Executive Cup, Exclusively for Private Golf Club
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CelebratingExecutive Cup, exclusively a forRare private golfAccomplishment club champions, combines fun, camaraderie, and competition. The English translation of Vidanta is “excellence.” By Mark Pazdur, Tournament Director PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO: If everyone who A POPULAR ICEBREAKER searched their genealogy through Ancestry.com lived in The scope and scale of Vidanta, with Nicklaus Design and the same town, the population would rival that of New Greg Norman Signature courses, is hard to describe in York City. Clearly, humankind is drawn to kinship. words. The resort destination rivals the size of Disneyland, For the past 18 years, Executive Cup, a three day/four offers Four Seasons quality service, and its interior design is night event, has allowed private club champions from the deserving of an Architectural Digest front cover story. U.S. and Canada to connect and bond. During tourna- Club champions arriving early had the opportunity to ments to Hawaii, Southern California, and now Vidanta vie for $500 in golf shop in Mexico, 1,080 club champions, representing 821 dif- scrip during the popular Horse Race Shootout ferent private clubs from 44 different states and three two-person Horse Race victors Cheryl Bailey and Michael Marmer. Canadian provinces, have competed. Shootout under the One special friendship that formed during an lights on Vidanta’s Lakes Executive Cup more than a decade ago is between Kyle Course (a 10-hole short and Jamie Kerestes (champions from Shannopin Country course). Camaraderie Club in Pennsylvania) and Kathy and Ron Kolar (champi- was evident on the sec- ons from The Club at Morningside in California). This ond hole when the year they traveled to Vidanta to compete, have a couple gallery snickered at Larry margaritas, and enjoy each other’s company. Holloway’s (club cham- pion at Sugar Creek Kyle and Jamie Country Club in Sugar Land, Texas) bright pink shirt. Kerestes with Kathy and Ron Kolar enjoy Larry’s quick quip, “only real men wear pink,” as he sunk dinner together at a 12-foot birdie putt to remain in the competition. After Vidanta. It’s common a two-hole sudden death playoff, Cheryl Bailey (club at Vidanta to place champion at Fort Bend Country Club in Richmond, your hand over your chest to warmly Texas) and Michael Marmer (club champion at SeaCliff express “from my Country Club in Huntington Beach, California) proved heart to yours.” victorious. Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Horse race skins Game sHootout Club champions who arrived early participated in the Horse Race Shootout. DAY ONE: ALMOST AS GOOD AS given was a total calorie count RENEWING MARRIAGE VOWS of 15,840. Executive Cup’s Couples Club Championship was hosted In an exciting twist, Ben on Vidanta’s Greg Norman Signature design. Whipple from Travelers Rest, Joe and Michele Underwood (club champions at Old South Carolina, and Annie Hall Palm Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida) have from Coupeville, Washington, worn through their fair share of passports. The couple have both guessed 777 (closest to played golf in 110 countries and the competition marked the actual number of 720). A Annie Hall their 894 different course played. Their experience showed sudden death playoff question hugging piñata. with a 62 to win the net division. ensued. What was Greg Kathy Kolar’s training and stamina paid off. A fitness Norman’s official PGA TOUR earnings? Answer: $15.1 fanatic, she has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and million. Ben’s guess of $5 million was bested by Annie’s pre- made it to base camp of Mount Everest in the Himalayas. diction of $17.5 million. Along with her husband Ron, the two proved vic- torious with a 79 to win the gross division. THE SKINNY ON WHO WON 100,000 FREQUENT FLIER MILES All Executive Cup guests had the opportunity to participate in a contest to win 100,000 American Airlines frequent flier miles. Over the years, the challenge has varied from guessing the number of Kona coffee beans in a vase (when the tournament was in Hawaii) to determining the number of sea shells in a sand bucket (during our visit to Southern California). This year’s contest was to guess the number of Greg Norman Signature Golf Course at Vidanta. pieces of candy in the colorful piñata The only clue Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Boy, DiD We Have Fun! ANDY CONDGON KATHY KOLAR Wachesaw Plantation, SC The Club at Morningside, CA Overall 2018 Men’s Club Champion Overall 2018 Women’s Club Champion 74-69 — 143 78-84 — 162 DAY TWO: FIRST ROUND—INDIVIDUAL PLAY the 2018 Executive Cup women’s overall title. At the For the women: Jamie Kerestes and Kathy Kolar tied at end of the match, the two hugged, symbolizing what a 78. For the men: A cluster of players were at the top of great game golf is to connect longtime friends. the leaderboard. A special shout-out to Michael Marmer Andy Congdon (club champion at Wachesaw and Sherman Haggerty (club champion at Serrano Plantation in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina) started the Country Club in California) who both shot under par. day seven shots back of the pack. Even with a combined 11 holes-in-one and 34 club championships to his name, DAY THREE: FINAL ROUND—INDIVIDUAL PLAY breaks were needed to go his way. Jamie (14-time consecutive club championship winner At the turn, Andy had narrowed the gap and was four at her home club) and Kathy (combined 20-time club shots back. champion at three different private clubs) battled all Two-up approaching the final hole, a par-5, Andy hits day. At the turn, Kathy held a two-shot lead on the his tee shot in the left rough. Remembering his wife Norman Course. With pressure mounting, the mental Cheryl’s sage advice of brains beats brawn, he was con- side of the game took its toll. “The only competitor you servative, hit an 8-iron over the stand of trees, followed have on the course is yourself,” said Jamie. “I was elated by a gap wedge to make par. to be playing with my longtime friend Kathy. She’s a “Michael Marmer, Sherman Haggerty, and Ben class act. That’s not to say I wanted her to win. I fought Whipple are outstanding competitors. It was a great day,” the whole way.” smiled Andy. “I must admit, part of this accomplishment “Ditto,” said Kathy. “Jamie is an amazing player but, should be credited to my wife. I am truly blessed in life.” more importantly, an amazing person.” With a combined score of 74-69-143 Andy earned With a combined score of 78-84-162, Kathy earned the 2018 Executive Cup men’s overall title. ■ Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Boy, DiD We Have Fun! KATHY & RON KOLAR – 79 The Club at Morningside, CA Couples Club Champion Gross Winners MICHAEL MARMER 67-82 – 149 SeaCliff CC, CA 55-64 Age Division – Gross JAMIE KERESTES 78-80 – 167 Shannopin CC, PA 55-64 Age Division – Gross Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Boy, DiD We Have Fun! MICHELE & JOE UNDERWOOD – 62 Old Palm Golf Club, FL SHERMAN HAGGERTY Couples Club Champion Net Winners 69-76 – 145 Serrano CC, CA 65-74 Age Division – Gross MARIANNE BEDARD 71-75 – 146 Two Rivers CC, VA 65-74 Age Division – Net Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Boy, DiD We Have Fun! VICKI LONG KYLE KERESTES 87-92 – 179 72-77 – 149 Cape CC, MO Shannopin CC, PA 65-74 Age Division – Gross 55-64 Age Division – Net Executive Cup Challenge • America’s Only Tournament of Private Club Champions Boy, DiD We Have Fun! BOB HOPE 72-67 – 139 Valley Hi CC, CA 75+ Age Division – Net JOE UNDERWOOD BEN WHIPPLE 81-84 – 165 71-72 – 143 Old Palm Golf Club, FL The Cliffs, SC 75+ Age Division – Gross 65-74 Age Division – Net THE BIG MOVE EXECUTIVE CUP—AMERICA’S ONLY NATIONAL TOURNAMENT EXCLUSIVELY FOR PRIVATE CLUB CHAMPIONS—TRAVELS TO THE VILLAS OF GRAND CYPRESS. “I set out to ‘do something different’ at The Villas of Grand Cypress and I accomplished my goal.” – JACK NICKLAUS ORLANDO, FLORIDA: Winning a private club champi- reviews on its website, has rated the resort the No. 1 onship is a feat that deserves to be recognized and cele- hotel in Orlando for five consecutive years. brated. Executive Cup, founded two decades ago when Golf amenities include the Jack Nicklaus designed gas cost $1.46 per gallon, allows club champions to vie North, South, and East nines; The New Course (the for “champions of champions” titles. As a current or past Golden Bear’s tribute to the Old Course at St. club champion, senior champion, or couples champion, Andrews); and the Academy of Golf, with a 21-acre you are eligible to compete. practice facility and three Nicklaus designed regulation The Villas of Grand Cypress, located off the main length practice holes. exit in Lake Buena Vista, is centrally located to all of “This is the first time our tournament has been held on Orlando’s best attractions. The resort shares a common the East Coast,” explained Mark Pazdur, tournament property line with Walt Disney World and is less than 30 director. “I imagine club champions east of the Mississippi minutes from the Orange County Convention Center River will appreciate the shorter flight times and non-stop and Orlando Airport. TripAdvisor, with over 535 million travel options to Orlando International Airport.” ■ The Big Move Executive Cup 2019 Challenge • Orlando, Florida October 23-27, 2019 ARRIVE WEDNESDAY, DEPART SUNDAY WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 23: Arrival • Optional Evening $1,000 Horse Race Skins Game Shootout THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24: Full