Bob Krueger Honored With Major Award At Annual Meeting
Bob Krueger of Rockaway River, a tournament official for more than 30 years, was honored by the New Jersey State Golf Association on Wednesday as winner of the Honey Gantner Award as its top volunteer and Kevin Casey of Galloping Hill and Brian Hunt of Upper Montclair were installed as new board members at the NJSGA Annual Meeting at Galloping Hill Golf Course in Kenilworth.
Steve Foehl, who served the NJSGA as executive director for 25 years received a recognition award and incoming executive director Kevin Purcell was introduced at the meeting.
Representatives from the three golf clubs who hosted NJSGA major championships, John Delaney of Essex County, Gavin Inglis of Knickerbocker, Tony Santillo of Spring Brook also received plaques of recognition.
Krueger, a long-time tournament official and former chairman of the tournament committee, was honored for commitment, outstanding service and contributions to the NJSGA. The award is named in honor of Honey Gantner who received the first award in 2012. Vic Bacile of Spring Brook received the award in 2013.
“Bob has been a dedicated volunteer for over 30 years and has spent thousands of hours on the course with us. He is well regarded by the other volunteers and tournament committee people,” said NJSGA president Frank O’Brien.
“The Honey Gantner Award symbolizes a volunteer who has gone above and beyond what is required and Bob Krueger is at the same level as Honey Gantner was – an outstanding volunteer for this organization,” O’Brien said.
Krueger thanked his family which included son Bob Jr., grandson Bobby and daughter-in-law Megan. In 2013, Bob Jr and Bobby won the NJSGA Father & Son Championship and placed second this summer.
“I’m a lot more comfortable on the first tee,” stated Krueger. “Sixty-five years ago, I got a job in a steel fabrication plant one mile from here and played golf here at Galloping Hill in my spare time. This was a great place for me then and is a great place for me now.”
Krueger joined Rockaway Ricer C.C. in the early 1970s, and his friendship with NJSGA volunteer Arthur Lynch led to him joining the NJSGA as a volunteer himself in 1983.
“The NJSGA has come a long way in the years I’ve known it. It is second to none in my eyes,” Krueger added.
Foehl, who is retiring,was hired by the NJSGA on Nov. 1, 1989.
"I've been fortunate to work with something I've loved and enjoyed for some many years," said Foehl, who will continue on in an advisory post to the NJSGA. "I would like to thank the group of volunteers. There's soemthing about golf that attracts great people. I would also like to thank our staff. Each of them has contribued to our growth and success."
Jack Luts, captain of the course rating committee, noted that 33 courses had been rated with one more on line by the end of the year. “We will have rated 11 more courses than last year and we have received more requests for ratings as more courses have undergone renovations,” Luts said.
O’Brien was happy to acknowledge that five new companies were added as NJSGA sponsors: Old Course Experience, Callaway Golf, Golf Galaxy, Links Insurance and Golf Cart Specialties. He also thanked Lincoln Motor Cars for being the lead sponsor of the State Open for 20 years.
He was also enthused by the response to the 11 Member Golf Days, up from six in 2013. “They are very much appreciated by New Jersey golfers who would never get a chance to play these private clubs. We had 198 golfers at Metedeconk and Ridge at Back Brook sold out in 45 minutes,” he said. “We will have 10-to-12 Member Golf Days next year.”
He also said individual handicaps kept by the NJSGA were down slightly, but that more than 1,000 e-mails were added, giving the association close to 20,000 e-mail addresses. The new e-mails were added thanks to a strong E-Bulletin campaign.
Mike McFadden, NJSGA treasurer, stated the association is in good financial straits and will again a report a surplus.
Eric Houseknecht announced the tournament committee administered 24 tournaments from May through October, plus four USGA qualifying events. In all, 34 courses throughout the state were utilized. He thanked the members of the tournament committee and NJSGA staff.
The Youth Foundation was able to donate $33,000 to 10 charities. Next year’s Youth Foundation Pro-Am, the biggest vehicle for its fund-raising, takes place July 13 at Rockaway River.
Ed Batta, chairman of the Caddie Scholarship Foundation, was proud to announce that the CSF has managed to donate $872,000 to 206 caddie scholars in 2014. It has awarded more than $11 million since it was founded in 1947. In 2013, 193 scholarships were awarded at a total of $781,000.
He announced an impending gift of approximately $500,000 from the late Warren and Babs Collins estate, the largest gift ever for the CSF.
Baltusrol was the top contributing club at $77,000, followed by Echo Lake at $56,000, Canoe Brook at $42,000, Manasquan River at $41,000 and Upper Montclair at $40,000.
“The Evans Foundation and Rutgers University have agreed in principle to begin a joint venture in September in 2015. At least two and up to four students will be able to receive full caddie scholarships. The intent is to build a chapter house some day at Rutgers to house a large number of caddie scholars. That is thanks to the passion and commitment of Tom Paluck, a former NJSGA past president,” Batta said.
Johanna Gavin, director of the Caddie Scholarship program, said a CSF Alumni Association has strengthened and that 980 caddie scholars were reached by mail. The mailing resulted in $11,000 in donations in 2013 and $5,200 in donations in 2012 from former caddie scholars.
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