2009

 Gentlemen

Having closed the book (financially and figuratively) on the Nineteenth Annual, The Committee now pauses to reflect on the latest gathering of the feckless and fearless.  The reports received from our far flung brothers thus far suggest it was well received, notwithstanding the usual complaints emanating from the usual corners.

This year, Mother Nature smiled upon the faithful, showering the boyz in sunshine and pleasantness, which seemed to be contagious.  Smiles, warm feelings and a general sense of well being pervaded the entire event.  The Committee will take as much credit for the blue skies and pleasant temperatures as you will give it, recognizing that such hubris will undoubtedly bite us in the ass some cold rainy day in the future.

Our gathering was smaller this year by design, 24 instead of the 32 we have welcomed in the past several years, and in many ways was the better for it.  The pace and tempo of the event seemed less hectic (notwithstanding the frenzy created on Friday by moving up the tee times one hour)  and the interaction amongst the troops more relaxed.    The Committee was particularly pleased to see that the rigorous itinerary set out for the clan was generally adhered to without any MIA's or late arrivals at the tee.  Well done to all.  Our two newbies, Rick DiDonato and Tim Adams,  proved themselves hale and hearty companions, able gamesmen, and a welcome addition to the clan.  We hope you will return.

The competition events and the courses, starting with Angels Crossing on Thursday, Yarrow Friday and Saturday, Stonehedge South on Sunday, were superb.  The return to Mickey Ball on Friday was a retro treat, made all the more memorable by the fact that only one in six teams managed to keep the little bastard through 18 holes.  The winning Mickey foursome of Stimson, Mann, Voshel and Guerriero husbanded their charge around Yarrow with the protective ardor of a heart transplant delivery team sheparding its cargo to an expectant donee.   The headliner in back to  back rounds on Yarrow on Friday and Saturday was Gary Voshel, winning the CD two man best ball on Friday (with the aforementioned Guerriero) with a sizzling net 62, and then going on to achieve WACOFF immortality on Saturday by teaming up with Team Prius Blue (P. Coughenour, J. Labarge and M Hyman in support) to win the honor of etching his name on the Scramble Championship trophy for the first and only time in 19 years.  The tears he shed on Saturday night at the awards presentation reflected the emotional grip that victory in the Scramble Championship has on everyone.  Gary also won the honor of the Dekam club toss at the Shootout, managing to move the 4 iron almost 8 yards in front of the tee.  Time to man up and get a decent club throwing technique Gary.  In winning the Nineteenth SCRAMBLE CHAMPIONSHIP, Team Prius Blue savaged the field, bringing all 7005 yards of the Yarrow layout to its knees with a phenomenal 4 under total.  Well done.  Too bad you all looked so silly in baby blue.  We withhold comment on the dwindling number of folks whose names have yet to appear on the Trophy, saying only that 20 years should be time enough. 

 The Committee was impressed with the celebratory fervor which pervaded the event, particularly on Friday night when most of the boyz seemed to work hard at showing they still had the will, if not the actual ability, to imbibe vast amounts of intoxicants of one form or another, play cards late into the night and be incredibly concerned about the whereabouts of Joe LaBarge.  No one seemed to work as hard at it as D. Hardesty and John Coon, and that much was evident to their Virgin White teammates on Saturday morning when Hardesty couldn't talk and Coon couldn't walk for the first eight holes of the Scramble.   Sharing our venue with others as we did at Yarrow increases the  risk of unplanned interaction, as the bleacher bums sitting in the Adirondack circle Friday night witnessed when some of the boyz on the second floor were accosted by wandering wedding guests of the female persuasion, whose attention seemed to be inordinately an inexplicaby focused on our boy Palmer.  "Hey Bob, call me"  was the watchword of the evening.  The Committee is pleased to report that Bob was steadfast in his resistance to temptation. 

 As usual in this space, The Committee needs to pay homage to those whose contributions were critical to the event, inspirational to the boyz, or otherwise worthy of mention.  The Thursday Committee in the person of John Stimson began the weekend with a bang, selecting a fantastic venue, and organizing the most memorable Thursday dinner/cocktail hours ever at the Stimson family estate on Gull Lake.  Swimming, campfire, steaks grilled to perfection by Dan Bretz, and the warm hospitality of Sister Sue will not soon be forgotten.  Mr. Stimson also gets Committee kudos for his outstanding presentation of the WACOFF Archive, each year adding to a collection that The Committee is sure will one day end up in the Smithsonian. 

The Shirts, Hats, Fobs and Baubles Sub-Committee, chaired by Ron (he of the new slow swing) Hardesty outdid itself this year, with beautiful (save for Prius Blue) Ping shirts and hats that  looked good on all, even Dan Bretz.  Well done RH.   Marshal Hyman did his usual workmanlike job on performance prizes, and in the process provided plenty of liquid lubricant to be shared amongst the crowd.  David Hardesty brought the photo albums and managed against all odds to obtain a group pic on Saturday at the Shootout.  Thanks to Jim Coughenour for his efficient and competent management of the parimutuel window, he being the only bettor on the Sunday D winner, Ron Wolf.  How much did that pay James?  A nod also to Joe Mantey for demonstrating that a candidate for public office does not need to have organizational or arithmetic skills in order to be entrusted with responsibility, he just needs to show up.  Joe, The Committee is going to keep assigning skins to you until you dazzle us with your computational and oratorical skills.

Paul Nielsen picked up the Shootout baton from the missing Chuck Brown, and produced a most entertaining and efficient incarnation of that event.  The competition was fierce, ending only when J. Coughenour banged his 138 yd tee shot off the stick in the final round, leaving a three footer, handily holed and allowing JC and Dr. Keys to claim triumph.  Thanks and well done Paul.

Finally, a deep bow and humble thanks by The Committee to the Golf Committee, chaired by our own Paul "Hootie" Coughenour, which once again conceived, organized, led and put on a series of events over the weekend which makes this the best damn outing in the world.  You are the best, and The Committee and all the boyz acclaim your creativity, integrity and love of the game. 

In closing, The Committee reminds the reader that next year brings the Twentieth Annual, certainly a milestone in the history of the WACOFF and our collective bond.  Some suggestions have been forthcoming from the faithful, and if you still have an opinion or thought you wish to register, please do so sooner rather than later as the planning wheels are already turning at WACOFF Central.  Whatever it brings, and wherever it is, don't miss it.  Until then, we remain,

YrObtSvts
THE COMMITTEE