Hermitage and the VSGA
|
The Virginia State Golf Association was born when Norfolk Country Club invited the states known golf clubs to compete in a weekend tournament. Due to the success of that first effort, the event was repeated and six clubs came together to organize formally what was originally called the Virginia State Golf League. Hermitage Golf Club was one of those original six clubs. From that time to the present day, Hermitage and many of its members have been instrumental in helping lead the statewide organization in promoting amateur golf in Virginia. In addition, starting with VSGAs original team championship and the first Virginia Amateur, members of Hermitage Country Club have had more success in VSGA events than golfers from any other club in the state.
Teams from Hermitage Country Club won the team championship in 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1911. The first Virginia Amateur was played in 1911 and was won by Hermitage member William H. Palmer, Jr. with Hermitage member R.H. Dick Meade as a runner-up. Over the next four years Hermitage members would win in 1914 (Palmer again), and 1917 (J. Pope Seals), and would be runner-up in 1912 (Palmer), 1914 (W.P. Wood), 1915 and 1917 (Rives Fleming), and 1918 (Seals). In the next era, Hermitage members would win the Virginia Amateur in 1928, 1931, 1932, 1935 (Billy Howell), and 1936 (Bobby Riegal) and would be runner-up in 1928 (J. Davis Ewell, Sr.), 1930 (Howell), 1933 (Lansing Eubank), and 1935 (Riegal).
In more recent times, Hermitage men won the Amateur in 1980 (Mark Lawrence) and in 1933 and 1995 (David Partridge). In the Womens Amateur, Hermitage members have also excelled by winning in 1946, 1947, and 1948 (Ann Reynolds), 1965 and 1967 (Barbara Hughes), 1977, 1978, 1982, and 1992 (Jane Mack), and 1983 and 1993 (Anne Patrick). In addition, to such excellence in the mens and womens state amateurs, Hermitage members have won many other state, regional, and city championships, including the VSGA Senior Amateur (Stan Fischer), Womens Stroke Play (Jane Mack), and served on state teams in the Carolinas/Virginias Matches and the Virginia-West Virginia Matches.
In 1924, the VSGA decided to formalize its organization, which involved the development of by-laws, the election of officers, and the implementation of more formal communication with its members. In fact, minutes of a Hermitage directors meeting still exist from 1924 where the Club approved the proposed VSGA By-Laws. Shortly before this time in 1921, the organization selected its first president William P. Wood, a Hermitage member, who was club champion in 1911. Wood would serve as president of the Association for 15 years, presiding over the institution of new tournaments, developing and organizational structure and implementing member club services. Specifically, he was responsible for starting the Womens Amateur in 1922 and the Virginia State Open in 1924 (which played at Hermitage). While none would serve for such a lengthy period of time, Hermitage members Jose R. Davila (1957-58), David Catteron (1979, 80), and Dr. Frank Filipowicz (1983-84), all served as president of the VSGA. Similarly, Hermitage women, such as Jane Mack and Margaret Balch, have served as directors of the Womens Division of the VSGA, and two, Tip Tomlinson (1960-61) and Barbara Hughes (1980 - 81) have served as the Division's president.
While Hermitage served as host of numerous VSGA championships, including the State Team in 1907, the Amateur in 1914, the Womens Amateur in 1934, 1941, and 1959, the Open in 1924, 1926, 1929, and 1934, and the Junior in 1991 and 1999, perhaps more significant, yet easily forgotten, are the hundreds of qualifying rounds held at Hermitage in support of various VSGA and USGA state and national tournaments. Without a willing and reliable site for such qualifiers, most important golf events could never be staged. Hermitage has also provided and honorary membership to David Norman, the Executive Director of the VSGA.
Many of other members of the Club would serve the VSGA as sectional chairmen (Chuck Shriner and Bill Kenney)and directors (Stan Fischer and Troy Peery). Hermitage members have filled other important roles through the years, including Richard Smith as Director of Championships for over ten years, and two other members (Reggie Jones and Bruce Matson) as the Associations General Counsel. More recently, Hermitage past president and VSGA board member Troy Peery accepted the position as president of the VSGA Foundation to help develop a golf center for the VSGA. (HCC members Jim Cerza and Jeff Hall also serve as directors of the Foundations board.) In 1998 Peery began leading the effort to raise $15 million to construct a Tom Fazio-designed golf courser, a 9-hole "kids course," a teaching center, museum, clubhouse, and association headquarters. Remarkably, by the end of 1999 most of the goal had been reached and ground was broken on the golf course. The VSGAs next phase of promoting amateur golf in Virginia will have been materially advanced by Peerys considerable dedication to and leadership of the VSGA Golf Center project.
|
|