
Heritage Shores Club was host to the Premier Men’s event of 2009, The Men’s Member Guest. The event which involves our club members inviting guests from outside our community to come and tackle our challenging Arthur Hills design golf course for 45 holes of golf contested over two days. The club saw 34 members bring a guest for a total of 68 players divided into 6 flights (all Scottish themed) based off of their total team handicap and playing five 9 hole matches.
The actual event started on Friday at 8:00am under dreary and misty skies, but soon turned to sunshine and a slight breeze that made the day very pleasant for all the competitors. Several matches were played and a BBQ lunch was enjoyed. You could hear the excitement in the air as teams were already starting to plan their strategies for the final day’s matches. It was the conclusion of golf for the day, but not the fun, as then the players headed over to the clubhouse to partake in another excellent BBQ meal provided for them along with some skills competitions provided by the golf staff.
There were many laughs and jokes shared along with numerous stories of how their matches unfolded during the day. It was one great day done, with only better to come.
Saturday has arrived and still 18 holes to go until we can determine a winner from each flight to proceed on to a 3 hole shootout to determine the champion of champions.
The scores were posted, another outstanding BBQ lunch was provided and the sighs, laughs, jubilation and disappointment started to set in. At 2:00pm the winners were announced, which congratulations were extended, but it was not quite over yet as we now how to prepare to do battle again for a 3 hole shootout to determine our overall champion. There was a sense of “is this over yet”, but also a “man, I don’t ever want this event to end”.
At 2:45pm the 6 flight winners made their way to the 16th tee, a demanding Par 3 to begin the final trek of “who’s the best”. The 3 hole shootout involves all 6 teams playing together in an alternate shot format with two teams being eliminated on the 16th hole, two team being eliminated on the 17th hole and our champion crowned at the conclusion of the 18th hole. With a large gallery following the play, it felt as though we were at a Tour event. After the winners were deemed, the players went home to recharge for a night of fun.
At 6:30pm the doors to the ballroom opened and the room was decorated with golfing décor and pictures of the event on their designated tables. There was a long night ahead as first there were cocktails and appetizers for the participants and their significant others to enjoy followed by the announcements from the golf staff of all the flight winners and last but not least our overall Champions. At the conclusion of awards was an outstanding Prime Rib dinner with numerous sides for all to enjoy. Now the real fun; it was time to put on those dancing shoes as a DJ played music and everyone twisted and shouted to well into the night, leaving everyone saying and reminding each other, “I CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR”.
The following are the results:
Putting Contest:
Guest – Charles Bilezikijian, Jr
Member – Tommy Johnson
Par 3 Shootout:
Guest – Doug Hamilton, Jr
Member – Ozzie Van Helmond
St. Andrews Flight
Guest – Alan Parker
Member – George Phipps
Turnberry Flight
Guest – Stanley Botts
Member – John Allen, Jr
Carnoustie Flight
Guest – Broderick Reynolds
Member – Gerry LaForge
Royal Troon Flight
Guest – Andrew Baldwin
Member – Steve Baldwin
Royal Dornoch Flight
Guest – Matt Dayton OVERALL CHAMPIONS
Member – Maury Morin
Loch Lomond Flight
Guest – John Torkelson
Member – Larry Kaplan