VERDUGO HILLS TO CLOSE

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The LA Times reports…

The Verdugo Hills Golf Course is slated to close at the end of the year as the future of the site remains uncertain.

A man who answered the phone at the golf course Monday confirmed the course will close on Dec. 31, but did not give his name and declined to speak any further on the matter.

While some residents want to preserve the land as open space, Snowball West Investments, L.P., the owner of the property for last dozen years, has submitted plans to Los Angeles city officials to develop a gated residential community on the site.

Proposed plans for the development show the site could have between 221 and 229 two-story, single family homes, each varying from 1,800 to 2,700 square feet.

 

Though the MGM Tour hasn’t visited Verdugo Hills since 2012, its ending closes a chapter for the Tour and many of its players. Armen Grigorian, Tim Joe, and the Vargas brothers count Verdugo Hills as the course where they learned to play.  It has played host to 8 Tour Championships – including the inaugural edition in 2003 – as well as 2 historic Hooters Team Play Championships.

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It was the site of first career Tour victories for John Frost (2003) and Patrick Bird (2004), and first victories in a major for Walter Vargas (2008) and Clint Crump (2010).

 

 

 

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3 of Chris Moawad’s 4 Tour Championship victories came at Verdugo Hills.  Moawad went back-to-back in 2006-2007, so far the only repeat Tour Championship winner. And it was at Verdugo Hills that Martin Witt and Doug Vargas became the first (and so far, only) repeat winners of the Hooters.

 

 

Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards were decided here:

• 2006 Player of the Year, won by Patrick Bird over Armen Grigorian
• 2006 Rookie of the Year won by Chris Moawad over Doug Vargas
• 2009 Player of the Year, won by Walter Vargas over P-Jay Fidler
• 2010 Player of the Year, won by Gerry Vaughan over Walter Vargas

 

First visit: 2003 Tour Championship (won by John Frost)

Last Tour Championship visit: 2010 (won by Clint Crump)

Last visit: 2012 Hooters Team Play Championship (Witt/D. Vargas)

 

 

THE TOP-5 MGM TOUR MOMENTS AT VERDUGO HILLS

 

#5 • MOAWAD SWIPES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR IN A STUNNER
Having led the 2006 rookie race all season, Doug Vargas appeared to be on his way to a wire to wire finish for Rookie of the Year, until the unthinkable transpired: Chris Moawad won the Tour Championship while Doug Vargas finished last, the only possible mathematical combination for Moawad to win the Dole 2006 Rookie of the Year. Said Vargas, “What hurts even worse is [Chris] missed the last tournament. I’ve been at all of them and he f**king caught up to me. That hurts. My wife’s gonna be pissed.”

pict1855_jpg#4 • WITT AND VARGAS GO BACK-TO-BACK AT HOOTERS
2011 Hooters Champions Marty Witt and Doug Vargas made MGM Tour history when the duo successfully defended their title in 2012. The pair became the first team in tournament history to repeat as champions.

#3 • WALTER VARGAS CARDS CAREER-BEST 29
A career-best 29 on the back-9 – just the Tour’s 3rd par-27, sub-30 round in history – propelled Walter Vargas in 2008 to his first Tour Championship victory, and first win in a major.


#2 • BIRD WINS 2ND PLAYER OF THE YEAR IN A ROW, GRIGORIAN FUMES

MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERALeading the 2006 Player of the Year standings for all but one week, Armen Grigorian was passed at the line by Patrick Bird after Bird carded a career best score and finished 2nd at the Tour Championship. “I don’t know. I’m utterly shocked how Pat can pull this again,” said a visibly indignant Grigorian who added a parting shot, “I’ll come back next year and try to legitimize the Player of the Year trophy.” Grigorian would win the award in 2007.

#1 • THE STORM OF ALL STORMS
The MGM Tour faced and endured epic conditions in the 2011 Hooters Championship, leaving who won (Martin Witt & Doug Vargas) a mere afterthought. A deluge of rain, and cold gusting winds battered the field, making for a day on Tour that will go down as one for the ages. Said Doug Vargas: “Everyone that made it here today is a f**king true golf fan and true member of this fraternity, the MGM Tour. I love everyone. It was SO much fun. It was miserable and fun at the same time. I mean, what an experience! It’s amazing. I’m glad this thing happened.” John Frost, spooked by the rain, was a no-show leaving his partner Walter Vargas, literally in the cold.
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