4
Called To "Hammer" Tee Box
The journey along with much tradition continues on Saturday,
September 29 when the 6th Annual Hammer Outing takes place at the Liberty
Sullivan County Golf & Country Club.
This tradition will keep intact the late Keith Hamlin's expressed
desire to hold an outing (now called the Hammer Outing) to share the many
pleasant memories of past "Friends of the Links."
The invitation only event in its printed invitation to golfers
states that "the Journey Continues...Keith "Hammer" Hamlin is in the Clubhouse
at Asgard...with him are several "Past Friends of the Links" that were honored
and inducted in the fabled links of Asgard in Valhalla at The Hammer Outings of
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011."
"At a recent "Ting" the Hammer decreed that the following "Past
Friends of the Links" be called to the tee box, E. "Mike" Kelly, Robert Klugman,
Richard "Dick" VanEtten and Fred Willi.....with these honorees, there will be
five foursomes playing together as they did in the past."
Hammer Tradition declares that the four will now be playing on
that beautiful course in heaven with the mystical name Valhalla Course in the
land of Asgard (the highest heaven obtainable and reserved for only the most
noble men and women.
Family members and friends will attend this event and will speak
about the four departed golfers..
The lore and traditions of the annual Hammer Outing
brings tournament golf to what could easily be called a look at a mystical golf
course in Heaven where there is reality and faith combined for past "Friends of
the Links."
The Hammer Outing is the realization of the thoughts and words of
the late Keith "Hammer" Hamlin and the combined efforts of his family and many
friends.
Keith was a well-known and highly respected contractor doing
business as the Hamlin Construction Co. and loved the game of golf where he
achieved the nick name of "Hammer" for the way he drove the ball down the
fairway.
The Hammer Outing is truly
fulfilling Keith's desire.
The Hammer Outing as described in the Lore and Traditions of the
Hammer Outing is an outing that takes place on the fields of play "that so many
of us have walked, talked, and played upon together," and "shall be an outing of
joy, not remorse, an outing of brother and sisterhood, an outing to renew old
friendships."
As to the "past" Friends of the Link's the Lore and Traditions of
this event tell the story of the man who asked his priest to find out if there
was a golf course in heaven and the priest came back to him with good and bad
news by saying there was a course in heaven and it was beautiful but the bad
news was the man was teeing off at 7 a.m. the next morning. The
Lore and Traditions point out that it has been left to "The Hammer" to find that
beautiful course in Heaven and that the mystical course is called the Valhalla
Course.
Keith, as would be expected, has a high seat on the governing
board (Ting) at Valhalla and has let it be known that he has made arrangements
for his past "Friends of the Links" to be admitted, as member, at this
enchanting Links course.
The use of the word "Ting" comes from the fact that leaders of
the villages in ancient times in the Celtic lands, The Isles, and parts of
Europe held meetings to resolve issues of the day and these meetings were called
(Tings) or things.
At each future Hammer Outing an additional
foursome will be called to the Tee Box and honored as such and these players
will be drawn from the roster of "Friends of the Links" that was established at
the 1st annual Hammer Outing held October 8, 2007.
The Lore and Traditions point out that the word Asgard is
described as "the highest realm in Nordic Lore, where the Gods dwell, the word
Ting is the Nordic term for a council and Friends of the Links are honorable
men and women who have shared the pleasure of golf together on
earth.
This tournament has a unique trophy called appropriately "The
Hammer Trophy" which is awarded to the champions but is immediately returned to
its resting place, secured and sealed and kept in the Liberty Sullivan County
Golf & Country Club Pro Shop. The trophy symbolizes the powerful nature that
was Keith's. He is called by all those who knew him as a true gentleman and
outstanding businessman.
Again following tradition the trophy presentation follows strict
guidelines with the Hammer of Thor being removed from its place of stature, by a
worthy representative (Keith's widow Susan Hamlin, presently performs this
honor) and the trophy is presented to the chosen captain and teammates of the
victorious team. The team, as one, shall hoist the Hammer skyward together and
it will be held skyward until a toast, to all that have departed to play on the
field of Heaven, has been offered.
Tradition points out that the trophy is then immediately returned
by the champions' captain to its resting place where it is secured and sealed,
only to be removed at the next Hammer Outing.
There are always great minds behind outstanding events like this
and several of the organizers include Keith's widow Susan Hamlin, his son David
Hamlin and long time friend and Chief Coordinator of the Legend and Lore of the
Ting Robert "Rat" Ratner.
Ed's Outlook
2012 summer golf leagues are drawing to a close but fall golf in
Sullivan County offers many opportunities to play.
The Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club Monday Night Men's league
finished their season with a buffet dinner at the Rockland House. The league
championship was awarded to father and son team Chuck Husson III and Chuck
Husson IV. The Husson's won the league with a total of 223 points edging out
second place finishers John Evans and Frank McGreevy who finished with 217.50
points.
In winning the league championship Chuck Husson III won a total of
108.50 points while Chuck Husson IV won 89.00 individual points. Husson IV has a
2 handicap while Husson III maintains a 5 handicap.
Third place finishers in this league went to Ken Mooney and Tom
Trask.
Brian Thomas received the low handicap award with a 1 handicap.
Three league golfers achieving a 2 handicap were Chuck Husson IV, Jim Bowers and
Ron Schulte.
Ed Townsend is a consultant to the sport of golf. If you have
league scores, tournament info, a hole-in-one or score your age or any topic you
feel would make good reading, Ed can be reached at 845-439-8177, by email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com or by fax at
845-205-4474. View his column at
http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on
Facebook.
The
Golf Tip
By
Robert Menges
How To Start Your Downswing To Become More Consistent
To start your downswing you want to feel as though your hands stay
at the top of the back swing and the front leg starts the downswing. Of course
this won't happen but that's the feeling you should have.
You should also experiment with different parts of your front leg
to start your downswing. I recommend using either your front knee or your front
hip. So simply swing back as normal and then feel as though your hands do
nothing because it should be your front knee or hip that pulls your downswing
into action.
A good drill to get this feeling is to swing back as normal but
pull your front foot in so it touches your back food at the top of the back
swing. And then to start your downswing simply move your front foot into its
normal position and swing through.
This will help to teach you the correct chain of events for the
downswing.
Robert Menges is the head golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf
& Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private
lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be
reached by phone at 845-292-0323 or via email at
menges@hughes.net
Putting
Tip
By Joe
Bermel
A special key to good consistent putting is FINISHING THE PUTTING
STROKE.
Most golfers do not finish and then they wonder why they are short
of the hole.
You start the strike, you must finish and hold the
finish.
Finishing means the putter head is a minimum 2 feet past the ball.
This helps the momentum, the ball will roll end over end and reach the
hole.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, group, corporate,
organization and golf shows-tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt
Well" is available by calling 631-589-1384, at his Web Site
www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at
joe@theputtingdoctor.com
IDENTIFICATION OF PHOTO
Chuck Husson III, left, and son Chuck Husson IV are the 2012
champions of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club Monday Night Men's
league.