Caliendo Winter League Thriving In 54th Season
It’s been a winter to remember for the hearty souls who comprise the John Caliendo Jersey Shore Winter Golf League, now in its 54thyear.
One of the mildest winters on record for New Jersey has gifted the 176 members (142 amateurs, 34 pros) of the league with the opportunity play every Thursday nearly unimpeded throughout the entire league season, which stretches from October to the first week in April.
“The league succeeds due to the love of golf in New Jersey. These guys have supported it beyond belief,” said tournament director John Doherty. “The guys like playing private courses they would never get to play, and the camaraderie and competition are great. Plus, a lot of guys like getting out of the house.”
There are only three more Thursday events left on the Caliendo schedule, next Thursday, March 24, at Concordia, March 31 at Rossmoor and the championship, April 7, at Renault Winery.
At Knob Hill, Mike Paduano, 47, of Shrewsbury fired a 4-under-par 66 to win the amateur gross. He was followed by Anthony Fioretti of Sparta with a 69. The two lead the overall gross competition for the season. Paduano’s round included two eagles. “I lost 20 pounds and I’m hitting it well again. I’ve got my sights on the NJSGA Mid-Amateur in May at Spring Lake.”
“The season has been good. The participation has been one of the best ever,” said Doherty, who is a full-time caddie and was on the bag for Mike Stamberger when he won the State Amateur in 2013 and 2014. “The schedule and the weather have had a lot to do with it. We had great weather in November.
“These guys are a special group. They really love golf. They’ll play in any kind of weather.”
Mike Friedman of Marlboro has not missed an event in five years, including one on a five-degree day at Forsgate, when 32 guys showed up, and another with 45 mile-per-hour winds and sideways rain when a band of 12 golf nuts attended.
“If you like golf, how can you not like this league,” asked Friedman, a retired commodities broker. “This has been one of our better years. Last week, we had 107 players at Forsgate.”
“For guys who love competition, this league is great, especially for the professionals who don’t go away to Florida for the winter. I thoroughly enjoy it,” Roxbury’s James Chung stated.
Gerry Purcell began playing in the league in 1978 with buddy Tim Macken. Purcell broke away around 1988 to raise his family, but has been back to Caliendo golf for the past three years. Macken hasn’t missed a single year.
“There are a number of reasons why it is a success,” Purcell said. “No. 1 is the camaraderie. No. 2, it’s the opportunity to play for almost six months. No. 3, some 30-50 guys will turn out in even the toughest weather, and No. 4, the competition is great, even for people with a high handicap. There is a gross and handicap winner each week, so anybody can win.”
Al Pollack of Maplewood said he’s been involved in Caliendo golf for more than three decades. As a postman, he switched so his off-day would be Thursday, and he hasn’t looked back since.
“It gives you something to do in the winter,” said Pollack, 77, who plays public courses all over the state in the summer months and boasts three holes-in-one. “The guys are all good players with different handicaps, and the league is well run.”
