2012 has been referred to by certain WACOFF  pundits as “the best ever”.  While The Committee is loathe to wade into those deep and uncharted waters, it is immensely satisfied with all that took place in the environs of the Otsego Club in early September 2012.   There may be substance to the claim, however, for at the very least WACOFF 2012 brought a multitude of uniquely WACOFFIAN experiences and events: 

 A long awaited and well –earned first  triumph  for a devoted and  patient Captain;

 Ron H fighting through an inexplicable and frustrating injury and displaying  True Grit in the aftermath;

Early fall Michigan sunshine and blue skies with leaves just starting to turn;

Unstopping rain, wind and cold as can also happen in Michigan in early fall;

 The amazing  (and amazingly debilitating) power of “Sneaky Pete”;

The opportunity to savor “the best  IPA in the world”;

The best Manhattans not made in Manhattan;

 The serene quiet of a single sleeping room;

The cacophony of the sleeping bear cave of Coon and Mann;

 The al fresco recitation of “All Time Top 10” Wacoff Moments on Saturday afternoon;

The “bromance” of Gary and Marshal in their Dick and Laura Petry  beds; 

 Dan and Paul C pulling out all the stops to create a euchre dynasty which just wouldn’t hold;

Joe Mantey fucking up Friday skins for the 22d year in a row;

The full throated chorus of aging boomers singing  what words they knew to  “Born to Run”  as the music filled the room;    

The Benediction. The Trophy.  The Boyz.

All of this and more does a Wacoff make.

The Committee is pleased that WACOFF revisited the outstanding offerings of Gaylord golf, having been absent  for many years.   Starting with the Thursday game, attended by 80% of the 2012 contingent,  the golf was first rate, fun, interesting and The Golf Committee strung together perhaps the best weekend rota of courses we have enjoyed in our 22 years.  It was a joy to return to Black Forest in the sunshine (almost) and temperatures above 40.  It was as interesting and challenging as we remembered but immensely enjoyable when you weren’t wearing three layers of clothes and winter gloves.  The Tribute passed everyone’s “great course” test, even while it was being played in a downpour which rendered the day gray, windy and eventually cold for some.  That kudos could be heard from everyone even under such conditions  is a testament to the course.  We will be back.  The Masterpiece and Fazio at Treetops were both top tracks, living up to their reputation for both beauty and playability. 

Competitively, 2012 will always and only be remembered as the year Dan Bretz stopped being the best player never to win a WACOFF.   Michelson’s  first major at the Masters was a minor event compared to the importance of what happened on the Treetops  Masterpiece Saturday, September 8, 2012 to Team Dog.  The aforementioned Mr. Bretz,  ably assisted by the affable and fortunately well playing group of  Nick Pavle, Gary Voshel and Marshal Hyman, turned in a bogey-free 5 under capped by a tie-breaking  birdie on 18 to assure victory over  the hard charging and hot back 9 Team Tiger, led by Jim Coughenour with  Stimson, Coon and Hardesty.  A bogie on 18 sealed their fate. 

The Committee has participated in some and witnessed  all of Captain Bretz’s 20 previous attempts to obtain his place on the Trophy, and it was wonderfully pleasurable  to see his  euphoria upon finally scaling this mountain.   By the way, The Committee is informed that Bretz  found a ball on Sunday at Treetops that said "It's a dog eat camel world."  Dan’s observation was, "I don't know what that means, but I know it's important."  Indeed.  Good on ya Dan. 

Larry Mann, its your turn.

The final results  for the 2012 WACOFF SCRAMBLE CHAMPIONSHIP

1.      Dog     66     [birdie 4 on 18 wins cardoff vs. bogey 6]

2.      Tiger   66

3.      Rat     69

4.      Ox      70      [birdie 4 on 18 wins cardoff vs. par 5]

5.      Rabbit  70 (Gimpy Ron had all his drives in on front 9 we are informed)

Friday winners, first 6 holes, Mann/D. Hardesty, Net 21, three other net 21's tied for first, Mann/Hardesty won with birdie 2 on 6th hole.  (There were also three net 23's).

2nd 6 holes, Holefca/D. Hardesty won with a net 23; there were 4 net 24's, so again a close race. 

The final six holes were won by Stimson/Voshell with a net 21,  Tim G  and Glenn had net 22.

The overall winners were P. Coughenour/D. Holefca/L. Mann/ D. Hardesty with a net 139.  Glenn,Tim G, John and Gary had a net 140, so an extremely close contest. 

The Golf Committee exercised great compassion by choosing to NOT disqualify the team of Bretz/Keyes/Moss/Coon who turned in a card on Friday only 19 shots off their actual score,  despite pre-marked cards specifically noting "NET" scores were to be tabulated.  You can lead a horse to water…..

Sunday scores:
A Flight:

P Coughenour 75/67

G Coughenour 88/76

D Bretz 86/77

P Nielsen 86/78*

J Coughenour 97/84

B Flight

J Stimson 89/75

R Moss 89/76

N Pavle 92/78

Holefca 97/79

C Flight

G Voshell  96/76

R Hardesty 99/78

D Flight

D Hardesty 102/80

M Keys 104/82

J Mantey 110/85

Marshal 122/96

The Committee was very pleased with the lodging and gathering facilities at the Otsego Club.  The Hilltop Lodge was an outstanding accommodation.   The food was more than satisfying and we seemed to be able to go about our necessary business without interference.  The Committee has booked an encore trip for 2013. Your input is expected but not necessarily welcomed. 

A great event takes a lot of work, planning and worrying over things that someone needs to worry about, and in no particular order The Committee acknowledges those who did exactly those things for us this year:

Ron Hardesty once again elevated  us to our usual sartorial heights with sharp  looking shirts and a bauble to die for.  It will be a “keeper” for sure. Well done and thanks Ron.  Take care of that leg. 

David Hardesty and John Stimson continue to curate our archive.  Their loving preservation  of our history will assure that when it is donated to the Smithsonian upon the death of the last WACOFF, it will be presentable and clean.  Also, to John for the “Deke reminiscence” this year.  Best club toss ever Paul Nielsen.

Marshal Hyman suffers the fate of having to be in the last group each Friday and Saturday so he can minister to his responsibilities as Performance Prize Person. Thanks Marsh.  Friday it was not only long  but also cold and wet.  Paul Nielsen ran a Thursday game with a scoring system that left most of us  without any idea of where we stood during the competition, thus  making it quite a relaxing and fun event. The fact that it literally took him 3.5 hours afterward to compile the scores and results  (Winners:  Pavle,  Holefca, Guerriero,  Voshel)  is fucking crazy.  Thursday is yours forever  Paul.   

Joe Mantey for Friday skins. You were perfect  Joe. We can’t imagine anyone else ever performing this task.  Nominated for life.  Thanks for the great IPA in the cool keg too.

The Golf Committee chaired by Paul C once again delivered an outstanding menu of courses, events and results.  The inspired choice (made before the event) to play from the white tees on Friday made what might have been a long, wet, cold slog into a very playabe round.  He is all knowing and all seeing.  All that is WACOFF Golf we owe to Paul. 

Perhaps it was the “best Wacoff ever”,  or perhaps that appellation  belongs to another time and another place (1998 at Northport? 2002 at  Khardomah?  2007 Spider Lake?  Yarrow 2004? Others?) But does it really matter?    Every Wacoff presents the opportunity to gather again, play golf, drink and smoke too much, break bread together,  tell stories and jokes, remember old times and catch up on current events, and remind ourselves of the staying power  and precious importance of good  friends.  In The Committee’s view,  every  WACOFF is the best ever, just because we do it. 

Thanks Boyz.

 See you all next year.

SAVE THE DATE:  SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2013, OTSEGO LODGE. 

YR.OBT.SVTS
THE COMMITTEE