Monday, December 10, 2007

Here & There Column 12-11-07

Paul G. Temple, center, prior to his death on November 29, was the oldest active living member of the Roscoe Twin Village Golf Course. In this photo he received a selection of different 7-irons from club members, from the left, Al Johnston, Chuck Husson, Ralph Kirchner and Dan Baldo during Temple's 90th birthday celebration May 6 at the Roscoe-Rockland Fire House.

Remembering Gentleman Paul G. Tempel

The hamlet of Roscoe along with Sullivan County and the Golfing community
lost a true friend and outstanding gentleman on November 29 with the death
of 90-year-old Paul G. Tempel of Roscoe.
We will truely miss the friendly and interesting conversations we had
with Paul over the many years I have known him.
Just last year while I was on vacation in August Paul subbed for me in
the Twin Village Golf Club Monday Night Men's league and when I got back
he was all smiles when he told me how he (at age 89) and my regular partner
(87-year old Ed Korth from Livingston Manor) had defeated "those younger
guys."
Loved talking politics with Paul as he was a Town of Rockland Democratic
Committeeman for over 50 years but never once pushed a strong political
party stance. He was community orientated and also loved firematics and
served as a 67-year member and past president of the Rockland Hose Company
No. 1.
As a member of the Twin Village Golf Club since the early 1960's I got to
know the real Paul Temple and golfers who knew him will never forget the
"thing" he had about his 7-iron and the golf course he helped build.
Paul was honered on May 6 of this year by his loving family and the golf
community at a 90th birthday celebration held at the Roscoe-Rockland Fire
House.
Paul had been an outstanding golfer for many years and although he no
longer actively played in the Monday Night Men's league he was a regular
sub many nights during the season.
His talents not only with his favorite club....the 7 iron.....were well
known for this very likeable friend and fellow golfer.
I remember him saying that golf "was a lot better than sitting around
the house."
He was always proud of his six career hole-in-ones and his low nine-hole
score of 31 which he shot a number of years ago at the par-32 Twin Village
Golf Club in Roscoe. Even as he entered the 80's his game was still not too
far from par as he continued to shoot in the high 30's and low 40's many
times out.
Paul fondly talked about the year of 1925 when he helped build the
nine-hole 2,040-yard Twin Village Golf Club course and as a youngster how
he helped pick up rocks and started playing the game of golf when the
course officially opened in 1927.
Paul Temple certainly proved that golf and the golden years were a
perfect match.
We are sure God will ask Paul to tee it up on the Heavenly Golf Course
and the fond memories of Paul will never be forgotten by his loving family
and many friends.

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