Distinguished Service Awards Highlight Celebration Of Golf
The 10th annual Celebration of Golf on Thursday, October 24, at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster put an official close to a very successful New Jersey golf season.
The event enabled both the NJSGA and the NJPGA to recognize champions and award winners, as well as those who have made special contributions to golf in New Jersey.
A near-capacity crowd of 280 joined master of ceremonies and golf broadcaster Brian Crowell for a fun event.
It was a banner evening for the NJSGA, which celebrated two past presidents, Robert “Bob” Cronheim and Adrian “Bud” Foley as co-recipients of the Distinguished Service Award, and honored Pat Wilson of Panther Valley as its Player of the Year and Upper Montclair Country Club as its Caddie Scholarship Club of the Year.
In addition, the NJSGA feted Alice Chen of Neshanic Valley, Cindy Ha of Valley Brook and playing captain Tara Fleming of New Jersey National for combining to win the 10thUSGA Women’s State Team Championship. The Judy Bell Trophy was officially presented with their names engraved on it.
Top honorees for the NJPGA were Scott Paris of Plainfield as Golf Professional of the Year and Frank Esposito Jr. of Brooklake as NJPGA Player of the Year. Bill King of Spring Lake became the 31stmember of the NJPGA Hall of Fame.
The NJPGA also noted that two members, Paris and Dan Pasternak of Panther Valley received National PGA awards. Paris won the National Merchandiser of the Year and Pasternak the Bill Strausbaugh award for his work in the club relations and employment area.
Together, Foley and Cronheim became the impetus behind the creation of NJSGA headquarters at Galloping Hill Golf Course, a project that began nearly two decades ago. Both were both outstanding during their respective tenures and they have continued to work tirelessly on behalf of golf in New Jersey well after their terms ended.
“Tonight is exciting for me and my family. I am especially moved to receive this honor in the presence of so many friends,” said Cronheim, NJPGA president in 1992-93 and during that time the Youth Foundation was created and is now stronger than ever.
During that time, the NJSGA was involved in “Hook A Kid On Golf” clinics, providing transportation so that inner city youth could caddie at suburban clubs and for financing support for The First Tee.
Cronheim was the first lifetime sustaining contributor to the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation.
“Bob’s devotion to make the game better led to our new headquarters at Galloping Hill. Bob was the initial motivating force with the Union County freeholders, bringing the opportunity to our board, never allowing the concept to die, and always encouraging the many talented people in our organization to get involved during this 10-year mission,” said presenter Ed Batta, the chairman of the NJSGA Caddie Scholarship Foundation.
“I asked Bob what golf has meant to him. He answered: ‘I’ve met the finest people in golf.’ “
As former owner of Twin Brooks Country Club and a past president of Deal Golf and Country Club, Cronheim was instrumental in having both clubs support NJSGA, New Jersey PGA, and MGA tournaments over the years. He has been extremely generous with both his time and in giving of his courses for multiple golf organizations in New Jersey.
Cronheim is also chief executive officer of the David Cronheim Company in Chatham where he specializes in commercial brokerage.
“Tonight’s event is entitled the Celebration of Golf, but in a real sense, it is a celebration of ourselves who enjoy the game and enjoying spreading the love of the game to young people. Personally, I have played the game for 72 years. As Lee Trevino said, ‘The older I get, the better I used to be ‘, “ Cronheim stated.
Foley, who served as NJSGA president in 1984-85, influenced the revision of NJSGA by-laws to remove any reference to public or private facilities within the membership of the NJSGA. In addition, Bud was active at the state and national level as a member of the USGA Regional Affairs Committee.
Foley has served as legal counsel for the NJSGA since the 1980s. He has been a member of the Essex Fells Country Club since 1959 and served on the board of trustees for six years. His personal mission was to encourage juniors and children to participate in golf at the club, at which he was highly successful.
He is also a sustaining lifetime contributor to the Caddie Scholarship Foundation. He is in the St. Benedict’s Prep Hall of Fame and received the first medal of St. Benedict for lifelong contributions to the Newark school.
He was appointed by Gov. William Cahill as the first treasurer and chief financial officer of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and was reappointed to that post by Gov. Brendan Byrne. Foley was instrumental in devising the bond issue that generated funding for Giants Stadium and the Meadowlands Racetrack.
“Bud Foley worked devotedly with Bob Cronheim and John Murray to develop the driving range, learning center and in making the new NJSGA headquarters a reality at Galloping Hill and into one of the finest facilities in the East,” Batta stated.
“The fact that this labor of love took over 10 years speaks to the vision and tenacity of these gentlemen. Bud Foley represents everything that is good in public life, no small feat in today’s environment. He is the most loyal, sensitive and devoted friend and ally one could possess.”
Paris thanked those who helped him along the way.
“My career is a success because of the help of so many. The support of my parents enabled me to pursue my career with passion,” Paris said.
Wilson’s season was highlighted with his victory in the Met Amateur and high finishes in the State Open, State Amateur and the Ike Championship.
Esposito Jr., 51, won the State Open, the PGA Section Championship and the PGA Senior Championship.
“It’s an honor to be here, especially at my age,” said Esposito. “I’d like to thank my parents, who are here. They’ve made me the man I am today. And to my boys, Nick and Zack; you are the most important thing in the world to me. I am proud to be your dad.”
The NJSGA presented framed NJSGA GOLF magazine covers with members of the New Jersey Women’s State Team holding the Judy Bell Trophy.
“I am so proud of my teammates,” said Tara Fleming. “It’s so nice to be part of something that happened in the middle of my career, but only in the very beginning of their careers.”
King has served 23 years as head professional at Spring Lake. He held the PGA Section Championship, Assistant Championship and Pro-Pro titles at the same time. He was NJPGA Professional of the Year in 2009 and has played in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. As a caddie at Forsgate, he earned an NJSGA Caddie Scholarship that helped him attend Rutgers University.
He credits his early golf instructors, Gigi Carnevale and Art DeBlasio, for having shaped his swing.
“I am humbled and honored to join the ranks of the men in the New Jersey PGA Hall of Fame. I have played with 16 of them and have met five more,” King said. “Whether it was a tournament or applying for a job, Mom and Dad always encouraged me and always instilled me with a motto: “What happens, either way, happens for a reason.
“With that faith, I never prayed for an outcome in golf, but before every round I do ask that whatever happens on the course today, let me take it like a man,” King said. “The one person who change my life the most is my wife Pam. She has supported our golf 100 percent. She is always keeping me positive about the game.”
