Caliendo Winter Golf League in midst of 58th successful season
PHOTO: Winter League golfers from left, Walter Sartorius, Bob Montefusco, Eric Houseknecht and Boyd Bryson
The 58th season of the John Caliendo Shore Winter Golf Tour is under way, featuring an ambitious schedule of 23 one-day events, stretching from Nov. 1 to the championship on April 1.
A total of 129 golfers took part in the opening day event on Nov. 1 at Copper Hill Country Club in Ringoes, followed by 109 participants at Royce Brook Golf Club in Hillsborough on Nov. 8. A rare early-season snow event canceled the third event of the season on Nov. 15 at Heron Glen Golf Course in Ringoes.
The remainder of the schedule consists primarily of private clubs, such as Rumson Country Club (Dec. 6), Cherry Valley Country Club in Skillman (Dec. 13), Watchung Valley Golf Club (Dec. 20), Deal Golf & Country Club (Jan. 3), Greate Bay Country Club in Somers Point (Jan. 17), Forsgate Country Club in Monroe (Feb. 28) and Suburban Golf Club in Union (March 21), among others.
The Caliendo Tour is again at full capacity with 160 members, including 40 professionals who each week conduct their own concurrent competition with cash prizes. Seasonal dues for returning members were $85 and weekly fees are $45 for amateurs and $60 for professionals.
Members compete not only for weekly prizes, but for the player of the year titles that are awarded on a point basis in the categories of amateur net, amateur gross, senior amateur and professional.
This year, Mark McCabe, executive director of the First Tee of Raritan Valley, was brought in as tournament director for the organization. Tim Macken of Darlington will serve as president for the second year.
“I am looking to help the association with professionalism and organizational skills,” McCabe said. “My goal is to improve in the distribution of results and in other administrative areas. I’m hoping we don’t have as many issues with the weather as we did last year.”
The league was founded by Angelo Petraglia of Spring Meadow Golf Course in Farmingdale, John Cafone of Manasquan River Golf Club in Brielle, Andy Sikora of Beacon Hill Country Club in Atlantic Highlands and Roddy Newman of The Homestead Golf Course in Spring Lake.
The league was originally called the Jersey Shore Winter Golf League, but was later renamed for John Caliendo, a former Long Branch postal worker who acted as tournament manager and computed handicaps until 1985.
If you’d like to learn more about the Caliendo Winter Golf League, contact Mark McCabe at mmccabe@thefirstteerv.org.
