Hello from Southern California, where the weather this morning was frightful. The event I am at, however, certainly is delightful. So good, in fact, it warms the heart on a rainy, cool, kind of downright nasty start to the day.
Think again, though, if you believe that would put a damper on what is going on at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif. (Will Smith and Frankie Avalon are members here). More than 130 people began playing golf in rainy, cool conditions, definitely less than ideal.
The man they are all here for, though, is a gem in their eyes. You think weather would keep them away to honor him?
Not a chance.
Today is the 20th annual Duff Shaw Classic. Shaw, who was superintendent here, would have turned 49 today. He died Jan. 19, 1994, leaving behind lasting memories. A daughter. A work ethic. Friends who won't let him be forgotten.
"Duff was gentle, honest, straightforward, full of integrity," says Gene Wooley, president at North Ranch when Shaw became superintendent here two decades ago. "He loved North Ranch. We loved him."
And wow ... are they getting the job done or what?
Nearly $1 million has been raised through live auctions and contributions since that inaugural event, funds that are placed in a benevolent fund to benefit and assist association members. Those helped through the years include an association member's grandchild who has leukemia. When an association member suffered a brain aneurysm and died, the fund assisted the family he left behind. Dozens of association members have benefited for two decades.
The auction today, which included 50-inch TVs, golf packages to places such as Las Vegas CC and supplies from companies such as Aquatrols and Cleary Chemical, netted approximately $65,000, raising the grand total over the years to $965,000. Obviously, that $1 million mark is about to be reached. In fact, some contributions have not yet been tallied, so $1 million still may happen before 2012.
Yes, this thing works.
"Almost $1 million. That really says something, doesn't it,?" says Tony Zar, who worked for a petroleum company and had dealings with Shaw at North Ranch.
The very first Duff Shaw Classic was to help raise funds for Shaw after he was diagnosed with cancer in '92. Shaw did not play in the first Duff Shaw Classic, but he did participate in 1993.
"He didn't hit a shot until the fourth hole," says 26-year GCSAA member John Pollok (pictured left), a classmate of Shaw's at Penn State, and who as much as anyone has kept this event going strong since its inception. "Duff had about a 30-foot putt. He gets the ball halfway to the hole, turns to walk to his car and says, 'That's in.' He drains it."
That story puts a smile on Hal Shaw's face. He is Duff's older brother by four years, part of a family that comes from Ridgetown, Ontario, about an hour north of Detroit. There parents' house on Main Street East is easy to locate; check the bedroom window with the circular GCSAA logo sticker. Duff placed it there when he joined the GCSAA.
"He loved doing what he was doing," Hal says of Duff. "He loved the crew, he loved his peers ... the course was part of him, and he was part of the course."
Duff Shaw played the role of superintendent as long as he could possibly handle it.
"At his funeral I met a gentleman," says Jeff Brown, who grew up with Shaw, "and he said, 'I got this phone call to meet at a certain address, and it sounded corporate.' Well, the gentlemen was actually going to Duff's hospital room so Duff could interview him from his hospital bed. It showed the dedication he had, even when he was dying."
Shaw and his wife, Kristi, gave life to Erin Shaw 15 months before he died. This past April, Kristi died from lung cancer. Erin, meanwhile, is a freshman at Tulane University. Thanks to GCSASC and North Ranch, a fund was established for Erin's college years, which has made it possible to move forward without her parents by her side.
"I have zero recollection of my dad," Erin says, "but from everything I have heard, I feel like I know him. I know with the event in his honor that it is making a difference, and that's cool."
Although the event was shortened today from 18 holes to nine holes, the sun actually peaked through the clouds before the golfers were done. They followed it up with a buffet, auction, and soon were on their way home.
Plans already are on for 2012. Cyndy Neal, GCSASC executive director, booked the event today for next year. That was the type of get-it-done attitude that Shaw possessed.
"The saying when I worked for him was 'whatever it takes.' I think he would be tickled so many people are being helped because of him," says Scott McBeath, 16-year GCSAA member and superintendent at Lake Padden GC in Bellingham, Wash.
For more on the Duff Shaw Classic, keep an eye on a future issue of GCM.
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