Storm shortens Arberlour golf tournament

HARDYSTON — The start of play of the Aberlour Hickory & Scotch Golf Tournament at New Jersey’s #1 public golf course, the Ballyowen Golf Club started out as a beautiful day although brisk winds warned that changes could be coming in the weather. This did not deter a sold out roster of golfers from playing in what has become one of the favorite golf tournaments offered by the Crystal Springs Resort.
The 2018 Aberlour Hickory & Scotch Golf Tournament was the 1st in a series 4 Hickory & Scotch golf events scheduled for the season. Much of the attraction of these events comes from the combination of playing golf on New Jersey’s #1 public golf course, the novelty of having to play a golf hole using vintage 1929 era hickory golf clubs, having the opportunity to sample some of the world’s best Scotch Whisky and sitting down to a fabulous buffet dinner following golf.
The tournament played on Tuesday May 15th was cut short by Mother Nature who decided to bring a major rain storm to the golf course forcing a discontinuance of play after the completion of 11 holes of play by the competitors. For some this represented good news and bad news. The good news was a premature end of a round of golf that may not have been going too well with the good news being able to retire to the Owen’s Pub at the beautiful Ballyowen Club House to enjoy a delicious buffet dinner prepared by Head Chef Andy Lagana and his staff, enjoy a few adult beverages and sample 12 year, 16 year, 18 year and A’Bunadh Scotch Whisky provided by the Aberlour sponsor
The event featured a four golfer team scramble in which each member of the team hits their tee shot and then selects the best shot of the four to play. This format is followed through the completion of each hole with the team with the lowest score following 18 holes declared the winner.
The Aberlour Hickory & Scotch Golf Tournament was cut short following the completion of only 11 holes. As a result the winner of the event was determined by the team with the lowest score for 9 holes. Two teams had scores of 5 under par 67. Both were declared winners. The first winning team included Richard Davis, Jamil Mason, Brad Delverde and Patrick Sheerer. The second winning team was made up of Greg Amerkanian, Brian Sommerville, Bob Jackson and Darren Amerkanian also finishing 9 holes at 5 under par 67.
All golfers were able to complete the closest to the pin competition on the “Hickory Stick” par 3 No. 11 hole before the storm arrived.
Golfers were required to hit their tee shots and putt using vintage hickory stick golf clubs. James Reidy was able to hit his tee shot closest to the pin on hole No. 11, earning him the prize as the best golfer using vintage hickory stick golf clubs in the closest to the pin competition.
— Story and photos courtesy John Whiting