Welcome to the Amigos Newsletter, a compilation of news, reader contributions and unreliable opinion by and for past and present employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT), and their friends. Items can be sent to John Lang. Readers' comments on posts are encouraged. Twitter hashtag: #amigosnewsletter.
L to R, Claudio Valle, Milan Stolarik, Bill Johnston, Mike Chevalier (winner of the famous Mike's Mug), Johnathan Cohen, Al Stewart, Don Wismer, George Costaris, Bob Fairweather, John Bell. Great looking legs, Guys!!!
New Orleans or more affectionately, The Big Easy, was the sight of the 2010 TC Invitational attended by 10 keen golfers, Bob Fairweather, Bill Johnston, John Bell, Al Stewart, Don Wismer, Claudio Valle, George Costaris, Milan Stolarik, Mike Chevalier and Johnathan Cohen. The courses selected were challenging with lots of water and fast greens. Many had suffered from one of the severest winters on record as temperatures hovered in the mid teens (Farenheit) for weeks on end earlier in the year. The impact of Hurricane Katrina of four years ago was evident as some of the courses lost hundreds of large trees. The event began on Monday April 20 at the Oakland Hills CC. The winter layoff was evident in the results of the first round as several colleagues struggled to find their game. Fairweather and Chevalier, both of whom were able to play frequently over the past few months took an early lead. At the Carter Plantation, Fairweather opened up a slight margin over Johnstan and the hard hitting Valle. Day 3 was warm and sunny and the greens were fast at the Money Hill GC.Both Al Stewart and Milan Stolarik found their mid season form and were able to close the gap with the outright leader, Fairweather, with Valle and Chevalier close on his heels. Lakewood Country Club played host to moving day and with a very strong round of 5 under net par, Don Wismer moved into contention and into the final group for the last day. Fairweather struggled with his putting and began to fade while Chevalier with steady performances throughout the week took the lead with a two shot margin over Valle. On the last day the tension was palpable, as we worried about the heavy storm warnings that had been issued for the area. The English Turn GC was the venue. This spot on a turn in the river was the sight of the Battle of New Orleans made famous by Johnny Horton in his hit song of the 1950's. Some of us indeed searched for golf balls in those same brambles and bushes through which the British ran. Early erratic tee shots quickly eliminated Wismer from contention and continued putting woes dropped Fairweather from the fierce competition between Valle and Chevalier for the chance to hoist Mike's Mug high. (and to carry the damned thing home on the plane and have to pay the $40 for excess baggage). On the long, difficult par five14th hole at English Turn, Valle struck two shots straight down the fairway while Chevalier pulled his drive left onto the adjoining fairway. With no clear shot he was forced to lay up some distance from the island green. Valle clearly had the upper hand. But then Chevalier pulled off a remarkable recovery shot from a downhill lie in the rough with a 7 iron to 10 feet from the pin. All the pressure to replicate that type of shot was too much for Claudio and he chunked his approach shot into the water short of the green and watched his chances to win sink. On the next hole the skies opened, the lightening flashed and the course was closed. Thus terminating any hope Valle had of capturing the lead over the final 4 holes. The 2010 winner of the TC Invitational was Mike Chevalier. The week was a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships again and to enjoy all the delights that New Orleans has to offer. The weather on the hole was warm and sunny, the culinary aspects of the trip were extraordinary with many of us enjoying Jambalaya, Gumbo and Crawdads for the first time. Basin Street rocked every night and provided.........what goes on in NO stays in NO. No decision has been made about 2011 but all suggestions are welcomed.
L to R, Claudio Valle, Milan Stolarik, Bill Johnston, Mike Chevalier (winner of the famous Mike's Mug), Johnathan Cohen, Al Stewart, Don Wismer, George Costaris, Bob Fairweather, John Bell. Great looking legs, Guys!!!
ReplyDeleteNew Orleans or more affectionately, The Big Easy, was the sight of the 2010 TC Invitational attended by 10 keen golfers, Bob Fairweather, Bill Johnston, John Bell, Al Stewart, Don Wismer, Claudio Valle, George Costaris, Milan Stolarik, Mike Chevalier and Johnathan Cohen.
ReplyDeleteThe courses selected were challenging with lots of water and fast greens. Many had suffered from one of the severest winters on record as temperatures hovered in the mid teens (Farenheit) for weeks on end earlier in the year. The impact of Hurricane Katrina of four years ago was evident as some of the courses lost hundreds of large trees. The event began on Monday April 20 at the Oakland Hills CC. The winter layoff was evident in the results of the first round as several colleagues struggled to find their game. Fairweather and Chevalier, both of whom were able to play frequently over the past few months took an early lead. At the Carter Plantation, Fairweather opened up a slight margin over Johnstan and the hard hitting Valle. Day 3 was warm and sunny and the greens were fast at the Money Hill GC.Both Al Stewart and Milan Stolarik found their mid season form and were able to close the gap with the outright leader, Fairweather, with Valle and Chevalier close on his heels.
Lakewood Country Club played host to moving day and with a very strong round of 5 under net par, Don Wismer moved into contention and into the final group for the last day. Fairweather struggled with his putting and began to fade while Chevalier with steady performances throughout the week took the lead with a two shot margin over Valle. On the last day the tension was palpable, as we worried about the heavy storm warnings that had been issued for the area. The English Turn GC was the venue. This spot on a turn in the river was the sight of the Battle of New Orleans made famous by Johnny Horton in his hit song of the 1950's. Some of us indeed searched for golf balls in those same brambles and bushes through which the British ran. Early erratic tee shots quickly eliminated Wismer from contention and continued putting woes dropped Fairweather from the fierce competition between Valle and Chevalier for the chance to hoist Mike's Mug high. (and to carry the damned thing home on the plane and have to pay the $40 for excess baggage). On the long, difficult par five14th hole at English Turn, Valle struck two shots straight down the fairway while Chevalier pulled his drive left onto the adjoining fairway. With no clear shot he was forced to lay up some distance from the island green. Valle clearly had the upper hand. But then Chevalier pulled off a remarkable recovery shot from a downhill lie in the rough with a 7 iron to 10 feet from the pin. All the pressure to replicate that type of shot was too much for Claudio and he chunked his approach shot into the water short of the green and watched his chances to win sink. On the next hole the skies opened, the lightening flashed and the course was closed. Thus terminating any hope Valle had of capturing the lead over the final 4 holes. The 2010 winner of the TC Invitational was Mike Chevalier.
The week was a wonderful opportunity to renew old friendships again and to enjoy all the delights that New Orleans has to offer. The weather on the hole was warm and sunny, the culinary aspects of the trip were extraordinary with many of us enjoying Jambalaya, Gumbo and Crawdads for the first time. Basin Street rocked every night and provided.........what goes on in NO stays in NO.
No decision has been made about 2011 but all suggestions are welcomed.