Last week I covered our new Men’s Club Champion, Kyle Feltis, so this week I interviewed four-time champion and most recent winner of the Women’s Club Championship, Tracy Beier, for the Chatter.
Her worthy opponent this year and runner up was Linda McNeal. Actually Tracy wasn’t sure whether it was three times or four, but finally settled on four.
This is a lady who doesn’t belabor the number of her triumphs. She was really disappointed that there were not more ladies turning out for the competition this year.
She allowed that the event may have been too late and some of the ladies were simply unable to play. She hopes the tournament will be scheduled earlier in 2013.
Tracy started playing golf when she was 12 years old and mom and dad, who both play, helped her learn the game.
Her dad won the club championship in upstate New York and she and he have played in father/daughter tournaments. I always like to ask about a hole-in-one experience and she has had one on a 130-yard hole in Florida. A five iron was her “magic” club.
Her most memorable round at Wawenock was a 38 on the front nine some years ago. She had to think for a moment or two for the strongest part of her game and finally settled on her drives.
Her husband quickly added that her second shots were pretty good, too. The one thing she tries to concentrate on during a round is to swing nice and easy and make good contact with the ball.
She finds that this approach to the game gets good distance and accuracy. That would be good advice for most of us. Traci enjoys playing with the Women’s Maine state Golfers Association that enables her to play many of the great Maine courses and make new friends. Good luck next season, Tracy.
With the sun setting earlier and the attempt to accommodate as many golfers as possible, general manager Paul Richmond set up the course to make all 9 holes par 3s.
Just to add to the excitement, Lincoln Academy and Camden Hills High School had a scheduled match the same afternoon.
Coach Todd Brackett sent the three teams off with a shot gun start at 3:30 p.m. on holes one, two and three, while the clubhouse prepared for the scramble.
By 5 p.m., 38 players headed out to the six holes open. The distances ranged from 95 yards to 160 with Paul favoring the longer distances. With the groups consisting of five to seven players to fit every one in, there was a four-way tie for first place all with scores of 24.
Team Johnston lead by golf pro Johnny Johnston consisted of players Terry Karkos, Ken Anderson, Loni Anderson, Terry Wing and Tracy Wing.
Not to be out done was Team Kahl, a favored team that attended all the social scrambles this season. Bucky Kahl along with sons Ryan and Connor were joined by Bob Crook and Bernie Nelson.
Another strong team at the onset was Team Beier led by club champ Traci Beier. Her team went bogey free and consisted of husband Pete, Jane Dahmen, Ted Silar, Chet Clark, Steve Miller and Stephanie Russell.
Rounding out the field with another 24 was Team Davidson led by board member Rob Davidson. Rob’s team included Julie Erickson, Steve Peters, Clayton Giggey, Pete Farrell, Phil Taylor and Athena Taylor. As hoped, everyone was in just before dark.
Sharlene Feltis and Tammy Holmes of Reunion Station’s Fairway Restaurant served a fabulous buffet and limited menu. Everyone expressed their dismay that this was the last of what turned out to be a very successful season.
Thanks to Stephanie Russell for this report.
His “fall golf rewards” are the following: “Almost all courses are magically less crowded after Labor Day. They are also in better shape – lush and green. It might be colder and dryer, but that means the ball runs farther on the fairway. There are fewer leaves, if you hit into the trees. Bug repellent is usually unnecessary, and, when walking up the final fairway at dusk, you will witness the most spectacular sun sets.”
I’ll add one of my own, and that is your ball always seems to sit up nicely on top of the grass in the rough (where my ball usually ends up). “Fall is a time to savor what remains of prime golf season,” Pennington said.
