Everything’s
Right on Par at Asher & Company!
It
may have been a dreary day in Philadelphia on March 19, 2004, but it was anything but
indoors at the 8th Annual Asher Golf Open. The nine-hole course was fun and
proved to be challenging at times for the staff participants. Laughter and camaraderie
were the rule of the day!
Anthony Arcaro said that the only way that he would have had a
better time would have been if the bosses had “paid me time-and-a-half to play.”
New employees participating in the Asher Open for the first time thought that playing the
course was fun, a good break during the busy tax season, and an unusual thing to do at
work, which they had never experienced before.
Participants paid $5 to play the course, knowing that the money
would be contributed to the charity of the lowest-scoring golfer’s choice.
All Eyes on
Hole-Design
The Asher staff that designed holes outdid themselves from previous
years with some very clever entries. Amy O’Connor stated that hole designers
“definitely upped the ante from last year.”
Staff voted for the most creative hole design. The winning entry
showcased a “Garden of Eden” theme complete with Adam, Eve, the serpent, flora,
fauna, and a working fountain. Randee Mellon, who thought up the garden idea, explained
that she had to get resourceful to bring her idea to fruition. For instance when turf
proved to be very pricey, she opted for long vines of flowers that were wrapped and draped
throughout the fairway. Mellon along with the rest of the design team, Elizabeth Pilacik,
Jennifer Silvan, and Robin Fritz received a bookstore gift certificate for their creation.
Another creative entry was a child’s course with a hopscotch
start and obstacles such as jacks, marbles, a small bicycle and a Clifford stuffed toy
dog. Other themes included a military base with toy soldiers, guns and tanks; a parking
garage with a chute (a favorite for those who got a hole-in-one); a tongue-in-cheek
“over-the-hill” course, a simulated arcade “Golden Tee” golf game and
more.
Results of the Big Game
It became neck-and-neck between the dueling champions!! In the final
group to golf, two-time champion Jack Kolmansberger and the defending champion Jim
Kochanski (who set a new course record last year with a score of 23) poised their putters
and were off! Seeking to tie the two-time champ record and make a mark in Asher Open
history, the pressure was all on Kochanski. Kolmansberger knew that pressure firsthand,
and his words, “It’s too hard to repeat!” became prophetic. Once the office
dust settled, it was Kolmansberger’s only ace of the day that sealed destiny and
bagged this year’s lowest score of 24. Kolmansberger knew he was a lucky guy, saying
“It was pure luck.”
Nick Durso and Jessica Janson carded 26s, while Mark Carney and
Jim Kochanski ended with 27s. There is a rumor that retired director Don Davis shot an 8,
but details are still coming in and sketchy at best. As usual, good-natured accusations
about golf rules and scores flew around. Only one person admitted to cheating and was
banned from playing for life by the PGA .
However, everyone is always welcome at the Asher Open.
The Grand Finale
An in-office party concluded the day, where the winners were
announced. As this year’s champ, Jack Kolmansberger chose the Bucks County Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society’s Light-the-Night Walkathon as the organization to receive the
contribution. Incidentally, Randee Mellon, the day’s hole-design winner, is the Event
Chair of the Society, so she celebrated a double win. A wide variety of other prizes were
available for all golfers.
Click on images for larger versions.
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