DOWNTOWN & PLAZA LIQUOR

crowded the players and 18th green. Both on in two, Norman putted first and canned for birdie; the crowd erupted. Fiori missed; another eruption. His swagger less so, Fiori went to the clubhouse, downed a drink, flipped the bird to everyone around, and left (he later was medalist in PGA qualifying, and took four Tour titles). The galleries were ginormous in those years, most following top matches as others gathered on shaded lawns around the 9th and 18th greens. Twin Cities and other media, including then-giant WCCO radio, covered the week-long event while Alex townsfolk tuned to folksy play-by-play on KXRA by popular locals Poik Weatherwax and Cap Paciotti.

Local KCMT-TV news anchor Jon Haaven, who later bought the Echo Press, published The Resorter newspaper that still appears daily at the tournament. Echo News Editor Al Edenloff has covered more than a third of the Resorters’ years. This year is his 37th.

In the 1980s, calcutta wagers at the event became too large to ignore and state officials warned that betting was illegal. Things changed: Big bettors left, and with them their excitement and backhanders. Plus, ranked amateurs headed to higher-status national events to pad golf resumes. Meantime, AGC has a state gambling permit so that (much smaller) calcuttas can continue.

The Resorters will continue to draw highly-skilled players, but given amateur golf’s reality it’s unlikely elite names will again pack the leaderboard. More and more the field is filled by locals or seasonal residents, as resorts were replaced by lakeshore homes.

Through the 1970s and ‘80s, The Resorters added divisions for juniors (boys and girls), mid-aged “executives,” seniors, masters and, now, plus-75 super masters. Smaller galleries tend to follow locals they know. Too, carts have mostly replaced caddies and walkers, so now a clutter of machines pack around popular matches, changing the event’s “feel.”

The Resorters has morphed into “An All-American Family Tournament,” a more intimate affair that seems just fine with players and watchers. Given its broad fan base, exceptional operation, and a finely-manicured course, the Resorters is certain to fill for a very long time. In this centennial year, the field sold out within days of open entry.