The drama and pageantry that is the Interclub Championships was as evident as was the teal blue sky dotted with white cotton clouds that provided the backdrop to the day’s event. Yes the SVCC and the BCC met again to engage in friendly battle for the second year in a row in a quest for the coveted Quantus Certanimus.
The tournament, some have called the “Backyard Brawl”, is more of a celebration of what the world of backyard golf has become. “To be able to compete with the founders and the club that started it all is an opportunity most athletes will never experience. Imagine playing a game of hoops with James Naismith. That’s what it’s like when we compete with the BCC” said SVCC captain, Bill Auld. The backyard golf tour did in fact start in 1995 in the hills of the Bernardsville C.C. when the Groundskeeper, Gary Simpson, offered a chance to win the now retired “Troy” Trophy. And with the emergence of the SVCC in 2003 the tour schedule expanded to include as many as 7 sanctioned events including the 4 majors.
But in recent years the personification of what backyard golf has become is the Interclub Championships. The brainchild of the Groundskeeper and the Captain, the Interclub is the opportunity to play for the team as opposed to seeking personal glory. It has proven to be the example of sportsmanship and comeraderie to the world of sport. And with each club exchanging with the other the very turf they play on with the hopes that it will literally grow a tangible connection, the Interclub has also been the opportunity to display the rich ceremony of backyard golf.
The arrival of the contestants indicated the games were about to begin. The SVCC, holders of the Quantus Certanimus, were to be represented by capt Bill Auld, Rober’ Auld, Tony “TD” D’anna and Derek Schulz. The BCC rostered was comprised of Gary the “Groundskeeper” Simpson, Mike Rosenberg, Jeff Dreitlein and Pete “the Eagle” Johnson. And the drama started even before the first shot was hit. The BCC Groundskeeper took his time to counter the lineup presented by the SVCC. “I had a definite strategy. I wanted to stay close and strike in the singles matches” said the Groundskeeper.
After the selection process was over the cow bell signified the start of play. The Best Ball round was first and the BCC countered the SVCC pair of Rober’ and Derek with Gary and Jeff. The second group saw SVCC team of Bill and Tony squaring off against Mike and Pete. And the BCC started quick, winning 2 of the first three holes. Derek and Rober’ fought them off halving the next five but fell 2 and 1. The first two points of the day went to the BCC.
Bill and Tony sought to even the score for the SVCC. Birdie on #1 put them 1up. #2 looked like a lock for the SVCC when Bill scored an apparent hoop in one. But it was not to be –just outside upon further review and Pete managed to get his own birdie to halve the whole. Solid play by the SVCC team in the remainder of the round allowed them to indeed get the win and bring the score even at 2 heading into Round 2 Alternate shot pairs matches.
Building on their momentum, Bill and Derek paired up for the SVCC and were able to knock off Jeff and Pete of the BCC. Derek’s hoop-in-one, the second of his career in tournament play, on #5 made it hard for the BCC to get back into the match and they subsequently lost 3 and 2.
That left Gary and Mike needing the victory to give the BCC the tie the groundskeeper needed if his plan was to take effect. And they did not disappoint their membership, managing to pull off a gutsy 2 and 1 victory. The match was even after five holes. A par on #6 put BCC up 1 and both squads bogied the difficult #7. Tee shots on #8 favored the BCC but Tony put his team in contention with a nice approach just a few feet short of the hoop. The BCC was in with three as Rober’ lined up his shot. And as backyard golf has proven, no shot is a gimme. A tuft of grass held up the shot giving the BCC their 2 points and the tie going into the Singles round. SVCC captain consoled a distraught Rober’ by saying “Even though you didn’t come up with the win, you took on Simpson in both rounds. That was big for us-we are even and have a chance at this thing.”
On to the singles matches!! “The singles round proved to be the most difficult” the Groundskeeper would say regarding setting up his matches. He eventually countered Derek with Pete in the first match, pitted Mike and Rober’ in the second, took on Bill himself in the third and left Jeff to fend off Tony in the final match.
Derek was able to defeat Pete “the Eagle” 5 and 3 with a steady dose of pars after an opening birdie. With SVCC now up 2 points it was on to Mike and Rober’ in match 2. And Rober’ again hit a buzz saw losing 4 and 3 as Mike birdied four of the six holes played. A well played match by Rosenberg-one many will not soon forget. But would it be enough?
With the tournament again tied, this time at 6 points a piece. Simpson’s plan was working. Even if Jeff were to lose to the SVCC’s low handicapper Tony, all Gary would have to do is beat SVCC captain Bill to extend the tournament to a Captain's select overtime match.
Tony and Jeff grinded out their singles match with nary a birdie between them. Jeff managed bogie on #4 and it was enough to bring the match in range-down one with 5 to play. Tony knew what the match meant to the SVCC and was able to shut the door quicker than Jeff had opened it winning #5 & #6 while pushing #7 for the 3 and 2 win.
Although the outcome of Tony/Jeff was not final until #7 Gary had to play as if Jeff may fall to his more experienced competitor. This meant the Gary/ Bill match would turn out to be an important one in a very tight competition. When Bill blew a chance to halve #1 with a poor chip, Gary had the 1up lead. Bill would later say, “I knew at that moment I had to play to win and not just keep up with the Groundskeeper. I have not yet beat him head to head in my backyard. Now was the time.” Bill delivered with a birdie to tie the match on #2 and another on #3 to go 1up. Pars by both on #4 and 5 followed and when Gary stepped up to #6 he was ready to even the match. But in what can only be described as uncharacteristic for the Groundskeeper, his tee shot on # 6 nearly hit the “Coop” in front of him and nestled behind a blue spruce with no shot to the green. Bill’s tee shot on the other hand was a mere 5 feet away from the hoop which he birdied to go 2up with three to go.
#7, the most difficult hole on the course if your nickname is not “the Eagle,” was next. Bill’s tee shot was not great but ok-off the green to the left. Gary struck his shot and its trajectory was vintage Groundskeeper, heading right toward the pin. But Derek, playing the role of spotter, alerted the competitors that he in fact over shot the hole. “Damn!” uttered the disappointed G. 2nd shots-Bill close 1-1/2 yards right of the hole. G-forced to take a drop looking for the miracle par. Backswing-contact-follow through and . . . .it’s got a chance. But no the ball ends up below the hoop with a tap in for 4. As described earlier, in the midst of all this Jeff is hanging on in his match with Tony. He needs to win #7 to stay in it but Tony gets his three and concedes Jeff’s three for the match win.
All the SVCC needs now is for Bill to halve the whole, dormie the match, and as a result guarantee the 1 point needed for the SVCC victory. And with a clear, crisp swing he hoops it, going 2 up with 2 to play. Realizing the Quantus Certanimus is now guaranteed, The SVCC captain concedes the final 2 holes to his rival captain the in a show of sportsmanship in keeping with the Interclub history.
And so it came to an end. The SVCC had retained the trophy but both clubs looked forward to the return to the clubhouse. There we could find out what the event was really about. The SVCC and the BCC hanging out, eating dinner and conversing with the clubhouse staff of Karen and Barbara who had done so much to make this tournament an event. There were stories to be told of the days competition, there were pictures to be taken to mark the occasion, and even songs to be sung as the golfers performed a resounding rendition of Happy Birthday to Barbara on this her birthday.
Ah yes, the drama and pageantry that is the Interclub championships.
