WACOFF 2015 Wrap Up

After doing this for 25 years, one might surmise that the Wacoffs would perhaps grow jaded, tired, bored or otherwise disinterested in our annual ritual.  After all, how many times can we see the same old faces, play the same games, repeat  the same rituals, hear and tell the same stories and suffer the same all too familiar consequences of wayward behavior and sleep deprivation?  The answer, it seems,is again and again, as by all accounts the 25th Annual Wacoff Invitational Scramble and Gentlemen’s Retreat was as welcomed, energized and enjoyed by the faithful as much if not more than any of the previous 24.

The weekend began with the promise of a bucket list golf experience at the remote locale of The Kingsley Club.  19 of the faithful (a Thursday record) mustered for another go at this challenging and vexing track. We were warmly greeted and instructed by the club pro David Plassman who seemed genuinely tickled to see us.  We did our best to at least create the façade of capable and competent golfers as we trudged and limped our way up and down the fairways and green complexes.  All in all, a marvelous treat for all who attended.   The results of the Thursday two man Stableford completion:

Moss (90)/Voshell (93)                   29 Stableford Points        1st

Glenn (89)/David (104)                   27                                     2nd

Bretz (83)/Keys   (109)                     24                                      3rd

Joe L (98)/Nick (100)                       23

Sam C (88)/Ron H (101)                  23

Jim C (86)/Dick M (91)                    23

John S (86)/Marshal (116)              22

Palmer (102)/Voshell (93)              20

Paul C (80)/John Coon (112)          19

Nielsen (92)/Tim (105)                    16

Dinner was a loud and raucous affair at a local roadhouse called Peegeos, nota great culinary experience but welcomed nonetheless after a long day of travel and too many strokes.

The 25th Invitational welcomed 28 boyz this year, the most since 2008, highlighted by the return of our resident muse and poet, Barry Goldman, and the bookend appearance of Dick Mullendore, present at the 1991 Wacoff-Hyman Golf Thing and biding his time until coming back to sandbag us all in 2015.  Dennis Donahue brought his Irish lawyer BS after a long absence and Andrew Baran finally got medical clearance from his cardiologist, orthopedist, radiologist, internist, chiropractor and shaman to return and escaped unharmed.  We added two delightful newcomers to the young guns  group,  Sam Coughenour, spawn of Glenn (will the Wacoff soon be all Coughenours, all the time?), and Jim Bretz,  sole male heir of Dan. 

Whatever our disappointment in the food Thursday night,  it was soon and forever forgotten as we began to experience the amazing and plentiful offerings of our visiting chef, James Hardesty of the Green Frog Tavern in Bellingham WA.  Drafted by Dad Ron to attend to our gastronomic needs this year, James and his wonderful companion/assistant/muse/girlfriend Elissa showered the boyz with a never ending offering of outstanding and amazing delights, including but certainly not limited to homemade bagels, cheese grits, brisket, ribs and pork butt all lovingly and skillfully prepared by James (in a smoker he towed to Spider Lake behind his trusty steed Fancy),  pancakes with bourbon syrup, more cheese grits, jalapeno poppers, and sauces and dressings to cover them all.  It was universally agreed that the boyz ate more, ate better and ate with more gusto this year than any of the past 24.  Indeed, watching the likes of Larry Mann and Dennis Holefca (and others) attack the buffet line with the intensity of jihadists seeking the proverbial 27 virgins in heaven, warmed the hearts of all of us who thought  overindulgent eating was a thing of the past.  Thank you James, you have spoiled us forever.  And thank you Elissa for being a perfect den mother,  picking up after us, listening to our bullshit stories and generally being a mench.

Friday at the Bear started wet and ended windy.  Notwithstanding the lack of meteorological cooperation, the play was spirited and intense.  So intense in fact that the scoring rules eluded some of the teams more focused on their play than their scorecard, leading to an announced winner that did not actually win.  In the end, it was the dark horse foursome of James Coughenour, Sam Coughenour, John Coon and T. Guerriero who took the Four Man Cap and Floor Best Balls match. The overall results are as follows:

J. Coughenour                   137

S. Coughenour

J. Coon

Tim G

P. Coughenour                  138        

N. Guerriero

D. Holefca

M. Hyman

J. Stimson                            140

R. Hardesty

J. Labarge

D. Hardesty

D.Bretz                                 143

Peter Coughenour

R. Palmer

J. Mantey

R. Moss                                                143

L. Mann

D. Donahue

K. Foster

P. Nielsen                            154

N. Pavle

G. Voshel

B. Goldman

G. Coughenour                 181

D. Mullendore

M. Keys

A. Baran

Saturday’s  25th Annual Wacoff Invitational Scramble Championship showcased the many talents and capabilities of this intrepid band.  Notwithstanding that within 2 minutes of the end of Friday’s round on the Bear the usual carping and grumbling about playing the Scramble from the blue tees began, the Golf Committee wisely chose to stick to the original plan on Saturday and from the blues we did drive.   A glorious late summer sun filled day followed, and a spectacular Scramble unfolded.  The results:

Glenn/SamC/Donahue/Mantey                   33/36* = 69

Bretz/RonH/Voshell/JimmyB                       __/__** = 69 [Card missing]

Moss/Pavle/Labarge/Baran                         34/36 = 70

Stimson/NickG/Keys/TimG                           35/36 = 71

PaulC/Peter/Coon/Goldman                        32/40 = 72

JimC/Mann/Holefca/DavidH                        39/35 = 74

Nielson/DickM/Palmer/Hyman                   36/41 = 77

*Birdie 3 on Hole 18 to win tiebreaker

** Bogie 5 on Hole 18 to lose tiebreaker

For the fifth time (two of which were first place ties lost by tiebreaker), D. Bretz and crew finished in second place.  A new Scramble record of sorts was set by Nielsen and team, relieving Moss, Labarge, Voshel and  Hyman of the burden of their twenty four  year reign as highest Scramble score ever.  Also noteworthy was the respectable finish by the Paul Coughenour team, despite the 3rd tee debilitating injury to their D player on the 3rd tee, purportedly requiring Barry to be carried to and placed upon each tee in order to hit for the remainder of the round.  Otherwise a close and competitive Scramble, with plenty of highlights, especially on 18, where the title was won.  Congratulations to Glenn, son Sam, Dennis and Joe on a smart and well played round.

Sunday left 22 to brave the morning dew and experience another Pure Michigan late summer day.  The Wolverine tested all, and flight victories went to the following:

A Flight

Stimson                 84 – 15 = Net 69               1st*

Bretz                     84 – 12 = Net 72

Paul C                   82 – 7 =   Net 75

Glenn C                 88 – 13 = Net 75

Jim C                     90 – 14 = Net 76

Nielsen                 89 – 10 = Net 79

Moss                     94 – 12 = Net 82

B Flight

Nick G                  92 – 18 = Net 74               1st

Peter C                94 – 18 = Net 76

Pavle                    93 – 16 = Net 77

Mann                   102 – 17 = Net 84

Ron H                   103 – 18 = Net 85

C Flight

Voshell                 91 – 21 =  Net  71              1st

Keys                      103 – 20 = Net 83

Coon                     108 – 21 = Net 87

D Flight

Jimmy B               99 – 28 = Net 71               1st**

Tim G                    98 – 24 = Net 74

Hardesty              98 – 24 = Net 74

Marshal               107 – 28 = Net 79

Mantey                106 – 27 = Net 79

*A/B Paramutuel Winner

**C/D Paramutuel Winner on Tiebreaker (6/4 on Hole 18 vs 6/5)

It’s a fair statement that the 2015 was near perfection. The golf was challenging, the lodging perfect, the food indescribably good.  Some other moments and memories of the 25th are also worth noting, in no particular order:

-The appointment of the “Infallible Audit Committee” to render desperately needed oversight and assistance to the Friday Skins Sub Committee Chairman Joe Mantey, who actually delivered accurate result, albeit a day late. 

-The cavalier abandonment on Sunday morning of the Scramble Trophy, the most cherished icon of WACOFF, at Spider Lake by the winning captain, only to be saved by the aforementioned James Hardesty who selflessly delivered our chalice to Grand Traverse rather than leave it to the cleaning ladies to recycle. 

-The marvelous presentation of the Benediction by its author (and, we were reminded, the copyright holder ), Barry Goldman, in true call and response Detroit preacher man fashion on Saturday evening.

-The  tribute to Deke, with kind and warm words from several, on Saturday, not diminished even by the flacid club toss by Mr. Goldman, working injured.

-25 consecutive appearances at Wacoff by Paul  Coughenour,  Guerriero,  Stimson,  Palmer, D. Hardesty and Voshell.  24 by Bretz, Hyman and Labarge. 23 by Nielsen and Mantey.  God bless them all.

-The amazing ball markers designed by Ron Hardesty and having a heft and weight appropriately reflecting the subject on their face.

-The generosity of Marshal and Bob Palmer in providing beautiful 25th anniversary edition logoedProVi  balls for everyone.  You guys!

-The sight of the James Hardesty smoker, sitting in front of Spider Lake in all its sooty and smoky glory, looking for all the world like a steam locomotive at the station. 

-Shooting stars or space junk, whatever it was, reminding the boyz on the beach what a wild and wonderful universe we live in.

-The enthusiasm of youth and new blood mingling with the aged and infirm, and everyone coming out a bit wiser and a bit younger.

Thanks to the usual suspects for their tireless efforts:  John and David H on the archives, a wonderful testament to our history and traditions; to Ron H for the sporty shirts and caps, Callaway treats and the ball markers previously mentioned; Marshal H for the performance prizes; Joe and the Infallible Audit Committee for Friday skins; Glenn C for the always interesting and sometimes remunerative Parimutuel betting on Sunday; Voshell for looking as good as he does as old as he is, and lastly to our sainted Golf Committee Chair, Paul C, who bears the brunt of the complaints and bitching, but steers us unerringly on golf’s true path.  We love you Paul.

This missive will be posted on wacoff.net along with what pictures The Committee possesses.  Please send  ALL of your pictures of whatever nature or source from the weekend to The Committee at wacoffcommittee@yahoo.com.

The Committee now retires to deliberate and plan for the 26th Annual.  A southwesterrn Michigan location would be very desirable for many reasons, but it depends on availability of suitable lodging and golf. If any of you have any suggestions/ideas/local knowledge in that regard, please pass on to The Committee.

Until next year, we remain

YrObtSvts

THE COMMITTEE