On Saturday morning, Santa's sleigh turned into a golf cart.
A field of over 90 golfers teed it up in Christmas Island Style's Annual Golf Outing at the Marriott's Rookery course in Fiddler's Creek, raising funds for the seasonal celebrations just ahead. A glorious morning gave a hint of the cooler weather that comes along with the Christmas season island, and a who's who of Marco Islanders got out on the course or manned the volunteer tables to help out.
The team of John Acunto, Ed Carbary, Ken Fox and Charles Lostracca took first place, with Scott Gibbs, Sean Shea, Mark Canady, and Brian Day coming in behind them. Richard Shanahan's foursome, with Bob Heaton, John Higgins, and Paul Vopdrain took third.
John Fuchs won both longest drive and closest to the pin for the men, while Christine Stokes had the longest women's drive, and Joyce Queen was closest to the pin among the ladies. The overall winner, of course, was Christmas Island Style (CIS).
It could be said every player was a winner, taking advantage of the chance to get out in nature on the lush and manicured Rookery course, with the dew still heavy on the ground, get together with friends for a friendly game, and all for a good cause.
Not that there weren't moments of disagreement. When their foursome placed three precise shots on the green at hole number 16, a par three playing at 139 yards from the white tees, Jim Ramage and Larkin Barnett each pointed at the other when asked who had put the fourth ball into the water.
One foursome asked a photographer to pass along that they made the following foursome wait only because they themselves were waiting for the foursome in front of them. But the sky was a deep blue, the flowers burst out of their beds, and the air was sweet. Alligators cruised slowly down the lakes, and a heron posed on the cart-path bridge, as if posing for the Rookery's logo. The beverage cart circulated, Mulligans were taken, and the "best ball" format kept play moving along.
Before the golfers headed out for the shotgun start, they heard from Christmas Island Style head elf Steve Stefanides, who thanked the premier sponsors including CJ's on the Bay, Dunkin' Donuts, and Mutual of Omaha Bank, as well as the Marriott Rookery Golf Club for hosting the event. In addition, over 65 hole sponsors contributed to support the event. Stefanides then introduced "perennial chairman, of this and every other event" Dick Shanahan, and put in a plug for "the nicest day we've had in a long while."
Christmas Island Style has a busy slate of events on the horizon. On Nov. 10, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is the Marco Florist Holiday Open House with the display and sale of the 2012 CIS Christmas ornament. On Nov. 13, the annual spaghetti dinner raises money for all CIS activities, and on Nov. 13, the 25th Silver Anniversary Dinner Dance for CIS takes place at the Island Country Club.
May After Five, Marco Island Chamber
Catch of the Day: May 23, 2013
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 9
Hascle writes:
Stef for president!
RayPray writes:
Ground Hog Day?
The remarkable thing about this annual parade is that each season, every aspect of the ritual turns out to be exactly the same -- this enthralling golf outing, the exciting pageantry itself, then the 'story' printed dutifully here, beaming with self-congratulation, telling what a grand success it all was once more.
On my deathbed -- while justly in apprehension of what lies just beyond -- I know I shall be able to derive warm consolation from the notion that, in missing all future Island Style extravaganzas, I will in truth be missing nothing....
Hascle writes:
God help you piece is sh-t.
RayPray writes:
"God help you piece is sh-t."
What cartoon character do you prance along as in this widely esteemed production?
Hascle writes:
You must be best friends with the Throat Cum Guy.
RayPray writes:
"piece is sh-t."
"Throat Cum Guy."
???
Definitely you are a gnarled old homunculus.
2themoon writes:
...thinking hascle is stephanides...lots of emotion
KlausStoertebeker writes:
Christmas Island Style has a busy slate of events on the horizon.
In October? Stupid!
President Barack Obama the GREAT
will not understand that. However - it is what it is in America.
Hascle writes:
I can not wait for judgement day for the negativitve vibe people living in Marco. Most of us worked real hard to get here and enjoy life. My father was right when he told me some people are assholes when they are young,middle age and then become old f-cks forever. He was so right.
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