29th ANNUAL WACOFF INVITATIONAL AND GENTLEMEN’S RETREAT WRAP UP
The Committee hopes and expects that everyone has returned to their civilian lives none the worse for wear after the 29th Annual Invitational. It seems to get a bit harder each year to bear the brunt of 36 hours of golf, booze, lack of sleep, too much smoking of various things and generally stepping outside one’s routine. But bear the brunt we shall, as always, in the service of Wacoff.
The 29th brought us back to the friendly and comfortable confines of the Hop and Vine Inn, and it’s amiable and hospitable proprietors, Dan and Amber. It was like a homecoming, with the WACOFFs basking in the familiarity and warmth of one of the friendliest venues we have experienced in our 29 years. Suffice to say, if The Invitational were ever to establish a permanent home rather than the rota we traditionally employ, the Hop and Vine would be a serious contender as a permanent establishment.
We also returned to the sublime pleasures of West Michigan golf. Our Thursday we explored a new and unknown venue, Diamond Springs, in the middle of BFN between Grand Rapids and Fennville. We were not disappointed, as the course met and exceeded all of the 5 star reviews it enjoys on various golf rating sites. It was a course that, if fate so ordained it, one could happily play every week/day and find new and interesting ways to enjoy it. Great choice by the Golf Committee. Friday took us to The Ravines, a confounding and challenging track where accuracy and course management is always at a premium. The Boyz found it as expected: difficult, fun, interesting and challenging, even from the white tees. The weekend reunited us with one of our favorites, Hawks Head Golf Links for the Scramble Championship and Sunday Flight Championships. Once again, the playability and challenge of Hawks Head rose to the fore, and it is fair to say it is also a contender for the “course I could play everyday” title.
The weekend’s competitions were blessed with decent weather and strong efforts by many. The outcomes (winners in bold):
THURSDAY GAME Diamond Springs Golf Course White Tees Two Man Flighted Stableford
AB Flight
D Bretz 74 /Glenn C 88 49 Stableford Pts $80
Jim C 93/R Hardesty 88 44 Stableford Pts $40
John Stimson 86/T Guerriero 95 42 Stableford Pts
Paul Nielsen 84/G Voshell 92 41 Stableford Pts
CD Flight
Jon Snyder 97/Joe Mantey 105 42 Stableford Pts $80 (tiebreaker)
Phil Nielsen 94/ J Bretz 110 42 Stableford Pts $40
Palmer 98/Jerry Snyder 105 36 Stableford Pts
D Hardesty 96/M Hyman 116 35 Stableford Pts
The combined AB/CD winner, by random draw, was of course Bretz/Glenn C/Jon Snyder/Mantey at $80.
A good match, although the Bretz 74 took the wind out of most of the AB sails. Well done DJB.
FRIDAY The Ravines White Tees FOUR MAN BEST BALL
A one winner event ($200), two net best balls out of four. Here are the results
First Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 124 [Won Playoff with Net 7 on #18 vs. Net 8…Wow that was close!]
Ron Hardesty 85 – 16 = Net 69
Jim Bretz 97 – 24 = Net 74
Peter C 98 – 21 = Net 78
Paul Nielsen 90 – 11 = Net 79
Second Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 124
Gary Voshell 89 – 17 = Net 72
John Stimson 86 – 13 = Net 73
Larry Mann 95 – 19 = Net 76
JerSnyder 101 – 23 = Net 78
Third Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 126
Dan Bretz 79 – 8 = Net 71
Tim G 89 – 18 = Net 71
JonSnyder 95 – 21 = Net 74
Skip Pruss 101 – 24 = Net 77
Fourth Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 130
Bob Palmer 91 = 20 = Net 71
Jim C 87 – 14 = Net 73
Joe LaBarge 92 – 18 = Net 74
Joe Mantey 111 – 23 = Net 88
Fifth Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 133
Phil Nielsen 90 – 17= Net 73
David Hardesty 96 – 21 = Net 75
Nic G 82 – 5 = Net 77
Marsh Hyman 114 – 28 = Net 86
Sixth Place: 2 Net Best Ball = 133
Paul C 76 – 6 = Net 70
David Hardesty 96 – 21 = Net 75
Glenn C 101 – 15 = Net 86
Andrew Baran 124 – 29 = Net 95
Dan Bretz posts his second sub-80 round in as many days. This was just the first tiebreaker John Stimson would lose this year.
SATURDAY 29TH ANNUAL WACOFF SCRAMBLE CHAMPIONSHIP Hawks Head Golf Links Blue Tees
Morning broke on a cloudy but very playable day, with the boyz festooned in their team colors, some more attractive than others. Hawks Head was ready. The Bretz juggernaut rolled on, substantively aided by a last minute substitution of Bill Green The Golfing Machine in the Ocean C spot. As it turned out, Bill Green the Golfing Machine could have dominated the B category that day, and probably every day. Nonetheless, here is how it played out:
1. OCEAN (Bretz, J Labarge, B Green, J Bretz)
442453343 = 32 435344354 = 35 67
2. SKY (Stimson, R Hardesty, D Hardesty, J Mantey)
453443343 = 33 434355354 = 36 69
3. MEADOW (Paul C, Voshell, Peter C, Hyman) (by tiebreaker on 17)
443443444 = 34 444344355 = 36 70
4. MOUNTAIN (Nic G, Tim G, B. Palmer, A. Baran)
453443344 = 34 434344365 = 36 70
5. LAVA (Paul Nielsen, Phil Nielsen, Jon Snyder, Jerry Snyder)
453453444 = 36 444355254 = 36 72
6. MAGMA (Jim C, Glenn C, L. Mann, S. Pruss)
452453454 = 36 434345354 = 35 73*
A two-peat for Dan, and 3 of the last 4. He must be running out of motto material by now. A new dynasty, or perhaps just the rub of the green for the rest of us? Who really knows?
SUNDAY FLIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS Hawks Head Golf Links White Tees
Sunday dawned sunny and cool, a perfect golf climate. The field was severely reduced by early departures, leaving only 15 (plus Bill Green and Dan from Hop and Vine) to join the fray Sunday am. It was a spectacular morning, and perhaps the fastest competition round ever played at WACOFF. The results:
A Flight
D. Bretz 76/68 (Tiebreaker, par on 18 vs. double)
John Stimson 81/68
Nick Guerriero 77/72
Paul Nielsen 89/78
B Flight
Tim Guerriero 87/69
Phil Nielsen 88/71
R. Hardesty 89/73
Gary Voshell 91/74
Glenn C 90/75
C Flight
D. Hardesty 92/71
R Palmer 103/83
D Flight
J Bretz 106/82 (tiebreaker, bogie vs triple on 18)
J. Mantey 105/82
M Hyman 114/86
S. Pruss 117/93
Congratulations to ALL the winners, most of whom are Dan Bretz and those fortunate enough to be on his teams to ride his THREE sub 80 rounds over three days. Get those scores posted forthwith Mr. B.
Some other notable and interesting memories from the weekend:
-The sounds of homemade music emanating from the voices and fingers of Jim C , Ron and David H and assorted hangers-on on both Friday and Saturday evenings. Its been a long time since we sang at WACOFF and it was wonderful. The long hidden songwriting/singing talents of the younger Coughenour brother were an amazing reveal. Thanks Jimmy, you are a wonder.
-The bungie hole game attracted a lot of energy on Saturday afternoon. Some of you guys were amazingly good at it too. So many talents, so few outlets.
-Our hosts were again so warm and welcoming, and Dan really wants to be a WACOFF it seems. He couldn’t wait to get the poker game going on Friday and he came out Sunday dressed in his best impersonation of Rodney Dangerfield and posted a 95. Way to go Dan, and there is always a spot for you.
-Joe Labarge continues to astound. Not only did he show up without any of the usual substances he is famous for sharing, he arrived in a little red clown car that looked completely out of character and type for The Man. Joe, is there something we should know?
-Last minute substitutions due to no-shows are an occupational hazard of The Committee, but this year we struck gold with Bill Green The Golfing Machine, a friend of Mr. Voshell. Not only did he fill the gap on the golf course as a ringer extraordinaire for Team Ocean, he was all around great guy and a fantastic addition to our group. Come back anytime Bill. We just need to adjust your handicap a bit.,
-The Committee heard the usual griping about tee selection for the Scramble this year as always, but once again the wisdom of playing the Scramble from the long tees came to the fore. It was competitive, the longest hitters, who the complainers believed would run away with the Trophy, did not do so, and the course presented a fair challenge to all. Well done Golf Committee
-The Committee was particularly happy to welcome back a few prodigal sons to our Annual in the person of Skip Pruss and the Snyder brothers. We know you guys missed it as much as we missed you. Don’t be strangers again.
-We were engulfed by a wave of Sunday departures this year. This is actually becoming a standard happening. It made for a great quick round on Sunday, but geez guys, we would rather play slowly with you.
-The Golf Geek, aka Ron Hardesty, spent hours preparing a hand drawn “green book” for Hawks Head, using satellite photos, course reviews, Google Earth and other arcana, convinced he would seal an insurmountable advantage in the Scramble. He then promptly left it at the Hop and Vine where it sat while his team finished in second. Maybe you can copy and sell it at the Hawks Head pro shop Ron.
-Finally, a hug and consolation to John Stimson, losing TWO tiebreakers this weekend, on Friday and Sunday. What a cruel twist of fate for you John. It just tells you one thing: FINISH!
All in all, a fine event in the very biased view of The Committee. The Committee thanks all those who assisted in the presentation of the 29th Annual, including Ron H on shirts, Paul C for Golf Committee work, David and John for keeping and presenting our history each year, Glenn for managing the always frantic parimutual sheet, Joe M for a good skins effort on Friday, Marshal for chasing down those proximity markers at the end of each round, John S again for the Thursday Game and the DeKam award, and to all and each of you for making this an event we all look forward to and enjoy to the hilt.
Next year is our 30th anniversary, and plans are being reviewed for what lies in store. Due to other factors, it is likely that the 30th will take place in early October rather than early September, so please work to keep the first weekend in October 2020 clear if you can. More details to come. If any of you have pictures please send to The Committee for posting on wacoff.net.
Stay well, stay tuned and most of all stay happy.
YrObtSvts
THE COMMITTEE
