Good Morning Nate,

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FROM THE GM - Vicki Richardello  

Mixed Scotch Results - Oh, what a gorgeous day we had last Sunday!  We were blessed with good weather, good friends, good golf and a golf course that is in terrific shape!  All of us were treated to a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings to highlight a perfect Sunday!  See you all next year!  


 

Very happy to see 93 year old friend Bobby Ahlen golfing at Waubeeka on Monday.  He saw old friends, Chuck and Linda Lewitt, where I’m sure the topic was many of the battles that he and Steve Kawa enjoyed!  No doubt they were the 2 best short game players in Berkshire County!  Bobby was a bit upset on Monday; he bogeyed Holes #1, #5 and #6, but did have a couple of birdies!  He’s still a great player!

If you aren’t familiar with the PGA’s Player Impact Program (PIP), it’s a secret ranking which the PGA compiled to reward its best players for not joining the new Saudi backed Premier Golf League.  Simply put, they will dole out $40 million if their stars snub this new startup.  It is similar to the old ABA and AFL.   My take on the secret and how I rank out the free cash is this: Tiger Woods will get the top prize $8 mil, even though he hasn’t hit a single shot in 2021!  My prediction for the rest is: 

2. Bryson DeChambeau
3. Jon Rahm
4. Tony Finau
5. Rory Mcllroy
6. Ricky Fowler
7. Jordan Spieth
8. Brooks Koepka
9. Webb Simpson
10. Will Zalatoris

How could I leave Justin Thomas off the list?  How does Rickie Fowler get there?  What about Patrick Cantlay, Colin Morikawa, Xander S, Hovland and attention grabber Patrick Reed?  If you think it’s easy, make your own list!  One thing is certain; if any of these guys bolt, they will be banned for life from the PGA Tour and the Ryder Cup!  PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan is not going to announce where this $40 mil is going, who gets it or when it gets doled out!!  According to the article I just read, we will never know who gets the money, so I guess my prediction means nothing…….

Maggie Koperniak has let us know that her nephew, Matt Koperniak who plays Class A Baseball for the St Louis Cardinals in Palm Beach, has been named by the organization as the 2021 Player of the Year! We wish him continued success….watch for him on the major league roster! That’s a prediction that will be transparent!

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT - Brian Bartlett            


SHOCK TIME:  This will be the final week for golfers to hit off the turf on our driving range:  As a result of COVID19 and the labor shortage caused by it, we have been told we are not able to purchase grass seed in 2022!  Our suppliers can’t get the mix we need due to this
national shortage.  Luckily, we have stocked up all we were able to purchase and put the seed under lock and key. 

 We have implemented measures to enlarge our sod farm, cut and re-use sod wherever possible on the golf course!  Since we keep losing valuable daylight, please be considerate of our staff, who cannot begin work until 7 AM!  Effective today, there will be a free drop area in front of #9 green.

FROM THE KITCHEN: TAVERN ON 7   

Prime Rib and Rib Eye Steaks to die for are this week’s special.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday only.  Reservations are required, 458-6000.


 

FROM THE PRO - Erik Tiele 


Congratulations to Judi Willette, who recorded her 2nd career hole-in-one yesterday! She made her ace on the 16th hole using a 9 iron. Witnesses were Sandy Bourdon and Kay Goldstein!  This is only the 4th hole-in-one this year at our course.  Judi joins Jamie Gaffey, Nancy Daignault and Mike Cirullo~all members.  Judi was happy as we enforced the local rule; she enjoyed one drink with her playing partners and left for home!  She did not have to buy a single drink as she has a lot of IOU’s!

Pro Shop Credits - All pro shop credits for most tournaments played in 2021 must be redeemed by Oct. 31. We do allow the Women’s Fall Classic, Open Mixed Scotch, The Open Par Three and Our Cross Country Tournament winners to carry over their winnings due to the lateness of the event in our season; otherwise, it’s use them or lose them!

Pro Shop Hours - We are now opening everyday at 8 AM in order to give our grounds crew time to change cups, mow greens and blow leaves.  With the darkness hanging on just a little bit longer every morning, it gives them just a bit more time to get out in front of that first group.

CBD helps for all our aches and pains, supports joint and muscle function and promotes tranquility.  I have many 2 oz tins of 60 ml/500 mg CBD Salve. I also have a few bottles of CBD Oil left also. Use your pro shop credits for this great buy at $35/tin.

Mt. Greylock High School will be having their Golf Tournament fundraiser on Sunday, October 17th. It is a 1 PM shotgun with lunch starting at noon. Spots are still available.


Thank you to all the members of the American Legion and organizer, Jim George, who gathered here for a Golf Tournament in honor of Dennis Dostie last Saturday.  It was great to see so many old friends, golfers and non-golfers alike, and it brought back many memories, all to honor comrade Dennis!

This week’s Sunday Sweeps format was delete a par 5 on the front and back. Winners were:

Next Wednesday, October 20th, Waubeeka will be holding the final event for the Berkshire County Senior Series. It is a noon time shotgun.  Entries must call the pro shop before 10 AM Monday morning to register.

Yesterday’s Senior Results at Wahconah:  Congratulations to Gerry Desmarais and John Vareschi who came in second place in this 2Person Scramble event.  Jim Crews and Roger Prevey lost cashing by a match of cards, but played well.  Special recognition was given to Ken Hodgdon and former fellow North Adams players for 19 continual years of support for junior golf.

Dick Syriac (laryoflenox) writes:   


 
 
 

Last week I got home in time to catch some of the Brewers-Braves game, already in progress. The announcer’s voice sounded familiar as the game picked up in the seventh inning.  I was informed the game was in the 7th because the play-by-play guy told the viewer 16 times.  When he added this line, the lead off batter "was the recipient of a called strike one.”

Yes, you guessed it; it was former NESN talking head Don Orsillo.  Okay, Don, let's go over this one more time.

If we want to know what inning we are watching we can simply look at the box posted on our TV screen. You were not doing radio, you are past that.  The announcer's creed used to be that the play-by-play guy would talk to us like he was sitting next to the listener in the stands.  If I was told by my seat neighbor that the batter was the recipient of anything, I would change seats.  Maybe Don's producer could mention that he has a tendency to tell us the inning, "just a bit outside" the norm.  Oh yeah, he still uses a line that many announcers have copied, there is one out in the inning. Where else can there be one out? 

Hoop season is upon us.  When people give their opinion of the greatest basketball player of all time it is probably a choice between  the players known by only one name; Lebron, Michael, Wilt, Larry, Magic or Kareem come to mind.  Steph Curry is the greatest shooter, Bill Russell the greatest winner but please allow me to place another name into the greatest ever category, a player that should at least be in the top ten: The Doctor, Julius Erving.

He was the ABA, he saved the NBA and was the classiest player and person of his generation. Until I watched a one hour presentation on my PC titled "When Greatness Meets Class" I had forgotten the impact that Julius had on professional basketball. Basketball fan or not, this is a must watch.

The first time that I saw him in person was at AIC when UMASS visited the Springfield Butova Gym. Erving missed his first 4 or 5 shots and I turned to my friend sitting next to me and said, “He is the best player that I have ever seen.”  He hadn't even scored a hoop but still did things on a court that I had never seen.  Once he became a professional, he was the biggest attraction of the league in which he played. Fans had to see what all the attention he received was all about. Julius did not disappoint.  Another player of that era that was absolutely a freak on the court was Connie Hawkins. His prime years were taken away from him because he was banned from the NBA for 7 years.  Both Erving and "The Hawk" had all the moves learned on the playgrounds and had enormous hands and demonstrated abilities on the court that were never seen previously.                                                              

Have you ever played in a November golf tourney called a "Turkey Shoot?” A few years back I signed up for one at Oak Ridge Golf Club in Gill, MA. I somehow cashed and had to go up the road to pick up my "fresh turkey" at a turkey farm.  I watched as they prepared my prize.  They should have called the event the Blood Open Scramble.  I donated my prize to the local Elks Lodge.

A loyal reader of our newsletter living in NH has had a health setback.  Get well quick, Chili.

Slice of Art - A perspective of art from the point of view of golf 

AM ArtHouse, a new Gallery, has opened in Bantam, CT, and is dedicated to curating Contemporary Art.  The inaugural exhibiti

on features Richard Pitts, a prominent artist of the post war art movement in New York.  Mr. Pitts has a display currently at the clubhouse entrance, “Twirling Mirrors” at Waubeeka.

PGA Tour -   

Fake News (correction).  Last week we told everyone that the winner of the Sanderson Farms Championship, Sam Burns, was the grandson of the late Arnold Palmer!  Sorry, Arnold’s grandson is Sam Saunders, also on the PGA Tour; no wins yet.  Dick Syriac sent us a reprimand within 30 minutes of releasing the wrong info!  We’ll try to improve our factual reporting in the future!

Sungjae Im had 7 birdies in 8 holes at the final round of the Shriners Hospital for Children Tournament held in Las Vegas last weekend.  The nearest competitor, Mathew Wolff was 4 shots back!
Today the pros will move from TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas and play in the CJ Cup at The Summit Club, also in Vegas!

LPGA Tour - 

Jin Young Ko led the Cognizant Founders Cup at Mountain Ridge, West Caldwell, NJ from beginning to end.  She shot 63, 68, 69, 66 for her 14th straight round in the 60’s tying Annika Sorenstam’s 16 year record of consecutive rounds in the 60’s!  Ko also joins Nelly Korda as the only ladies to win 3 times this season!  After a little rest, the next tournament for Ko is the BMW Ladies Championship in her home country - South Korea!  Will she break Annika’s record?

The Ladies are off this week for a little R&R!

DEEP Thoughts - 

The idea of a new Golf League is intriguing.  Think of all golfers at local clubs who are actively engaged in a golf league.  It sure is an easy concept to grasp...implementing may be a different story.