Beacon Woods, citing attrition, drops tradition of housing college golfers.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published September 30, 2004
The Beacon Woods Invitational always has taken pride in being a homespun tournament where just about every golfer stays with a local family in an arrangement designed to ease costs and facilitate friendships.
Not anymore.
The long-standing tradition was scrapped for this weekend's 26th annual NCAA women's golf tournament, which is co-hosted by the University of South Florida.
"I think the biggest reason it went away was attrition," said Beacon Woods director of golf Dan Martino. "Some of the members here are 80 or older. They're not kids anymore. It just wore on them. I think they just outgrew it."
Instead of having their own rooms, home-cooked meals and the general comforts that come with staying in a home, the golfers will go the standard route and stay in motels along U.S. 19.
"We weren't given much of an explanation as to why the residents weren't hosting players anymore, but I can understand why they would want to do it," USF coach Susan Holt said. "It's an awful lot to ask people to host."
Still, hosting guests was part of the reason the tournament was special to Holt, who played in the invitational as a member of the Ohio State golf team from 1985-87.
"The home-cooked meals were nice, and you always got a lot of support from the families," Holt said.
But though golfers will no longer get a little piece of home on the road, there still are some traditions that are staying put.
Golfers still will be greeted with baked cookies and drinks, compliments of the women in the club. And throughout the tournament, they still will be cheered on, a rare occurrence at a collegiate meet.
"The members are still involved with the tournament," Martino said. "We have volunteers who will be spotters and act as rules officials. That's something I don't think will ever change."
