Top 10 Moments of 2011The Golf Association of Philadelphia reveals its Top 10, or so, moments of 2011. Each item will be released over the next few weeks. Whittling down a year’s worth of activity into a small bundle of relics wasn’t easy, but we gave it a try. 1. Who But ... Andrew Mason Wow, what a year it was for Andrew Mason of Huntingdon Valley Country Club.
Winning those two tournaments in the same season is a feat accomplished only five times prior in the 107 years both events have existed. Those wins, in addition, to a scintillating victory in the Pennsylvania Golf Association Amateur and qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Championship (both of those in the weeks between the Open and Patterson), propelled Mason to his first William Hyndman, III Player of the Year award. Mason amassed the third highest point total in the 22 years the Association has recognized a POY. When asked if the one-time tournament outlier could have imagined such a dominant campaign Mason responded, “In my wildest dreams, yes, but my wildest dreams are pretty wild.” 2. Welcome, Mr. President Frank E. Rutan, IV of Philadelphia Cricket Club was elected the 31st President of the Golf Association of Philadelphia on Oct. 19 at the organization’s Annual Meeting.
Rutan, 55, of Ambler, Pa., takes over the 115-year-old organization with a goal of remaining “focused on continual improvement of all aspects of the Association and promote the game to a broader audience.” Rutan has lived in the Philadelphia area and worked in the financial community ever since graduating from the University of Virginia. He also is a fine player in his own right, carrying a 2.8 handicap index. 3. Lutz dominates at home and abroad There is no argument that the most dominant golfer in the Philadelphia-area, regardless of age and gender, was Chip Lutz of LedgeRock Golf Club.
The highlight of Lutz’s year came in August and early September. He captured the R&A Seniors Open Amateur Championship and Canadian Men’s Senior Amateur Championship before falling two match-play wins short in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship for the ultimate Senior Amateur golfing trifecta. In Golf Association of Philadelphia tournaments, Lutz advanced to the quarterfinals of the Amateur before falling to Andrew Mason, the William Hyndman, III Player of the Year. On the GAP Senior circuit, Lutz won the Brewer Cup and placed second in the Senior Amateur Championship. He also earned the Golfweek National Senior Player of the Year for a second straight season as well. 4. Mother Nature Fickle characterizes the relationship between the Association and Mother Nature.
A mere three lightning delays over the next three months put both parties back on speaking terms. Sort of. Most of the summer consisted of extremely hot temperatures that pounded tournament participants and put some golf courses in jeopardy. But at least the weather was dry. Enter August, and Mother Nature decided wet weather was the way to go. Rain interrupted both the U.S. Amateur and Senior Amateur qualifiers. Still unsatisfied, it unleashed Hurricane Irene upon the region, which delayed the U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifier and prompted a venue change for the Senior Amateur Championship. The latter wasn’t meant to be as inclement weather caused a second site shift and the eventual cancellation of Round 2. To top it off, Mother Nature eliminated the golf portion of the Association’s Annual Meeting at Chester Valley GC.
Back Creek GC’s Charles McClaskey is the Association’s best Super-Senior golfer right now. He proved it by retaining his Player of the Year title. McClaskey did so superbly; he nearly swept the Division’s hardware in 2011. He captured both the Chapman Memorial Cup (Gross) and the Warner Cup (Gross) by four strokes, respectively. McClaskey withstood excessive heat from both Mother Nature and a fiery field to keep his Brewer Cup crown at Bellewood Golf Club; he clinched victory by executing a dramatic par-save from the front bunker on the difficult 16th hole. Inclement weather doused his hopes for renewed glory in the Senior Amateur Championship. McClaskey’s consolation prize? A second Super-Senior Silver Cross Award. The Super-Senior field may struggle to overtake McClaskey, who seems to get better with age.
Not even a two-hour rain delay could dampen the spirits of the Dawn to Dusk Golf Marathon players and captains.
In total, 22 teams played 2,524 holes, from dawn to dusk, and raised more than $181,000 to benefit the Scholarship Trust. Squires Golf Club was the top fundraiser, bringing in $16,250 while the award for the most holes played went to Llanerch Country Club’s, Brent McKnight, who singlehandedly played 180 holes. A great time was had by all and plans are underway for the 2012 event. 7. The Erhardt brothers
Reilly (15) and Regan (13) motivated one another in 2011. With Regan on the bag, Reilly shined at Running Deer Golf Club, site of the Junior Boys’ Championship. He qualified as medalist and advanced to the Final as Regan supplied the advice and encouragement. Reilly returned the favor by caddying for Regan in the 63rd Junior-Junior Boys’ Championship at Moorestown Field Club. The Erhardts didn’t follow this caddie-competitor dynamic in the Jock MacKenzie Memorial, but the results were rewarding nonetheless. Reilly and Regan, both of Trenton Country Club, won their respective divisions, becoming only the second set of brothers to do so in the same year since 1988. 8. Golf Association of Philadelphia Junior Clinic at Waynesborough CC For the second straight year, the Golf Association of Philadelphia hosted a Junior Clinic
More than 300 Junior golfers from various Philadelphia youth groups and Association Member Clubs convened at Waynesborough Country Club for a morning of instruction and PGA Tour star gazing. The program opened with all children in attendance having the opportunity to swing a club while receiving instruction from members of the Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (the Assistant Golf Professionals of the Philadelphia Section of the PGA of America). Immediately following, PGA Tour stars Sean O’Hair and Hunter Mahan conducted an hour-long hitting session in which the two spoke on topics from fitness to their mental approach on the golf course. 9. Social Media, Blogs The Association enhanced its social media presence by offering blogs on its Web site.
Blogs stretched beyond the basics. For example, Chris Roselle, the Association’s Tournament Director, offered his insights into all things junior golf throughout the tournament season, from Reilly Erhardt’s Player of the Year achievement to the PIAA Championships. Blogs join Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube in the GAP social media catalogue. Each platform continues to grow in overall scope and audience. 10. TrackMan, Member Play Days shine Two Association services earned acclaim in 2011. The first TrackMan Combine Challenge
GAP Member Play Days generated another favorable response this year. Seven Member Clubs generously hosted events and opened their courses to potential newcomers. Members again had a chance to experience some of the region’s most recognizable courses that they couldn’t normally play. Both the TrackMan Combine Challenge and GAP Member Plays descend from the Association’s purpose: to protect, promote and preserve the game of golf.
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A Walk Through Time
GAP is the oldest state or regional golf association in the country. It started courtesy of a friendly competition – the Team Matches – and has grown into the preeminent golf association in the country. Along the way, golf history has been made.
