Suburban Golf

Yeah, that's little old me

Kudos from the Somers Pointe GC to the Journal News (www.thejournalnews.com) for keeping all the residents of Westchester, Putnam and Rockland counties so well informed about general and local news. But we who play golf are especially indebted to the Journal for its in-depth, illustrated reporting of Suburban Golf. Credit is extended to its brilliant young editor, Sean Mayer and his outstanding staff. I was privileged to be interviewed by Andrew Gross, a peerless sports reporter, and photographed from every imaginable angle by their ace photographers, Mark Vergari and Joseph Larese.

Not generally known is that Todd Polidor, our eminently dedicated course superintendent, can trace a direct line to his Trojan ancestor Polydor, King Priam’s youngest son. He was the one who built an 18-hole golf course, the world's first, within the walled city of Troy. History grossly misstates the cause of the Trojan War. It says something about the Greeks descending on Troy to retrieve Helen, Menelaus's spouse. She had left him to sleep in Troy with Paris, another of Priam's sons. What really led to the war was that the Greeks had come to Troy in their yachts in order to play on Polydor's magnificent golf course and the Pro, the King's eldest son Hector, refused to let them on the course. He claimed that none of the Greeks were properly dressed, nor were they equipped with clubs to play the game. They didn’t even have spikes. The War then ensued, and that is an unassailable fact!

Which brings us to Somers Pointe. The CEO of North American Properties (whose jurisdiction covers much of this planet’s Real Estate, some other Golf Courses and even several Marinas) in a moment of moistened lightheadedness renamed Heritage Hills GC, Somers Pointe GC, perhaps thinking it was one of his marinas on Long Island Sound. (Somers Hills would have been topographically more appropriate). Not long afterwards, Jacques Chirac, the Prime Minister of France, called to tell me to make sure that every member and visitor pronounced our newly bestowed name with Gallic purity (pwanteh). Then as he proceeded to tell me how the French now pronounce George Bush, I hung up on him. But, in an effort to undo this geodetic error, Somers Pointe now designates its location (on its scorecard) by its geographical coordinates. That means, in our current GPS world, all you have to do is punch in those figures and you won’t find yourself on a beach in Connecticut. Indeed where you will almost certainly wind up, is at the Pinnacle of Somers, one of Westchester’s premier restaurants. It is an integral part of our Golf Club and it shares the same premises as our Pro Shop and offices.

Now, so you don’t get hassled like those ancient Greeks, if you should happen to arrive at Somers Pointe needing any attire or equipment, no problemo! Our Pro Shop has ample supplies of up to the minute apparel and the very latest golf equipment. You will also find that Adam Smith, our PGA Pro, is a masterful teacher and that every member of his team is superlatively helpful. But please don’t miss the opportunity to make the acquaintance of our executive dynamo, Maria Sanyshyn. Endowed with an abundance of elan, she has super-energized our entire operation.

In conclusion, although on occasion he may have lapses when it comes to nomenclature, Mr. Adler is an admittedly successful CEO. But what is particularly noteworthy about him is that he has unmatchable skills when it comes to finding and appointing the key members of his staff.