2003

In the aftermath of the Holefca/Mantey juggernaut which swept through the Thirteenth like a Humvee heading for Baghdad, the faithful are left to ponder life's many mysteries.  Is there life on the trophy after Coughenour?  Is shoulder surgery the swing cure we are all looking for?  What is the magic that improbably turns Mantey into the winningest participant in the storied history of The Invitational?  Can John Snyder drink any more than he did on Saturday?   Will Dan Bretz ever find the true path to enlightenment and victory in the Scramble Championship?   Did Michael Keys intend to do great bodily harm to Andrew with his shanked wedge, or was it merely the fulfillment of Andrew's manifest destiny to sustain injury on the golf course whenever possible?  Only time and a return next year can hope to answer these and the other imponderables which arise during our annual bacchanal. 

The Committee is pleased to have had the opportunity to bear witness to the above items, and is particularly excited to offer its congratulations to Team Bunting, led by the steady and steadfast Paul Nielsen, who brings home the trophy for the first time in his storied WACOFF captaincy.  Of course, The Committee would be remiss if it did not mention that Team Bunting had the benefit of the Holefca/Mantey combination, one of the most formidable in WACOFF memory.  Hats off to Joe and Dennis and the rest of the winners over the weekend.  (The aforementioned Joe and Dennis (Friday Chapman Stableford), Bunting (Scramble), and on Sunday Paul Nielsen (A), Jerry Snyder (B and Paramutuel AB winner), Dave Dell (C), Joe LaBarge (D and CD paramutuel winner).  This winner's list should convince us all that anyone can be a winner at the WACOFF.  Come back next year for your turn.

As usual, the seemingly effortless presentation of golf, lodging, beverages, archives, food, wardrobe, statistics, camaraderie, and betting was made possible only through the selfless dedication of many, including in no particular order,  David Hardesty (archives and photos and verbal shyness), John Stimson (archives, shirts, hats, fobs and baubles and the best C player in the A flight), Ron Hardesty (shirts, hats, fobs, baubles, and WACOFF poet laureate), Dennis Holefca (fine food and graciousness in victory), Glenn Coughenour (paramutuel and great golf shoes), John Snyder (skins and his quiet, meditative demeanor when inebriated), Jerry Snyder (patience and a willingness to overlook the perceived shortcomings of others), Marshal Hyman (performance awards and fun guy to golf with); Joe LaBarge (generosity with commodities in great demand), Joe Mantey (innovation in inhalation devices), Randy Moss (for Thursday and for wanting always to play golf anywhere and anytime), Mike Brazen (for being a great last minute substitute and taker of no shit from the Snyder boys) and last but certainly not least, Paul Coughenour (the high priest of WACOFF golf).  On behalf of all the attendees, thank you to all.  I am sure there are other things which we should be thankful for, and The Committee looks to the faithful to duly record same for posterity.

Final results for all Thirteenth Annual events and pictures (read:evidence) will be posted on WACOFF.ORG in the next week or so.  Stay tuned to that site for all the news that’s fit to post. 

Finally, we discussed the need for a change of date for next year to accommodate those lucky WACOFFians working at the Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills.  At the moment, and subject to availability of venue, the choices seem to be either the weekend before Labor Day (August 27-29, 2004) or three weeks after Labor Day (September 24-26, 2004).   If you have a view or conflict on either of these dates, let The Committee know sooner rather than later, as the final decision will be made before the end of this month.  Your feedback and ideas are always welcomed, albeit ignored.

Stay well. 

YrObtSvts.
THE COMMITTEE