed at the Hacienda Iguana Golf & Beach Club, a little resort compound geared to surfers near the city of Rivas in a beachhouse situated on great surfing break.
And, oh boy, did this group ever get in some surfing, including an “official” contest centered around who would catching the best waves, and later including who won evening table games such as pass the pigs and shut the box. When the wind switched to onshore later in the week, the competition stretched into a round of golf on the nine-hole course at the compound.
Final results are still in dispute, but Breslin and McIntosh were unofficially at the top of the standings with the Bowers boys close behind.
All in all, it was a great trip, but all the details can’t be revealed because, as you know, what happens in Nicaragua, stays in Nicaragua!
Key Royale golf news
Fifty-nine golfers participated in the annual Memorial Day Scramble, played May 30 at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach.
The team of John Kolojeski, Betsy Meyer, Pat Olesen and Steve Vasbinder combined on a net score of 25.37, narrowly edging the team of Ann and John Hacksinson and Jenny and Ron Huibers, who finished second at 25.65. Finishing in third were Trudy and Ed Chelminiak and Brenda and Bob O’Brien at 27.75.
Lori Hicks won the women’s closest-to-the-pin contest on the eighth hole, while Gary Duncan won on the men’s side on the third hole. Launching the longest drive were Lori Waggoner and Dan Hamilton, with Hamilton also taking the men’s straightest drive. Carol Duncan took the straightest-drive contest for the women.
Following the golf outing, players and guests enjoyed beef sliders, Caesar salad, fruit salad, mac-and-cheese and cheesecake tarts at the clubhouse.
The women played their weekly nine-hole individual-low-net match May 31 in one flight.
Roxanne Koche grabbed first place with a 3-under-par 29, two strokes ahead of Terry Westby. Meredith Slavin finished in third with a 1-over-par 33.
The week concluded with the members playing a nine-hole shamble with the two best scores from each foursome counted. First place went to the team of Mike Cusato, Tom Solosky and Quentin Talbert with an even-par 64.
Horseshoe news
For the second consecutive week, there was no playoff at the Wednesday-Saturday competition at the Anna Maria City Hall horseshoe pits. But there were two outright winners with walkers dominating the action.
The June 1 games saw Tim Sofran earn bragging rights for the day with the lone 3-0 record in the preliminary round.
Action June 4 saw Bob Heiger walk his way to the winner’s with the only perfect record during pool play.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is welcome.
At the center …
Registration for adult flag football is underway with the last day to register June 15 and a season of Thursday night games beginning June 30.
For more info and to register, got to centerami.org or call 941-778-7978.
The center, 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria, will begin matches June 14 in the summer youth indoor soccer league — ages 8-13 — in the center gym.