October / 2013
On Course The Bandits—Who Began It All It’s the oldest group in the Club and still going strong. The Bandits dates back to the early 1950s, started so that men could show up for a game of golf without worrying about finding others to play with. While Leo’s Group has a similar objective, that is a weekday group. The Bandits play on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 but also on Saturday and holidays at 9:00, so that more men who are not available during the week have an opportunity to play. Bill Allen, who has been a member of the Club since 1966, remembers those early days well. “I joined the Club because of the Bandits,” he said. “The group was started by a dentist, Howard Millen; a doctor, who we just knew as Doc Trip; and a restaurant owner, (continued on page 3)
The Bandits gather prior to tee-off. Left to right: Dr David Campbell, Jim Cotter, Mal Robertson, Dr Lou Anastasia and Dr. Bill Adams.
From the General Manager Dear Woods Hole Members… All in all, it’s been a terrific summer! Member feedback about the extended Clubhouse hours and the better food and service has been very encouraging, and we intend to keep improving! So, let’s get going with more good times. Café menu and Clubhouse Hours… October 15 to December 31 This year, you will be able to enjoy full hours through December 31. As you know, the Club has always had spotty hours during the shoulder seasons, but the time has come for the membership to enjoy a full menu with full service seven days a week. Since the membership overwhelmingly appreciated the consistent hours of operation every day during the season, the Board has approved our plan to stay open from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. (instead of 9:00) through December 31. The difference is a change in menu. We will have fewer entrée items and will concentrate on daily specials as well as those menu items that members prefer. We call it the Café menu, and it will save labor without sacrificing quality, service or portion size. That’s all good! Please check it out on the website, and let me know what you think. Next season we will certainly return to a larger menu! As always, we appreciate reservations, but they are not required. Thanksgiving Dinner To Go…We’re going to try it! I have floated this idea with many members, and the support has been terrific, so we’ll try it! It’s all about making your holiday simpler, and it works like this: • Order your family meal for four (or more) before the Monday before Thanksgiving, and you can pick it up either Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morning! Such a deal! • Here’s the best of New England for only $65: * 12–14 pound Roasted Turkey * Turkey Gravy and Cranberry Sauce * Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes * Roasted Butternut Squash * Steamed Broccoli (continued on page 2)
2013–2014 BOARD OF GOVERNORS David Barry President
Brian Kenney Vice President Paul S. Tierney, Jr. (PJ) Secretary Margaret Ake Treasurer & Finance Committee Chair Robert Ament William Bearce Membership Committee Chair Kerry Geraghty Green Committee Chair
Michael Jones David Newton Jonathan O’Herron, Jr. Tennis Committee Chair John Salvatore Julia Taylor House Committee Chair Hedy Whitney James Finnegan 130 Quissett Avenue P.O. Box 663, Falmouth, MA 02541 508-540-1899 Ext. 1 Ext. 2 Ext. 3 Ext. 4 Ext. 5 Ext. 6 Ext. 7 Ext. 14
www.woodsholegolfclub.com © Woods Hole Golf Club 2013
On Course - October 2013 • page 2
• T o reserve your Thanksgiving Feast, email or call me, or call Jane Benedict at extension 3, and we’ll insure that everything is ready for you. If you email, please include a phone number for us to confirm. Thanksgiving Day Buffet…If the Membership would like to try! Several members have asked if we could do a traditional Thanksgiving Day Buffet, and I would be very pleased to do that. All we need to move forward is member support. Since Thanksgiving is one of our few staff holidays, labor costs are considerably higher than a regular day. However, we are here to please Woods Hole Members, and we will try just about anything for you! So, if you are interested, please email me today. If we get enough interest, we will definitely give it a try. This could be the beginning of more Woods Hole Traditions! Holiday Cocktail Party Saturday, December 7, From 6:00–9:00 P.M. We really enjoy throwing great parties, and here’s the opportunity for another one! The House Committee suggested a Saturday as a better day to get dressed up for a fun seasonal evening at the Club, and we’re going to make it a good one. The theme will be Holiday specialties from other countries, including England, Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Central Europe, and of course New England. There will lots of everything you’d expect, plus delicacies and special tidbits in every corner of the Club. An enjoyable evening is our guarantee.
Steven Haddad
Pro Shop & Tennis Reservations Dining Reservations Membership Business Office Catering Information Lounge and To-Go Orders Dial-by-Name Directory General Manager
Manager’s Letter (continued from page 1)
Ladies Holiday High Tea Friday, December 13, From 3:00–6:00 P.M. Traditionally, Woods Hole Ladies have celebrated the Season with a plated luncheon, and now the Ladies would like to try something different—like English High Tea! Actually, this is one of my favorite party styles, and we are going to do it properly! Look for more details as we get closer. New Year’s Eve and Day Tuesday, December 31 and Wednesday, January 1 Prix Fixe Dinner, on New Year’s Eve Brunch & Beef Stew Open on New Year’s Day Most people these days realize that New Year’s Eve Parties can be iffy. The evening is often a function of weather, and the cost of entertainment and special menus is usually double the regular costs. After much discussion, the House Committee agreed that we can stretch the festivities over two days—and include a traditional golf outing in the process. Here’s the plan: • New Year’s Eve Dinner * A special “prix fixe” dinner with three choices in each course, (continued on page 3)
The Bandits (continued from page 1) Dave Estes, of the Landfall Restaurant in Woods Hole. In those days, you had to have a handicap of 18 or less, but there is no handicap now.” From the beginning, Bill liked the convenience the Bandits offered. Owner of a retail business in Leominster, he used to belong to a club in Fitchburg. “I’d stand around waiting and then have to go home when there was no one to play with.” There’s no waiting with the Bandits. On Wednesday, Saturday and holiday mornings, men interested in playing that day meet at the Pro Shop at 8:30 a.m. Each player has a card with his handicap on it, which he puts on the counter. Names are drawn, and the teams are assembled blindly based on the ABCD system. This makes sure that the teams are evenly divided by skill. “It’s the best way for a new member to become acquainted with the Club,” said Merv Perry. “There is no pressure. Everyone gets along.” Merv is a retired investment advisor who has been playing with the Bandits since 1990. “You get people from every walk of life and every business.” Part of the fun is that each player throws five dollars into the pot. “Just to make it interesting,” Merv said. “In the course of a season, playing with different people, you probably break even.” Of course, it’s not all fun and games—there’s food! Most of the players gather in the dining room after the game for a bowl of fish chowder or one of the other many tempting items on the menu. That’s
when they recount the morning and joke with one another about how they played. It’s also when the pot is distributed. “You can always tell how well a guy did by how fast the money comes out of the wallet,” said Jim Cotter, who has been playing with the Bandits since 1995. “If he did poorly, he’ll just throw the money in the pot.” For many of the players, golf is a family affair. Jim’s wife, Marsha, and Merv’s wife, Gayle, play with the 18-Hole Women. Bill’s wife, Cynthia, plays with the 9-Hole Women, and his daughter-in-law Halley won the Nobska and the First Lady this year. Son-in law Kevin Armstrong wrote a book Bulls, Birdies, Bogeys & Bears: The Remarkable and Revealing Relationship Between Golf & Investment Markets. Merv sums up the experience. “The total result is you get to meet people you wouldn’t otherwise play golf with,” he said. “It’s a great melting pot of golfers, and you get close to these people.”
Manager’s Letter (continued from page 2) paired with appropriate wines. (Details, including number of courses, to come.) * Dinner will be served from 6:00 p.m until 9:00 p.m. This leaves enough time to get home if the weather is not great, or to move on to the next party if the weather permits! * The Lounge will stay open until 12:30 a.m. to welcome the new year • New Year’s Day Brunch and Beef Stew Open. * On Wednesday morning, the traditional 9-hole Beef Stew Open tees off at 10:00 a.m., and the players usually come in about 12:30. That will be perfect for the New Year’s Day Brunch. * 11:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m. Since this is the last day of the season, we will go all out with the Brunch menu. Well, that’s enough for this month. Please send me your Thanksgiving Dinner To Go requests (or call), and let me know if you’re interested in a Thanksgiving Day Brunch. See you around the Club! Michael
Bill Adams tees off with the Bandits.
Want to Play With the Bandits?
All you have to do is show up Wednesday, Saturday or holiday mornings at 8:30. Meet at the Pro Shop, tell the Golf Pro your handicap, and get ready to have an enjoyable experience. You do not have to make a commitment to play on a regular basis, and whatever your handicap is, you will fit in. Also, because the group plays in the morning, players can be with their families in the afternoon. If you would like more information, contact Glenn Kelly at glennpkelly@aim.com or at the Pro Shop, 508-540-1899.
On Course - October 2013 • page 3
Little Grippers Learn the Game.
WHGC Grows the Tennis Program This has been a big year for tennis as new director Suellen Wheeler and an expanded staff have brought a lot of enthusiasm and new ideas to the program. Suellen, who began as director in mid-June, spent the first few weeks focused on getting the Junior Tennis program up and running. More than two dozen young people, ranging from ages 5 to 13, participated in July and August. There were two sessions over the eight weeks, divided into groups by age and ability: Little Grippers (ages 5–6), Advanced Beginners (ages 8–11), Intermediates (ages 12–13) and Advanced (ages 13+). “Given that we had a complete change in staff, we were pleased to have such a healthy season,” said Suellen. “Some families have multiple children in the program, and while the program itself is for members, we had a number of nonmembers taking private and group lessons as well.” Mike and Sue Giordano own a summer home in Woods Hole; live in Bernardsville, NJ; and have been members of the Club for five years. Their son, Henry, now 13, has been taking lessons every summer since he was 8. “I think the program offers a very relaxed environment where the kids are able to learn the fundamentals of the game with friends,”
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Mike said. “Meaghan O’Herron did a great job instructing the kids.” Mike was particularly pleased with the two inter-club matches organized this year, during which the WHGC kids played a team from the Harbor Head Tennis Club. “My son had a great time playing against Harbor Head. They experienced tournament play and made some new friendships. We won the home opener but lost on their courts in the re-match. It would be great if more kids took advantage of the program because it was a lot of fun.” With the Junior Tennis program in place, Suellen turned her attention to Adult Tennis. Men’s and women’s round-robins were available once again, as were mixers. Highlights of the summer included the GolfTennis Biatholon and the Tennis Member-Guest. Play for P.I.N.K., which benefits breast-cancer research, was organized by WHGC Member Karen Whitney and was a great success. WHGC Member Karen Martin organized the tennis side of the event. Also in the lineup was cardio tennis, which was available once a week. “I really enjoyed the cardio program,” said Molly Farley, a Club Member for three years. “It was, fun, good exercise and good practice. You have to hit a lot of balls, and that keeps you moving. Plus, it works for all levels. The pro does a great job of accommodating different skill sets.” The Club will continue to strive for more participation in tennis, but Suellen is pleased that more people seem to be taking advantage of the program. “There were 20 people at the first two mixers,” she said. “I’m excited to see the increased use of the tennis courts.” One of Suellen’s goals is to encourage more members who think of the Club as being just for golfers to take advantage of the tennis courts. Sue Diette and her husband, Kevin, make their permanent home in Connecticut, but they have a summer home in Falmouth. “My husband is a golfer, and when we joined Woods Hole, it was for the
Falmouth Fund Reception To Thank Donors
Meaghan O’Herron instructs.
golf,” she said. But Sue is a tennis player. “We were never in Woods Hole long enough for me to play weekly,” she said. But this year, with Sue retired as a nurse and Kevin finding flexibility in his dermatology practice, the family was able to spend more time in Falmouth. Sue decided to start taking advantage of the tennis facilities at the club. “The courts are absolutely beautiful, and everybody I’ve played with is so enthusiastic.” Priscilla Geraghty is a fifth-generation Falmouth resident and thirdgeneration WHGC member. Her mother and grandfather before her were members. “My mother grew up on the Cape, and my father was in the army, a West Pointer. When I was a child, we traveled all over the world. This was the only home we knew.” Priscilla, who said she is a tennis player first and a golfer second, had been playing tennis with friends at their clubs. “This year I thought, maybe it’s about time that I met some tennis players at WHGC.” The result: she won the Women’s Golf/Tennis Biathlon Championship. She also won the 2013 Senior Women’s Golf Club Championship. New members are enjoying the tennis facilities as well. Jim and Alicia McGrath joined in July, even though Woods Hole is a bit of a commute to Jim’s office—it’s in Boulder, Colorado. He owns a marketing services firm and has the flexibility to spend much of his time on the Cape. The family spent their summers in Falmouth for many years, but two years ago, when his twin daughters, both sailors, wanted to attend Cape Cod Academy, Jim and Alicia decided to make Falmouth their permanent residence. “I felt, since we were moving here full time while the girls completed high school, it would be nice to be part of something as wonderful as the Woods Hole Golf Club.” Alicia and Jim both play in the tennis round-robins. Jim also played in the Men’s Championship this summer. “It’s just about getting out having some fun and meeting new people,” he said. Stay tuned for next year as we look for more ways to make tennis at WHGC exciting. As Suellen said, “We’re just getting started.”
On October 30, the Falmouth Fund, a Division of the Cape Cod Foundation, will hold a reception at the Woods Hole Golf Club to thank local donors. The Falmouth Fund was created in 2009. Around the same time, the WHGC Board of Directors approved a proposal to allow Members to contribute to the fund by electing to have a small monthly deduction added to their Club charges. The fund distributes $50,000 a year to local nonprofits.
Gail McCready putts during the Senior Women’s Club Championship.
Priscilla Geraghty and Gail McCready prior to tee-off in the Senior Women’s Club Championship. Geraghty later went on to win on the 19th Hole.
On Course - October 2013 • page 5
Munroe Woods Hole Golf Club Scholarships Awarded The 2013 Robert and Claire Munroe Woods Hole Golf Club Scholarships have been awarded by the Cape Cod Foundation to two Club employees: Cyrus Wickersham, who worked on the grounds crew and is a student at the University of Massachusetts, and Shane Hedlund, who worked in the Pro Shop and is a student the University of New Hampshire. One or more scholarships are awarded annually to provide for tuition, fees and other educational expenses for students who have been consistently employed at Woods Hole Golf Club for at least two summers. Applicants may have worked as caddies, in the Pro Shop or on the Grounds Crew, and they must be attending or about to attend a two-year or four-year college or university. The scholarship was created by Claire Munroe in memory of her husband, Robert, who was an avid golfer at WHGC. Recipients are chosen based on need and merit. A Scholarship Advisory Committee makes recommendations to the Cape Cod Foundation, which manages the scholarship. The committee consists of a financial advisor to Mrs. Munroe, Michael Gwynn, and two members of the Club appointed by the Club President. Board Members Julia Taylor and Bob Ament currently serve on the Scholarship Advisory Committee. “When Mrs. Monroe contacted the Club in 2009 about providing a scholarship for caddies, we worked with the Cape Cod Foundation to make it happen,” said Bob Ament. The Cape Cod Foundation is a community foundation that manages more than 250 charitable funds, including 65 scholarship funds, with approximately $43 million under its management. The 2013 awards were presented at the Club by Glenn Kelly, Head Golf Pro, on Championship Sunday, August 25. “Shane is a terrific kid, an avid skier as well as a good student,” said Glenn. Tom Flaherty, Course Superintendent, feels the same way about Cyrus. “He’s a great worker and a great athlete.”
Kate and Bill Heald Win the 9 and Dine Kate and Bill Heald won the 9 and Dine for the season, but not without an unusual twist. The Healds had finished playing and were on the patio, changed and ready for the end-of-season banquet, when it became apparent there was a tie with Pat and Rob Engel. The Healds had to go back out and play one more hole. Kate threw on her golf shoes and played the hole in her dinner dress. They won the hole and the season. The 9 and Dine is a group of people who gather Friday nights to play nine holes and then have dinner at the Club. Points are tallied throughout the season, and the winners are announced at the banquet.
Kate and Bill Heald head out to break the tie at the 9 and Dine.
Cheering on the 9 and Dine finalists are—First Row, left to right: Richard Harrison, Lucia Giangrasso, Ro and Joanne Fallon, Carolyn Richardson and Katha Diddel Sussman. Back row (standing) left to right: Jeff and Suellen Wheeler, Joe Giangrasso, Nordo Nissi, and Michael Gillis.
Applicants and Candidates for Member Review and Comments:
The 2013 Women’s Doubles Team. Bottom row left to right: Halley Allen, Leslie Armstrong, Priscilla Geraghty, Deena Laites, winners Charlotte and Meaghan O’Herron, and Wendy Hill. Back row left to right: Bridget Gabriel, Susan Diette, Stephanie Gabriel, Suellen Wheeler and Sarah Young.
Tennis Doubles Championships Took Place in August The Men’s and Women’s Tennis Doubles Championships took place over two weekends in August. Women — Once again, Charlotte and Meaghan O’Herron brought home the win for the women. Priscilla Geraghty and Deena Laites were the runners-up. It was Labor Day Weekend, and six teams competed in a round-robin format that had the players engaged in two hours of nonstop tennis. Men — The men played several matches over the weekend of August 17 and 18, with finals on Sunday morning. James Gabriel and Bill Heald came in first for the second year. Runners-up were Mike Burton and Steve Ogilvie.
Looking for Someone To Play Tennis With? We recognize it can be a challenge to find someone of similar skill level to play tennis with. So we’re making it easy. At the Club: Look for the sign-up sheet on the tennis bulletin board across from the Pro Shop kitchen. Put your name, level of play, day of the week and time of day you are looking for a game. Suellen keeps the sheets current. From Home: Contact Suellen Wheeler at swwconcord@aol.com or at 978-771-4594 and provide her with the information. Or Contact Glenn Kelly at glennpkelly@aim.com or by phone at the Pro Shop, 508-540-1899 and provide him with the information.
The persons listed below are applicants for membership. All Members should feel comfortable in either showing support or questioning the suitability of any potential Member. The Membership Committee encourages Members to submit comments either by letter addressed to the Club Office or by contacting any committee Member by telephone or email. Written comments will be treated confidentially but must be signed by the Member for validation or follow-up. • Wendy and Lane MacDonald • Donald Jones and Virginia Drachman
In Sympathy We recently have been saddened by the loss of one of our Woods Hole Golf Club Members: Walter A. Murphy • 1926–2013 Our sympathy goes out to family and friends.
On Course On the Web We now have two ways for you to view On Course online: • Go to Our Web Site: woodsholegolfclub.com to see the newsletter in color. AND • Check out the flip book version: You can now read a flip book version of On Course online at: http://issuu.com/samray/docs/oncourseoctober-2013 And remember—You’ll help your club save money and reduce paper use if you sign up for e-mail-only delivery of On Course. Here’s how to do it: • Send an email to: office@woodsholegolfclub. com stating that you wish to opt out of the hard copy of On Course. OR • Go to the Preferences page of the WHGC website and choose “opt out of hard copy.”
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The Woods Hole Golf Club, situated high on a Cape Cod hillside overlooking Buzzards Bay, is marked by rolling hills, sweeping fairways, and dramatic water views. Its championship course is undeniably one of the finest and most challenging in New England. Visit us at: www.woodsholegolfclub.com
Website Version of On Course... You can now read a flip book version of On Course online at: http://issuu.com/samray/docs/oncourse-october-2013