Top 12 headlines from 2012
Headlines were aplenty in 2012. In this space over the next few weeks, the Golf Association of Philadelphia will highlight the top 12 headlines from ’12.
Whittling down a year’s worth of activity into a small bundle of thoughts wasn’t easy, but we gave it a try.
1. The Open Championship unanimously claims the list’s top spot. For only the fourth time in its 108-year history, the event headed to Pine Valley Golf Club’s sacred grounds. An appreciative crowd of 1,417 sauntered through the South Jersey sanctuary. Tickets sold out quickly, with all proceeds benefiting the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship. After arriving at Pine Valley, spectators acquired a course map and followed the action as 72 of the region’s top amateurs and professionals attempted to conquer the course. As the sun set, Huntingdon Valley Country Club’s Andrew Mason walked away with his second straight Open trophy. Spectators departed with keepsakes, such as Open Championship hats featuring the Pine Valley and GAP logos, and a handful of memories. And Golf Association of Philadelphia staff and volunteers alike left with an overwhelming sense of pride and joy — knowing they were a part of something special.
2. Chip Lutz makes this list for the third straight year. What the LedgeRock Golf Club accomplished this season is beyond remarkable. He successfully defended both his R&A Seniors Open Amateur Championship and Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, qualified for his third USGA Senior Amateur Championship and won the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Warner Cup (Gross). Lutz also advanced to match play in the GAP Amateur Championship and posted a Top 5 finish in the Middle-Amateur Championship. He’s averaged a staggering 951.6 Senior Player of the Year points over the last three years. During that time, the second-place position has averaged 560.95 points— a difference of 390.65 points.
3. Martin D. Emeno, Jr. best described Brian Colbert in a story that appeared in the Golf Association of Philadelphia Magazine’s Winter 2012 edition: “a virtual mystery when arriving on Philadelphia’s golf scene before the summer’s Amateur Championship.” Colbert, an Illinois native, graduated from Villanova University in the spring and elected to stay local for the summer. He took the Association by storm; Colbert won the 112th Amateur Championship by defeating Philadelphia Publinks GA’s Greg Jarmas, 6&4, in the final at Huntingdon Valley Country Club. He posted a Top 10 finish in the GAP Open Championship, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship and placed second in the Silver Cross Award Standings. Colbert’s achievements allowed the White Manor Country Club member to return home with the Association’s highest playing honor possible — the 2012 William Hyndman, III Player of the Year Award.
4. The Golf Association of Philadelphia debuted its Mobile Application and enhanced both the look and functionality of its Web site and eRevision in 2012. The GAP App was launched in late March, prior to the Association’s GAP Team Matches, and offered users of both Apple and Android products a bevy of user friendly options. From score posting to Member Club directions to following GAP Team Matches scores live, the GAP App has it. Visit iTunes or Google Play Store and search for Golf Association of Philadelphia to download today. Only weeks later, the Association rolled out a redesign of its Web site, www.gapgolf.org. The new look has greater visual appeal starting with rotating images for the latest GAP headlines. Directly beneath the main photo sits a sleek box that allows members to easily find upcoming events that fit their respective age and skill levels. Other Web upgrades included a “Power Alley” to feature timely golf topics and issues; a GAP Info section and a restructured Photo Gallery. Coinciding with the Web site change was the redesign of the Association’s eRevision, the twice monthly email detailing and tracking an individual’s handicap progress. The eRevision received a fresher look with current Golf Association of Philadelphia news and handicap information. If you don’t receive your eRevision in your email box, log in to your My GAP Locker, go under subscriptions tab and click yes on eRevision emails.
5. The Golf Association of Philadelphia lost a family member in 2012. James D. Sykes, the organization’s Executive Director from 1975-2000, died Oct. 21 at the age of 78 after a long battle with cancer. He is largely credited with professionalizing GAP on many levels. Under Sykes’ watch, the Association gained 31 clubs, expanded its tournament schedule and geographic reach and adapted accordingly to technological advancements. He also oversaw the inclusion of daily fee players and clubs in GAP. Sykes’ impact on the Philadelphia golf landscape is widespread. His GAP legacy is one to be admired.
6. Philadelphia’s true golf charity, the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust, remained loyal to its mission of awarding financial assistance to deserving caddies in their pursuit of higher education in record numbers in 2012. The J. Wood Platt awarded an all-time high $900,000 to 130 deserving caddie-scholars with the Platt’s maximum grant of $10,000 also setting a record. A big component in the generation of those funds came from the Platt’s third annual Dawn to Dusk Golf Marathon. Playing golf from sun up to sun down, 19 teams from various Golf Association of Philadelphia Member Clubs with players of all ages raised a D2D all-time high of $187,000 by playing more than 3,000 holes at Old York Road Country Club. The Platt Caddie Scholarship, since its inception in 1958, has awarded 3,275 young men and women with $16 million in aid. To contribute to the Platt Caddie Scholarship, visit plattcaddiescholarship.org.
7. Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Cole Berman adjusted his 2012 tournament schedule to accommodate the Golf Association of Philadelphia’s Junior events. He validated that decision by earning the 2012 Junior Player of the Year Award. Berman was the circuit’s most consistent competitor. He carded rounds of 70, 71, 72 and 66 to win the Harry Hammond Award by nine strokes. Berman finished as co-runner-up in the Christman Cup and qualified as the No. 1 seed in the Junior Boys’ Championship. He isn't a stranger to success; Berman won the 2009 Junior-Junior Boys' Championship at Merchantville Country Club. With one year of Junior Division eligibility remaining, Berman appears poised to build upon his 2012 success.
8. Michael Rose opened his Super-Senior tenure in grand fashion. The Talamore Country Club member captured the Division’s highest honor, the Super-Senior Player of the Year Award. He nearly won his first event as a Super-Senior — the Warner Cup (Gross) at Concord Country Club — but a three-putt bogey on his final hole prevented a playoff with clubhouse leader James Robertson of Saucon Valley Country Club. Rose survived a five-for-one playoff to gain a match play spot in the Brewer Cup. He capitalized on such fortune by taking the Super-Senior title two days later. Rose capped his rookie campaign by edging Back Creek Golf Club’s Charles McClaskey in, you guessed it, a playoff for the Super-Senior Silver Cross Award. A memorable Division debut for the player known to his peers as the “Rose factor.”
9. A pair of Golf Association of Philadelphia Member Clubs continued their team dominance this season. First, Little Mill Country Club retained its GAP Team Matches crown by edging Merion Golf Club, Overbrook Golf Club and Philadelphia Cricket Club in the Playoff. It held a slim 5.5-point advantage over Philadelphia Cricket before scores at Little Mill became official. The club posted 16.5 points on its home turf to repeat as champions. Second, Overbrook remained superior in the Team Championship, claiming its third consecutive title and record 17th overall. Home-course knowledge and experience proved advantageous as Overbrook posted 28.5 points en route to victory. “When we got in the queue four years ago to host this event, we wondered if we would still be able to compete health and ability-wise when the date of 2012 finally came around,” Overbrook captain Oscar Mestre said afterward. Both Overbrook and Little Mill can compete alright.
10. TrackMan continues to be a vital asset to the Association and its membership. Member Analysis Days invited golfers of all ages and skill levels to participate in a variety of tests. During its Pro.-Pres., Golf & Green and Junior Boys’ Championship, players had a chance to take the TrackMan Combine. Furthermore, the Association partnered with TrackMan expert Dom DiJulia and his school at Jericho National Golf Club to launch the TrackMan Video Series. In each episode, DiJulia explains how the technology works and how it can improve one’s game through a number of features. The Association presented its first TrackMan University in October, with DiJulia, TrackMan’s first certified instructor worldwide, and Brian Manzella, a fellow Certified TrackMan Master, educating local professionals on data collected and proven through the technology.
11. Bill Walsh is widely regarded as the J. Wood Platt Caddie Scholarship Trust’s biggest advocate. Thanks to his voice and support, Philadelphia Country Club continues to raise the highest total among GAP Member Clubs — year in and year out — for the Association’s charitable arm. To symbolize Walsh’s philanthropic efforts, the Trust introduced the William & Barbara Walsh Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes individuals who exhibit exceptional dedication and support of the Trust. Barbara is Walsh’s wife of 60-plus years. Furthermore, Fred Behringer, whose covered golf in the Philadelphia area for more than 45 years, chronicled the Walsh’s’ life in “Where Should We Have Stopped? The Story of a Remarkable Family,” which was released in July. And the published recognition didn’t stop there for the former GAP President and Executive Committee member. GolfWeek profiled Walsh, the Association’s 2008 Distinguished Service Award recipient, for its Local Legends feature in May. Sprinkle his 2012 accolades atop all that makes Walsh a Philadelphia golf fixture.
12. The Golf Association of Philadelphia proudly welcomed two new corporate partners in 2012: Club Champion, a national leader in club fitting and building, and Liberty Mutual Insurance, the third-largest property and casualty insurer in the U.S. Both partners offered exclusive deals to GAP Members through various Golf Association of Philadelphia communication channels. Hopefully, you were able to take advantage of those deals, courtesy of your GAP Membership. Liberty Mutual Insurance also was the presenting sponsor of the Joseph H. Patterson Cup, the Association’s stroke play championship. The Golf Association of Philadelphia would like to thank Club Champion and Liberty Mutual Insurance and all its corporate partners for a wonderful 2012 and looks forward to an exciting 2013.
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