Member Golf Days Have Special Meaning To Cancer Survivor Judy Winter
NJSGA Member Golf Days can mean many things to many people, but none so much as Judy Winter of Galloping Hill Golf Club, who has a poignant story to tell.
Judy used the thought of Member Golf Days to help her battle through breast cancer and get her on her road to recovery – and back on the golf course.
Judy, a Cranford resident and frequent participant in the season-long MGD schedule, overcame her cancer struggles mostly through 2016 and was ready to go for 2017.
The recently retired teacher and learning disabled consultant has played in 10 of the 12 MGDs this year and couldn’t be happier.
“The thought of playing golf kept me going. I really love the Member Golf Days, playing on all these beautiful courses. Last summer was difficult for me. I played in my Saturday league and Galloping Hill and my Tuesday league at Hyatt Hills when I could, but it wasn’t much,” she said after playing in the MGD on Oct. 19 at scenic Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell.
One big reason why she enjoys MGDs so much is the fact that she recorded the only hole-in-one of her career in 2015 at esteemed Ridge at Back Brook when she hit a seven iron over water and into the hole from 108 yards on the No. 2 hole there.
“I saw it go in! That’s my number one memory of Member Golf Days,” said Mrs. Winter, who plans on joining the NJSGA as a volunteer. She spent 26 years teaching in the Linden school system before retiring on Oct. 1.
“I enjoy as many Member Golf Days as I can, playing with Minna (Lavinia Ruby). I look forward to playing courses I would never be able to play. It’s always a nice day out and you meet some wonderful people. It’s a chance for women to meet other women.”
Mrs. Winter grew up in western Pennsylvania, but moved to New Jersey after marriage and has been in Cranford since 1976.
“Golf is very important to her,” said Ms. Ruby. “Golf gave her something to look forward to. We’ll be golfing a lot more now that she has retired.”
Mrs. Winter and Ms. Ruby have their own ratings system for the Member Golf Day clubs in two areas: food and the courses.
“Rumson has by far the best food with the seafood spread they put out in River House each year. And we really like a lot of the courses such as Green Brook, Spring Brook, Morris County and The Ridge at Back Brook,” Judy noted.
As the 2017 Member Golf Day season came to a close, NJSGA Director of Handicapping and Member Benefit Services Rich Kennedy was very pleased with the MGD schedule of 12 events.
“I think Member Golf Days are now embedded in the minds of New Jersey golfers about what a great day it is, and the affordability. MGDs are here to stay,” said Kennedy as the seventh NJSGA MGD season finished. “We are fulfilling a lot of bucket lists for a lot of golfers.
“People who love the game normally don’t have opportunities to play these country clubs, but we are bringing these opportunities to them.”
Armando Ruiz of the Ash Brook Men’s Golf Association is exactly one of those golf lovers.
“I thought of joining a private club, but I like coming out and playing all these different ones around the state,” said Ruiz, who played in 10 MGDs in 2017 and seven in 2016. “I feel we don’t have enough,” kidded the retired project manager.
“When the registration opens on the NJSGA website, I’m usually first in line. I like them because they are a great deal for the money ($135 per event). You have a good meal and the courses we play are premium ones we would never get to play.”
The former Air Force reservist has a trip planned for the summer of 2018 where he will be playing nine courses in the area of Donegal, Ireland. In 2015, he played courses in southwest Ireland including Lahinch.
“Yes I’m a golf nut. When the Duke University course reopened after Robert Trent Jones Jr. renovated it, I left my house in Queens at 3 a.m. and got there for a noon shotgun. Then we drove back home,” said Ruiz, a member of the John Caliendo Jersey Shore Winter Golf League for 16 years.
“My next vacation is with my wife to Palm Springs. Of course, I golf. My wife knows if we go on vacation, I have to golf.”
