Golf Wars Finale Culminates Kebo Season
Tapley and Hall named club champions
BAR HARBOR––The carts were lined up two abreast and about 15 deep Sunday, October 15. The participants milled around laughing, trading quips, and socializing, lacking the intensity of some of the marathon participants earlier in the day. It was almost 1 p.m., minutes until the start of the 18-hole Golf Wars Finale tournament which is the culmination of Kebo Valley Golf Course’s weekly Monday night Golf Wars Scramble League.
According to an article in linksmagazine.com and Kebo Valley’s own website, Kebo Valley Golf Club is the oldest golf club in Maine. Incorporated in 1888, with the first six holes being completed in 1891, it has been a place of meeting, building community, and making business deals for 132 years. It still continues those traditions today.
According to Kebo Valley Golf Professional Peiter DeVos, interest in golf has skyrocketed since COVID.
During the pandemic year of 2020, there was a 14% increase in the amount of rounds played in the U.S., according to numbers from the National Golf Foundation. That’s 50 million more rounds than 1997, the year of Tiger Woods. A typical yearly increase is 5%. This jump occurred even with complete closures in the spring of that year.
People discovered that golf was a safe way to get outside, have some fun social interaction, and the mechanics of golf being played in a group naturally leaned toward safe social distancing during the pandemic, according to DeVos. The increased interest in playing golf has held up post pandemic, so much so that Kebo has had to cap its membership at 370 in order to maintain a good experience for everyone.
Kebo offers many different leagues and events covering just about every age group and skill level.
GOLF WARS FINALE
There were 22 teams playing in the Golf Wars Finale, the winners of which represent the winners for that tournament only and not for the entire Golf Wars Scramble League overall because the makeup of the scramble league teams are not always the same. The results of the Golf Wars Finale are below.
Gross
· 1st. Chris James + 3 60
· 2nd. Par Pals 60
· 3rd. Who’s Your Caddy 63
· 4th. Drunken Divots 63
Net
· 1st. Rough Riders 53.2
· 2nd. Fore Courseman 53.9
· 3rd. Operation Hack 54.6
· 4th. Strokes of Luck 54.9
Pins
· #4. Ben Morren 4-2
· #6. Darrell White 4-10
· #9. Riley Swanson 9-7
· #15. Lewis Leathersich 14-9
Men’s Long Drive – Brent Barker
Ladies Long Drive – Alison King
Following the Golf Wars Finale on Sunday afternoon was the annual Awards Day event where the 2023 champions were recognized and trophies presented. The 2023 champions are as follows.
· Men’s Club Champion – Wyman Tapley
· Ladies Club Champion – Edi Hall
· Earle Marshall Cup Champions – Jake Willis & Chris Archer
· McPheters Trophy Champions – Jeff Wooster & Chris Coston
· Senior Club Champion – Robert Braun
· Junior Club Champion – Jameson Weir
· Men’s Most Improved Golfer – Tim Macri
· Ladies Most improved Golfer – Cheryl Novins
THE WEEKLY GAMES
Monday
Kebo Boy’s game – 18-hole Stableford point – 10:30 a.m.
Golf Wars Scramble – 9-hole scramble – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday
Acadian Youth Sports Future Trojan Golf Camp July and August – 4:45-6:00 p.m.
Wednesday
Senior (60+) Men’s Group – 18-hole Stableford point – 8:30 a.m.
Kebo Boy’s game – 18-hole Stableford point – 10:30 a.m.
Ladies’ League – 9-hole scramble – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday
Men’s Twilight league – 9-hole match play – 5:00 p.m.
Friday
Green Mountain game – 18-hole Stableford point – noon
On Wednesday the club also offers a clinic, “9 & wine,” for women that starts at 5:30 p.m., and it includes lessons with one of the club’s professionals and a glass of wine!
Unless noted, all photos by Kebo Valley Golf Course, courtesy of the organization and used with permission.