Steeple View Country Club: BLOWOUT!!!!

One word can describe the 2008 SVCC Invitational golf tournament held on September 21st 2008. That word is “Blowout”. Gary Simpson, always a favorite to win any backyard golf tournament, was literally unstoppable. Before the day would end Simpson would have set a new course record, recorded a first ever Finals Round hoop in one and own the FAWKIRK trophy for an extraordinary 6th time.

9 other combatants would take the charge of battling Simpson, whose name has been etched on the FAWKIRK 5 previous times. Bill Auld, still in possession of the BCC cup, would battle. Rober’ Auld thought he may have the game and the garb to take control. BCC members can always be dangerous and we had 4 on this day-Simpson of course, Jeff “no nicknames please” Drietlein, Mike “the Reverend” Rosenberg, Esq., and Pete “the Eagle” Johnson. Tony D’anna now corporately sponsored by Praxinet brought gifts and a low handicap to the fray. Former FAWKIRK winner Derek Schulz had reinforcements - bringing along his brother Troy who was quickly titled the “Darkhorse”. And finally backyard golf saw the return of “Superstar” Johnny Z to the championship golf arena.

The Invitational offers an alternative format to the normal backyard golf scoring system. Round One would be stroke play to determine Round Two match play pairings. The winner of the Round Two matches would face off in a Finals Round that would use the customary Simpson Modified Scoring System.

Simpson would make his mark early. Real early! He actually showed up to the course 1 hour before it opened as opposed to his customary one hour after it was supposed to start. The early practice and yardage quantifying done by the BCC captain paid off early as he shattered the course record in Round 1 by scoring a 5 under 22. Derek and Tony came in to the clubhouse with even par 27’s followed by the Aulds-Bill at 29 and Rober’ at 30. Troy and Pete would be next with 32’s followed by Jeff’s 33, Mikes 35 and JZ’s 36.

The 2 v 9 Round 2 match of Derek and Mike, familiar combatants on the SVCC grounds proved to be the tightest of the day. It all came down to #9 after Mike evened up the match with par on 8. The two were close after the tee shot and extra holes was a safe bet at this point. Mike's shot-pretty close. Derek's shot-chip-up-and in for a 2 and just like that Mike was done.

Although he would win 2 and 1, Tony D’anna had his hands full with Jeff “no nicknames please” Dreitlien in the 3 v 8 match. Jeff quickly pounced on TD’s bogey on #1 to go 1 up. It was not until #5 “The Chipmunk” that TD would take a lead. But the best shot ever seen at the SVCC, to this point (foreshadow alert), would take place on #7 as Jeff tried to extend the match.

In a place familiar to great shots by BCC members-most notably The Eagle’s hoop in one at the ’07 Steeplechase and Mike Rosenberg’s “Blue Spruce Miracle” from last year’s Invitational-#7 “the Pheasant” would again see a shot unlike any other. Jeff Dreitlien would ignite a roar from the gallery that some say is still echoing in the hills of Hunterdon County. Needing to win the hole, Mr. Dreitlein, from within the Blue spruce, positioned his back towards the hole and proceed to strike the ball with a decending backhand stroke that landed in the heart of the hoop. The shot already is known within the vernacular of sport simply as “The Backhand”.

But TD, ever the fighter, was able to gain his composure and closed out the match with birdie on #8.

Rober’ would also make the finals in a SVCC-BCC matchup and 2 up win vs Pete “the Eagle”. Rober’ managed to be on top in the end when it counted in the see-saw battle that had almost as many holes won with bogey as with birdie.

Billy Jo and the Big G rounded out the final’s field. Troy had trouble getting his long game down to the size of the SVCC course and fell to Bill 4 and 2. Johnny Z showed some rust but also faced a hot Simpson and he also fell 4 and 2.

So the Finals were set. Simpson, Auld, Auld, Derek and TD. And again Simpson started early. A birdie on #1 “Barn Swallow” was not what the rest of the field wanted to see. Others had a chance to halve the whole with him but Rober’s shot would not stay and TD landed a bit short.

The rest of the finalists knew to have any chance they could not let Simpson win the next hole and go up 4 points after 2 holes. Someone had to step up.

And remember that foreshadow alert about the best shot ever seen at the SVCC. Well here it is.

And someone did step up, unfortunately for the rest of field that someone was Simpson. Having honors the Big G teed up first on the downhill 95 yard second hole “the Buck”. With an easy swing of his wedge Simpson launched his shot in the air and when it came down the splash of the sand and the thumbs up from the gallery effectively signaled the end of the tournament after only 2 holes played. Simpson would later say, “I kinda knew I had that shot”.

Deflated, but valiant in their efforts, the remaining golfers tried to match the feat to halve the hole. Incredibly TD and Bill tries came within 3 feet of the task. But as close as they were to the hoop they were equally as close to being eliminated. Simpson had just gone up 4 points with 3 shots after 2 holes.

Rober and Derek continued to fight but could only halve the next 3 holes-2 of them also shared with G. A birdie at 6 and another at 7 finished the Blowout of 2008. I dare say never before has a championship backyard golf event been finished with 2 holes still to play.

The day was a magical one for Mr. Simpson. And as the sun set, and the champagne was popped and the Plaid Jacket was presented along with the fabled FAWKIRK trophy to Simpson- the SVCC had one more trick up its sleeve. Seeing a majestic balloon floating peacefully overhead the SVCC staff of Karen and Barbara saw an opportunity to end the day with the pageantry it so deserved. They convinced the pilot of the aeronautical marvel, the size of which nearly approached that of Gary's now inflated head, to land gracefully on the hallowed grounds of the SVCC providing a peacefully sublime and colorful end to a great golf tournament.