January, 2010

A Break in the Weather and a New Year for the CGRA 
    
It's nice to finally get a break in the weather. Gives most of us a chance to get back on the golf course. And when you've been laid up with a knee replacement for a couple of months, not even a bevy of bogeys is enough to discourage you.
For those of you who weren't in on the conference call earlier this month; some good news:
Our new president, the honorable Betsey Mitchell, is obviously going to be working tirelessly to get our organization back to the prominence it held during the first couple of decades of its existence. Times have changed since the CGRA was formed in the 1960s, and we've changed with it. But for various reasons, we seem to have lost much of the verve and energy that existed back then. As one of the (real) old-timers, I have great memories of the well-attended outings and the excitement of creating activities such as the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame.
The food fights at the Holiday Inn in Myrtle Beach were a little demeaning, however.
I also remember with fondness the way our group was accepted by people in the golf profession. We have been fortunate over the years to retain many of those great relationships and we're hoping to create some new ones under our revitalized leadership and membership. One of the problems over the past several years has been a lack of communication. It seemed the only time we heard anything was when membership dues were requested or when our couple of annual outings were approaching. The rest of the year we were basically on our own. Hopefully, this monthly newsletter will solve that problem and also create some interest in things that are going on.
Please don't consider this as a knock against our former leaders. We've been blessed with some very capable officers, but as good and well-intentioned as they might have been, they were busy with their careers and the CGRA often had to take a backseat as far as direction and effort were concerned. I'd like to personally thank those who have served the CGRA in the past because without their dedication, we wouldn't even exist.
During the teleconference held by the CGRA Board of Directors, which consists of President Mitchell, Vice President Howard Ward, Secretary Tom Horan, Treasurer (forever) Steve Williams and members at large Bill Hensley, Ron Bennett, Tom McAuliffe, J.W. Farquhar, Jim Johnson and Elsa Bonstein, several items were discussed which should greatly benefit our organization and make your membership more worthwhile and enjoyable. Those items will be revealed in detail once they have been properly addressed, discussed and are ready for implementation if they're deemed applicable.
They include a review of membership qualifications, a writing and broadcast contest, new ways of receiving nominations for the Hall of Fame, and several other topics. Rest easy. To steal a phrase from President Barack Obama, this administration is going to be a very transparent one. Can you spell C-Span?
Meanwhile, enjoy this milder weather. Get in a few practice swings and head for your favorite golf course. And for Steve Williams, may your birdie list grow even longer this year.
For J.W. (whose last name I only spell once in any given newsletter) may your new trophy case serve you well.
For Gene Hudson, may those aching knees get better and those booming drives of yours return. But, Gene, you really need to work on speeding up your game. I counted all the way up to one before you had completed your swing the last time we were paired together.
For Henry Lister, may you get some new socks to wear with those knickers or Plus-Fours or whatever you call those pants.
For Bill Hensley, the reality that you're going to have to give me strokes next time we play. I'm tired of losing money to that swing.
For Ron Bennett: It's called Grecian Formula, fellow. Hey, I remember back in those days at places like Raccoon Run and Sea Gull and Possum Trot and Azalea Sands, when your hair was a different color. Oh well, at least your golf game is better now.
And for all the rest of us, the best year the CGRA has ever known. With Betsey leading the charge, we're going places this year. You'll learn a lot more at our spring outing in a few weeks. I promise you'll get more info on this as soon as I do. Hey, we're still changing gears here.
That's all for this initial offering, but if any of you members have anything you'd like to have posted, personal or otherwise, drop me an e-mail and we'll get it in the February Newsletter. Just keep it clean.

Yours in golf,  
Howard (Aitch Dubya) Ward