The Wawenock Ladies Thursday Morning Golf League is not the place to look for a super serious, competitive golf match. They are a fun loving group of young at heart ladies, that like nothing better than smacking a ball around with some of their best friends. They giggle and laugh when they slice or top the ball and almost roll with laughter when they hit into a water hazard.
They keep score, but do not get upset when they have had a particularly bad day. They don’t gloat, or strut or rub into anyone’s face when they have a great day. Their motto is ‘play your best, have fun, and don’t let the score get you down.’
It was with this true spirit that the Morning Ladies played in the 16th annual Evie Thurston Memorial Golf Tournament on Sept. 3.
The tournament is sponsored by descendents of Thurston. Evie had a contagious smile and bubbly personality that lit up the clubhouse. Her friends say she was a joy to play with and that she could care less about the score.
She painted the Wawenock chipmunk logo on her golf skirt and on scorecards and thoroughly enjoyed being outside and playing with her golfing buddies. When she took ill, her golfing friends stood by her side and continued to take her around the course with them.
Because the Morning Ladies treated her so well, and because she echoed so closely their mother’s philosophy of the game, the family started the tournament after her death in 1993 and have continued it every year since.
The Morning League is made up mostly ladies in their 60s and 70s, with a few younger and a few older.
Gerry Tarr was the oldest participant in the 18-hole tournament, and epitomizes the spirit of the Evie Thurston tournament.
Although she is age 88, you would never guess it by her mobility around the course, her good humor, and fun loving spirit. When asked what was her best career nine hole score, she responded, “That’s a highly kept secret.”
Tarr was a superb golfer in her day, and still is regarded so by her Morning League ladies. She played on Maine and Tri-State championship teams. “They always said don’t give out the prizes until the Wawenock girls are in,” Tarr said with a chuckle.
Like many of the women playing at Wawenock, Tarr did not take up the game of golf until her children were grown and out of the house. “I’ve made a lot of friends” over the years playing golf and “I’ve had a really good time.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl when she told of the Tri-State championship trophy she and the girls from Wawenock won many years ago. When they went back the next year and lost the tournament, they had to surrender the trophy to Vermont.
In their excitement they broke a handle off the trophy, so went to a nearby store and bought some glue and stuck it back together. “We were very careful, holding onto the bottom and the other handle when we handed it over to them.”
Tarr played for the winning team in this year’s Thurston Memorial Tournament, with Joanne Nelson and Carole Papa with an 87. On the first six holes, teams used the best score of the group on each hole, then switched to a scramble on the next three holes by playing the best ball; and on the final six holes, they played alternating shots.
Taking second were Judy DuNucci, Sally Huber, Jackie McDermott and Judy Linker with an 89. The team of Lynn Connell, Joanne Oliver, Winky Vanderhoeven, and Paula Roberts took third with a 99, and Punky Adams, Anne Knott, Bev Madan and Shirley Tawney placed fourth with a 101.
