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The Fairways of Life - with Bob Bontempo
As we begin a banner 2008 golf season in Western Massachusetts, I’d like to reflect on some great golf memories and share them with the golfers mentioned within and all friends of golf in the area.
From the 40’s and 50’s at Franconia Golf Course we recall:
...over 100 caddies waiting on the pro shop porch on Saturday and Sunday mornings for a caddy assignment. The wages were $1.25 for 18 holes but we usually were given an apple turnover on the 5th tee and a 15 cent hot dog on number 12. I often carried double for Mr John Skinner and Mr. Ray Snow for they only had about five clubs in each bag.
George McKeown was the Ranger on the course, and he was usually found on the 10th hole on a bench soaking up the sun. Mrs. Marie Tongue was one of the Starters on the first tee. She lived on Spencer Street off of Sumner Ave. and often brought her dog to work in a small basket on her bicycle. Timmy Dunn also did some ranging as he was a former pro baseball player.
In the 30’s, Ray Bongiovanni served as caddy master, and the kids did their waiting in a caddy shack on the other side of Dwight Road.
Of course, my Dad, Henry Bontempo served as Head Professional from 1929 until 1968, completing 40 glorious years while serving the public golfers.
John Raimondi became a faithful assistant in the late 30’s before he became the head pro at the Old Memorial Golf Course on Roosevelt Avenue.
The club house concessionaires at Franconia GC wer Joe and Ollie Rheames, Eddie Byrnes and the Paul McDonald family with their son Jimmy McDonald. This family ws a great asset to the golfers and City of Springfield. Young Jimmy shot 79 at the age of 11 and went on to a glorious junior and amateur career including the City Chami]pionship and the New England Publinx Team Championship in 1960.
George Post served as head greenskeeper and was followed by Jimmy Twohig, Lou Grimaldi and John Hudyka in that position.
In 1944, at the age of five, I crawled and played in the Franconia GC pro shop and the “baby sitter” was Eddie Mantovani who became an accomplished player and lifetime friend of our family. Eddie shot par or better on many occasions and in 1961 he made the City Championship finals, where he brought the winner to the 37th hole. That same evening, Eddie married his sweetheart Barbara and my brother David, Dad and myself were invited to the reception at the Oaks Inn on Boston Road.
Walter Kupiec dominated amateur Publinx Golf in that era and he was joined at Franconia GC by Bill and JImmy Barry, Sam Giuliano, Carl Binsky, and a host of great players and terrific guys. Franconia GC and Memorial GC were just great places to learn about golf and the game of life itself.
Franconia GC had many guys who worked nights in factories and were able to tee it up during the day. After golf, it was a trip to The Orange Cafe at the “X” or to Turner Park or to The Golden Hour or Blue Moon. Henry Bontempo often stated, “At Franconia GC, we have great amateur players and a very high rate of unemployment.” Henry was also famous for the line, “Quit your job and practice - your game will surely improve.”
Franconia GC had quite a few “characters.” After 11 weeks of no rain in 1953, Leonard Kelley - who was broke - stated to the starter, Mrs. Tongue, “Could I please play free today, I was rained out last week?” He did not win that battle with Mrs. Tongue. Maurice Tisner, a steady player with a rather high handicap, would look for a match using strokes and folks caught on to his game in a hurry. Mike DeMarines, would add a quarter ounce of lead tape to his putter for weekly improvement - and he was very popular.
Each Saturday morning, a cast of friends would appear at Franconia GC.
We had the austere gentlemen from Longmeadow: Alvin W Fuller, Hobie Swan, F.L. Sjostrom, Stuart Taylor and they added style to the course.
About 8:30 we would welcome Bill and Jim Barry, Phil and Rudy Collins, Cy Gokey, Squint Mullen, Harry LaBroad, John Hickman, Jack Quirk -tons of simply great guys.
Then the famous “Birdie Club” assumed the first tee with Fred Mascola, the Bongiovanni Family, Al Raschi, Mike DeMarines, Al Yacavone et al.
On Sunday mornings we welcomed the businessmen and retailers who did own their own business and played Sundays only. Included were: Jack Davis, Alton Lan, SId Eisman, Jake Pomerantz, Frank Retchin, Mike Leshin.
Yes, “the good old days” at Franconia GC and Memorial GC will never be forgotten by those golfers who traversed and travailled those great fairways.
My brother David and I often reflect on those days and count our lucky stars and thank Almighty God for the opportunity that was given to us
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In this busy and hectic world, I would often like to trade in my cell phone, computer and overly modern equipment for a return of Atuthur Godfrey, Art Linkletter, John Cameron Swayze and Ed Sulliven.
However, let’s go with the times and enjoy our extra distance with graphite clubs and let’s enjoy the great friendships that golf has given us “Down the Fairways of Life.”
See you on the first tee.
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O’Brien basks in 40 great years at Greenfield
By Bob Bontempo
Call him “Director of Golf,” call him “Host Professional” or simply call him “Friend”...he is “Bucky” O’Brien from the Country Club of Greenfield.
James J. O’Brien has begun his 40th year as host PGA Professional and friend at Greenfield and he maintains a brisk, enthusiastic spirit as he has since his childhood days near the Memorial Golf Course in Springfield.
In the early 50’s he played on the championship team at Tech High School and was joined by a host of great players: Ronnie and Harry Mattson, Jon Hunt, Joe Megliola, Art Malstrom and Jim Grochmal.
Bucky spent two years in Korea with the U.S. Army before he began working at The Feeding hills Country Club under the tutelage of pro Jack Taylor. Bucky credits John Raimondi for great assistance as a teacher of golf. At Memorial Golf Course “I would shag balls during a lesson and retain great teaching methods from John. It has helped me tremendously during my years as a pro.”
In 1962, Bucky served as charter professional at the Edgewood Coutnry Club in Southwick where he helped to establish the club on the golfing map.
But the big move happened in 1969 when Bucky was selected to replace “Mac” Sennett at The Country Club of Greenfield as Sennett had retired in 1968 after a wonderful tenure of 41 years at the club.
About 1977 Bucky held the microphone on the 7th green at the club when the “Mac” Sennitt Bridge was dedicated. I enjoyed the ceremony with my wife Jane and several hundred members and guests. “Mac’s” wife Florence was there also, “Mac” had passed on in 1972.
At the microphone Bucky stated: “As we dedicate this bridge, I hope some day that my name will be mentioned in the same vein as Mac Sennett.”
It was very humble and in great reverence to “Mac” and Florence Sennett.
Now, as we enter golf in 2008, Bucky, we salute you and offer great and sincere gratitude for your enduring and caring career at the CC of Greenfield.
Bucky was guest of honor at the 1987 PGA Tee Party and honored as “pro of the year” in western Massachusetts. But in 2004, Bucky received a very high honor:’Professional of the Year” as awarded by the Conecticut PGA Section. Several hundred friends travelled to Fox Woods to share this awesome honor with Bucky O’Brien.
Over the years Bucky has been very happy about improved course conditions under the direction of superintendent Bob Uguccioni, especially since the greens budget has usually been modest. Bucky recalls his years of hosting the Annual “Invitational” where solid friendships have developed for so many years.
O’Brien recalls golfers that have been with him since that memorable year of 1969 including Norm Carme, Sam Couture, Art Fiset, Artie Burke and the Sigda Family. We all recall RIck Sigda making nine consecutive birdies in 1979 at the club as he set a modern amateur record.
Bucky has had a very steadying influence on the Country Club of Greenfield.
The layout has remained virtually the same over the years, with an expansion of about fifty yards on the 10th hole. The pastoral setting lends a quiet and enjoyable feeling to golfers as they play in the seclusion of a beautiful and wooded course.
Bucky smiles when recalling the club’s centennial celebration in 1996.
“Scot Coen and Ed Carroll and a host of T.V. and radio media were here and we had a great club scramble and celebration,” added O’Brien.
Bucky has thanked the Bresciano Family for their dedicated 25 years with food service at the club as they have added another dimension to the enjoyment of playing at the CC of Greenfield.
Bucky points out that many former assistants and friends have gone on to prosper in golf. Tim Bishop is head pro at Petersham CC; Michael Rogers is at Tewksbury CC: Josh Hillman has become head pro at Berkshire Hills CC and former member and junior star Bob Sanderson has made quite a name for himself in professional golf.
Besides PGA accolades, Bucky was presented with an award from The Rotary Club in 2006 for contributions to school boy golf.
Mr. Alex Findlay designed the Country Club of Greenfield in 1896 and 112 years later the course is still in the best possible care.
Bucky O’Brien has taken the role of “Director of Golf” and Kevin Piecuch has the tile fo “Head Professional.” They form a great team - a dynamic duo - where friendship and relaxation prevail. Kevin has bee on board since 1992 assisting with all facets of country club life.
Bucky has no plans to retire. Like the beautiful brook on tehe ninth hole, “I’ll just keep rolling along.”
“I love my job and my members and there’s no reason to change.”
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