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ROME CC's LAUREN STEATES WINS HER FIRST ROME CITY AMATEUR
Rome Country Club's Lauren Steates won her first Rome City Women's Amateur crown in August. The event was rain shortened to eighteen holes but Lauren blew away the field, firing a 71 at Shamrock. Her brilliant round put her four shots clear of her nearest pursuer. Day two was scheduled at Lauren's home course, Rome Country Club, but 4.2 inches of rain fell throughout the day, making the final round impossible to complete. Lauren looks to defend her title in August of 2011 as well as compete in the New York State Am and Mid-Am being held at Rome CC in July of 2011. In addition, rumors of her applying to play in the Rome City Men's Amateur have been swirling. Romecountryclub.com can neither confirm nor deny these reports. Stay tuned!
THOUGHTS FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BAR... Episode #1
by Josh Cupp
Dave Fay’s quest….
Will he or won’t he? If so, when? Why hasn’t he yet? Has he really shot 70 a handful of times? If you flip the “When Will Dave Fay Shoot His Age Pool” over are there scores of people that chose “never?”
Let’s analyze all these questions.
Will he or won’t he? Ok, when you live in a town where driving around frantically on Super Bowl Sunday looking for gin mills with squares left is a sport, wagering is an art. You have to be able to size up stats, probability, then take personal feelings out and sprinkle logic in if you want to win bets around here. You cannot take all Big East teams in NCAA pools and we all know that no one circles the Bills on their tickets on Sunday AMs. He hasn’t yet…this we know. Roughly 60% of our golfing season is complete…so Vegas would say maybe Dave will come up short of his goal of shooting 81, sorry, 69, I thought he was older than that. He does have 43 great grandkids. We know this as they often have birthday parties. Isn’t grandkid b-day party really Dave Fay speak for trunk-slam? But I digress. He will shoot his age. Of the Big Four (JClo, Peters, W4, and Fay) at RCC, out of a combined 128 recorded rounds, 70 has only been bested twice on the home track. I don’t think that shooting his age is in his helmet at this point, it’s just really difficult to do. All I know is he didn’t shoot his age from June 21st-30th and I am $20 poorer for it. Rest assured, Dave will shoot his age and it will not be on a day when his grandson has a piano recital, if you know what I mean.
When? Well, if I knew when I’d have bought a different square. Right? I would definitely think sooner than later. Warmer weather lends to longer drives and wedges into several greens. When we start digging into the closet for more layers come mid September, I think the chance begins to diminish. I will look into my crystal ball and say August 23rd. It’s a Monday, so a hot date with Frenchy for a early nine before Coalyard’s league coupled with a stellar league performance will leave W4 Lloyd with a full wallet as Mark has that particular square. It is fitting since Lloyd needs only $217.74 more in RCC earnings to defeat Pete Fitsik’s single season earnings record that has stood since 1982.
Why hasn’t he yet? Best answer is that it is simply tough to do. Ummm, he’s also kind of old. I think he has a wooden hip or something like that. Let’s be honest, Dave can get a touch, shall we say, mental. Mr. Shankie has a habit of visiting Dave from time to time, and even one of those low and righters can render Mr. Fay helpless. Let’s not forget how close he has come already.
Dave has shot 70 at least four times at RCC this season. I get that stat from the board on the mirror at the bar. GHIN system concurs with this total. Close but no cigar.
Lastly, have a bunch of folks taken “never” for when Fay will shoot his age? That’s easy to answer. Rumor has it that several folks don’t think Dave is up to the feat and requested anonymity so that their wagers be posted on the back of the board. Answering this question is as simple as flipping the board over. I am typing this exciting blog from home so I cannot really check at this juncture. So the urban legend will have to be answered at another time. Sorry.
THE NEW YORK STATE WOMEN'S AM AND MID-AM ARE COMING TO RCC!
Hot off the digital presses is the news that Rome Country Club will host the 82nd annual New York State Women's Amateur and the 3rd Annual Mid-Amateur July 11-14, 2011. This will mark the thirty year anniversary of the first time Rome Country Club hosted the best amateur women of New York State. Way back in 1981 a rising young star by the name of Dottie Pepper won the state title on our course at the age of fifteen. She later went on to win seventeen times on the LPGA Tour, highlighted by two majors. Come check out the action and maybe you will catch a glimpse of another future star.
NANCY ROBERTS JOINS BOB PAWLAK AS TEAM WES ASSISTANT CAPTAINS
Over her thirteenth drink at Legend's on Wednesday, July 21st, Nancy Roberts agreed to join Team Wes for this fall's Cupp Cup. Team Captain Wes knew he had to sign Nancy to change his luck going into the 2010 matches. "After last year's disappointment, I had to make a few changes. This is a very important one," stated Wes at the press conference this morning. Nancy will join Bob Pawlak as the two assistant captains for Team Wes. As of press time, Team Josh does not have an Assistant Captain on the roster.
The only sticking point in Nancy's contract is her title. Whether it is "Assistant Captain" or "Assistant to the Captain" has yet to be worked out. This year's Cupp Cup is September 25th and 26th.
FITSIK AND PARRY TAKE HOME THE 2010 MEMBER-MEMBER TITLE
A nice turnout of twenty-two teams competed for the 2010 Rome Country Club Member-Member championship on June 26th. When the final putt was holed, one team stood above the rest... Pete Fitsik and Denny Parry. Interestingly enough, the last team assembled this year won the title just like 2009's last second entry of Castro & Ferrucci. The 2010 winners were thrown together as Denny Parry was filling in for injured Rome CC member Ron Artigiani. Ron, in the hospital for back trouble, was not able to compete. Multiple sources have stated that he threw his back out reaching for his wallet. This rumor was not confirmed nor denied at the time of publication.
Fitsik and Parry shot a blistering 63 in the club's first taste of the Pinehurst format. An amazing five teams tied for second at 64: John Domagal & Dave French, Mark Powonsky & John Pollex, Jeff Gifford & Eric Maya, Steve Pickett & Kevin Coe, and finally Paul Katchmar & Joey Katchmar. Front nine leaders Don Cieslewitz & Ed Evans faltered on the back nine to finish alone in 7th place (27 on the front, 38 on the back).
TERRY PAZDUR AND COMPANY WIN THE B&B
Terry Pazdur and his team of degenerates overcame the odds and pulled off an upset victory in Saturday's B&B Scramble. Posting a sparkling thirteen under 59, the team without an A player won by two shots. Firing a 61 was the team I Love Peters (Tom M. Peters, Tom W. Peters, Pat Smith, and Ira Lyon). Finishing in a tie for third at 62 were the teams of Jim Tims and the Slim Jims, Edible Evans and the Fancy Pants, and the Thirsty Owl Quaffing Clan.
Ted Cupp won the Billy Bristol "Best Putter in Rome" Putting Contest this year. Teddy's team also scored the only skin of the day by holing out an eagle on the par four seventeenth hole. Teammate Jon Cupp's perfect eight iron earned the team a cool $640 in cash money.
The B&B is an annual memorial tournament to honor two of the club's greatest members and friends, Billy Bristol and Jeff Baker. All proceeds from the event are donated annually to the American Diabetes Foundation and the Johns Hopkins Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.
MARK LLOYD SCORES ANOTHER VICTORY
One of the hottest golfers on the planet is Rome Country Club's very own Mark Lloyd. Fresh off a handful of lucrative victories in weekend quota events, Mark highlighted his tremendous start to the 2010 golf season with a win in the Golf Pool Party this weekend. Mark's teammates, Charlie Premo, Wayne Cacciatori, and Petite Don Cieslewitz, all contributed to a record shattering fourteen under par 58. Petite Don, who has played in a record setting 83 straight pool parties, was heard saying on the first tee (also for the 83rd straight time), "We really have no chance. We are just here to have fun."
REMAX LONG DRIVING QUALIFIER A SMASHING SUCCESS!
Rome Country Club again held the local qualifier for the REMAX Long Drive Championship on May 2nd. There were thirty-six total entries with some amazingly long drives! After the four hour event, John (Drew) Romancky and Patrick Mulhearn tied for first with 352 yard drives. These moonshots were fun to watch. Romancky won the playoff which earned him a bye into the second round of Regionals. Other qualifiers in the Open Division were Scott Thompson (337) and Mark Hajnos (335). Local entrant Ed Marsh finished a respectable seventh with a drive of 316. In the Senior division, Rome Country Club member Larry Natale was the lone qualifier . He smoked one 333 yards for the victory. Fellow RCC member, Paul Katchmar, finished second in the division with a drive of 272 yards.
CUPP CUP RELEASES NEW LOGOS FOR 2010
New logos have been designed by Dustin Livingston for the next installment of the Cupp Cup. Mr. Livingston created the official Cupp Cup logo as well as logos for both Team Josh and Team Wes. Check them out below. Click here to go to the official page of the Cupp Cup!
TEAM JOSH TAKES THE 2009 CUPP CUP!
Team Josh marched its way to victory as they took the 2009 Cupp Cup by the score of 14-10. By doing so they evened the overall series at one a piece. Click here to go to the official page of the Cupp Cup!
2009 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS WITH A BANG!
JClo flips cart, makes a sand angel in #14 trap.
The 2009 Rome Country Club Championship ended memorably this Labor Day weekend. Jerry Closinski (three-time defending champion), flipped a golf cart over into the sand trap on #14. Honest. Don't worry, Jerry, and more importantly the cart, were unharmed. Jerry's only comment was, "Yes, I did rake the trap after."
Oh, by the way, Eamon Dempsey beat Tom Peters on the final hole of the twenty-seven hole final match to take home his first club championship. Mr. Dempsey, at the age of eighteen, is the third youngest champion in the club's history.
In the handicap division, Eric Maya won four consecutive matches to take home the title. He outlasted upstart Jake Smith in extra holes in the final match.
In the Ladies' draw, Janet Hall regained her club champion crown as she won the low gross title. Anne Cieslewitz won the low net with a blistering 65.
And Wes didn't get a hole-in-one in the shoot-out. I hope this is too small to read. See you next year!
JAMIE HARPER MAKES A $200 PUTT
Jamie Harper won a three way putt-off to win the 2nd Golf Pool Party event of the year. Three times tied for first in this eight team field with matching 61s. However, it was Jamie's pressure packed six footer that won the 1st place prize as he ousted Bobby Pawlak and Johnny P in the putt-off. Ironically, on the same putting green that Johnny P was crowned the "Best Putter in Rome" just six weeks previously, Johnny P lost to part-time golfer and full-time drinker Bobby Pawlak in the battle for second place. The final Golf Pool Party is scheduled for October 3rd. Oh, by the way, JClo was bombed.
FAY-CLO UNSEATED AS MEMBER-MEMBER CHAMPIONS
Upstarts Rich Ferrucci and Rick Castro teamed up to take the 2009 Member-Member Championship on June 27th. Their partnership was put together just some fifteen hours before tee time over a few cold ones at the Rome CC bar. Who would have thought that they would contend, let alone win? Ferrucci and Castro shot a best ball 63. This score of nine under par seems to be the magic number of late as it has been the score to beat the past two years.
Finishing one shot back with a 64 was the team of Jeff Potter and Larry Kalk. Rumor has it that Potter fired a 78 on his own ball - but this was self-reported after an hour open bar so this cannot be confirmed or denied. I guess we will just have to take Jeff's word on this one.
Third place went to Charlie Premo/Robert Taylor with a score of 65. Tails, one of the newest members at Rome CC, also took home Closest to the Pin on #14. Carl Guiliano and Tom W. Peters finished fourth, losing a match of cards with the third place team.
The defending champions, Dave Fay and Jerry Closinski, fought bravely but only could get it to six under par. They made the turn at a healthy four under but just couldn't keep the momentum going on the back side. They finished alone in fifth. Something tells me that they will be back next year.
Finally rounding out sixth and seventh places respectively were the teams of Nick Facciolo/Denny Parry and Dave French/Lauren Steates. Both teams shot 67 but Facciolo/Parry won the match of cards for sixth place money. If anyone would like to buy Denny's gift certificate for a cut rate, he is still taking "cash only" offers.
The last prize of the day went to Judy Smith. Judy won the Longest Drive on hole #7. Yes, Judy is much longer, and cooler might I add, than all the dudes at Rome CC.
LINKS AT ERIE VILLAGE ADDED TO THE RECIPROCAL LIST
Rome CC has added a thirteenth course to its reciprocal list. The Links at Erie Village has joined onto our growing family. For more information on this course in East Syracuse, check out their website, golferielinks.com.
MAITE BREAKS THROUGH FOR HER FIRST POOL PARTY WIN!
2009's first Golf Pool Party was a memorable won as Maite Ortiz de Pinedo led her team (Johnny P, Morgan Bishop, and Bucky Bartolotti) to victory in her first Golf Pool Party start. A record turnout of 45 players teed it up Saturday, May 30th. It would be remiss to not mention the controversy on #17 that stole the show. The infamous "worst putt rule" was put back in effect on #17. However, DVD evidence and a misinterpreted rule dropped the team of Dave Fay, Jim Sgroi, Jamie Harper, and Larry Grau from a tie for 1st place into a tie for 2nd with the team of Josh/Wes, Lauren Steates, Whitney Cook, and Nancy Roberts. Also of interest, there were no skins out so the pot of $220 will carry over to the 2nd Pool Party in July. Sign up early kids!
REMAX WORLD LONG DRIVE QUALIFIER COMING TO ROME CC
The Remax World Long Drive Championship will hold its central New York qualifier at Rome Country Club on Sunday, May 10th. The competition will take place from 2 pm until 6 pm. These long hitters, both professionals and amateurs, will be attempting to get to the world finals in Las Vegas. The finals are aired on ESPN and ESPN2. This event will be worth watching so if you don't fancy yourself a contender, come on out anyway. We are also looking for a handful of volunteers to help us crown our local champion. If you are interested, just ask Josh or Wes (you get a cool hard hat, too).
PAWLAK RE-UPS AS ASSISTANT CAPTAIN FOR TEAM WES IN 2009
Bob Pawlak has just resigned with Team Wes as an official Assistant Captain for the 2009 Cupp Cup. The dust had barely settled after this year's heart stopper when Captain Wes and Bob Pawlak agreed to reunite for the '09 version. Unofficial sources have claimed that Pawlak demanded a can of Bud Light as his signing bonus. The two captains were victorious this past October 25th and 26th in the first ever Cupp Cup. Click here to go to the official page of the Cupp Cup!
TEAM WES TAKES THE INAUGURAL CUPP CUP IN SUDDEN DEATH
WOW! All sixteen players involved in the first ever Cupp Cup are still catching their breath! Click here to go to the official page of the Cupp Cup!
J CLO CAPTURES THE ROME GRAND SLAM BY WINNING HIS THIRD CONSECUTIVE CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP
In a year even Tiger Woods would be jealous of, Jerry Closinski won his third consecutive club championship this Labor Day weekend, giving him the 2008 Rome Grand Slam. J Clo also won the 2008 Rome Country Club Member-Member and the 2008 Rome City Men's Amateur earlier in the year.
It wasn't easy, however. J Clo needed 19 holes to defeat the two seed, Tom Peters. Tom also finished second in last year's club championship. Rounding out the top four in the Men's Open division were Ross Maracchion, third place, and Dave Fay, fourth place.
In the Open Division's Consolation Flight, RFA golfer Eamon Dempsey beat Paul Katchmar one up in the finals.
The Men's Handicap Division was won by Brad Badolato. Tom Peters finished second while Ken Caldwell captured third and Jim Sutton rounded out the top four.
In Women's Open action, Anne Cieslewitz took home her first championship as she beat newcomer Nancy Roberts in the finals. Nic Darois finished third while DJ Darois was fourth.
J CLO BREAKS THROUGH TO CAPTURE HIS FIRST CITY TITLE
Sergio Garcia now officially the best golfer in the world to never win a major
Jerry Closinski continued his highjacking of romecountryclub.com's "Member News" page as he added another title to his collection. Jerry won his first Rome City Amateur title this past August weekend, posting impressive rounds of 73 and 72 for a 145 two day total. Eighteen year old Doug DeCarlo, a Mohawk Valley Junior Golf Tour standout, finished as the runner-up one shot back.
J Clo put himself into position after his opening round on the fabled Rome Country Club layout. A smooth 73 gave him the first round lead heading into McConnellsville. However, a less than perfect start left Jerry some serious work left heading into the final three holes of the championship. As Jerry looked both ways crossing the street to get to the sixteenth tee box, he may have seen a few cars zip by, but I am sure he did not see any signs of the "story book ending" that was about to take place.
Jerry calmly birdied the difficult sixteen hole and made an eight footer to save par on the seventeenth. As he stood on the final hole of the championship, he found himself even with Doug DeCarlo. Jerry chased his second shot on the uphill par five to within ten yards of the green. Before he got to play his third shot, DeCarlo had stiffed his approach, all but guaranteeing a birdie. Thus, J Clo needed to get up and down to force extra golf. Jerry decided he was already hungry and did not want to put the tournament dinner off any longer, so he holed out his pitch shot for an eagle three and put an exclamation point on an unbelievable ending to the 45th Rome City Amateur.
Congratulations, Jerry!
FAY-CLO WINS THEIR THIRD MEMBER-MEMBER IN FOUR YEARS
When speaking to the press after their second place finish in the 2007 Member-Member, Jerry Closinski stated, "If we won every year, it wouldn't be that fun." His dejected partner, Dave Fay, interrupted... "Oh, yes it would."
A year later Dave Fay was back to having a blast as he and Jerry won their third Member-Member in four years this past weekend. Fay-Clo shot a nine under par 63 in route to a two shot victory over the Mike and Judy Smith team. Last year's champions, Paul and Joey Katchmar, were not in the field to defend their title.
In the Women's Division, Nancy Roberts and DJ Darois celebrated a two shot victory by posting a 69. Toni Domagal and Carolee Watson finished second with a 71.
ROUGH UNIT LOWERED!
The rough unit at Rome Country Club has been lowered from 2.5 inches to 2 inches this week in an effort to make the course more user friendly. This may not seem like big news to some, but to those who tackle the thick rough at Rome CC, this is a major change is course playability and difficulty. Rome Country Club, unlike most central New York golf courses, is fully irrigated - including roughs. So, when the hot summer months come and most courses have burned out rough, Rome CC's feels like a small jungle. The half of an inch lowering should help lower handicaps and wrist injuries this summer.
B&B SCRAMBLE YIELDS REPEAT CHAMPIONS
Jeff, Don, and the Love Birds captured this year's Baker & Bristol Memorial Scramble. They are the first champions to defend their title in the five year history of the event. Jeff Potter, Petite Don Cieslewitz, Dave Fay, and Dan Duncan made the putts when it counted and outlasted a strong field of twenty-six teams. The event is held annually at Rome Country Club is a memorial and fundraiser in the remembrance of Jeff Baker and Billy Bristol - two great friends of Rome Country Club. Proceeds from the event are donated to cancer and diabetes research.
ANOTHER RECIPROCAL! OSWEGO COUNTRY CLUB
The private Oswego Country Club has accepted our invitation to share reciprocal playing rights for the 2008 season. This makes twelve (12) great reciprocals for us. Oswego is a really fun layout with amazingly fast greens. I should send all of our members up there this summer so when you all come back, no one will complain that OUR greens are too fast! It is also worth noting that your favorite CEO, Wes, was the runner-up in the New York State Boys' Championship that was held at Oswego CC way back in 1994. (I choked and lost on 18! Crap!)
Oswego Country Club
IVES HILL COUNTRY CLUB ADDED AS A NEW RECIPROCAL!
Ives Hill Country Club in Watertown, New York joins the already impressive list of reciprocal courses for Rome Country Club members. Ives Hill is a semi-private club that has just remodeled its clubhouse in the summer of 2007. The original nine holes date back to 1897! Members, take a trip up to Watertown this season and be impressed!
CLOSINSKI, VOISINE, & HALL TAKE THE 2007 CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS
Although the format changed, the results didn't. Perennial favorites Jerry Closinski, Bob Voisine, and Janet Hall each won their respective divisions of the 2007 Club Championship despite the format change to match play. In an effort to increase participation and buzz, the club champions were not decided by stroke play for the first time in the 78 year history of the club.
In the Open Division, Jerry Closinski defended his '06 title by beating Eamon Dempsey in the semis and then outlasting upstart Tom Peters on the final hole to win the championship. In the Handicap Division, Bob Voisine needed two playoff holes to win as he beat out runner-up Gene Gehman. In the Women's Division, Janet Hall won another championship as she beat DJ Darois in her first club championship.
The 2008 Rome Country Club Championship will also be a match play format.
KATCHMAR SQUARED WINS THE 2007 MEMBER-MEMBER
Back-to-back defending champions Jerry Closinski and Dave Fay were upset this past weekend as upstarts Paul Katchmar and son Joey Katchmar hung on for a one shot victory. Three teams had it seven under through the first eleven holes, but only the Katchmars would add another birdie and finish with a 64. When speaking to the press Jerry Closinski stated, "If we won every year, it wouldn't be that fun." His dejected partner, Dave Fay, interjected... "Oh, yes it would."
Paul Katchmar looks to ride the momentum of this best ball victory into this coming weekend's Rome City Men's Amateur. No one has ever won both "majors" back-to-back.
BRAD, PHIL, & HERBIE WIN THE SUMMER GOLF POOL PARTY
Brad Badolato, Phil Uvanni, and Herbie Clark staged a dramatic come-from-behind victory this weekend at the Summer Golf Pool Party. Three shots behind Team Quiet Mike at the turn, the eventual winners birdied their last three holes to win the mid-summer classic by one. Team Quiet Mike (Wes, Morgan, DQ, and Quiet Mike) sprinted out to a 29 on the front nine but ran out of gas and fired a 36 on the back - settling for second place. This was Herbie's second consecutive Pool Party victory. In a related but unconfirmed report, the winning trio was rumored to not have bought a round of drinks to celebrate their win. If this allegation is true, it would be the first time in thirty years such a travesty has taken place.
FOXFIRE GOLF COURSE IN BALDWINSVILLE IS NOW A RECIPROCAL
Rome Country Club has added Foxfire Golf Course to its impressive list of reciprocals. To date, Rome CC members have eleven additional golf courses to which they have privileges. Foxfire is located in Baldwinsville and is a great test of golf. Numerous high school and amateur events are held there annually. Check out their website, foxfire247.com.
ANOTHER ORLANDO TRIP WITHOUT AN ARREST!
Seven of Rome's most infamous characters (and a very suspicious Kentuckian) traveled down to Orlando for four days and no one ended up in the clink! Ted, Wes, Tim Hogan, Bucky Bartolotti, Tony Petrelli, Herbie Clark, and rookie Morgan Bishop met up with Farmer Dale down in the sunshine state. The eight travelers tested their skills on some of O-Town's best golf courses. Ted Cupp was again MVP as he posted a 3-2 overall record and tied a winter trip single round record of a net 64 (Shayne Wild, 2004). Below are some of the photos from the trip we are allowed to release to the public and that have not been seized by the cops.
CLUBHOUSE REMODELING TAKES CENTER STAGE DURING OFF-SEASON
The Rome Country Club clubhouse will have a much different look for the '07 season. Remodeling of both locker rooms as well as the bar area has taken over center stage during this off-season. The women's locker room was first on the hit list as it was completely gutted and overhauled. New carpet, spacious wood lockers, and beautiful wicker furniture highlight the makeover. You have to see it to believe it. The bar area was next on the list as a 42 inch plasma high definition flat panel television was installed. Complete with a 5.1 LG stereo surround sound speaker system, this new addition will be tough to miss. Now we will never get these guys to go home! Finally, the men's locker room is the last of the remodeling trilogy. The entire shower area has been retiled while new wash basins and lighting systems are waiting for you.
