SOYUZIVKA SPORTS ROUND-UP
Golf enthusiasts enjoy third annual tournament in Catskills
by Roman Hawryluk
KERHONKSON, N.Y. - As has become tradition, for the third year in a row Soyuzivka presented an opportunity for golfers from both North America and Ukraine to display their golf competitiveness in the hills of the Catskills of New York State.
This year's event was special, as it was the first outing in the new millennium. Golfers came from Canada, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Florida, Connecticut, Massachusetts and, for the first time, from Kyiv. Based on last year's successful event, most of the players came back with high enthusiasm and many expectations.
The majority of the players were guests of Soyuzivka for the week prior to Labor Day weekend. The weather cooperated, providing four beautiful golf days, and the courses were well-prepared and groomed. No excuses.
Once again the committee of Orest Bilous, Alex Popovich, Orest Kyzyk, Roman Hawryluk and Ihor Zwarycz (special advisor) prepared this year's event with starter golf packages, prizes and an opportunity for all to have a great golfing experience. The prizes and other golf packages were solicited by committee members, with the majority of donations provided by sponsors such as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, U.S. Trust, Citigroup, Reuters, Bridge Information Systems, Colliers ABR and Hoenig & Co.
The initial registration for the four-day event was held at Soyuzivka's Trembita Lounge on Monday evening, August 28. Teams were formed and handicaps established. Each player received a travel bag with assorted golf goodies and tee schedules. The event itself started on Tuesday, August 29, and continued through September 1.
The courses chosen for this event were Hudson Valley, Apple Green and Nevele, with the final day at Rondout Valley. The two best scores out of the four days of golf were chosen to pick winners, and the last day at Rondout provided an opportunity for competition for the longest ball, as well as closest to the pin. Just to add additional pressure (all in fun), Blue Ball was also played on the final day. The winner of the Blue Ball event is the team that plays the full round with the original ball and the lowest gross score.
This year 16 golfers registered, making eight two-man teams. The players registered for the event were: Orest Bilous (Florida), Dr. Alexander Gudziak (New York), Taras Jaworsky (Illinois), Ihor Zwarycz (New Jersey), Orest Kyzyk (New York), Roman Hawryluk (New York), Alex Popovich (New Jersey), Jarema Shuhan (Texas), Paul Masny (Kyiv), Kenny Kolakoski (New Jersey), Vova Hajdar (New York), Bohdan Puzyk (Connecticut), Roman Kyzyk (New York), Dr. Andy Kuchtaruk (Canada), Andrej Olexy (Massachusetts) and Dr. Yurij Charuk (Illinois).
The events started every morning with a breakfast package provided by the kitchen staff at Soyuzivka headed by head chef Andrij Sonevytsky. After a spirited Ukrainian song, it was off to the golf course. The transport for the majority of the golfers who stayed at Soyuzivka was provided by the newly titled committee member "Director of Transportation" Mr. Zwarycz.
The golf courses provided plenty of opportunity for all players to show off their golfing finesse and to make contact with trees, lakes, rocks, sand, grassy fairways and greens, while trying to achieve pars as well as knock in a few birds. Verbal expressions of jubilation as well as frustration were noted throughout the course of each game. Almost everyone had an opportunity for this form of self-expression.
To ease the daily pressure of playing competitive golf, on the second day after playing at the Apple Green golf course the whole group was invited to Vova and Ulana Hajdar's hideaway in New Paltz for gourmet cooking and imported beverages. This provided the opportunity for all golfers to relax, enjoy good company and share stories by all (gets you to forget the golf adventure of that day and preps you for the next two days). A "Mnohaya Lita" and a thank-you were offered to the Hajdars for their reception.
As each day passed the scores were totaled and the results were provided, with the final outcome resulting in the winners being honored with prizes on the last day of the event. The committee provided the refreshments for both the golfers and their spouses and friends. The Trembita Lounge was the setting for this event.
As is seen from the results, it is suspected that many of the players took golfing lessons, prepared for play in the prior weeks to hone their techniques (some were prepping as far away as Myrtle Beach).
The winners collected their prizes as the audience appreciated their achievements with adulation and good-spirited commentary.
All golfers received prizes, including Roman Kyzyk for his spiritual support of his teammates and Mr. Kolakoski for his smiling approach to the game of golf.
The chairman of the board, Mr. Bilous concluded the ceremony with a brief speech, thanking all participants for their efforts, enthusiasm for the game and camaraderie. A special thank-you was extended to the spouses and friends for their daily moral support for the players, and to John A. Flis and Soyuzivka for supporting this event and making it a part of the Labor Day week tradition.
In return, with vocal approval accompanied by a thunderous round of applause, the players acknowledged the committee members for running this successful event and encouraged the committee members with its chairman of the board, Mr. Bilous, to continue their present plans for future golf events both at Soyuzivka and other sites around the world.
The committee has decided that the next annual Labor Day weekend be dubbed the fourth annual International Labor Day Golf Event to reflect the participation of players from outside the continent of North America.
The banquet closed with a "Mnohaya Lita" and "Na Zdorovia" for all who participated, providing a good start to the rest of the Labor Day weekend events for the golfers and their families.
Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, September 24, 2000, No. 39, Vol. LXVIII
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