The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio presents the

8th Annual Mix L.A.Open in Words & Pictures—A Day on the Links For Hearing Conservation

June’s unpredictable magic made for an especially memorable event as nearly 150 audio professionals gathered on Monday, June 9th, 2003 at the Malibu Country Club for the 8th Annual Mix L.A. Open. Cloud cover, a gentle mist and wisps of fog transformed the course, making the lush Malibu fairways feel more like of one of the legendary links of Scotland than a California club.

There were new faces aplenty this year as newcomers tried their luck against those who’d previously battled the challenging course. As always, playing skills ranged from near-professional to casual duffer, and good natured ribbing abounded as teams sized each other up. After a putting contest and a fortifying buffet breakfast, players revved up their carts—sponsored by KRK and equipped this year with GPS systems to accommodate the navigationally challenged—and headed out seeking fame, glory and the elusive hole-in-one with its prize of a BMW roadster from Steve Thomas BMW.

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Golf carts line up for the shotgun start at 8th Annual LA Open. Mix magazine's Albert Margolis takes the lead.

Team Greene: First place winners Mike Greene and Sons

Out on the links, moral support was provided by many generous sponsors: box lunches by Royaltone Studios, beverages by Moonlight Mastering, cool hats from Shure, shirts by The Village and Quantegy and golf balls by Yamaha. Numerous traffic jams ensued at Hole 10 where shoulder massages were ongoing, courtesy of Warner Bros. Studios. Other sponsors included Absolute Music, CE Pickup, Design FX, Firehouse Recording Studios, Record Plant, Steinberg and TC Electronic.

Back at the clubhouse, high quality schmoozing ensued as foursomes returned with tales of epic shots and multiple eagles and perused the silent auction biddables, which ranged from Blue and Audio-Technica microphones to a Nuendo 2.0 Media Production software package, a Gibson Les Paul Special guitar, JBL speakers and some extremely rare bottles of wine.

First prize trophies were awarded to the all-in-the-family team of Michael Greene and sons, who boasted a score of 17 under. Second place statues went to David Was, Scott Thurston, Ron McCarrel and tournament honorary chairman Ed Cherney who scored 14 under. Third place medals at 13 under were snagged by House Ear Institute’s Jim Boswell, Ron Osbrink, Ricardo Solano and William Finestone.

Team Cherney takes home second place statues

Third place team House Ear

Winner of the putting contest, supervising sound editor Paul Huntsman, took home a Tour Edge St. Charles putter. Audio-Technica’s Mike Edwards awarded a Cleveland Launcher driver to Andy Greene for Longest Drive. Al Hershner took home a Scotty Cameron Futura Putter for Longest Putt and Scott Marshall collected a Cleveland Tour Action Series 900 for Closest to the Pin.

The Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio thanks not only our sponsors, but all those who came out and made 2003’s tournament a successful—and fun—event. At a time when funding for many important causes is lacking, their support for one that’s critical to our industry—hearing health outreach—is especially appreciated. Proceeds from the tournament help fund programs at both House Ear Institute and H.E.A.R that provide education on the importance of hearing protection, and help for music and sound professionals with hearing disorders.

Producer/Engineer Jim Scott challenges Artist/Producer David Was

studio bau:ton's Peter Maurer checks out the silent auction items