The fog lifted as scheduled by 9:00 a.m. on Monday, June, 11. at the Malibu Country Club, and the Sixth Annual Mix L.A. Open got under way. This year’s sold-out event included 37 foursomes, who vied for glory and prizes, including a brand-new BMW roadster earmarked for the player who could make a hole in one.
A breakfast buffet, practice swings, a putting contest and a silent auction started off the day. The auction, a new addition to the tournament, included a Les Paul Junior guitar, a DVD player, CD and DVD collections, and a Club Nautique sailing package.
At 10 a.m., golfcarts were fired up, and the participants careened onto the course, where tournament sponsors supplied refreshments, good cheer and an abundance of tasteful swag. While Livewire Audio grilled wieners and Design FX Audio offered Haagen Daas, the 13th Hole, staffed by the lively BASF/Emtec contingent, supplied candy, cigars and welcome cold beverages. Other sponsors provided T-shirts, caps, golfballs, golf carts, moral support and assorted memorabilia.
By 4 p.m., the clubhouse was packed, and the players enjoyed chicken and burgers, compliments of Ocean Way Recording and Sony, as they eagerly awaited the winning scores. First-prize trophies were awarded, for the second year in a row, to The Recording Academy’s team, comprising Michael Greene, sons Andy and Will Greene, and Skip Gillette, who scored 58, 14 under par. Second-place statues, for the score of 59, went to Steve Thomas, Tom Manchester, Steve Frye and Dan Gallagher of Steve Thomas BMW (who also left with their BMW — no hole in one this year). Sony Music Studios’ Peter Barker, Peter Follett, Lance Hornung and LeRoy Richman took home the bronze with a 60.
As always, proceeds from the tournament go to a great cause: the hearing health outreach programs of the House Ear Institute and H.E.A.R, organizations that provide help and information for music and sound professionals with hearing disorders.
