MSIS Member Profile: Bill Swerbenski

Meet......

Bill "Swerbo" Swerbenski
Sawgrass Country Club

Born: May 15, 1943; Albany, New York

Veteran: U. S. Coast Guard (1961-65); Navy-trained diver

Education: BS/MS Accounting, SUNY Albany

Occupation: Retired; formerly, VP Finance for a large wholesale distributor of electronic components

Home: 24 years in Ithaca, New York; Moved to Ponte Vedra Beach in May 2000

Family: Bill and his wife Suzanne, a retired teacher, have been married for 44 years and live at Sawgrass Country Club; Swerbo's son, also known as Bill, and his daughter-in-law, June, live in San Francisco

How long a golfer: Since 1974; Best round: 69 (twice); Worst round: I don’t remember!

Best of MSIS: Playing different courses with different players

Worst of MSIS: Playing under heavy rainfall conditions!

Hobbies: Golf, golf, golf; Family subscriptions to Atlantic Beach Experimental Theatre and Players By The Sea; Putter collection at 59 and growing

Swerbo's wide-ranging interest in golf led him to join the Florida State Golf Association and volunteer as a Course Rating team member. Typically, teams of 5-6 individuals spend over five hours making measurements and statistical calculations to produce a course rating and slope rating. Over a two-year period, Swerbo served on 25 or more course-rating teams.

Swerbo explains… Prior to 1987, courses were rated for the scratch golfer. The USGA Rating System introduced in 1987 enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis.

USGA Course Rating guidelines are detailed in section 13 of the USGA Handicap System manual. Without going into the finer details, here are some of the features involved:

· Yardage is the predominant factor in determining a USGA Course Rating.

· The effective playing length of a hole may be substantially different from its actual length, which includes roll, elevation, dogleg/forced lay-up, prevailing wind and altitude.

· Obstacle factors (bunkers, water, trees, etc.—ten in all) are considered separately on their effect on the play of scratch and bogey on each hole.

A USGA Slope Rating reflects the relative difficulty of a course for players with USGA Handicap Indexes above scratch, compared with the difficulty of the course for a scratch golfer.