Sunday, September 16, 2007

Twin Village Club Champions-Bucky Honored

Champions of the Monday Night Men's league at the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club are, from the left, Ken Knudsen and George Powell first place, Steve Bowers and Dylan Bowers second place and Tom Ackerly and Chuck Husson third place.

Ellsworth "Bucky" Buck Honored At Annual Dinner

Championship Tournament winners, the Ladies President Cup champion, Men's Athletic Cup winners and Ladies and Men's league champions of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Club received recognition at the annual club dinner Saturday, September 8 at the Rockland House but the "main event" as they say at ringside went to honoring local golf icon Ellsworth "Bucky" Buck.
The 89-year-old "Bucky" (he will be 90 in January), has gone through a number of medical problems the past several years which kept him away from his favorite game this past summer.
Although "Bucky" has gone through a quadruple heart by-pass, leg/ knee problems and other medical situations he still loves and likes talking about golf and his famous 48-inch Yonex Titanium Plus driver and his 24-karet golf putter.
Up to two years ago he was a regular on the golf course at Roscoe where he subbed in the Monday Men's league, played a weekly match with Bob Williams on Saturday and gained fame throughout Sullivan County when he teamed up with former Sullivan County Supreme Court Judge Robert "Bob" Williams, Marv Newberg and Sullivan County Democrat Publisher Emeritus Fred Stabbert Jr. in the annual Bob Williams Invitational Tournament, which was held for many years at the Sullivan County Golf & Country Club in Liberty.
Speakers at the dinner honoring "Bucky" were quick to point out that one could not find a more "gentleman golfer" than "Bucky" and that you could not find a better dressed golfer as he sported the Payne Stewart look with knickers-style pants and long socks.
Up to several years ago he always walked the course but leg/knee problems forced him to use a cart which he purchased and had his name printed on the front of the cart.
"Bucky" started out being close to the game of golf when he was a caddy between the ages of 10 and 15 at the Twin Village Golf Club. A heavy work schedule which included owning his own business kept him from participating in the game until he started playing seriously at the age of 71.
Born in Roscoe, he attended the Roscoe Central School and later moved to Monticello where he graduated high school in January 1937. He was well known in the diner business as one of the best short-order cooks around. He owned and operated "Bucky"s Diner" on South Main Street in Liberty from 1944-1950. He also worked at the famed Triangle Diner in Liberty and retired as the short-order cook in 1983. "Bucky" now makes his home in Liberty.
He was and still is an accomplished musician, playing both the clarinet and saxophone and is a well-known author and writer of poems, many of which have been published in the Sullivan County Democrat.
He is a pure gentleman and always proclaims his strong belief in God and his Christian faith.
Speakers reading honors at the dinner included Ed Townsend and Bill Knipscher.
Knipscher turned the tables on "Bucky" and adapted a Joyce Kilmer poem to honor "Bucky." The poem concluded in the last paragraph by saying " but only God can help "Bucky" off the tee."
"Bucky" stood and thanked everyone for the recognition and concluded his remarks by singing a song which was met with a standing ovation.
Invited guests at this annual dinner included Ed and Shirley Townsend, Steve, Vikki and Dylan Bowers and Tom, Kyle and Leanne Lake.
Champions of the Monday Men's league were introduced by Club President Dan Baldo and they included Ken Knudsen and George Powell first place, Steve Bowers and Dylan Bowlers second place and Tom Ackerly and Chuck Husson third place. The low handicap golfer in the league with a 1.79 was Terry Knickerbocker.
The President's Cup champion for 2007 is Gwen Baldo. The Men's Athletic Cup Ladder Tournament was won by Troy Kirchner.
Tuesday Ladies league champions announced included Anna May Husson and Becky Ackerly first place, Barbara Trask and Dot Quick second place and Sally Shey and Gwen Baldo third place. Anna May Husson had the low handicap in this league with a 7.29.
Ladies' Ringer Board Tournament winners were C Flight Ross Francis, B Flight Pat Hill and A Flight tie for first between Sally Shea and Jean Knickerbocker.
Sally Shea reported that the Ladies Golf Association had donated $1,500 to the club for weed and feed, a new roof and flowers. She also noted that the junior tournament sponsored by her and Steve Bowers had 11 congtestants in its's inaugural year. The winners were Ian Wilson and Jesse Huggins who tied at 48.
The club this year went with a new format for what use to be the Club Championship and used the best 8 scores golfers shot in the Men's and Women's league. Golfers paid an entry fee to get into the Championship tournament which ran for the months of June, July and August.
Winners of the Championship Tournament were:
For the ladies in the A division, Anna May Husson first place, Gwen Baldo second place and Sally Shea third place. B division Lisa Failla first place, Cindy Woodard second place and Liz Hendrickson third place. C division Betsy Levy first place, Pat Enger second place and Ruth Ulshafer third place.
For the men in the A division, Terry Knickerbocker first place, Jim Bowlers second place and Steve Bowlers third place. B division Ralph Kirchner first place, Dennis Bennett second place and Bill Knipscher third place. C division Lew Hendrickson first place, Ed Townsend second place and Dan Baldo third place. Some 49 golfers participated in the tournament.
Attractive and embroidered Tri-Mountain Viking jackets with the Twin Village Golf Club 2007 Championship Tournament logo was awarded to first, second and third place winners in each division.
Chuck and Anna May Husson spent a lot of time putting together a video collage of photos from the recent and past of Twin Village Golf Club members and events many of which included photos of the late Bill Jones, Bruce Lindsley, Laverne Knickerbocker, Jack Rosetti, Ray Pomeroy and many others. The video was greatly enjoyed and appreciated by all.
Guest and members attending the event also enjoyed the program front page drawing of "Bucky" done by Bill Knipscher.


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