Senior Moments - The Society of Seniors

Senior Moments
The Society of Seniors - North America’s Premier Sr. Amateur Golf Organization
JANUARY 2015
A CHANGING OF THE GUARD
Following the recommendation of a special search committee chaired
by Yancey Ford, the Board of Directors unanimously elected Ed Shaffran to
be the fifth president of the organization at a meeting of the Board during
the recent SOS Championships at Quail Ridge. Ford presented Shaffran, a
real estate executive who lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to the membership
during the annual Dinner Meeting of the SOS.
Shaffran, who will assume the presidency on January 1st, succeeds
Mark Mulvoy, who retires from that office five years after he, in turn,
succeeded Yancey Ford. “Ed has been a totally committed member of the
Board, and his work with Michael Mahoney on the Membership Committee
has strengthened the rolls of our membership,” Mulvoy said. “Also, he is a
nuts-and-bolts, bottom-line oriented financial analyst — and he’s a stickler
when it comes to following our By-Laws to the letter. The SOS will be in very
good hands.”
In other news from the Annual Meeting at Quail Ridge:
Outgoing SOS President Mark Mulvoy (left)
and new SOS President Ed Shaffran (right)
- New grandfather Jim Popa, who has been the very efficient Tournament
Director of the SOS since 2010, was named the Executive Director of the
organization, effective January 1st. Jim will be responsible for the day-today and tournament operations of the Society working from SOS World
Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, and from his satellite office aboard a
fishing skiff in the Florida Keys. Jim recently retired as the Executive Director
of the Columbus District Golf Association, but remains the Executive
Director of the Ohio Golf Association. Matt Lefferts, the new Executive
Director of the CDGA, continues as Popa’s chief assistant with the SOS (and
also with the OGA). Our SOS tournament operations represent the standard
against which all other organizations compare themselves.
- The membership gave Yancey Ford a long standing ovation when it was announced that this man who bleeds the
SOS was retiring from his position as Ex Officio member of the Board, the role Mulvoy will
assume on January 1st. The Ex-Officio position, which carries no voting rights, is held by the
immediate past president of the SOS. Ford has been heavily involved with the management
of the SOS since 2001, first as a Board Member, then as President of the organization from
2003 thru 2009 — and for the last five years as Ex Officio. His contributions to the SOS are
immeasurable.
- West Coast guru Michael Mahoney retired from the Board one year ahead of schedule.
Mahoney played an intricate and deeply-involved role on the Board for almost a decade. His
carefully-crafted “Friends” program has proved to be a boon to our membership. Michael
regularly voiced his concerns that we had become too East Coast centric, that we were not
doing enough to serve our playing members west of the Mississippi. Those concerns helped
spur the SOS to acquire the Senior Masters, schedule a tournament in Santa Barbara, and
play the 2015 SOS Championships at The Wigwam on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona.
- Marlin Detweiler and Alan Fadel retired from the Board on schedule after three years of
service.
- The Board presented members Joe Pavoni, Dennis Helms and Rich Tolly to the
Membership as its recommended candidates for positions on the Board. All three received
unanimous approval from the membership in attendance.
Jim Popa,
Executive Director
A CHANGING OF THE GUARD
- Ed Shaffran will inform the membership of the
committee assignments for Board Members in a yearend missive to the membership. John O’Malley also
joins the Board in 2015.
- Reacting to the normal tournament patronage
of our respective age group divisions, the Board
established bold new parameters for places in the field
for regular 96-player SOS events, starting in 2015. The
Seniors (ages 55-64) will be allocated 36 spots in a
tournament field; the Super Seniors 44; and the Grand
Masters 16. This allocation properly doubles the
spaces for Grand Masters.
President
Ed Shaffran
[email protected]
Vice President/Membership
Paul Heffernan
[email protected]
Secretary
Dennis Helms
[email protected]
Treasurer
Bob Kain
[email protected]
Board of Governors
Doug Baker
Doug Fraser
Paul Heffernan
Dennis Helms
Bob Kain
John O’Malley
Joe Pavoni
Jim Rollefson
Ed Shaffran
Ted Smith
Rich Tolly
Rick Woulfe
Immediate Past President
Mark Mulvoy
- The Board also once again strongly reaffirmed
that the Society is a member-based organization with
no special playing or admittance privileges for any one
individual or group. The Board made it quite clear that the 1060 current members
of the Society all are “elite” players in their own right and entitled to equal entry
into SOS events according to the divisional field sizes listed above.
Yancey Ford
- In response to some scamming of our tournament entry processes,
the Board also revamped the Society’s protocols re player withdrawals from
tournaments. Noting that more than 45 members had withdrawn from Yeamans
Hall and a similar number had withdrawn from the SOS Championships just
before the official deadline — and thus had their entry fees returned in total
— the Board expressed its dismay that SOS members were intentionally and
effectively gaming the system. And by doing so, they made it difficult — and
costly — for players on the wait list and players interested in competing in a
particular tournament to make travel and other arrangements in order to fill out
a field. Indeed, many potential entrants see a wait list on the website and lose
all interest in that particular tournament. In fact, though both Yeamans Hall and
the SOS Championships had 45-plus player wait lists at one time, in the end
both tournaments had less than full fields. So, the new policy for withdrawals
is this: ONCE A MEMBER PUSHES THE SEND BUTTON TO ENTER AN SOS
TOURNAMENT, HE IS IN FOR $150. SHOULD A PLAYER THEN WITHDRAW
WITHIN 30 DAYS OF ROUND ONE — HE IS IN FOR ANOTHER $100.
DRACONIAN? NO!. FAIR? YES!
Executive Director
Jim Popa
[email protected]
(614) 487-1207
Assistant Director
Matt Lefferts
[email protected]
Society of Seniors
1570 West First Avenue
Columbus OH 43212
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SOS BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- (Seated) Yancey Ford, Mark Mulvoy, Ed Shaffran and
Michael Mahoney; (Standing) Joe Pavoni, Paul Heffernan, Doug Baker, Rick Woulfe,
Doug Fraser, Bob Kain, Rich Tolly, Dennis Helms and Jim Rollefson
Financial Report: The Bottom Line on the Bottom Line
For 2014, the SOS will show an operating profit of approximately $7,416, some $2,300 below the bottom line for
2013. FYI: In 2013 the SOS conducted eight tournaments, in 2014 nine. Thanks to Jim Popa and Matt Leffert for
maintaining rigid controls on all SOS costs, including the fee we pay to host clubs, staff management costs (salary, office
space, travel), on-site tournament expenses, etc. Jim Popa takes a back seat to no one when it comes to negotiating
the right price for a tournament site. And this often is a
complicated process as clubs, working through difficult
2014 SOS PROFIT & LOSS STATEMENT THROUGH DEC. 15
economic environments these days, battle Jim to protect
their own financial best interests.
Expenses:
Income:
Containing costs continues to be the top objective
53,171
Entry Fees
469,993 Office/Operational
of our Board and management. But the general upgrade
86,150
Membership Dues 111,838 Professional Staff
in the quality of our tournament sites in recent years not
Tournament Expenses
392,394
Initiation Fees
15,900
only has led to a succession of full fields, but it also has
Travel
43,342
Other Income
1,360
led to an increase of our general tournament costs.
Other Expenses
16,941
Total Income
The better the course, the more it will usually cost.
And there’s no way around that.
599,414
Total Expenses
Net Operating Income
591,998
7,416
THE SOS TOP TEN FOR 2015
In 2015 the SOS will play a record ten tournaments in six different states. The newest addition to the rota: The SOS
Indian Summer Classic at The Wianno Club on Cape Cod From Monday, September 21st, thru Thursday, Sept. 24th.
And the annual SOS Championships will go west to The Wigwam Resort in the Phoenix, Arizona, suburb of Litchfield
Park. Also, The Vinny will now have two divisions – one for Seniors, one for all players over the age of 65 – and again be
played over the Deer Creek Course at The Landings in Savannah, Georgia.
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EVENT
DATE
LOCATION
Spring Classic
February 15-18
The Verandah Club - Ft. Myers, Florida
Ed Tutwiler
March 8-11
The Fox Club - Palm City, Florida
Senior Masters
April 20-23
Indian Wells Golf Resort - Palm Springs, California
John Kline Super Seniors
May 3-6
The Country Club of Orlando - Florida
Jack Hesler Tournament
July 20-23
Inverness Club - Toledo, Ohio
Indian Summer Classic
September 21-24
Wianno Club - Osterville, Massachusetts
Yeamans Hall Sr.
October 4-7
Yeamans Hall Club - Charleston, South Carolina
The Vinny
October 23-26
The Landings Club - Savannah, Georgia
Ralph Bogart
November 13-16
Crown Colony Golf & Country Club - Ft. Myers, FL
SOS Championships
December 4-7
The Wigwam - Litchfield Park, Arizona
SOS YEAR IN REVIEW
2014 TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS
EVENT
Ed Tutwiler
SENIORS
SUPER SENIORS
Gary Johnson - John Empanger Bob Lewis - Randy Reifers
GRAND MASTERS
N/A
Spring ClassicStephen Sharpe Peter SaputoJoe Estes
Senior Masters Steve Hudson
Ted Smith
John Kline Super Srs.
N/A
Jack Hesler Tourn.
Paul Schlachter Yeamans Hall Sr.
Brady Exber
The Vinny
Doug Hanzel
SOS Championships
Rick Woulfe (Dale Morey)
Ralph Bogart Tourn.
Rick Woulfe
Bob Hullender
Dan Smith (65-69)
Walt Martin (70-74)
Bob Hullender (75-79)
Don Addington (80-plus)
Dan Smith
Fred Cahall
John Baldwin Don Wood
Mills Rendell
Van Lefferdink (John Owens)
Bill Robischon
Jim Smith
Claud Johnston
2014 POINTS LIST “TOP 10”
While Claud Johnston once again ran away and hid as he won the Grand Masters Points Race for the third
straight year, the top spot in both the Senior and Super Senior divisions came down to the wire in the final
event of the season — the Ralph Bogart Tournament. In Senior play, Peter Van Ingen finished in sixth place
at the Bogie to hold onto first place by 40 points over Bogie winner Rick Woulfe. In the Super Seniors, Jim
Rollefson needed to recover from a second-round 82 in the Bogie at Old Trail in order to keep his hopes alive
for the No. 1 spot — and he did, firing a final-round 74 to finish the season with 700 points, or 50 more than
last season’s Super Seniors champion Ted Smith. Congratulations to all on your fine play throughout the total
SOS championship season.
SENIORS
1.
2.
3.
6. 7.
8.
10.
4
Peter Van Ingen – 470
Rick Woulfe – 430
Bob Kain – 370
Mark Weston –370
Bob Stephens – 370
George Walker – 280
Steve Hudson – 270
Pete Allen – 260
Ron Carter – 260
Paul Schlachter – 240
Dennis Helms – 240
SUPER SENIORS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
8.
9.
10.
Jim Rollefson – 700
Ted Smith – 650
Gary Kirwan – 630
Walt Martin – 410
Robert Currey – 400
Dan Smith – 390
Bill Engel – 390
Greg Mokler – 360
Michael Rose – 320
Joe Pavoni - 280
GRAND MASTERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
9.
10.
Claud Johnston – 880
John O’Donovan – 530
Bill Robischon – 480
Bob Hullender – 360
Bob Wise – 350
Bob Moyers – 310
Fred Cahall – 310
Dick Smith – 310
Don Wood – 300
Jim Ono – 290
SOS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
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Senior Player of the Year
Peter Van Ingen
SOS PLAYERS OF THE YEAR
Super Senior
Player of the Year
Jim Rollefson
Grand Masters
Player of the Year
Claud Johnston
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MAJOR MOMENTS
CONGRATULATIONS to Brady Exber (left) and Pat
Tallent for their victories in
the Major senior amateur
championships of the 2014
season. Exber, who lives in Las
Vegas, Nevada, won the British
Senior Amateur over the Ganton
links by four shorts, shooting
rounds of 72-74-78 in what can
only be described as very testy
conditions. Tallent, the former
college basketball star who
now lives in Vienna, Virginia,
won the U.S. Senior Amateur
Championship with a 2-and1 victory over Bryan Norton
in the final match at the Big
Canyon club in Newport Beach,
California. Well done, men!
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SOS 2015: THE REAL TOP TEN
The Society of Seniors will play a record 10 tournaments in 2015, including the SOS
Championships here at the Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park, Arizona
The bunker fronting the 14th green on the Wigwam’s Patriot Course is known as the
“Egg Yolk.”
SOS SPRING CLASSIC
February 15 - 18
The Verandah Club - Ft. Myers, Florida
The 2015 SOS season officially tees off with the annual Spring Classic that will
be played over the 36 holes at The Verandah Club in Ft. Myers, Florida. We can
accommodate as many as 168 players in the three respective starting fields. Note: All divisional play will be held on the same course each day. With two courses
at our disposal, the Spring Classic also provides members with an opportunity to
invite potential SOS members to play under the rules of our Friends Program.
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ED TUTWILER FOUR-BALL
March 8 - 11
The Fox Club, Florida
Host course for a recent
SOS Ralph Bogart Tournament,
the Fox Club returns to the
SOS rota as host for the
annual Ed Tutwiler Four-Ball
Championship. Many SOS
players are well familiar with
The Fox Club not only from their
experience in that Bogart, but
also from their participation in
the annual International FourBall Championship that’s played
at The Fox Club each February.
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SOS SENIOR MASTERS
April 20- 23
Indian Wells Golf Resort, California
SOS members have turned
out for the Senior Masters
in very large numbers since
the organization took control
of this long-established
tournament back in 2012.
The Players and the Celebrity
Courses at the Indian Wells
Resorts both demand precise
shotmaking from tee to
green.
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JOHN KLINE SUPER SENIORS
May 3 - 6
Country Club of Orlando, Florida
Again, the SOS returns
to a very familiar and very
welcoming host course —
the splendid Country Club of
Orlando — for the playing of
the John Kline Super Seniors
Championship. SOS Super
Seniors and Grand Masters
were treated like kings when
the Kline was played at the
Country Club of Orlando in
2012.
Great course. Great
membership. Delighted to be
invited back.
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JACK HESLER TOURNAMENT
July 20 - 23
Inverness Club - Toledo, Ohio
How lucky it is for the SOS that Executive Director Jim
Popa annually provides world-class Ohio golf courses
for the Jack Hesler Tournament, named after one of the
great legends in the history of golf in the Buckeye state.
Famed Inverness has hosted four U.S. Opens, two PGA
Championships (remember this moment -- above -- when
Bob Tway holed out from the bunker on the 72nd hole to
shock Greg Norman and win the PGA), a U.S. Amateur
and a U.S. Senior Open.
SOS players will love this classic layout with its famed
Hinkleberry Tree there to the left of the 8th tee. That tree
was installed before Round 1 of the 1979 U.S. Open after
Lon Hinkle figured out that the best way to attack the parfive 8th was to play his tee shot way into another fairway,
thus shortening the hole by a considerable distance.
No way, said the USGA, which had the instantly-named
Hinkleberry Tree put in place that night.
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INDIAN SUMMER CLASSIC
September 21 - 24
Wianno Club - Osterville, Massachusetts
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As the great Patti Page sang so
beautifully, “You’re sure to fall in love
with old Cape Cod.” For the first time
the SOS will visit New England and
play the inaugural Indian Summer
Classic at the Wianno Club on Cape
Cod in Osterville, Massachusetts.
Fall on the Cape is one spectacular
setting, and Wianno, with its majestic
views along Cape Cod Bay, with
Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard off
SOS YEAMANS HALL SENIOR
October 4 - 7
Yeamans Hall Club - Charleston, South Carolina
Caption goes here about the Inverness course
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Seth Raynor’s classic Yeamans Hall Club
golf course will forever be a favorite for SOS
players, who love to drink in the refined and
dignified culture of the setting and test the
challenges posed by the legendary Raynor on
each and every hole. Once again Yeamans Hall is
scheduled to start (practice round) two days after
the completion of the annual Senior Azalea at
the nearby Country Club of Charleston, another
Raynor gem.
THE VINNY
October 23 - 26
The Landings Club - Savannah, Georgia
The Landings, that
stunning golf mecca out on
Skidway Island off Savannah,
has become an instant
favorite for SOS members
following our visit for the
SOS Championships in 2013
and for the inaugural Vinny
in 2014. For 2015, we have
made a slight change in
the game plan. Seniors will
compete in the Vinny division
once again. However, we’ve
added a separate division for
players over the age of 65.
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RALPH BOGART TOURNAMENT
November 13 - 16
Crown Colony Golf & Country Club - Ft. Myers, Florida
It’s back to Ft. Myers for the annual Bogie, which this year will be played at the
Crown Colony Golf and Country Club. This splendid Ron Garl design reflects the
overall charm and challenges of Florida golf with distinct touches of Scottish and Irish
links added to the mix. Holes are cleverly routed around native wetness, mature pines
and scrub oaks -- all of which provide a stunning look while you’re trying to figure out
how to attack a particular hole.
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SOS CHAMPIONSHIPS
December 4 - 7
The Wigwam - Litchfield Park, Arizona
Heeding the requests from so many of our members from the other side of the
Mississippi, we will go west for our annual SOS Championships and play over the
36 holes at The Wigwam, a fabulous, recently-renovated golf resort in the Phoenix
suburb of Litchfield Park. Two great courses, perfect weather conditions, superior
turf conditions — all the proper ingredients for a great championship. And The
Wigwam offers SOS players a number of elegant, on-course lodging options at an
extremely reasonable price. The perfect place to end a Top 10 SOS season.
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