Retired Golf

By Tom Sciarrino

I was up at 7:30 a.m. to check the weather. My goodness, 50 degrees! Should I get ready to go to the course or go back to bed?

Okay, I’m already up, so I might as well dress and get to Pine Hurst and see if any other retirees would want to play on such a cold day.

When I arrived there was one car already there. I entered the clubhouse, was greeted by Donna, sat down and waited.

First to come in were the Holsers – David and his father, Paul, ready to play.



After shaking hands and greeting each other after a long winter, we laughed and waited.

In comes Keith Rothwell and Mel Allen. Again, shaking hands and smiling, we all wondered if any other crazy retirees would come.

Yes, they did! Lou Barresi comes in; Ray Lewis walks in, then Bob and Tom Lokietek – that makes nine players.

Dividing into three teams and ready to play, when in walks Trenny Jordan.

So now we have two threesomes and one foursome and off we go to freeze.

Playing in difficult conditions and damp fairways, the scramble scores were not bad.

Taking first place money was the threesome of Ray Lewis, Lou Barresi and the newest “Red-Tee-Bandit” “Twin” Sciarrino (finally the “Twin” has reached the “Bandit” age – 80!)

With Ray outhitting both Lou and the “Twin” from the tee, their score of 2-under-par 34 won by one stroke over the threesome of Dave Holser, Keith Rothwell and “Red-Tee-Bandit” Paul Holser, who birdied two holes, but bogeyed one hole for their 35 and took second place money.

Coming in third, and out-of-the-money, was the foursome of Mel Allen, Bob Lokietek, Tom Lokietek and “Red-Tee-Bandit” Trenny Jordan. They shot a par 36. (It seems incredible, but Trenny and the “Twin” have been golfing together for over 40 years. Trenny has been the better golfer, but that’s because he’s older!)

Just got a call from John Osterhoudt that the travelling squad will start playing on Tuesday, June 3rd.



FAIRWAY CHATTER: Saturday was quite a day for me. Finally I became a “Red-Tee-Bandit”, and had all my nine children and spouses, my twenty grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, my wife Patty and her family, sitting around many tables enjoying dinner prepared by my daughters.

What more can a man ask for in life?

I was so pleased and surprised to have so many friends come to my 80th birthday. I was overwhelmed, and thanks to my new combination pacemaker, inserted in Florida, I was able to greet everybody and last-out the day.

The highlight of the day for me was the speech by my son Tom, while holding back tears, praising my life and calling me his “hero”. That’s what a father longs to hear from his children. The Lord has really blessed me!