Hooks and Slices

by Gary Larrabee

Lots to celebrate and, sadly, two special members of the North Shore golf family to mourn; as we continue to savor every moment we can of the 2006 season.

• We mourn the passing of two of the most beloved people at Essex County Club: Assistant Superintendent Peter Bruni, who died in May after a valiant 11⁄2-year fight with cancer, and long-time member and prominent area obstetrician-gynecologist Jack Garry, who could make you laugh even after you made a nine on a par-3. Jack was 79. Peter, who was 55, was the former super at his hometown Rockport Golf Club and ranked as one of the three best left-handed amateur golfers (along with the late Mike Busfield and the late Neil Frazer) in the region. A humble man who could play with the best amateurs in the state, Peter was described by his boss at Essex CC, Pat Kriksceonaitis, as “a giant of a man who was appreciated by everybody at Essex.” This writer considered Peter one of the finest men he ever met in the golf community.

• Congrats to the Essex CC membership, who was still reeling from Bruni’s passing when the USGA formally announced that the 2010 Curtis Cup Match would be coming to the club, as was first reported in North Shore Golf magazine last summer. Special plaudits to Bill Van Faasen, the Essex member and retired Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO who was the club’s point man for the negotiations with the USGA and who will serve as the event’s general chairman. Annie Barton will serve as the Match chairwoman. “This is the ideal way for the club to celebrate its heritage and legacy,” says Van Faasen. “The Curtis sisters played their golf at Essex, won four U.S. Amateurs between them and instituted the Match by donating the Cup. We’ve hosted only the 1938 Curtis Cup Match, so we’re anxious about our second.” The 2006 Curtis Cup is at Bandon Dunes July 29-30, then at St. Andrews in 2008. “As an Essex member since I was a kid, no one is happier about this news than I am,” Barton said. “We’ll make the Curtis sisters proud.” Now if only Myopia would stop shirking its responsibility and extend an invitation to the USGA to host a national championship.

• Congrats to Lynn native, long-time Indian Ridge head pro and current instructor at Reedy Meadow at Lynnfield Centre Ross Coon, as one of the 2006 inductees (with Ray Lajoie and Ken Campbell) into the New England PGA Hall of Fame. Coon, a three-time NEPGA champion, becomes the 15th inductee with North Shore ties to be so honored. “I wouldn’t be receiving this award if it wasn’t for the late great George ‘Apple’ (Apalakis),” says Coon, 68, who was Apple’s favorite protégé among the hundreds he guided in the game. “I’m honored beyond words to be in the same group with people like Bill Flynn, Les Kennedy and Bill Ezinicki.” Coon, one of the area’s most talented players ever, is having a great time these days working alongside Don Lyons with the First Tee Program for juniors at Reedy Meadow.

• Congrats to the new owners of Ferncroft Country Club, Affinity Management leaders Damon DeVito and David Swales, who are putting their money where their mouths are and sinking $3 million into their first private club acquisition for upgrading the former site for the LPGA Boston Five Classic, the NEPGA and New England Open. They all but guaranteed their success, it says here, with their decision to retain Director of Golf Toby Ahern and Superintendent Mike Cassidy. They’re making all the right moves.

• More congratulations: To Andover’s Rob Oppenheim, on his second Canadian Tour win of the season in Mexico. Can the Nationwide Tour be far behind?

• To former Salem CC Golf Director and Beverly resident Kirk Hanefeld on his impressive Champions Tour debut: 19th at the PGA Senior Championship, 6th at The Allianz. The man is going to be a major player on the Champions for years to come. This man is shooting for nothing less than the top every week.

• To Far Corner’s Mike Walsh, for having the guts to turn in a card of 102 in the first round of the Cape Cod Open. He knows what’s most important: the competing, not the scoring.

• Lastly, congratulations to the North Shore’s Mr. Golf, Bill Flynn, for being such a great example to all golfers everywhere on how to live one’s life inside and outside the game we love dearly.

Gary Larrabee, the author of The Green and Gold Coast: The History of Golf on Boston’s North Shore, 1893-2001, has been covering the North Shore/Greater Boston golf scene for 35 years. He has written centennial histories for Salem, Winchester and Wenham Country Clubs. His most recent volume is The Best Care Possible: From Beverly Hospital to Northeast Health System, 1888-2005. Currently he is working on the 100-year history of St. John’s Prep, which will be published in September 2007.