Cross Creek Country Club and RV Resort
played host to the "Red and White Challenge" of the Ryder Cup
Golf Tournament Dinner on Feb. 22.
The tournament featured a competition between the male residents
of the park at the Bluffs Golf Course Hardee County. The annual
tournament is the highlight of the local golfing season. The men
were all supported by their avid female observers and wives.
Bill Amos, the coordinator of the Cross Creek golfing
tournament, explained how the event worked.
Amos said the Cross Creek resort's red-and white format of the
Ryder Cup started in 2000, and is now in its eighth season of
playoffs. The game is always played four weeks on Thursdays in
February. The Red and White Teams are drawn according to
handicap, with a captain for each team.
This year, the captains were Bill Koepfer for the Red Team and
Frank Van Geffen for the White Team. The games start with a
two-man scramble. Two Red men and two White men play on the
foursome. The winner receives one point. There are a total of
eight points for that match.
The second match is an alternate shot match that is played in
teams. For the alternate shot, one person hits the ball and his
partner hits the next shot. There are eight total points
awarded.
The next game is best ball, meaning the lowest score of the
foursome will win the hole.
The last game is a match play called one on one, which means a
player is playing against one person. There are 16 points for
that game. One point is awarded for a win, and half point is
awarded for a tie. Since there are 40 points, a team must win
20-and-a-half points to win the event.
Amos said for "each event, the match play format is used."
He also pointed out that the golfers pay for the evening's
dinner.
The awards dinner started at 4 p.m. Wine, beer and more were
available, along with finger foods prepared by some of the golf
players' wives. They included: JoAnn Amos, Pat Koepfer, Joan
Vallad, Toby Glasgow, Mitzi Myers, Marianne Dunbar, Carol Wallas,
Darla Hayes and Sam Bell.
Many beautifully prepared delicacies were available to satisfy
the appetite. As one walked and talked during the cocktail hour,
it was apparent that the lovely decorations highlighted the
theme, naturally, of golf. The very supporting wives were also
present, wearing the colors of their mates' teams.
The tables had red or white table clothes on them. The
centerpieces created by Elayne McCoy were very unique in that
they were replicas of a golf course. There were also favors some
wrapped in red and white colors. Inside the favors were sweets:
chocolate kisses, kisses with almonds and red-and-white
peppermints. The favors were prepared by Agnes Van Geffen and
Pat Koepfer.
The captains and their wives sat at a head table. Bill Amos and
his wife, Joanne, and the owner of the Bluffs Golf Course, Jason
Laman and his wife, Candice, also joined sat there.
The other tables were nicely arranged in front of the head
table. In the background, there was a table set up with a cake
covered in beautiful red-and-white icing. Behind the cake was a
three-cornered white card about three feet tall, created by Dave
and Barb Buchholz. It held pictures of golfers for the last
seven tournaments. Peppermints were strewn on the table around
the cake to make the picture complete.
Soon everyone began to be seated at their tables. Suddenly, the
crowd began to applaud. This was due to the entrance of Dave
Courter and his wife, Kady.
All of this commotion was because Dave had hit a hole-in-one on
the third hole. When everyone was seated, Bill Amos thanked
everyone for coming and gave credit to all of the people
responsible for the preparations of this eventful evening.
He thanked the 2007 captains, Van Geffen and Koepfer, for the
great job they did and announced the next year's captains of the
Red and White Challenge. The captains are Don Myers and Chuck
Norling.
Laman, the owner of the Bluffs, told attendees, "We really
appreciate your participation" and added how much the golf
course staff enjoyed the Cross Creek Resort Group. After all
thanks and recognition, Amos gave the meal prayer.
With no further business, the meal commenced.
Jacky Wallace, her husband, Dave, and a group of volunteers
served dinner. These were Yvon and Lillianne Beliveau and
Mike and Jackie Emmendorf.
The menu was elegant and "fit for a king," as the saying goes.
Chicken or steak was the golfers' choices.
The dinner also included salad, red potatoes, green beans, rolls
and butter, coffee or iced tea. After dessert was served, Amos
announced that the tournament ended in a tie, so no one would
received the award. He said that the trophy would remain with
the captain of the White Team, Bud Wright, and would be passed
onto next year's winner.
Suddenly Bud Wright, one of the Red players, appeared on the
scene. He seemed to be frustrated. He carried a plastic bag,
opened it and threw something to the ground.
To the amazement of the crowd, it appeared to be pieces of the
trophy. Then everyone laughed at his display of good humor and
sportsmanship, for Bud soon presented the real trophy to the Red
and White captains.
What fun everyone had at this evening of recognition and
sportsmanship. All went home with the thought of next year's
playoffs and possibly getting a hole in one.
Written by Florence Barboro -- Contributor for Cross Creek
Country Club and RV Resort.
By FLORENCE BARBORO
SPECIAL TO THE SUN |
|
