Members of the Tuesday Metropolitan Women’s Golf Association celebrated the group’s golden anniversary last week.

Group celebrates 50 years of Tuesday morning golf
By Zachary Dzurick
Sports
Published August 2, 2006

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Anna Eucker was looking for a place to play golf. She discovered that a group had started a summer league that had met every Tuesday for six years at the Big Met golf course in the Metroparks.

"It was real close to my home," the Fairview Park resident said. "The park was kept up like a country club and everyone was so friendly."

So Eucker kept coming back every year. This is now her 44th year as a member of the Tuesday Metropolitan Women's Golf Association. She is the longest-standing member of the group that celebrated its 50th anniversary as a league on July 25.

After their usual round of morning golf, the group gathered in the new Big Met grille area to enjoy a catered luncheon to celebrate the silver anniversary. Long-time member Betty Herrmann also prepared homemade chocolate for each member with a 50 imprinted on it.

The course is a big draw for many of the members. Rocky River resident Irene Joy has a been a member since 1980. She loves the beauty and challenge of Big Met.

"We love the Metroparks," Joy said. "This is a fabulous place to play. You can't beat it. The course is always in great shape.”

The group has consistently stayed full over the years. At times, there was a waiting list as there was a limit of 72 golfers. One member, Maryann Jewel, said she had to wait three years before there was a spot to join the group in the early 1990s. The association currently has 66 members.

"It has always been a nice group," two-time champ and long-time member Anna Barrett said. "We have never had any problems. The regulars were here so long, everyone stayed. When someone would leave, there was always someone to take their place."

With the founders of the league long gone, the association has remained strong because of how it welcomes new members with open arms. Current president and Rocky River resident Terrie Botkins has only been a member for four years.

"I am a fairly new member and still ended up being president this year," Botkins said. "There are a lot of nice people. It was an easy group to work into as a new member. I had no idea it was this old when I joined. Everyone is always bringing in new friends and neighbors."

Most of the golfers share a similar story. Rocky River resident Kay Coster has been a member for 24 years.

"It was the influence of a neighbor that got me to join," Coster said. "I got to love the place because it was so close. It is very challenging and a good way to compete. I love it and it gets my adrenaline going. It is like therapy. I always call this my valium in the valley."

Westlake resident Joy Gdodin is a three-time champion of the league. She said another reason the group has stayed around for so long is the flight system it uses.

"I joined 25 years ago," she said. "Everyone was so nice and very competitive. They stuck to the rules of golf. One reason I liked this league is we have flights A, B, C and D. So you play with players your own skill level which promotes good golf."

The league competes May through August. Two months they participate in match play and for two months they play for low score. Every month the group hands out prizes and hosts two parties a year. The group shows no sign of slowing down and seems poised for another 50-year stretch.

"We have a lot of good friendships," Coster said. "We are always looking for new members."