Charlie Stringfellow

Interview with Charlie Stringfellow, Rick Hrip, Bob Marek, and Mark Fishkin focusing on the golf career of Stringfellow and the Carlisle Country Club.

The following is a machine generated transcript:

My name is Blair Williams. We're here today. May 16th at Cumberland County Historical Society and if everyone can just go around introduce themselves, I'm Mark Fishkin, Colonial Country Club and I'm Bob Marek Carlisle Country Club in West Shore Country Club.

Rick Hrip former Carlisle Country Club. Charlie Stringfellow Carlisle Country Club all my life. All right, well it's a try. I think you know, pretty much kind of focusing on you today. So where were you? Born and brought up. I was born right here in Carlyle 1938.

I've been here with exceptional four years in Air Force all my life. All right, and I was reading an article that said you could kind of got started at golf at that Carlisle Country Club. I did I got started as a basically as a caddy as most of us did back in those days making a few bucks and and I got I got associated with a good member who took me under his wing and we spent a lot of weekends together hitting balls caddy and etcetera.

What was that members name, Mr. Sam Weiner. He was from he, from Hanover Pennsylvania, but he worked during the week, Illinois. Wall Street. And how old are you? When you start attacking? I was I'd say 14 years old. I was at the experience of Moses. Most of you guys here, I can't eat probably starting in 12 years old but that was in Chicago and I can't eat all the way up but into college.

So it was five six years of scanning the whole summer long and I probably caddy when I was 11, 12, 13, 14 years old, and start playing and I'm from Butler Pennsylvania, West Washington Park, Pennsylvania. I start playing golf when I was 12. My dad worked for Armco Steel Corporation and they bought a golf course for the use of the employees.

And that's how I got started outside. Never probably would have been playing. I'll tell you true. And as a young kid, I chatted some and then I worked in the pro shop at Carlisle Country Club for a couple years. I started 16 working there. Yeah. Now you mentioned Mr.

Weiner is that was that your main mentor starting out in golf. Or did you have others? No, it certainly was because if I didn't carry I wouldn't. I wanted that thing to golf at all The wife for me to make a couple of bucks. I used to spend all my time Thumbing, a ride down, down to Harrisburg Pike in order to get a job.

And most most of the time that I one of the members would bring me home but until I could get enough money to set aside and I'm the first car. Now, I saw in one of the captions to one of the photos here that against was from the junior chamber national tournament and Fargo, North Dakota that you lived on.

177 Franklin Street, no East Shell Street East South Street, okay down. Well, random flooded flooded end of Carlisle, right there, right across from the Lake George spring. Okay, yeah. Now what, what means you choose to get the country club? Well back then, it wasn't off the house around, okay?

And it was it was as close as I could find and the people out there. You know, when you're at that age and young and you're energy the members really take the other wings and treat you to it. And I never wanted for anything, you know, it they paid me but back then a bucket of quarter of a bag, you know, didn't go very well further what it does.

Now, that's the, that's the reason why I stayed at Carlisle to, and I'd join Carlisle Country Club in 1980, okay? For the first 20 years, Charlie, and Rick will be playing with Jimmy Dowling, and, and Rick Brenner all the time I used to play with him periodically. But once that kind of split up with people moving around and it seemed like for 20 years, I played like five times a week with Charlie.

I mean, he was he, I talked all the time, okay. And I know I his ears. His ears are burning all the all the time, but yeah. Whenever I wanted to play two o'clock on a Tuesday, I know, Charlie was gonna be there. Okay? And and it's that longevity thing that I think that that is stuck with Charlie forever.

I mean, just yeah. Just the fact that Carlisle Country Club look 20 for four years. 25 years ago, decided to name your district tournament in Charles Springfield of of what he's done in the area here and relation to golf. And, you know, he does so many things that he has given back over the years, he, you know, to this day.

You know, he's a, he's a, he's a golf ball official and, and does, does tournaments for the Pennsylvania, golf association Philadelphia association, NCAA high, school events, you know, on and on he is out there doing this kind of stuff. And every summer one day a week, he's out there with the Harrisburg District Junior program and these are kids that are growing, you know, like this this and trying to give them some sort of direction on what were the next hole is and help find balls and just answer questions and it just it just kind of speaks to the longevity routine, a specifically.

We had we played determine the state tournament, Pennsylvania state, senior tournament. It was out a rich and Greensburg, and the first day we went out and we really did really well. Okay, we've buried the first six holes, we were leaving the tournament at rained, like crazy. Next day, we were staying in a hotel and he would pour down rain.

This would be for GPS. That's out 2003, I guess if they did have it, right? We didn't have GPS. So we're going through the backboards, and I mean there are hills rolling hills. You're out in the country in Greensburg, if you're not right downtown. And we we're trying to get to the golf course to make our tee time because we were leading the tournament and we didn't show.

And so we're standing out there to the 2003 rain coming down. I stopped in the middle of the road and flagged down somebody driving by and it weren't many cars. Driving by okay, to try and find out how to get to the golf course. Well, I wasn't sure that they weren't gonna shoot me.

There I am all by myself. How done, you know, flying down a car if you do that today, you issues. Yeah. Right. But we finally, we finally we finally figured out how to get to the golf course and just barely made the tee time. We played two holes and they called it off.

And so we were declared in the state champions, okay? And all the way home is Charlie has not right? We didn't play 36 elephants. Don't worry about a win. Is it win? Okay, these are just always remember when is it winds, right? So but yeah, that's that's, you know, I can't tell you how many rounds I played with Charlie and joy.

Almost all. I'm accepted has been 105 degrees. Outside was gonna say, I mean, you have I know Richard is a long time partner for you and the four ball tournaments and you also got some competitors here. So it was like pulling with it against Charlie. It was tough. We knew they were the premier team, all the time, and we were out the beat him every time, and when we went to head, it was great competition.

But like I said, probably before we never ever talk while we played, it was all business, shook, hands afterwards, great, see it. Next tournament that was extend because my partner was not very sociable. Yeah, I truly, I moved got transferred here from baller and work for United telephone, which later was part of the spring corporation and was working on butler.

And he got transferred here and the fall of 1972. And, you know, I came in basically knowing nobody around here as a single guy and ended up joined a country club in the fall of 72 and played. I was not used to playing, we never, I never played in the basketball tournament in Western Pennsylvania.

Most of my playing was in the Pittsburgh area. It was all individual count and when I joined a club I'm going to try and I probably got a chance to play a couple times and 73. I know we played I think in the in the individual in 1973 Westshore and anyhow trying I got the play and he was playing at that time.

His permanent partner was Robbie Belden and Robbie was a very good player. The only time friend of Charlie's and it wasn't until 1975 in the Nolan Ziegler was our first tournament best ball at Harrisburg Country Club that Charlie and I played and we went into tournament and after that, I don't have Charlie knows how many torments are one.

But we went 27 vegetables ornaments from 1975 to 1997 and I know I took like three years off there for a while. When I had my first child. We're building the house etc. But I think we won like eight, Nolan Ziegler's. Eight, at Tabor, the Ziegler was played at the Country Club of Harrisburg.

The Tabor eight of those is played at Westshore. We went five Stringfellow events at Carlyle. We won three norms which is that Blue Mountain Golf Club, which is now nothing. Yeah. And then we won one George Morrison. Colonial one Sullivan at Lebanon, Country Club and then we won the Hershey invitational one time.

And the Hershey Invitational was really that was the best. It was a big deal that was like playing on the tour there and he was better than you were there yet. That was, that was a big deal. We won that in 1977. Wow. In fact I think 1977 was our best year together.

We wanted to Sullivan the table, the Ziggler, and the Sullivan and the Hershey invitation. Now there's four tournaments big and the invitational was big. The Hershey invitational had guys like Jay Siegel who US amateur champion but he marucci was this partner. Lookier luckier. Yeah and buddy. Marucci was runner up in the United States amateur to Tiger Woods back in the 90s and but anyhow there was a strong feel.

It was not a local field. It was basically guys from these goes. It's right. Yeah. And I think we were the only central Pennsylvania time played in it. Jimmy I'm played in Hershey. Okay I think we're the only Central Pennsylvania team to ever win the Hershey invitational. Charlotte was really very easy to play with very mild mannered, never got upset.

I can't remember Charlie and I ever have been any bad words to win another. I mean I think when we when we played bad individually, you felt worse for the other guy than you did for yourself. Sure. You're letting the other guy down and he was so easy to play with.

He always was the guy who let us off. Charlie was always down the middle of Fairway on the green. And I could play a little bit more aggressive playing second, and he will always stay off first, and we really had a wonderful partnership. They were special for, it was tough for us to get married.

Each other. We never talked. We use hands like we. Yeah, we had a hand signals over here clubs that we were heading and whatever. And we purposely tried not to give me a kind of advantage to our yeah. Our opponents. Well, and, and Mark, would mark in. And his partner, Dr. Panko were really tough.

Tough competitors. We play with mark fishing and dr. Panko many times and they were, they were there tough matches. And we never talked. And we just, yeah, but we're always friends. I mean, Mark was always, he was always the nice guy. I think Dr. Panko was a little bit more difficult at times but I'm being fair.

He was the time yet but he was a hell of a player. Yes, he was he was really tougher. Mark was a tough player but it was, it was treat the play with you. It was easy playing with Charlie not having any vegetable experience. He made it very easy.

You guys won a lot. Charlie Heavy idea. How many you won Total? Because you played with a lot of different people over the years have, I've had just a very fortunate to join up with good players. Good people. And I'm somewhere between 50 and 60 tournaments with everything that I could say.

The pro at the car, a country cup one. They made a statement overheard him. He says, he Charlie you're damn good or you're good, or picking partners. I'm not sure. Which that's it either way. I don't care. And the people that I played with were just they were just I was standing and they were friends the rich version that your approach was.

I mean you were you kind of more conservative you know hitting it down the middle here, your partner could be more aggressive or was that just how you approached? Everything was know. You're a goal was just to get on a fairway and give you off to a good start.

My game was basically driving and arriving but Rick was very good with a party. He's probably the best partner that I've ever played with and I've seen like 70 bucks in a row, different hole. So bye. You know, I understand back. I try to, I try to stay there in the game.

I try to try to make the parts and everyone's going to make a bird here too, but he was very good at getting the ball in the whole quick and it made a good combination today. You see a lot of these a lot of good players out there playing in the tournaments that can't win because they're both good but they just don't mess.

Absolutely right. And that was a secret between Rick and I I mean I didn't have to ask him what he's doing. I didn't ask him or tell him what to do. We just we just did it and it worked out good and you know going back to winning the tournaments.

I have that try to recollect the best I could but I think I played with 13 different partners. Well, over here and one in one terms with 13 our person. And so I, you know, it's really been a pleasure to play with these guys and I wouldn't give it up for nothing.

Well, I'm wondering, how did you develop your approach? I know you played it at the Carlisle. High School Was that sort of your first experience playing as part of a team or with other people? Sure it was. Yes, I went to Carlisle High School and I played my last, my last two years.

There We had we had a pretty good teams, We didn't but we had good teams and whenever I graduated seemed like golf sort of went by the wayside money-wise, no one wanted to take it over So it took quite a few years before. Carlisle eventually got back to having a golf team and which they still have but because I know then you went on to join with the Air Force, I went in the Air Force and 1957.

I stopped playing golf because I sent me to Korean there was, there was no golf over there. So, I was in, I was in Korea about a year and a half. I came back. I was lucky to get stationed in Sacramento, then I started playing golf again. I was up to secure it a place on the yellow Air Force team and we played in the all-service tournament in California and that I started got the bug.

Whenever I got discharged come back. I said, well I'm going to join, I'm going to rejoin the Carlisle Country Club that was back in 1961 and I've been a member since because I know two those photos on that table. There are, I think I'm assuming you're in the photo because you won the 61 spring and the club championship as well.

Is that right? The 61? Yeah. I may have. I don't know. I the dates sort of you've won too much. Yeah, I don't think more than very fortunate. Very fortunate. I wonder, I've only won the Carlisle Country Club championship. A couple times, I was lucky enough to win the district championship a couple times and Harrisburg open once.

And then, of course, like Rick was I moved until we. We hooked up and things that were went and then whatever he couldn't play. I found somebody else to most of you guys prefer finding an individually or best ball or as part of a scramble or team or no Scrabble.

That's traveling. Yeah I think I think is your younger you probably enjoy the individual. Yeah tournaments so once you once you start getting a few years on you, your game kind of doesn't stand up to that individual thing a little bit. You look for somebody to help you out a lot and so I think as you get older you tend to want to play and at least I do.

And in basketball terms, you have more than one chance at a hole and the schedule is such here. It's all basketball. I know when I first moved here and even up until recent, I mean, there was only two really good individual tolerance. It was a Harrisburg individual and the Jay Kelly in.

That's right. So if you wanted to play tournament golf, the majority of the tournaments were best ball tournaments and. And so it was, I mean there's a lot of basketball tournaments. That was really, really popular and still popular. You could find the best ball tournament ever single weekend within like a 40 mile radius if you want to play every weekend.

Yeah, right. And now they're getting more, there's more individual tournaments right now. They probably have one or two, you know, Greg up with that Harrisburg district. I they have a one day job maybe at range and a couple other places and there's more individual tournaments around. Do you know how many guys are playing in those things?

Not many. Yeah, I see the t-shirts, a lot of times there can be 24, 30 players, that's all they're getting for that. You find it from the Harrisburg district. Yeah, I stop playing that stuff years ago too. But like you say, you on the weekends are completely filled up.

I mean, you can go somewhere every weekend, a lot of a lot of public golfers we call and they don't want to country club. They don't have to join a country club because there is a tournament going on every week. It's right. And I said, why join? We can play a different course, you know, move around.

And there's some good players right there back in the day. The reason why some of the tournaments were so good because if you didn't belong to a club, you couldn't play like it Westshore. If we didn't belong to Carlisle or Blue Ridge, we couldn't play it Westshore. We're Harrisburg Country Club or wherever but now everything's open I guess everything was yours open right then anybody?

Yes they have yes, everything opened up then before it was exclusive. Now, it's not everything about it. Was amazing back in the day. I'm talking about in the 70s and 80s, right? You know, back in our day, right? I mean the tournaments were so successful and they were hard to get into I mean if you didn't get your entry in within two days of when a torment opened up, they were waiting lists.

There's a way that is. I mean, and we're talking about what I mean, how many teams hundred things? Yes. So, I mean that's 192 players. Yeah. And so, but it was amazing. I can remember one, like the table would be very difficult, it was shorted to drive until that's right.

So we're still make sure you got it in. That's one. Yeah. And you don't want to mail because you weren't gonna get in. But now, I don't think it's that kind of, I don't think that and it was like there used to be a lot of people that would hang around that will watch the tournaments, especially the leaders and yeah, there'd be a lot of people now.

Now, nobody even knows who's playing where what's going on who even won, and it was the patron who is in a signal, really covered golf, big bag, and the local TV stations had coverage all the time, right, right. They have a photograph filming. What? The big tournament. You know what?

The championship flight. The last couple holes. Yeah, covered in the Gatlin. Yes. Especially when it was on TV then, right? So I mean, it's changed like me, it's, you know, there's probably back in those days. Golf if you play, golf was maybe all you did with and the kids are now.

It's just, there's so much going on. I think, soccer lacrosse, whatever for the kids and all that we didn't have that rolling up right now. So yeah. All right, what are your what are some of your favorite memories? Complaints of these tournaments where what winning trying to beat them.

Whether in particular, I like any tournaments, they remember that came down to like last hole? Yeah, I got one. I got like that in the, I don't know what year it was, but in the strength fellow and I were partners and we were coming down to the last couple holes and Scotty Cole.

He was a member in Carlisle and Scotty was maybe in college at that time. I would think so and he was he was just beat him. He was really very long off to take and I can't remember who Scotty's partner recognition was became broke. Okay. Who was eventually became the pro but I can remember coming down.

18, Charlie. And I had a two-stroke leg is a 54-hole. Toilet coming in the last day. And number 18's, a par 5 volt. And in those days to reach 18, and two shots was a big deal. We're talking about not the metal woods. We're talking about our persimmons red and of all that doesn't go a lot of people.

And if you hit it 250 yards, right? You're a big, that was a big dangerous, right? So you come to hold, it's 550 yards on 18. It's like, you know, it's a lot tougher than it is today because the ball goes forever. Now, whatever. But yeah, we got two shot lead coming in the 18th.

Scotty Cold beats a driver. I remember I so far out trying I think hit the fairway and Rick don't go, I think he's in a fairway. Anyhow we hit our second shots. I don't know 100 yard shortly green and Scotty Cole hits his unbelievable shot, knocks it on into and he's probably got 25 feet for birdie for heel enough for birdie for eagle to make a three and trying, I both knock on the green and we're probably 30 feet away 35 feet away or no, we knocked it inside it.

We knocked it inside of a sky. Yeah, I'm sorry, I'm losing track, anyhow. Scotty makes his unbelievable, 25 foot putt, 30 foot butt for an eagle. So, all of a sudden we're tied and I put it first and I miss mine, Charlie's up. I remember the pin was in, I think the right front Charlie's on that back, right?

And he's coming down and it's just a real speedy butt. He's got some breaking it and darn it. And we had a lot of people fall on us, because it was something a Carlisle group with that last. And there must have been, at least 100 people watching this. Charlie rolls is a potted and the roar goes up.

It was like, I can still remember. It was just an unbelievable, but it was a great pot to win by one showing by one shot, and Scotty makes this unbelievable eagle and then Charlie talks oxygen on, top of them. With it popped in he could probably hit a hundred times is probably not gonna make and he just drill it right in the middle.

I've been there before. Any I was a great, it was a great finish. It was really a storyboard finish. Yeah, that was one that I'm remembering was he's, you know, I know the sent all doesn't cover golf as much, but I did find that. I think in 2013 you hit a hole in one on the 17th.

So, is that better or but you know, you at all 17. That's an area. You just couldn't find his. Yeah, you didn't find his glove on the next key. Yeah, that was done. You say it was. I thought it was 2013, but I my data and it says a great crib, right?

I did make a home. I wanted 17 and I think we had a pretty tight match of that, and then we got up by two shots, but I'm looking at stuff to Charlie, did not that. I just said, yeah, you had a home one in competition in the basketball tournament.

I had travel well, with Charlie, in basketball tournaments, the Hershey invitational, and number 12, Harrisburg, and Harrisburg on six, and I'll tell you, what do you remember that? I never remember. Yeah, channel 27 came out with their TV, guys, they set it up. On six is we're coming to the team and it's the last round of the Ziegler.

I don't know what year it was. We were leaving tonight and Charlie hits. And then I hit, I knocked a ball in a hole for a hole in one. They have a capture on ABC, 27 news, they've got the guy before you got that agreement guys. He's little kid and then, I never knew that.

Yeah. And then and I made one on 17 with Charlie. Yeah, wow. So there was three times when we played together that that's awesome, but the one on and Golden Ziegler, on number six at Harrisburg Country was that was a pretty funny, the TV guy just counting there.

Well, let's say home. Once you have Charlie, I've had eight. Wow, how about you five? I'm six three six, three Blue Ridge and three Colonial, but he's got two double eels. I've never had a double eagle never. I've seen a one. I didn't say I've never had double eagle now I have no chance to even make an eagle can't reach any car.

I've been too. Wow, eight whole ones that's all that is. I mean, yeah, I've six, I'm sixty people go. Their whole five times with never having a whole one. They're good players, right? A lot of them. Yeah, that's right. That chips. Number one chipwrecked or the chips. Never had a whole one, you know, chick was the proud of Carlisle.

Yeah, what? 20 years? Yep. So yeah, interesting. Yeah, it is young people out there. They can't break out and they'll make a whole one, right? Yeah. Much luck is about. Wow. What was the lighting of your first home launcher? Really, the first all-in-one is back in high school, was it?

Yeah, I remember I was on a 17th. Oh, it went from Harrisburg, oh, it's a great. It's a great thrill and old friend of ours. He said one day he said that's a haul he's that's nothing that I get more would kick out or she can turkey. Oh yeah.

And then you know when you have them they're not always pretty is a lot of times you miss it, the ball a little bit and it's the bag or service skinnies out there that when you do have a good one then you get your normally proud. My first, don't want it at Hershey Country Club on 12, I hit the shot then you know, it hit the fringe.

Yeah. Skip that back at a, you know, and went into all tier 18 over there now. Oh yeah. Up on the road. Yeah, and in those days that was back in the 70s. I don't know. Yes, it gave me one of those big super duper Hershey real chocolate bars.

Yeah. But yeah, that was the now we have home one clubs where you put 20 dollars in at least in Colonial and if you get a whole one, everybody who's entered basically they're $700 in the pot three hundred fifty goes to pay for the booze for everybody to buy drinks.

And the other three fifty is for pro shop credit. And every time somebody makes another e, get charged in your account another $20. Yes, they do. Yeah. Otherwise it can be expensive. I had a whole one on Saint Patty's Day and they didn't have any idea that I get cleaned out that day.

I'll have another one. Yeah, it was a worst time ever. Yeah. Well Charlie are there any moments? Maybe South woman that Rick mentioned and stand out to you and at one no one have came. Forget, I was blaming right into Ziggler with a good friend of mine, Dick, Burgoon.

And this is, this was backing for Rick Schneaker, and we were out about the six or seven hole and all of a sudden he gets, he gets a phone call that he was in business. He was in a watercress business, and he had some fields out there. He had some people working and they decided that they didn't like, the way the job was going and they started tasting each other around with, with these knives and taking the water away.

He went in there and got on the phone. I said, go ahead, I'll take care of it. So I played seven, eight nine, he come back out, he said I'm still one of the phony. How you doing? I said, well, I didn't make any bogies. I said. Go ahead.

Take of it. So he goes back in and shot into the building. Makes the phone call, you finally got a straightened out and he joined me on 11. He said, I'm sorry about that. He said, well, I just had to take care of it. Somebody's gonna kill it, you're gonna kill each other out there.

But I just remember that because it was, he felt bad about leaving me and he were all done for four hours as well. Yeah. Is he still alive now? Yes, he is riding Florida. He's gonna be like 88, right? No, no, he's a year older than me. It's 84 80 something 83.

Or 84? Yeah, he's because you're 10 years old. I'm 74. So, you're 84, he was in my computer that one fast enemy, okay? And Billy Davis, and we're the same classic because Warren played with Bergen all the time with me. Lauren was a little bit older. Yeah, just a little bit older.

I don't know what he's worth, but he was a couple years ago, one player would begin. I know the most, right. Yeah. Right. I remember because Aleen's 89 and Warren would have been 88. She was a year ahead of him, right? Remember that? Yeah. Let's start Warren's. Dad. Jay he come out to they were playing that they were playing the Morris term and was a good calculant at that time and he come out.

And he says how's my point somebody says well Warren is worse doing pretty good. Jake said I'm not talking about like when I'm talking about my boy dick now, thanks to it. He's the one who's carrying the team. Oh what he said was you, he said warns my son dicks.

My boy here but wow. Yeah, that's my instance. Were there any disappointments? They had playing side from now, winning or probably related? No, I tell you kids today, they don't know what they're missing when they're playing baseball. You know, instead of playing golf you can play to you basically until you die.

You're right. There's those you can get up and move around. You can play these other sports and I can see why they play them because all your buddies are playing. But take up golf, get in the golf because not only will, it's not really good exercise but you'll be able to use it in your life down the road somewhere.

You don't know how many how many deals are signed on golf. Tell me about in for me. This work for me. The best thing is customer going with the time. That's why I told you accounts all the time. Everybody's everybody that will and be able to go. Sure. Absolutely.

Right. You can't do that in baseball diamond now or if football yeah, I'm a runner. So it's probably gonna make a deal while you're out there. Yeah, whenever I was coaching the northern air for about eight. Nine years. We had a piece of party after one fun season and the parents came up to me and says, what would you, what would you tell my kid to do, you know, to get ready for next year?

I said, well first thing I tell you is stop spending five hundred dollars. One a big perfect golf club and take that $500 and cut it into little pieces and get them some lessons. Yep, teaching about how to grow up with a game. Teach them how to get the good grip output, you know, so many out I think because you've got to have the best golf in the trying to buy the game these kids today.

They all have, they all have equipment out there. We never thought about having a it's growing up. Yeah. All this tests all this calibration stuff. This simulators there's just amazing what? What they can everything with track man. Now to do everything, remember written, we were in college. I think I'm sure for you.

We didn't even have log wedges back then. Yeah. All right. 56 or a 54 was the best if you had to play a flop shot or something? I guess you later or you didn't even I probably didn't even learn how to play with that and talk talking about that.

I'm going back to high school and won the Western Pennsylvania. High school championship at Oak, Lawn Country Club. Wow. And that was 36 holes and the only club I had was a nine-hour. So everything that I have to, when I get out, I was just watching. It was really an article that was written about you in 2000.

Charlie that said that now was your advice back then to was in a if you're gonna get into the game, get some. Get some lessons before you start. Absolutely. Absolutely. I've said, tell kids that today, gives that I see it, Our clubs, especially I have all the opportunities in the world to have lessons to take lessons to have the best equipment.

You know. I don't even register. But all my parents, you know, that we had nothing growing up, my dad worked on the railroad and he provided us for it. He had, we had plenty to eat. We had clothes but these kids today they have everything actors disposal. They don't have to work, you know you said you know the caddy you know we bust our to get out there and caddy make a buck and a half.

If we got a good tip but right and they don't have that opportunity today. We don't use candies around here at all. You don't find a caddy and tell no one. Well, right, I know yeah he carries it like a stir and he carries through the case for Mallory.

It was sure that's there yesterday. Yeah, because I seen that the Mr Deli. And that's how I know what he's doing. Yeah. That I they kids they do, they have the best equipment, the best opportunity to play, and the best lessons, and more power to them, more power to them.

Well, So on a somewhat similar to, I mean, I think it was mentioned previously, they or you used to. I don't know if you're still doing a lot of officiating and working on. I still working with charities and

Most of the efficient we do now is like Bob said, that is with the USGA or the Philadelphia golf association and the kids. The American kids and Harrisburg area. Yeah, I do if like just in the last week, I spent four days up in Rochester with the NCAA division, two.

And then, last week, we had another and other tournament in Carlisle on these industries. Yeah, and times it gets a little hectic but it's something I enjoy doing and he's too gentleman here. They do some of their own and I'm sure they do it because they enjoy doing it and we feel like you know we played golf.

We've had our better days. Try to give something back to the sport and that's important to have me when you're a young person. You don't at least I didn't think as much back then when you're so involved in playing golf tournament, she don't think about the people that are donating their time working to make these tournaments successful, you know?

And just all the volunteer time that day gave up and then as you get older and maybe a little smarter and understand things a little bit better. It's like it's you know I need to give stuff back to the game. So like Charlie I've been I was on executive committee of the Pennsylvania golf association for six years and then I've been officiating for the Pennsylvania golf association and the golf association of Philadelphia.

They basically oversee a lot of the local United States golf association events in Central Pennsylvania. So I've been doing that along with. We do a little bit of college in a fall with the State athletic conference, and there's a couple high school tournaments that I participated. I know Charlie does a lot more with the juniors and some stuff that I'm doing as much.

But yeah. And then, even as a young guy, though, I mean, I started the Harrisburg District, Junior League back in 1977. Yeah. And that's taken off. It's, yeah. You know, it's been handled by a lot of different guys over the years but you just, you know, you have to stop and think about all the good things and people did for you as you were coming up and now it's time.

Maybe the you know give it back some stuff and when you have that opportunity, I think it's important and I'm sure all these guys recognize that and that's why they're involved with volunteering. So yeah, it's very important. So, but as soon as old guys like us start fade away these when it's not a lot of younger volunteers.

And it's probably because everybody the younger people are so involved with their family's and and whatever. So, you know, we are all retired and maybe have more time than most people. But I think there's gonna be a problem within the next five to 10 years. But the officiating local tournaments because I think you're right.

Most of us are in Austin's and 80 times, so you know, we need some younger people. But well, don't you think it's different like when I grew up the big thing was to join a country club. The parents were dropped off. There you'd be there the whole weekend.

Now I don't feel. That's the thing. There's soccer and everything else that right people, the young people. Now don't want to join a club with anything they want to pull only but they're not interested in playing golf because they got too many other duties to take care of until the kids grow up.

Yeah. How you became associated with officiating? Some of the stuff is through the three-year clubs, or the country clubs, or was that separate from? It was right through that, the Pennsylvania, golf association, runs tournaments all over the state and then they have torments here in Central Pennsylvania. So, usually the guys in central, Pennsylvania will run tournaments that live here.

Now, when I was on the executive committee for Pennsylvania, golf, I mean, I'd go out to Pittsburgh sometime and do some officiating of tournaments there or other places Williamsport and member. I don't think everyone in the Philadelphia, but it's mostly, they have, you know, regions of the Pennsylvania office central Western and Eastern.

We've been, we've been lucky to have someone USGA of rules officials in this area. Joe Greene. Yep. That's true. They're all there. They're really USGA officials and travel around the country doing all the USGA big events. They part of their deal put together teams and get them trained up so they can handle all the regional stuff that has to be done.

We've been lucky here in Central If we've had like three free people that are really involved and see that we go to seminars and pay for it. You know, here are the books, read them, you know, some of the local guys put together, you know, sessions and where they go in and actually study the rules and give quizzes.

So those guys are kind of like the, you know, the centralized points to make all this volunteerism from a rules official point, very good experience here in this area And I don't think all the areas have that and yeah I think you're right. I think the Western part has.

They need help. Yeah and you know, if we look at the number of volunteers that do the officiating now versus 10 years ago, they're only about half of the people that are still around doing it. You know, we like brick was saying, we need younger volunteers and going because we're known for the running.

Really good tournaments when Pennsylvania golf association. Come in and the USGA people come in, they do a good job, we do. Good job because of those guys in the training give us. I didn't know if they were crew members from the country clubs or wherever the tournaments being held if you're pulling from that from those members or what not.

So that's why I asked that question. There's probably what it's really like, my spam, there's probably 10 to 12 guys that are core. Guys, probably in Central PA for efficiency volunteering, probably 10 to 12 within most of it one time or another come out of car lot. And for a while, probably has, you know, it seems like the it's been long Joe, and Jim, both in Carlisle.

And I just, let's go out and grab a hold of us and bring us in, but because I can't, I can only remember from Colonial Rap Bowl. This the only one. Yeah. It's all able. Yeah, I think the only one out of Colonial. Yeah, but speaking of a tournaments and the Carlisle Country Club, I'm wondering how did the strength fellow get started by.

We have four ball tournament going on out there for I don't know. 10 15 years and our club president Mr. Reed Ernest. What one of the meetings and they said, you know, we got it, we got to give a name to the tournament rather than the Carlisle formal and Rick and I we were having a lot of success.

He was signed to leave the area. So I guess I got to know I had the time, but he suggested we use my name which I'm very thankful for really, but that's, that's how it got started. I was on the board at that time and went for board approval.

And it was, you know, half a second unanimous decision. Yes, let's rename it strength health for law, okay? I mean it was just bam, bam, bam. This done deal because most of the best ball tournaments had names associated. Like the Nolan Ziegler, the country club of Harrisburg Nolan. Zeigler was the former mayor and mayor of Harriburg?

Related, George Morris and Colonial, wasn't he? Like super superintendent? Pretended, that who was okay. She was norm easily norm. Sheasley, I don't know. It was a mayor or something? I'm not sure, was he? Yeah. I don't remember. And, I don't know, like in 11 and they had to Sullivan and still have the stuff.

I don't know. It's not true. That was named after but I'm sure it's somehow prominent person. So the car log is being Carlisle. I think to be up with all the other torments. Let's put a name to it. Do better than that guys, come back from Florida. So now, you're still alive for you, had to be, You know, have to be dead.

Do you remember what we hear? That was the tournament name changed and the application has the year on the top of his 24. 25, it might be in the clippings of first year of the person. It was in my book. It might be the first year when it was like I really don't know.

Not, that's right. It's about what 43rd is to 43rd year and I think the overall term is far as what it's been named Springfield have been like 26 or 7. Yeah I you know I'm guessing it's about it so depending around like 19 nine years or so. Yeah, the exchange.

Yeah, I'd say you're here. Well, Randy, yeah, You already run the '88 the Jimmy. And I went through years after that, You have the years before that channel there. Do you have the stroller years? There's 70, that's it. That's it.

They are. So as a we got all this information you have 1989. Well, Well, I think you mentioned was a chip who is the, the former pro at Carlisle. Were there any, other pros or instructors at Carlisle next to you over the years or we're fortunate? We had we had some good pros at Carlisle.

Had a couple of nuts. Good. But yeah, Cameron done was there for quite a few years. He was at one time. Cameron was the superintendent for the golf course, and also the golf crow. And as a club, got bigger, more members, more active, they finally asking them one. Three big choice.

You want to be the superintendent, we want to be the golf crew and he took the golf crochet because he was getting up and needs and before him Ken Rutherford was, it was our golf probe and he was a very good golf club, and we've had a couple Jack Helms was in there.

We've had a couple in there that only went into a couple years, but Ken Rutherford and Cameron and rectangle was a pro for and he was a member along was record pro. There. You guys remember? Yeah I can't. This can weather for out of Lebanon with Missouri lights on evidence, wasn't an Rutherford that was his daughter.

Okay, this is granddaughter, that was an official with the USGA. Okay. And then her daughter was very big in the US today, officiated. Huh. Was really you play Carlisle, High School team with Anne, right? I did I did Academy for a couple years and I played. Yeah, yeah. So there is a story.

I think the same signal are that was mentioning that she was the first female athlete to plan on men's team at Carlisle. And I think she was the first me, not the Penn State as well. And she was a, she was a good player. Yeah, she did. She did very well in Harrisburg area her and Sullivan gal by name is Sullivan who.

Eventually her husband went to the established? The LPGA tournament at Hershey Cynthia. Sullivan in Sullivan Dick Anselaw. Yes, right. Okay. They competed quite a bit. You know, they were always one after each other. We're said, we're Cynthia. Sullivan play out of Harrisburg. Oh, she did. Okay, in bed and all that, they have a handle and was a, she was a very good player, very good player, and as I thought she moved to New Jersey after that.

So yeah, we're competing answer too much though. I don't know where she moved to but her dad, her dad was a proud car. Wow. And he took the job at 11 country club and that did swish take over for him. I would think so. Yes, I don't know if anybody else that was in there.

I don't either Cameras brother. Bob Dunn was the rich then his son, Jimmy Dunn was took over there. Then the golf pros have a habit of popping around but in this area if you had a good job you kept that job. It's better off for something else and it's way too good to go biker and colonial, right?

Phil was a good player, really good at best player in the bush. Absolutely, he made it to the US Open where in San Francisco, right? I'm not sure where but I mean a little bit. No, where's the blending? I'm trying to San Francisco. Yeah, he quality qualified play out there.

He was really good. He's probably the best in the whole area, I think so, yeah, it's going that time. Yeah, which is, you know, it brings up another point to me. I think it's sad the way. We're loosened. Golf course is you know we've lost some really good golf courses in the area running helpful one.

Tell me about. That was only there for a handful years. What a great track that was didn't matter. What teas you played there was that great really good and heart view. Part was Parkview was was a great little golf course, and blue Ridge, move out and move the ridge silver Springs, silver Springs showers.

Yeah, I forgot about that, that's just in this area, right? It's sad to see him you know, going by the wayside but housing developments you.

Well, another question is here, is what was your dream for somebody? You know, I've got that question. Jim gave me a copy of. Yeah, and I couldn't answer. Actually, the only question on that whole street, I love the flavor with or I wasn't sure whether we're talking about people there, good in your private now or to go back.

Sure, Nicholas and Palmer, I would have loved to play with them. Okay. But now he's a pain in there. I didn't like that. Yeah, Steve was another you know he's there was always thought about this themselves. They used to take so advantage of the members but Nicholas and Palmer but then I got to thinking people that I'm on this right now, right?

That event. Yeah skip grand, yeah. And you know Robbie Bowden right all former members of Carlisle Country Club that I played it a ton of golf with those are the people that I really missed. And so, I don't know. There may be two, maybe two answers to that question.

What along those lines? I guess. There's a couple of different ways I want to go, but the question will last right now is who are some of those Carlisle country members that stand out to, you know, you have fun memories of. Well I just named a couple of them you know these were old and Bill Davidson sure.

You know, I went to school together these are they were good people, they were good people and love to game of golf. I mean, they would play every day if they had. The opportunity, were you a little bit more talkative when you're just out on the golf course and not computer.

Not really, not really that one thing that does bother me. After someone talks too much, you know, where they sell phones. I don't never bring cell phone into course. We had a lot of houses. I tried to call you. I said well then, but my card didn't pick up my phone call it.

That's where my phone was in the glove box in the car, you know, to do a colonial. Now they play music while they're playing on that bushnell thing, they hooked on the cart, they're playing country and western song. And if you get in a USJ that is not allowed, okay?

I keep telling these folks here is that you're gonna go play in the two main scramble over Carlisle. If they give you a sheet and when you tee off and since USJ rules, apply you best not have that radio on. Yeah, it's not have the things in your ears.

Some of these people are really. Yeah. I know, our legal and sometimes I can hear from another hole but they have the pumped up the now legal because of disturbing other people their illegal because they, they put you into rhythm for your golf swing. That's why the people use them on the practice.

Yeah. Right. I wouldn't get that. And yeah, so it's not because it's a lot of times they, it's like meditation sometimes what are the when they're on the thing or, you know, some inspirational stuff. They're listening to me, whatever it more times not, it's it's a rhythm of the song, okay?

Trying to get that rhythm into their swing and that's why it's illegal against the rules. Yeah, against yours. But, you know, some if you really concentrate I don't even hear the music when I'm playing. I really don't. All I say is just don't yell look out, that's it, but otherwise, I'd really doesn't bother me that much anymore.

I don't hear anything.

It's really, I can remember. As far as hearing things, Charlie had this unbelievable neck of the little noises bothered challenge really. I made, I bet I've played with Charlie 25 times, maybe 50 times when he and he's the only guy though that could get up to the top was backswing.

And he's like, ready to start and all the sudden, something bothers him and he like drops, and he was amazing. I mean, when I would get up there, it's like, let's go guys Charlie. If he heard a little noise or something was unbelievable, how many times you think he's coming?

And he just, I mean, it's unbelievable. I do. Oh, it's impossible. I can never do it, but he did a lot of times, just little things he bought. There's like, any good errors. What like somebody taking their glove off with the velcro, you can hear that. We had a few people used to do that on revenue.

Yeah, right. But it was, I mean, he was amazing. It just collapsing, the club. And this is like, yeah, I don't know how you did that. But yeah, he was the little noises that maybe nobody else a world would hear. Charlie would pick it up and they would bother him.

Yeah. Right. I couldn't keep the cotton in my ears. Yeah. The greatest size in the world. I mean, I always wore sunglasses that their prescription and Charlie could see all you know, like 250 yards down and going into the woods at a certain trade and he always knew where it was and you know, nobody else could see it.

But even today to this day is eyes, but I've been blessed. His eyes are unbelievable, he would see balls. And things that most people would not say yes, you don't see anything from them but he's he's been blessed with a great hearing and a great eyes actually that. So so when you, when you're talking about some of these, these past members and current members, is it more?

So, the camaraderie after the after-round of golfing, I would say. That's a lot of it. Yeah. It was always a good point to, you know, get done and just go inside and have a drink, you know? Yeah, we're gonna drink our ice tea. What's the most of us, right?

Everyone's, so why we had a guy like them, you have a beer, but back back, back in the sevens and eighties. We didn't go into clubhouse. We behind the 18th green of the Carlisle Country Club. We had the snack bars, big pine trees. Yeah. Provided some nice shade. We had a nice snack bar.

The pool was there. Yeah. And all the tables, a lot of the tables were outside and and there was a lot of chatter, you know, after the run, we had some guys that were great storytellers and I mean, just have your laughing. And in fact, the guys coming on the 18th green, we're only from 20 yards from the 18th green and at most maybe 15 and you know you can always got very long and hear everything.

Yeah. And when you got on the 18th green, with all the noise and the laughter in the background, from the guy just sitting around having a drink or whatever. And telling stories it was he got pretty hectic and pretty funny at times, but we used to, like, do the bus goes?

Yeah, yeah. So, what's up? What's around is over. So what's around is over, it was a lot of great storing telling and a lot of fun. And well you mentioned the snack bars used to be on the 18 or near the 18th over there. The other changes that we made over the years to the Carlisle Country Club force or yeah, we've way better few changes.

We've the host two three seven ten. Basically, we've changed the grains either to improve them new club, or the clubhouse was remodeled since I've been there and a couple of different swimming pools. And we have some big trees down everybody by the pool, which we knocked down, and we have a, tendency to knock too many trees down at our club.

And in my opinion, but nothing. Nothing really drastic to. The course, we've got problems down along the creek. With just last week, we had flooded over. So it knocked our three holes out of commission, we couldn't use them, five four, five days, they're beautiful, they're ready to go, I've played on a sense of, you know, I don't even know, it's together, they're really nice.

The fairways are beautiful and we get, we changed our grass on the golf course. The one from Bluegrass to the bank grass and we've done what we've had to do to survive, you know? And and make it better without anything drastic. So for the most part, it's so the same course that you've been pointing out since 61 at an earlier.

Yeah, it is. It is. Yeah, you know, So you've probably pretty familiar with that. Well, you would shortly think so, but it doesn't show in my game anymore. But yeah, and we've done like you say, most of the stuff we've got, we've enlarged those greens and I just mentioned, and but it's an agency is lose it.

You know, they're one point last year they were talking about selling and we sort of put the combustion to that. I remember shippers driving. Right now, we're doing, we're doing well with members, so everything looks good. Everyone else. Good. All right. Well, those are the questions that I have here actually aside from one that Rick brought throwing here, what would you consider your greatest accomplishment in golf journey?

So, our question.

That is hard as a tough question. Maybe it's just the fact that you're still playing that which definitely that. Yeah, the fact that I can still get out and play, you know, I said don't play as well anymore. But yeah if I were to lose that and the fact that you know my friends are out there playing or you know just you make so many acquaintances out there in the golf course and no matter where you go.

I mean you go to downtown to a restaurant and you can go almost anywhere in this area. You've got running to somebody. You know, it's you've had an acquaintance with over the years. I'm just, you know, thinking, you know, eight whole eight holes and one fifty plus tournaments one.

I mean, that's, it's pretty impressive. All around resume but also it really has. Yeah, I mean to just the breath of his career to be as competitive. I mean, I can remember Charlie used to keep an employee, maybe you still do keep score cards when you shoot your age and when he was in the 70s.

I mean, the scores he was shooting were I mean almost on a daily basis, you know, low 70s. I mean it was just how old were you when he first shot your age. He's got all the cards I associated or 69 really? Yeah. I signed I signed all the ones I played with him.

I was happy. You could ever even mentioned during his entire process. He's a he is a member of the Hall of Fame sports hall thing. This area. Yeah, it has pretty select group, it's a south central, it sounds central, Pennsylvania, sports Hall of Fame and I was inducted into that back and around.

97 fact, I got I got some pictures out there in the car. I mentioned the rick of Bill, there's a one one photograph of myself, and that was on one side. Bill Davis is over one side brakes on the other thought was really, really nice. Yeah. And you know, has also special alumni of Carlisle High School to which it's in all the games free.

I don't understand. It's all the games, right? That way, they keep me coming back. Yeah, and I've unfortunately there can't touch with the high schools and it's just Everybody knows Charlie. Everybody loves Charlie. He's been a real gentleman been here. His whole life has been so nice. He really hasn't been, you know, he's well respected, well-lighted.

And like, I've always just been a gentleman, right? He's had a great friend with French down. It all sounds really all said there were what zero outside of anything else to add or questions. I should have asked and there's one about people having trouble with their game that. Yeah.

Well, so, I mean kind of going back to earlier, we mentioned that, you know, you always recommend people starting out getting lessons on If someone's having trouble with their game. What do you recommend? They do? Well, I recommend goes either. Probably, yeah. Go see the price. That's what he's there for, He works with people every day, and every day and if he can't diagnose what's going on with your game, is there's another one down the road somewhere and some of them are just better than others.

Some of them I wouldn't recommend some of the pros. I wouldn't recommend it. We've been fortunate in this area chip right through. Yeah, that's this business. Each is really good. It was our program really here. Now, what? He's teaching out at Harrisburg Country Club, but he's a good. He's a good pro like swisher with one that I would recommend and some of the other ones you know, they just they just they're professionals but I don't think they're good teaching professionals.

But there's all there's help out there and I would definitely you know, point them in that direction, as much as I played golf, that's a bob place and written we don't want to get into the teaching business. You know? If we got a we got a friend you know, it has a bigger one little problem or something like, you know, giving some little checks, you know.

But as far as getting out there and trying to take the business away from the golf course, now All right. Well, we'll thank you guys so much for coming into the historical society today and reminiscing and sharing some great stories. I really appreciate it. I'll tell you what, that's great.

I appreciate it. A better sleep. Just get in these guys together because it's tough. You know, they're all busy. They're all doing. Isn't doing that. I haven't seen more. I haven't talked to you in 20 years or so. Yeah, you always, you always yell at me, if I play a Carlisle, you're passing through and you're going well, you're holding everybody.

Yes, that we think Jim for that? Yeah, everyone's phone number and excited to make. We are missing. Jim Parsons was supposed to be here. Jim's out of Detroit. Yeah, he couldn't make it. And also our mention earlier, Jeff Fraser was supposed to be here for one to be here but he's working out Delaware.

So well, you know, when you get, I think guys like this together. It's tough. Yeah. It's tough to get everybody, right? But once you just mentioned both of them, they both work. Right. You know. Yeah. And well, they're in there. And I mean, and particular is doing what you guys are mentioning earlier.

He's volunteering again, 20. Not only that, not necessarily volunteering, but he's out there associating. So that's what the average guard. He's out there with the way. Yeah, thank you. That was great. I got nothing to do. Thank you, pictures. I've no, I absolutely don't feel like, you know, you've been there already.

Have you. Thank you.