Week of Manalapan, NJ
July 19, 2001

You may want to look on your New Jersey map and find Manalapan. It is situated centrally in the state near such towns as Twin Rivers and Hightstown. It was a short drive from Albany to the pretty Knob Hill CC. This course was built about 20-30 years ago, but about 3 years ago it was purchased and totally redesigned. Mark McCumber did all of the reconfiguring and total design change and it is quite a good track. A few fairly basic holes in the beginning, yet over dips and small hazards. By #8 you begin to experience the total challenge! The course now boasts single family homes, townhomes and condos. Val and I toured the models on the ninth green - very nice, with the smallest condo starting at $179,000. It does make me yearn to go back home to my condo in Florida…

I played with such a nice group in the pro-am on Thursday, and our -8 score was great in the scramble. We all contributed and were required to use at least two drives per person. Marsha and Alan Brown live right there at Knob Hill overlooking the pool and #10, and Paul Fried and Joe Oriolo took off the afternoon from their accounting and law practices to donate to the local Girl Scout charity and to play as my partners. We had a great time… and I must say that Marsha Brown is a great putter!!! Thanks to Marsha and Alan for watching me play throughout the week and to for Paul, his wife Lynn and their children Aaron and Rachel for coming Saturday and cheering me on the front nine!

Par was 71, and my 69-72-73 turned out to be a tie for 20th. The first day I birdied the first two holes, but doubled the third going into the short hazard. The second day I made a couple of birdies coming in to finish respectably. And the third day, I made the turn -3 for the day, and then had a run of bogeys and a double that just broke my heart. I have been playing very well, and to just not close it out is not my normal style, and it was quietly sad. What a game.

This event provided both breakfast and lunch every day for all pros and caddies. What a nice and huge undertaking to feed over 200 each meal. It was very appreciated and really first class.

We stayed in a local hotel and had the company of fellow pro Michele Vinieratos and her dachshund 'Max" as neighbors down the way. She travels with Max, and he just stays in the room awaiting her arrival later in the day. We took him out for walks when we came back opposite of her schedule, and he is just a cute two year old and full of personality.

I also took time to visit Friday night's Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting where LPGA pro / Hall of Famer Betsy King came to speak to the 40 players and guests who came to hear her words of wisdom. She was on a 2-week break from the tour and drove 90 miles from Philadelphia (she was visiting her parents who live there) and was interesting and funny. She had just won the week prior in Atlantic City, and even told us that in her first round while shooting 65, she actually doubled the last hole! She realizes that even when she does not play perfect, she can still never give up and sometimes it will still be enough to win (she has won 34 times now). We appreciate her graciousness and the effort she made to be with us. On a personal note, I played with Betsy in Hawaii many years ago when she won her first LPGA event. She sure has done great things both in golf, in her Habitat for Humanity efforts and her trips to Romania.

Val and I were very tempted to go Monday to the Six Flags Park near Manalapan and go on the famed 'NITRO' roller coaster. It was a better choice to rest and drive to Connecticut for the next event and move into our friend Mary Johnson's house for the week. This is the 3rd summer we have stayed with Mary. We were stuck in traffic as we crossed from New York into Connecticut for about 90 minutes in a five-mile stretch due to an accident. We got to Mary's, unpacked and took a nap! I hate to admit I just can't do it all!!!

It should be a beautiful weather week in Connecticut. This is an unusual week as the event is Thursday, Friday, and ends on Saturday. Val and I will go to Beth and Dave Salzman's cottage on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH before driving to another favorite stop in Syracuse.

Thanks for your interest and e-mails.

Sue E.

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