Beachview Men party at annual meeting
Annual meetings are usually boring affairs, but not the Beachview Men’s Golf Association!
The Beachview Steakhouse dining room was overflowing on March 31, with a genial crowd of tanned golfers, stunning wives and mistresses, an assortment of delicious hot and cold hors d’oeuvres provided by chef, Mike Price, and a busy bar in the corner, with Mike Martinez pouring drinks.
President Bill Fellows stood up, and after some difficulty quieting the festive room, thanked his First Lady, Virginia, for her invaluable support, welcomed members, and complimented the Beachview Steakhouse staff and Head Golf Professional Scott Hatto and his assistants for their fine service during the season.
In addition, Fellows recognized the association’s board of governors: former presidents Jack Tukey, Bob Ritchlin, Bill Stell, Dave Bugby, and Barry Humphries. Beachview Women’s officers, Gloria Waterhouse and Ann Cogswell, were also recognized. Association officers and committee chairs were cited for their effective work: Jay Allen, Vice President; Wayne Turner, Treasurer; Anthony Baldino, (aka Tony Bricks Baldinado), Handicap Chair; John Boynton and Ed O’Neil, Publicity; and Jerry Mader, Member-Guest Chair.
In a shocking display, Mader snatched the microphone from Fellows and went into an uninvited explanation of the stock-picking and power-shopping prowess of his beautiful wife, Janice. Some observers later speculated it may have been intended as a joke.
After wresting the microphone back from Mader, Fellows summarized 2010-11 highlights: a fifth place finish in the second annual Florida Golf Association Pro-Am tournament by the team of Scott Hatto, Jay Allen, Bill Stell and Fellows; 11 new members; healthy turnouts for Tuesday and Saturday tournaments, the Fall Classic, Club Championship, and Beachview/Dunes events (despite another loss to Dunes), and the under-attended, but money-making, Member-Guest Tournament.
Next, Fellows awarded beautiful Luc Century etched glass trophies to top flight finishers in the Club Championship:
• Championship Flight: Bill Stell, Anthony Baldino and Fellows.
• A Flight: Dave Wisely, Fred Zimmer and Marty Gallagher
• B Flight: Tom Ware (second year in a row), Jerry Shay and Roger Triftshauser
• Gold Flight: Bob Cushman, Jerry Mader and Dick Chocol.
Trophies were also awarded to Rich Rompala for the season’s low gross score of 72, and to Bill Featherston, Rene Lohser, Roger Cogswell and Dan Keys, who tied for low net at 56. The Beachview President’s Cup is awarded to the golfer who wins the most points during the season in official Beachview tournament play. Rich Rompala won with 96 points, with Rich Chocol second, and last year’s winner, Rene Lohser, third.
Fellows then turned the evening over to incoming president, Jay Allen, who opened with one of his many lawyer jokes, this one about two Everglades alligators in BMW’s. Allen thanked Fellows for two years of excellent leadership and presented his own plans for next season.
The meeting was adjourned, and everyone went home entertained, inspired and well-fed.