Rules
USGA rules cover all play except where modified by club rules and the following:
1. One "Mulligan" per nine (player can choose which ball he'd rather play)
2. Balls hit into water hazards that cross the fairway can be played on the opposite side with one penalty stroke.
3. Balls hit into lateral water may be played at the point of entry with one penalty stroke.
.GFS Memorial Golf Classic History Equates to a
Quarter Century of Golf, Gluttony and Decorations
Quarter Century of Golf, Gluttony and Decorations
What started out in 1986 as just another excuse to get out of the house, drink a lot and be ridiculous has evolved over almost two decades to be the best excuse to get out of the house, drink a lot and be ridiculous.
It also gives us a chance to remember the man who introduced many members of the St. Jude Choir to the game of golf -- George F. Schaefer.
YEAR 1 -- Eleven players -- Dave Babel, Ron Craig, Bob Garcia, Dave Grabowski, John Harvey, Mike Keenan, Tim Keenan, Mike O'Brien, Walt Rybak, Mike Ufford and Joe Wenzl -- plunked down $50 and headed north for Birchwood Farms Golf and Country Club in Harbor Springs. (Dave Elya paid but didnt go citing a need to study for a test. Walt went but didnt play citing a need to study for a test.)
Torrential rain closed Birchwood's back nine and cold October temperatures made the whole affair rather uncomfortable. One group kept warm by huddling under an umbrella and singing motets. Ron Craig fired a 97, good for 75 in the Callaway System and the inaugural championship. Tim Keenan's lone choir foosball trophy was transformed into the symbol of choir golf supremacy.
YEAR 2 -- We returned to a redecorated Birchwood house in 1987 with the late Dick Keenan, Steve Woloson and Doug Miller joining the group. Rain, cold and high winds made the weekend interesting. Joe Wenzl shot an 89 for his only G.F.S. title. Mike Keenan's 123 put him in second place, thanks to the wonders of the Callaway System. Participants made up for keeping the neighbors up Thursday night with an impromptu concert on the balcony.
YEAR 3 -- The caravan headed west to South Haven in 1988 to the summer residence of Bishop Raphael Adams. It looked like a shack from the outside and not much better on the inside. The place needed several hours of clean up before it was habitable...even by our standards. For the first time in three years it didn't rain. Instead, there was record heat, drought and of course high-velocity swirling winds. Dick Keenan won with a 107. Since he was the Callaway System scorekeeper, we decided to change the system.
YEAR 3 -- The caravan headed west to South Haven in 1988 to the summer residence of Bishop Raphael Adams. It looked like a shack from the outside and not much better on the inside. The place needed several hours of clean up before it was habitable...even by our standards. For the first time in three years it didn't rain. Instead, there was record heat, drought and of course high-velocity swirling winds. Dick Keenan won with a 107. Since he was the Callaway System scorekeeper, we decided to change the system.
YEAR 4 -- The 1989 tournament is shrouded in mystery. Only seven players traveled to somewhere in Pennsylvania to initiate a new scoring system based on averages. Dave Elya fired a minus 16 to capture the crown. Rumor has it the moon shines brightly over the Keystone State.
YEAR 5 -- Still a shack on the outside, the home of the 1990 G.F.S. Choir Golf Classic -- Bishop Adams cottage -- was redone for this visit. Our weather luck improved as we put two good days together for the first time. Newcomer Pete Albert and Bob Garcia tied at -11, but Pete got the nod by virtue of two pars versus Bobs solo job.
YEAR 6 -- The crew returned to Harbor Springs in 1991, this time to the Trout Creek condo complex and Indian River Golf Club. Mike O'Brien overcame the cold and rain to shoot a -10 103 to become the second resident of the Hancock Home for Wayward Boys (Dave Elya was the first) to claim the trophy.
On the opposite side of the ledger in 1991, rookie Kevin Erickson shot a 139 -- the highest score to date in G.F.S. play. John Harvey beat Dave Grabowski in what could become an Olympic event -- hurling over the balcony.
YEAR 7 -- Indian River was kind to Dave Elya in 1992, even if Mr. Bon Bon wasn't. Dave carded a -10.25 113 to become the event's first two-time champ. We also discover that ceiling fans make great Julienne fries.
YEAR 8 -- In 1993, we try something different -- letting someone else cook and clean. That privilege goes to the staff at Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord. Food and accommodations get high marks and the tournament gets a new trophy, courtesy of Gaylord businessman Herb Swan. After scrambling through rain on Friday, John Harvey shot a 95 for -10 and the championship. Mike Ufford missed the title by .29 in the closest second-place finish ever under the average system.
YEAR 9 -- Not to be denied after being so close to victory the year before, Mike Ufford claimed the prize at Marsh Ridge in 1994 with a 100 -- 19.28 under average. A new tradition began in 94 -- the orange ball scramble game. And there's fireworks -- literally -- in the lodge for Tall Tom and Tim Keenan.
YEAR 10 -- In 1995, the event becomes the G.F.S. Memorial Golf Classic with the May 15 death of George Schaefer. A record field of 16 players tee it up for the events 10th year. Tim Keenan wins the tournament with a personal-tourney-best 94, good for minus 12.75. Mike O'Brien is second with his tourney-best 99, which is 11 under average. Joe Wenzl faces stiff competition to his low-actual supremacy with an 83, compared to newcomer Don Morris 87.
YEAR 11 -- Second-year player Matt Keenan knocked 18 strokes off his 141 average to take the 1996 crown. Don Morris finally unseated Joe Wenzl for the low-actual title. Rookie Steve Carr set a new record for G.F.S tournament futility with a 147. Joe Wenzl becomes the fist player to complete the GFS Slam.
YEAR 12 -- Walt Rybak fired a career-best 94 at Marsh Ridge to capture the 1997 crown, besting a new GFS-record field of 19 players.
Walt's victory initiated a new scoring system that measures percent improvement compared to ones average. He showed an 18.8% improvement. Dave Grabowski's career-best 91 was a 16.7% improvement and good for second.
Pete Albert's 84 was the best actual score that day and a 15.8% improvement. He was in third place.
YEAR 13 -- The 1998 tournament, number 13, was good luck for Tall Tom Chlipala, who shot a 112 (9.6% improvement) and took the title. He becomes the third one-time resident of the now-defunct Hancock Home for Wayward Boys to become G.F.S champion. Pete Albert's 88 secured his place as low-actual king.
Bob Garcia's 116 (9.3% improvement) put him in second place for the second time in his career. Joe Wenzl's 91 was second in the actual category. Tim Taylor raised (or lowered) the Classic's futility standard with a staggering 157.
Year 13 was a bad-luck year for seven players. Five had to leave to attend Tim, Mike and Matt Keenan's grandmothers funeral and two were ill.
YEAR 14 -- The 1999 event was historic in many ways. No. 1, it was the last tournament of the millennium. No.2, another record field of 22 players participated. No. 3, it was the first year at Crystal Mountain. No. 4, Mike O'Brien got decorated for the first time in 14 years. And No. 5, it was the first time we've had a back-to-back champion.
Tall Tom made it two in a row by shooting 107, a 12% improvement. Doug McNanney was second with a 102 for an 11.5% improvement. Mike Ufford was in the show position with a 104 (-9%).
Dan Nix, the newcomer from Canada, had the low actual score with 83. Pat OConnell was second with 90.
Mike O'Brien continued his hold on the putting crown with 30. Walt Rybak was closest to the pin for the second straight year. Dan Nix had the longest drive.
YEAR 15 -- The crew celebrated the events 15th anniversary with perfect weather for the Friday scramble, which featured scorecard fraud by Pete Albert's team and yellow ball deception by Dave Warren and Paul Avery.
Under overcast skies and light rain, Mike Bailey put his digital video camera down long enough to win the championship with a career-best 93 and a net score of 58.4. Paul Avery was second (101/67.3).
Joe Wenzl regained the actual crown with an 81. Tim Keenan was next with 89.
Joe Wenzl had the fewest putts (31), Pete Albert was closest to the pin and Tall Tom had the longest drive. Pete's closest to the pin makes him the second player in the event's history to win the GFS Slam, winning everything there is to win at the tournament.
Paul Avery invented a new drink the Coon Cooler. And Larry Dobbs invented two new sport golf cart gymnastics and dodging bird poop.
YEAR 16 -- In 2001, Pat O'Connell did what only one man has done before, capture the net and actual GFS titles. Joe Wenzl did it previously in 1988.
Pat shot an impressive 86 on Crystal Mountain Resort's Mountain Ridge course in adverse early round weather conditions. His net score was 69, which means he was a winner in many ways.
Second-year man Dave Warren shot a 105/71.7 to capture second place while Joe Wenzl's 92 was good for second place in the actual category.
Tim Keenan's 96/76.4 put him in third place. Joe Wenzl had 30 putts, "Tall" Tom Chlipala had the longest drive and Matt Keenan was closest to the pin when it counted.
But the big news of the year was in the kitchen where 2001's participants feasted like never before on meals cooked by Mike O'Brien, Walt Rybak, Dave Warren, Denny and Dave Babel and Bob Garcia.
YEAR 17 -- Kevin Wilamowski of New Hampshire won the 2002 G.F.S. Memorial with an actual 84 on Crystal Mountain's Betsie Valley course at Crystal Mountain Resort, good for a net score of 62.1 and the title.
Tim Keenan tied for low actual and finished second in the tournament with a net of 64.4. Tim's share of the low-actual crown makes him the third player to achieve the career GFS Slam (championship, low actual, longest drive, closest to the pin and fewest putts).
Walt Rybak's 92/69.6 put him in the show position in the 2002 event, which was played under sunny Thompsonville skies.
Champion Wilamowski had the fewest putts with 31. Dave Grabowski was closest to the pin and "Tall" Tom Chlipala had the longest drive for the third year in a row.
Soup-chef extraordinaire and second-year player Denny Babel beat Tim Taylor's four-year-old record for G.F.S. golf futility by misfiring a 165.
YEAR 18 -- Dave Grabowski ended 18 years of futility by winning the 2003 G.F.S. Memorial Golf Classic with an actual score of 98 and a net of 72.9. His victory also made him the fourth player to complete the GFS Slam.
Walt Rybak equaled his playing partner's actual score, but finished third with a 75.6 due to having a lower handicap.
Mike Keenan came in second place for the fifth time in tournament history and has the distinction of finishing second under all four scoring systems the GFS has utilized. In fact, "Red" has finishd second in 27 percent of the events.
Mike Ufford had the fewest putts (33), "Tall" Tom Chlipala had the longest drive for the fourth consecutive year, and Tim Keenan was closest to the pin for the fourth time.
Both days of the 18th annual G.F.S. tournament were played in perfect weather conditions; probably the best combination of sun, temperature and humidity ever.
The annual scramble match was a test of endurance rather than golf skill. The team of Tim Keenan, Doug McNanney, Mike Keenan and Matt Keenan "won" the event with a score of five over par. The three teams managed only one birdie all day.
The team of Mike Ufford, Dave Grabowski and Bob Garcia managed to hang onto the yellow ball until the last hole before sending it into oblivion, winning that element of the scramble.
As in past years, the output of Mike O'Brien and Walt Rybak's kitchen was far superior to the action on the links. The Thursday "Mexican Fiesta," Friday's "Taste of Italy" and a Saturday's "American Grill" made every participant a winner.
YEAR 19 -- Walt Rybak won the 2004 GFS Memorial Golf Classic and the low-actual title with a score of 93 and a net score of 70.6. He's only the third player in the 19-year history of the tournament to win the championship twice.
Mike O'Brien's 109/77.8 was good for second and Mike Keenan's 120/79.4 put him in third place.
Mike O'B's 32 putts (tied for the fewest with Pete Albert) and Mike K's closest-to-the-pin shot and ensuing birdie helped their respective causes. Pat O'Connell had the longest drive.
Team Chicago -- consisting of Pete Albert, Paul O'Connell, Tall Tom and Dave Grabowski -- won the Friday scramble with a minus 2 and a tie-breaking eagle. Pete's eagle-making third shot on a par 5 over a ravine won him a bottle of sparkling win from the man who owns the home on the green.
That night's bonfire at Terry Keenan's house in nearby Elk Rapids featured spotting the International Space Station in the night sky, fun with marshmellow blow guns and Irish whisky tasting.
Food selections -- Greek on Thursday, seafood on Friday and all-American beef and potatos on Saturday -- were spectacular as usual. There was no need for dessert.
YEAR 20 -- Bob Garcia has been close before, but this year he sealed the deal by winning the 20th Annual GFS Memorial Golf Classic with a net score of 62.7 and an actual score of 104.
Dave Grabowski finished second with a net score of 66.9 and an actual score of 92. Rookie Dave Steinberger had the lowest actual score, carding a 90.
"Tall" Tom Chlipala once again blasted the longest drive. Mike O'Brien once again had the fewest putts with 30. Dave Steinberger was closest to the pin.
The highlight of the championship round had to be Walt Rybak's eagle 3 on the par-5, 435-yard 14th hole on Lakeview Hills' south course. It is likely the only eagle recorded in the two-decade history of the event.
For Bob Garcia, it was a first-place sweep as his team -- which also included Walt Rybak and Dave Grabowski -- won the Friday scramble match with a three-over-par tally.
The Lakeview Hills Shamrock Lodge proved to be an ideal location for the GFS Memorial Golf Classic. Vollyball was played daily in our private pool and euchre and Texas Hold-Em was played until the wee hours of the morning in the private game room. And the kitchen was home to some of the best fare in GFS history. Mike O'Brien, Walt Rybak and the crew did some of their best cooking on this trip.
Weather, which was predicted to be foul for the weekend, managed to stay pretty nice for the daytime activities -- if you like heat and humidity.
Dave Grabowski finished second with a net score of 66.9 and an actual score of 92. Rookie Dave Steinberger had the lowest actual score, carding a 90.
"Tall" Tom Chlipala once again blasted the longest drive. Mike O'Brien once again had the fewest putts with 30. Dave Steinberger was closest to the pin.
The highlight of the championship round had to be Walt Rybak's eagle 3 on the par-5, 435-yard 14th hole on Lakeview Hills' south course. It is likely the only eagle recorded in the two-decade history of the event.
For Bob Garcia, it was a first-place sweep as his team -- which also included Walt Rybak and Dave Grabowski -- won the Friday scramble match with a three-over-par tally.
The Lakeview Hills Shamrock Lodge proved to be an ideal location for the GFS Memorial Golf Classic. Vollyball was played daily in our private pool and euchre and Texas Hold-Em was played until the wee hours of the morning in the private game room. And the kitchen was home to some of the best fare in GFS history. Mike O'Brien, Walt Rybak and the crew did some of their best cooking on this trip.
Weather, which was predicted to be foul for the weekend, managed to stay pretty nice for the daytime activities -- if you like heat and humidity.
YEAR 21 -- Mike Keenan finally won the GFS Memorial Golf Classic, the last of the original dozen GFS players still participating to do so.
"Red, Red, Red" shot a 114, which - with his 40.6 handicap - gave him a net score of 73.4. Some are pointing to an ill-timed doctor's ordered alcohol-free weekend for the uptick in Mike's golf performance.
Last year's champion, Bob Garcia, placed second for the third time in his GFS career with a 109/75.7. Dave Steinberger finished third with 96/78.1.
Newcomer Cameron Bruns of Boston was the low actual champion with a 95.
Mike O'Brien sank 32 puts giving him six wins in this category in the 21 years of the event. Dave Steinberger was closest to the pin and Bob "The Mexican Maniac" Garcia had the longest drive.
"Tall" Tom Chlipala's astronomical 136 entitled him to be the first recipient of the John D'Aoust Trophy, awarded to the highest actual score during the tournament.
The team of Dave Steinberger, "Tall" Tom Chlipala and Mike Ufford won the annual scramble event on Friday.
As usual, the food for this year's event was amazing, beginning with a pasta feast at Paul Calcaterra's lakeside villa.
Although overcast skies made for a less-than-sunny weekend, the predicted thunderstorms had the decency to wait until Saturday evening to appear.
YEAR 22 -- Walt Rybak made history on a number of fronts with one of the most dominating performances since the early days of the event.
He became the first player to win the tournament three times with his actual score of 90 and a net score of 71.8. He also shared low-actual honors with Pat O'Connell, won the closest-to-the-pin and the longest-drive contests.
Walt's long drive put him in the company of only five other players to complete the "GFS Slam," winning everything there is to win at the tournament at least once.
His team, including Dave Grabowski, Tom Chlipala and Bob Garcia, also won the Friday scramble event.
Mike O'Brien's 31 putts gave him the fewest putts title for the eighth time in the event's history.
Former two-time champion Tom Chlipala shot a 114/72.1 for a solid second place. Pat O'Connell 90/73.2 placed third. Last year's champion, Mike Keenan, finished a respectable fourth with his 113/74.7.
As usual, the food at Paul Calcaterra's lakeside villa on Thursday night and the output of chef Michael O'Brien's kitchen on Friday and Saturday was spectacular. The weather, which was forecasted to washout the entire event, only soggied a few holes on Saturday.
History also was made when Mike Ufford left Friday morning for a business trip giving Dave Grabowksi sole possession of the every-tournament-played title.
Past champion Bob Garcia carded a 134 actual score and took possession of the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy for the highest actual score of the tournament.
YEAR 23 -- "Tall" Tom Chlipala became the second three-time champion of the GFS Memorial Golf Classic on Aug. 16 at Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord. He did so with a 113, which gave him a net score of 74.7.
Cameron Bruns came in second (98/75.9) and rookie Ron Curcuru carded the low actual score of the day with a 95.
In addition to masterminding masterful cuisine, Michael O'Brien tied for the fewest putts (33) and had the tie breaker, and cleared about 100 yards of Marsh Ridge's finest marsh to grab the longest drive. Walt Rybak's shot on the closest-to-the-pin hole was within 12 feet of the pin to claim that prize.
Mike Ufford finished in third place (113/77.8) and Matt Keenan took home the John D'Aoust Trophy with a 140.
YEAR 24 -- Ron Curcuru claims his place on the top of the GFS mountain with an 86/61.9, good for low actual and low net at Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord.
Mark Rebhan came in second (90/73) and Mike Ufford came in third (113/77.8).
Walt Rybak had the longest drive, Dave Graboswki had the fewest putts and was closest to the pin. Matt Keenan kept the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy for GFS futility with a 142.
YEAR 25 -- The Silver Anniversary edition of the GFS Memorial Golf Classic saw Michael O'Brien emerge from the kitchen to snag the championship with a 100/63.5 at Marsh Ridge Resort.
Mark Rebhan had the low actual of 85 and was the overall runner up. Walt Rybak finished third with an 86/68.10.
Matt Keenan shocked with the longest drive, Mark Rebhan tallied the fewest putts while Walt was closest to the pin. Mike Ufford etched his name once again on the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy with a 140.
YEAR 26 --Mark Rebhan's boss threatened him with his job if he didn't return the GFS Memorial Golf Classic low actual trophy back to his office, "where it belongs." Not only did he do that, but added the tournament's overall title to his trophy case as well. Mark's 81/65.8 was well enough to snag both prizes at Marsh Ridge in 2011.
Tim Keenan's 94/68.4 was good for second place in the 26th annual version of the choir golf tournament. Mike Ufford finished third with his 107/69.6 showing. The champion carded the fewest putts, Tim was closest to the pin and Dave Grabowski launched the longest drive. Dave also notched only the second eagle in GFS history by chipping in his third shot on the par 5 18th.
Tall Tom Chlipala wrestled the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy for the highest actual away from last year's "winner" Mike Ufford with a 129.
As usual, the dining was exquisite during the event with Jewish fare on Thursday, wild game on Friday and the standard meat, potatos and wedge (punch) salad on Saturday..
YEAR 24 -- Ron Curcuru claims his place on the top of the GFS mountain with an 86/61.9, good for low actual and low net at Marsh Ridge Resort in Gaylord.
Mark Rebhan came in second (90/73) and Mike Ufford came in third (113/77.8).
Walt Rybak had the longest drive, Dave Graboswki had the fewest putts and was closest to the pin. Matt Keenan kept the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy for GFS futility with a 142.
YEAR 25 -- The Silver Anniversary edition of the GFS Memorial Golf Classic saw Michael O'Brien emerge from the kitchen to snag the championship with a 100/63.5 at Marsh Ridge Resort.
Mark Rebhan had the low actual of 85 and was the overall runner up. Walt Rybak finished third with an 86/68.10.
Matt Keenan shocked with the longest drive, Mark Rebhan tallied the fewest putts while Walt was closest to the pin. Mike Ufford etched his name once again on the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy with a 140.
YEAR 26 --Mark Rebhan's boss threatened him with his job if he didn't return the GFS Memorial Golf Classic low actual trophy back to his office, "where it belongs." Not only did he do that, but added the tournament's overall title to his trophy case as well. Mark's 81/65.8 was well enough to snag both prizes at Marsh Ridge in 2011.
Tim Keenan's 94/68.4 was good for second place in the 26th annual version of the choir golf tournament. Mike Ufford finished third with his 107/69.6 showing. The champion carded the fewest putts, Tim was closest to the pin and Dave Grabowski launched the longest drive. Dave also notched only the second eagle in GFS history by chipping in his third shot on the par 5 18th.
Tall Tom Chlipala wrestled the John D'Aoust Memorial Trophy for the highest actual away from last year's "winner" Mike Ufford with a 129.
As usual, the dining was exquisite during the event with Jewish fare on Thursday, wild game on Friday and the standard meat, potatos and wedge (punch) salad on Saturday..
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Our First Champion
Ron Craig was the first champion of the GFS Memorial Golf Classic in 1986 at Birchwood Farm and Country Club. Sadly, Ron passed away in December of 2005.
Ron Craig