the August Issue of Oakmont Links

Transcription

Oakmont
Links
N AT I O N A L H I S TO R I C L A N D M A R K 1 9 0 3
Oakmont
AUGUST 2006
| W W W. O A K M O N T C C . O R G
Links
Dacey/McGough Win 2006 Kiltie
BY BOB FORD, CLUB PROFESSIONAL
The 2006 Kiltie!!!
(Ed. Note: Our esteemed archivist, John
Fitzgerald has told us that the name of the
old Member-Guest Tournament was
changed to THE KILTIE about 1974 when
member Joe Connell gave it that title.
Anyone have any other information on that?)
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
CONTENTS
Pebble Beach Flight Winners, Mark Dacey and Bruce McGough won the Overall 2006 Kiltie
Championship, July 28-29, besting the 11 other flight winners. And they look pleased.
Page
Bunker To Bunker
. . . . . . 1, 2, 3, 4
Know The Board . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Weakender News . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
It’s Your Serve! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
From the Red Tees . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
Welcome New Members . . . . . . . 7
How About Taking
Some Notes? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Kitchen Korner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Our Sympathy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
The Practice Range . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Avoid the Pulls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Great Furrow Dispute
at the U.S. Open . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pool News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Perry Como . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
A pleasant evening in the grove for all the 2006 Kiltie members and guests.
OAKMONT COUNTRY CLUB
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
Bunker to Bunker
FROM PAGE 1
REPORTED BY JOHN BIRMINGHAM, JR.
2006 Kiltie Invitational Final Results
Flight
Winged Foot
Seminole
Pine Valley
Pinehurst
Pebble Beach
Olympic
Oakmont
Merion
Cypress Point
Augusta
Baltusrol
Shinnecock
Winners
Arne Thomas & Steve Thomas
Curt Coulter & Sean McDonough
Dave Stanchak & Chris Weilminster
Mike Francis & Randy Payne
Bruce McGough & Mark Dacey
Tom Usher & Jim Usher
Rick Dell & Bill Rosa
Paul Walsh & Joe Francis
David Fitzsimmons & Robert Stanley
Richard Kacin & John Righi
John Newell Sr. & Skip Yakopec
Larry Werner & Bernard Werner
SKILL EVENTS Longest Drive #1
Longest Drive #1
Closest to Pin #6
Closest to Pin #6
Closest to Pin #8
Closest to Pin #8
Longest Putt #9
Longest Putt #9
Closest to Pin #13
Closest to Pin #13
Longest Putt #15
Longest Putt #15
Closest to Pin #16
Closest to Pin #16
Longest Drive #18
Longest Drive #18
Friday, July 28th
0-13 hdcp
David Rohrich
14 & over
Mike Molewski
0-13 hdcp
Robert Stanley
14 & over
Fred Broad
0-13 hdcp
Tom Grealish
14 & over
Brian Molinaro
0-13 hdcp
Pete Bevacqua
14 & over
Gene Burns
0-13 hdcp
Chris Weilminster
14 & over
Gene Farrell
0-13 hdcp
Rick Dell
14 & over
Gene Burns
0-13 hdcp
Curt Coulter
14 & over
Bob Murphy
0-13 hdcp
Andrew Swank
14 & over
Andrew McWilliams
SKILL EVENTS Longest Drive #1
Longest Drive #1
Closest to Pin #6
Closest to Pin #6
Closest to Pin #8
Closest to Pin #8
Longest Putt #9
Longest Putt #9
Closest to Pin #13
Closest to Pin #13
Longest Putt #15
Longest Putt #15
Closest to Pin #16
Closest to Pin #16
Longest Drive #18
Longest Drive #18
Saturday, July
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
0-13 hdcp
14 & over
29th
Scott Mattis
Mike Molewski
Harry Spector
Mike Molewski
Rob Santangelo
Mike Molewski
David Riggins
Gene Farrell
Jeff Nigro
Joe Francis
David Rohrich
Andrew Aloe
Bill Griffin
Jack Smith
Nick Andrews
John Newell Sr.
Diebold Cup
Points
281/2
27
33
291/2
29
31
311/2
291/2
28
31
321/2
33
2’2”
5’
4’4”
31’1”
42’3”
18’1”
2’8”
3’9”
32’8”
9’10”
9’9”
11’5”
For the third year in a row, and seven of the last nine
years, Oakmont Country Club has won the 2006
Diebold Cup. OCC golfers defeated the Pittsburgh
Field Club by 31 points the weekend of August 4-5-6.
Fox Chapel finished third and Longue Vue finished
fourth.
After two close matches on Friday afternoon and
Saturday morning, the Field Club had a 3 point lead.
When the team left Oakmont on Saturday afternoon
after the 2-ball matches, Oakmont had a 34.5 point
lead. Our team won 60 out of a possible 72 points.
Needless to say, we were able to hold on to our lead at
the Field Club on Sunday afternoon.
The Oakmont Diebold Team consisted of: Rich
Bergland, John Birmingham, Jr., Mark Bope, John
Bryan, Jr., Curt Coulter, Ned Foster, Steve Leone,
Paul Mazeski, Malcolm Spatz, Jim Sullivan, Jr., Chick
Wagner and Rob Wagner. The team also had two first
time players in Brett Bergman and Nathan Sutherland.
A tremendous effort and a BIG congratulations goes
out from all the members of Oakmont Country Club
to this sensational achievement by this team!
Bob Friend, Jr. wins West Penn Open
With his 2006 West Penn Open victory, Bob Friend, Jr.
added this title to wins in the West Penn Amateur in
1984 and 1985, becoming only the tenth player in the
Association’s 107-year history to win both. Friend joins
three Oakmont golfers who have won both the West Penn
Amateur and West Penn Open – Frank Fuhrer, III, John
Birmingham and W.C. Fownes. (Nice company, right?)
MOVIN’ ON UP....!
3”
4’6”
5’10”
26’11”
39’2”
21’9”
4’2”
14’5”
12’8”
8’
7’
31’7”
— 2 —
One of our former Assistant Professionals, Jack Druga,
has recently been named Head Professional at
Shinnecock Hills Country Club in Southhampton,
New York. Jack is leaving the Country Club of
Fairfield, New Jersey after 10 years to begin his exciting
new assignment. CONGRATULATIONS, JACK!
Fairway Feats!
HOLE IN ONE - #6 Brock Bergman
194 yards with a 6 iron.
HOLE IN ONE - #16 Andrew Swank
211 yards with a 5 iron.
Eagle on #2 – Dave Slember
Eagle on #3 – Curt Coulter
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
2006 Kiltie Flight Winners
Links
WINGED FOOT FLIGHT
SEMINOLE FLIGHT
PINE VALLEY FLIGHT
Steve Thomas and Dr. Arne Thomas
Curt Coulter and Sean McDonough
Dave Stanchak and Chris Weilminster
PINEHURST FLIGHT
PEBBLE BEACH FLIGHT
OLYMPIC FLIGHT
Randy Payne and Mike Francis
Mark Dacey and Bruce McGough
Jim Usher and Tom Usher
OAKMONT FLIGHT
MERION FLIGHT
CYPRESS POINT FLIGHT
Bill Rosa and Rick Dell
Paul Walsh and Joe Francis
Robert Stanley and Dave Fitzsimmons
AUGUSTA FLIGHT
BALTUSROL FLIGHT
SHINNECOCK FLIGHT
Richard Kacin and John Righi
Skip Yakopec and John Newell, Sr.
Bernard Werner and Larry Werner
— 3 —
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
Bunker to Bunker
FROM PAGE 3
Junior Club Championship
Congratulations to Jon Wright on
winning the 13 and over division of
the Junior Club Championship and
Chandler Ford on winning the 12
and under division. Jon shot scores
of 83-82 and Chandler shot two
nine-hole scores of 50 and 53.
Jon Wright, winner of 13 & over division of
Junior Club Championship and Assistant Pro
Chris Muldoon.
Ford Shoots
Record 62
BY AL DUDRECK, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
(Taken from an article by Mike Dudurich,
sports writer for the Pittsburgh-Tribune
Review)
A couple of weeks ago, putting up a
round of 62 was the furthest thing
from Bob Ford’s mind. He was having
trouble standing straight up because
of a bad back that flared up just before
the Sewickley Heights Invitational.
He shot his worst round in decades
and has been on the mend since.
In the final round of the 2006
Tri-State Senior PGA Professional
Championship Qualifier/TSPGA
Senior Section Championship at
Quicksilver Golf Club, Ford had one
of those “magical days.” He made 10
birdies, no bogeys and established
the Quicksilver competitive course
record of 62.
“I haven’t even shot a 65 or 66
as long as I can remember,” the
Oakmont pro said. “I had 12 one-putt
greens, and the longest putt was
from about 20 feet.”
With the win, Ford qualifies for
the PGA Senior National Championship to be played October 19-22 at
the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie,
Florida.
Chris Muldoon with Chandler Ford, winner of
the 12 & under division of the Junior Club
Championship
HOW ABOUT THAT,
OAKMONT MEMBERS!
13 and over results:
Jon Wright ............................
Derek Jones ..........................
Jay Ford ................................
Dan Wolf ..............................
David Mullen ........................
Pro-Junior
Scramble
82-83
90-83
92-86
92-88
88-95
12 and under results:
Chandler Ford ...................... 50-53
Troy Bergland ...................... 58-51
Chris Kohl ............................ 52-59
Nick Huber .......................... 63-49
Keenan Hickton .................... 58-55
Know
the Board
Third In A Series:
L.R. Larry Werner, Secretary
A member of Oakmont Country Club
since 1990 and a member of the Board of
Governors since 2003, Larry is responsible for upgrading and improving the
communications elements of our Club.
Since taking over the chairmanship of the
Communication Committee, Larry has
worked very hard to make sure that all
members are fully informed of what is
happening and, more importantly, why it
is happening at our Club. Larry was a
member of the Public Relations
Committee for the 1992 Women’s and
1994 Men’s U.S. Opens.
Currently a consultant, Larry was the
former Managing Director/Partner for
Ketchum, one of the nation’s largest
public relations firms. Before that, he was
Senior Vice President of Marketing,
Human Resources and Communications
for Equibank and Manager, Public
Relations for U.S. Steel Corporation. He
is a member of the Duquesne Club and is
currently on the board of the Pittsburgh
Regional Alliance, the Boy Scouts of
America and emeritus board member of
Seton Hill College. Larry received a BA
degree from Duquesne University and his
MA degree from Carnegie Mellon
University. He and his wife, Mary reside
in Sewickley.
Assistant Professional
John Stafford and junior
golf members Robbie
Denove and Beau
Bergman teamed up to
win the 2006 Pro-Junior
Scramble by shooting a
score of 30 on the front
nine!!!
Asst. Pro John Stafford, Robbie Denove and Beau Bergman
– winners of 2006 Pro-Junior Scramble
— 4 —
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
It’s Your Serve!
WEAKENDERS NEWS
BY RICH SPACE, WEAKENDERS CHAIRMAN
Weakenders Party – 2006!
It’s that time again for
one of the best events
of the golf season at
Oakmont Country Club.
Another great weekend
of golf and fellowship!
Mark your calendars for Friday, September
22nd and Saturday, September 23rd.
Schedule:
Friday – 11:00 a.m. Shotgun
• Snacks and drinks on the course.
• Lunch at the turn.
• Putting contest immediately following
golf
• Hors d’oeuvres, beer and dinner on
#9 porch (weather permitting)
• First day prizes awarded
Saturday – 9:30 a.m. Shotgun
• Breakfast Buffet – 7:30 a.m. to 9:20 a.m.
• Lunch at the turn.
• Snacks on #18 porch and men’s grille
• Saturday and two-day prizes awarded
Total cost for both days is $135 per person.
Price includes food & drinks plus prizes
for: Friday Weakender (Best Ball of Team),
Friday Skins, Friday Skill Prizes, Friday
Putting Contest. Saturday Hat Pool,
Saturday Weakender (Best Ball of Team)
Saturday Skins, Saturday Skill Prizes,
Favor and Best Ball of Pair.
All entry forms must be returned by
Monday, September 11th at 5:00 p.m.
Entry forms are available from the Front
Desk or the Golf Shop
The Weakenders Committee reserves
the right to adjust handicaps. You can play
both days or just one day if you wish.
(Price is the same.) If you don’t have a
partner, the Committee will pair you with
someone. Also, you may bring a different
guest each day.
DON’T MISS
THIS FANTASTIC EVENT!
Some of the 75 juniors playing in Oakmont’s daily tennis clinics. Our juniors won 4 of their 6
matches against local competitors this summer.
Tennis at Oakmont Country Club has never been stronger with over 100 men,
women and juniors involved in the program. The top-quality OCC tennis
program is lead by Tom Mercer, a formerly world-ranked ATP player. Tom is
regionally recognized as an outstanding teaching professional offering quality
instruction on stroke execution and game strategy for beginners and advanced
players alike. Our tennis activity has grown substantially in programs and
participation under his leadership and we are very lucky to have such a professional at our Club.
Last fall, Tom was named head coach of the Fox Chapel High School tennis
team and hopes to lead them to a WPIAL championship this year.
Recent special events at OCC included the July 5th Breakfast at Wimbledon
and the Junior Club Championships on Saturday, July 29, 2006.
Winners were:
15 and under Singles: Winner - Corey Wagner
Runner-up - Justin Miller
15 and under Doubles: Winners - Corey Wagner/Justin Miller
Runners-up - Robbie Denove/Chandler Ford
12 and under Singles: Winner - Paige Murphy
Runner-up - Maddy Hoffman
10 and under Singles: Winner - Morgan Mazeski
Runner-up - Max Hoffman
Ongoing programs like the thrice-a-week Ladies clinics have been a big
success! Tennis whites have never looked better than on Monday evenings at
6:30 p.m., Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. and Friday mornings at 9:30 a.m. This
program will continue until Mid-October and new members are encouraged
to come and check it out.
You can join the Oakmont Country Club Tennis Staff for a complimentary
Tennis & Wine Tasting, Saturday, September 2, 2006 at 3:00 p.m.. Taste some
of the Club’s exclusive wines, selected and presented by Brad Ladik, Certified
Specialist of Wine) while participating in a Mixed Scramble Tennis Event
hosted by Tom Mercer. For further details, call 412-828-5683.
— 5 —
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
REPORTING BY SHIRLEY PREBOR
2006 LADIES’
INVITATIONAL
The 2006 Ladies Invitational
was held on Thursday, July 13th.
Theme of the Invitational was
“All Stars At Oakmont!”
Final results were as follows:
Two Best Balls – Net:
Home Run Winners: 132 Net
Beth Bergman, Elaine Cohen,
Patty Ludlow, Beth Szymczak
Triple Winners:
133 Net
Mitzi Hofmann, Michelle Aloe,
Ellen Leimkuehler,
Lynn O’Mara
Double Winners:
135 Net
JoAnn Livingston, Joanne
Herrmann, Marian Mosites,
Ann Vanzant
Single Winners:
136 Net
Lee Murphy, Kaaren Amodeo,
Kate Fuhrer,
Adrienne Lear (BP)
Strike Out Winners:
168 Net
Melanie Smith, Nancy Baumgartner,
Dawn Botsford, Rita Misgorski
One Best Ball – Gross:
Grand Slam Winners:
81 Gross
Karen Gerba, Cynthia Lyons,
Im Sook Reinhart, Clare Ann Scally
Trivia Contest Winners:
Jackie Capretto, Betsy Gentile,
Mary Ellen Maher, Lizzie Truter
Caroline Seely, Heidi Fuhrer,
Judy Pappalard, Mary Ryan
Skill Prizes:
Longest Drive #1
Member: Nancy Pudelsky
Guest: Linda Costello
Longest Putt #9
Member: Christy Hofmann – 23’2”
Guest: Carol Gaugh – 13’7”
Closest to Hole #16
Member: Beth Bergman – 14’10”
Guest: Im Sook Reinhart – 20”
Western Curly Cup
Allegheny Country Club
Friday, July 21st – Alternate Shots
2nd Low Gross – Nicki Nigro & Mark Bope
Nice going Nicki and Mark!
Western Championships
Fox Chapel Country Club
Week of Monday, July 24th
to Friday, July 28th
Participating from Oakmont: Marita
Brunner, Karen Gerba, Anna Konrad,
Nicki Nigro and Rosemary Studer. All
these girls acquitted themselves extremely
well. Karen Gerba finished as First
Runner-Up in the First Flight after
playing five straight days. Congrats to all.
Mixed Couples Championship
As the lazy, hazy days of summer played
out, our Mixed Couples “weathered” the
storm and played well in the Sunday, July
16th event.
Our thanks to David Pagett for scoring
the results and to Carl Gurtner for the
photos of the participants. Too bad that
some folks had to leave before we got
their photo, but, it was understandable.
Mixed Club Championship Final Results
1st Low Gross ............................. 177(*)
Mitzi & Mark Hofmann
2nd Low Gross ................................ 183
Lorna Irvin & Bill Van Duzer
1st Low Net .................................... 143
Tessie & Arne Thomas
(*) Won in Sudden Death Putt-Off
Closest to Pin #16
Women – Lorna Irvin ............... 61’5”
Closest to Pin #13
Men – Dick Thompson ............... 6’9”
Longest Putt #9
Women – Tessie Thomas ................ 4’
Longest Putt #9
Men – Mark Koenig ................. 22’8”
WGA members enjoy their version of “The National Pastime”........GOLF!
— 6 —
CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
From the Red Tees
FROM PAGE 6
2006 Women’s Golf Association Club Championship
August 2nd & 3rd, 2006
Club Professional Bob Ford
congratulates 2006 Club Champion
Mitzi Hofmann
The Oakmont Country Club 2006
Women’s Golf Association Club
Championship was held on August 2nd &
3rd - two sweltering hot days this summer.
The championship was won by Mitzi
Hofmann! Some very tough competition
was provided by Rosemary Studer.
Mitzi’s 89-92 performance bested
Rosemary’s two day totals of 90-96 by
five strokes. (Rosemary Studer had won
four past Club Championships!)
First Flight winner:
Carolyn Molingowski - 157 Net
Second Flight winner:
Melanie Smith - 167 Net
Most improved over the two days:
Marita Brunner
Oakley Porter
Memorial Tournament
Thursday, August 10th was the date for
the Oakley Porter Memorial Tournament.
Oakley, now deceased, established the
tournament for Senior WGA golfers many
years ago because no such tournament
existed. Sadly, Oakley’s daughter passed
away earlier this year and her memorable
service was scheduled for July 20th.
That would have been the date that this
tournament would have been held, but,
had to be re-scheduled for August.
Through the years, Oakley rewarded her
tournament winners with pieces of
priceless jewelry that she had collected.
That IS special!
Patty Gilbert and Kathleen O’Shane
tied at 75 net. Through a match of cards,
Kathleen O’Shane was declared the
winner of the Oakley Porter Memorial
Tournament. We applaud both of these
worthy competitors.
Three Queens and a King!
Marita Brunner, Carolyn Molingowski, Club Champion Mitzi Hofmann and Melanie Smith
WELCOME New Members!
We’re glad to have you on board!
Bob Allen
Jack Strauch
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
(Social Member)
Sponsored by John Fitzgerald
Advance, North Carolina
(National Member)
Sponsored by Mickey Pohl
Mrs. A.F. “Amy” Dias
Regis Synan
(SA Member)
Charles J. Lyons III
Lakewood, California
(National Member)
Sponsored by Gene Farrell
Export, Pennsylvania
(Social Member)
Sponsored by Richard Kacin
— 7 —
Mark your calendars for this ROYAL
EVENT! Make up your own foursome
(three OCC WGA members), choose a
KING (one lucky OCC golfing member)
and enjoy this fun-filled experience at our
Club. Best ball of 4 – Net event. The
“King” cannot be related to any of the
Queens in his foursome and cannot be
the same king as the previous year, except
for last year’s winners. EVERYONE plays
from the red tees. Prizes will be awarded.
The Queens then treat their King to lunch
following this round. Sign up sheet is in
the Ladies Locker Room. DO IT NOW!
Thursday, September 14th, 2006
8:00 a.m. Shotgun
CONTINUED ON PAGE 8
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
From the Red Tees
2006 Mixed Invitational
T
he theme of this year’s Mixed
Invitational on Saturday, August 12th,
2006 was “The Phantom Of The
Open.” Mother Nature could not have
provided a more spectacular backdrop
with the best weather of the season for golf.
Ann Phillips and her committee of Anna
Konrad and Marita Brunner provided an
equally stunning setting for the evening’s
festivities with their attention to detail.
Earlier in the day, Ann was spotted in
the Ballroom giving Anna last minute
instructions regarding the tall candles in
the candelabra that graced all of the tables.
The tables themselves were adorned with
sparkling black tablecloths. In addition to
the signature long-stemmed rose that
marked the place setting of each of the
ladies in attendance, a fragrant bouquet of
long-stemmed roses greeted everyone as
they entered the ballroom. A dramatic
presentation for a dramatic evening!
The sumptuous filet and sea bass
dinner was followed by a chocolate mousse
desert topped with a special white
chocolate Phantom mask, compliments of
Chef Tom and his staff.
Lee Alverson provided the entertainment
for the evening, which consisted of a
medley of Broadway songs culminating
with selections from the Phantom of the
Opera. It really was a FABULOUS
evening.
FROM PAGE 7
Mixed Invitational
Saturday, August 12th, 2006
FINAL RESULTS
1st Low Net Bill Tillotson ..... 127
Carol Tillotson
Gary McKindree
Judy McKindree
2nd Low Net Bob Capretto .... 132
Jackie Capretto
Bruce Haney
Andrea Haney
3rd Low Net Don McKinney .. 134
Patsy McKinney
Curt Waligura
Tessie Waligura
1st Low Gross Mark Hofmann ... 72
Mitzi Hofmann
Bill O’Mara
Lynn O’Mara
1st Low Net Winners:
Gary & Judy McKindree,
Bill & Carol TIllotson
1st Low Gross Winners:
Bill & Lynn O’Mara,
Mark & Mitzi Hofmann
A special thanks to Carl Gurtner for the
wonderful photos, to Jason Marciniec for
the tournament results, to Brad Ladik for
finding a signature complimentary red
wine blend, Meritage, that received rave
reviews, to Peggy Schaal, who is always
involved in coordinating such events and
to the rest of our excellent Oakmont staff
for a job well done.
SKILL PRIZES
Longest Drive:
#1 – Women – Member: Lorna Irvin
Guest: Judy Kovalic
#18 – Men – Member: Nevin Moore
Guest: Dennis Fantaski
Longest Putt:
#15 – Women: Jackie Capretto ...... 72’
#15 – Men: Bob Capretto .......... 15’1”
Closest To Hole:
#16 – Women
Member: Marita Brunner ............... 3’
Guest: Tessie Waligura .............. 28’2”
#6 – Men
Member: Fred Grove ................ 17’2”
Guest: Bruce Haney.................. 7’10”
Putting Contest:
Members: Randy & Barbara Russell ..16
Guests: Bill & Lynn O’Mara .............16
Having a
WONDERFUL time....
Joan & Frank Habic,
Michael & Liu Francis,
Ann & Frank Phillips.
Ann Phillips was
Chairperson of the event.
— 8 —
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
How About
KitchenKorner Taking Some Notes?
BY TOM PEPKA, CEC EXECUTIVE CHEF
BY JOHN FITZGERALD, OAKMONT ARCHIVIST
Join us for LOBSTER NIGHT! Back by
popular demand. Join us every Wednesday night in
September and October. If you are not able to enjoy
our succulent Lobster, we also have Prime Rib
available.
$20 per person. Invite family & friends to share
in this treat!
It’s your opportunity to send
your friends, your relatives and
your acquaintances personal
notes with a flair to them. A flair
that features the tradition and
warmth of more than 103 years
of Oakmont Country Club.
It is with Our
Deepest Sympathy:
They’re called Century Notes
and they come boxed in quantities
of 10, complete with envelopes.
They depict scenes from many of
the historic and once-in-a-lifetime
moments of golf in Oakmont
history. Five different scenes are
in each box. Or, you can have 10
cards of the same scene if you
wish.
We regret to announce the passing of:
Dr. Robert E. Lewis, M.D.
An Oakmont member from 1966.
Dr. George Merle Stoner, DDS
An Oakmont member
from the mid-1960’s to 1996.
These are perfect for use as
invitations for golf outings,
thank you notes for various
occasions or just saying “hello”
to some faraway friends. The
price is $13.50 a box of assorted
cards, (Add 7% state sales tax.)
The pre-packaged box of ten
note cards, available at the
Front Desk, contains the 10
cards shown in rows 1 and 2
below. Or, you can order ANY
combination of the thirteen
illustrated below. All cards are
in stock and orders can be filled
in just a few days.
Proceeds benefit The Fownes
Foundation and Archives.
Row 1
Oakmont Country Club
#684 (Color)
#685 (Sepia)
#686 (Black & White)
#687 (Sepia)
#688 (Color)
Row 2
#689 (Sepia)
#694 (Sepia)
#690 (Sepia)
#695 (Color)
#691 (Sepia)
#692 (Color)
#693 (Black & White)
#696 (Sepia)
— 9 —
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
The Practice Tee
Avoid the Pulls
BY CHARLES ERDELJAC
(And I don’t mean Mickey, Tippy and Joe Pohl!)
Oakmont Country Club founded in 1903,
Hailed the greatest golf course in the Country,
Its church pew bunkers and glass-quick greens,
Great challenges to the PGA kings and queens.
BY ERIC JOHNSON, ASST. GOLF PROFESSIONAL
Major tournament play oft hosted there,
A golfer’s drama for all fans to share.
Professional golfers arrive with glee,
They spend precious hours at the practice tee.
Practice makes perfect the sages long taught,
Golfers master the strokes required quite a lot,
The long game, the short game, the
miracle stroke,
No missed shots for writers to call them blokes.
Golf clubs are the tools of every golfer’s trade,
Their brand names o’er history great golfers
have made,
The number of strokes is the measure
of greatness,
Par, birdie and eagle are words that elate us.
I watch from the window of the
Senior Care Home,
Where hundreds of golfers reside now alone,
Supported by great staff and loving family,
They no longer can go to the practice tee.
They’ve played on the Tour in the
Masters and Open,
They’ve finished their rounds with
gratitude spoken,
The scorecards now signed, their rounds
are official,
Their autographs signed with unique
bold initials.
Are you fed up with hitting pulls? Does
your golf ball always start to the left of
your target? If so, then this article is for you!
The majority of golfers who take lessons
from us at Oakmont Country Club have
a recurring problem. They hit pulls or pull
slices that always start to the left of the
target. (This subject addresses a right-hand
swing. For you left-handers at the club,
read everything here as just the opposite!)
Depending upon the face of the club,
the ball either stays to the left if the face is
square, or eventually slices to the right if
the face is open. More often than not, we
see a pull slice, which is really a weaker hit
because it is a glancing blow with an open
face. This type of shot is often referred to
as “coming over the top.” During the
downswing, the golf club goes out over
where the shaft position started at the
address. When you “come over the top,”
the ball and divot will always start to the
left of the target. (See Fig. 1)
While most of us know what
“over the top” is (See Fig. 2)
we are uncertain of how to fix
this problem. If this is happening to you, in most cases, the
body is outracing the arms and
the arms are working in an
outward direction. It is referred
to as the downswing for a
reason. Your arms must work
downward, not outward, at the
start of the downswing. So, at
the start of the downswing,
return your right elbow into
your side as fast as you can,
which will help to shallow the
clubhead underneath your
hands. (See Fig. 3). This will
also start the divot more to the
right, or down the intended
target line.
See you on the lesson tee!
They’ve completed their turns
at the practice tee,
Magnificent rounds all loyal fans agree,
The Seniors’ Tour now their venue in life,
Their occasional bogeys cause much less strife.
Lessons well learned well on the practice
tee and green,
Serve them quite well in their years of esteem,
Their egos and brand names
they no longer sell,
The Tournament of Life has taught lessons well.
A standing ovation greets their approach,
The 18th green with no writer’s reproach,
Kings and Queens of the game
to you and to me,
They mastered Life’s game on the Practice Tee.
(In honor of Jim Dowd, the greatest golfer to
hail from Missouri to Oakmont.)
(Fig. 1) The first divot is left of
the target line (swing over the
top) and the second divot is
square to the target line.
— 10 —
(Fig. 2) “Over The Top”:
During the downswing, the
clubhead is outside the hands.
(Fig. 3) Club on plane:
Clubhead is under the hands
on the downswing.
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
Pool News
Fitz’s Facts
BY DON WEISZ
BY JOHN FITZGERALD, ARCHIVES COMMITTEE
As summer draws to
a close, I would like to
take the opportunity to thank everyone for
The Great Furrow Dispute
at the 1953 U.S.Open Championship
(Information supplied by Fownes Foundation)
Rumors were rampant that
players in the 1953 U.S. Open
Championship were threatening
to withdraw if the notorious
bunker furrows at Oakmont
Country Club were allowed to
stay. The USGA wanted smooth
bunkers, and Oakmont Country
Club wanted to keep the
furrows.
The remaining tine-type rake is now on
display at the Heinz Sports Museum in
Pittsburgh as part of the exhibit featuring
the golf history of Oakmont Country Club.
Congratulations to all members of our
swim team. We are a growing team and
showing lots of promise for the next few
years. I would like to acknowledge the
following swimmers for qualifying for
championships: Teddy, Luke, Margaux
and Alexis Georgiadis, Miles and Livia
Molinaro, Knox Coulter, Andrew Friend
and Jack Hughes. They did a super job
representing Oakmont Country Club.
And thanks to ALL the swimmers for an
enjoyable season.
A compromise was reached
by agreeing to use two types of
rakes. The original Oakmont
tine-type rake (see Photo A)
which produced a deep and
narrow groove would be used
in the greenside bunkers. A
saw-tooth type rake (see Photo B)
which produced a shallower
and wider groove would be
used in the bunkers adjacent to
the fairways.
The saw-tooth furrow gave
the players a better chance to
advance the ball. This
concession signaled the
“death” of W. C. Fownes
Jr.’s dictum — “a shot
poorly played should be a
shot irrevocably lost!”
(Photo A) Original tine-type rake used at Oakmont
Country Club.
The furrowed bunkers
continued as part of
Oakmont Country Club’s
golf course through the
1962 U.S. Open Championship. However, only
the greenside bunkers
were furrowed and the
saw-tooth rake was used.
A year or two later, the
furrowing was discontinued for members and (Photo B) Modified, saw-tooth rake used for bunkers adjacent
for future tournaments.
to fairways. Abandoned in 1964.
a terrific season. The hot, humid weather
made it perfect for swimming. Family
Fridays were a big hit and we had a lot of
fun at our movie night and sleepover. If
you enjoyed these family events, don’t
worry, similar events will be available
throughout next summer. Look for details
in the Spring of 2007.
— 11 —
Details are still being worked out for
next year, but we will still have a swim
team. Fox Chapel Golf Club has invited us
to join with them for the 2007 swim
season. Practices and home meets will be
held at Fox Chapel, but you will still see
an OCC familiar face on the coaching
staff. As Spring approaches, look in the
newsletter for information concerning a
registration and swimmer social night.
In early August, our daily member
usage surpassed last year’s swimming total.
I wasn’t sure we could beat 6,000 swimmers, but we did! This summer we will
have exceeded 7,000 swimmers. The
growth in member usage over the last five
years has been great and makes me even
more excited about our plans for the new
pool house and snack bar. Be sure to
watch for updates on the pool for 2008.
I look forward to seeing you next summer at the family events. Thanks again and
I wish you well during the winter months.
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
“Dream Along with Me!”
BY AL DUDRECK, EXECUTIVE EDITOR
OH, PERRY…..
It all kind of started with Larry Werner telling me that he
was talking with Mrs. Angie Maher, wife of Pitt’s Provost,
Jim Maher. Seems that Angie has a friend named Bobbye
Flecker. In 1981, Pat Friend called Bobbye Flecker and
asked her if she could “help out” with the City of Champions
Golf Classic that was to be played at Oakmont Country
Club on Monday, May 11, 1981 to benefit the Scoreboard
Fund for Children’s Hospital.
Perry takes over the wheel while Bobbye holds on.
Arranged by Bob Friend and Dick Groat, the celebrities
who played Oakmont that day read like a Who’s Who of
Sports:
Les Biederman
Dave Hill
Steve Blass
Bill Hillgrove
Nellie Briles
Thomas P. Johnson
Joe Connell
Charlie Keller
Jim Daniell
Ray Mansfield
Gardner Dickinson
Bill Mazeroski
Whitey Ford
Del Miller
Bob Friend
Joe Paterno
Dave Giusti
Bob Prince
Bob Griese
Bob Purkey
Dick Groat
Mike Rice
Frank Gustine
Frank Thomas
Mark Hermann
Wayne Van Dine
and, of course, Perry Como.
Mary Brenner and Suzy Lang pose with Perry at the Holiday Inn at RIDC.
Jack Errigo, Ken Lezzer, Pete Lezzer and Had Nelson
said they “carried” Gardner Dickinson to a 14-under 128 in
the two-best-balls-of-five event. They beat out the two next
teams who finished at 129. Dave Giusti, Brad Grandovic,
Jim Knorr, John Knorr and Rod Piatt…..and Wayne Van
Dine, Ron Chiurazzi, John Fitzgerald, Ron Livingston and
Steve Mosites.
But golf wasn’t what Bobbye Flecker was interested in.
She had been for years (and is to this day) a Perry Como
groupie.” Her “job” during the day was to drive Perry Como,
first to and from the course and, then, drive his golf cart
around the course while he played in the celebrity tournament.
Bobbye said that Perry was the consummate gentleman.
He joked with everyone and, though he didn’t play golf as
well as he sang, he managed to keep up with his group. That
is, until the 17th hole. On their second shots, Perry turned
to his teammates and said: “We’re now at 1-under and 19under is winning. Think we should play out?” Just then,
lightning, followed by a brief but heavy shower made up
their minds for them. Perry jumped into the cart and said to
Bobbye, “Head to the Clubhouse, my dear!” And, off we
went,” Bobbye said.
That night, Moose Krause of Notre Dame was the MC,
Joe Paterno played a pretty good second banana and Perry
Como sang for the assembled guests. With music provided
by Jack Purcell and his orchestra, Perry sang such favorites
as: “Blue Skies,” “It’s Impossible,” and several others.
Bobbye and her friends, Mary Brenner and Suzy Lang
stood by and watched the whole show.
Afterwards, as they were driving Perry back to the
Holiday Inn in RIDC, Perry asked Bobbye, “Say, is there
somewhere I can get a newspaper at this time of night?”
Well, it seems Bobbye’s son delivered the daily papers and
Bobbye said: “Let’s go to my house and I’ll get you a
paper.” She knew full well that the reason she suggested it
was so that she could show Perry Como off to her husband, Carl. Which she did and got the paper for Perry at
the same time!
Perry Como…..celebrity sports figures…..City of
Champions Golf Classic ……Oakmont Country Club! Just
one of the thousand of stories about our Club that we felt
might interest you!
— 12 —
Oakmont
Links
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Al Dudreck
EDITOR
is published nine times a year for
members and employees.
George Hill
Judy Folk
1233 Hulton Road, Oakmont, PA 15139
412-828-8000 • www.oakmontcc.org
ASSISTANT EDITOR
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE CHAIR
Larry Werner
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6
Oakmont
Links
SEPTEMBER
SUNDAY
MONDAY
C A L E N D A R
TUESDAY
O F
WEDNESDAY
E V E N T S
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
8:00 a.m.
Shotgun
Member +
3 Guests
1:30 p.m.
WGA Mixed
Event
Labor Day
Picnic
Pool
Closes
3
5
6
7
8
9
12
8:00 a.m. Shotgun
Member +3 Guests
Fownes
Invitational
Pro-Am
1:30 p.m.
Lobster
Night
13
14
15
16
Member
Monday
11
Lobster
Night
Member
Monday
17
18
19
Weakenders
Party
11:00 a.m.
Shotgun
20
Lobster
Night
Member
Monday
24
2
Lobster
Night
4
10
1
25
26
21
Weakenders
Party
9:30 a.m.
Shotgun
22
23
29
30
McLaughlin
Cup
1:30 p.m.
Shotgun
27
28
AU GU ST 2 0 0 6

the August Issue of Oakmont Links

Transcription

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