50^th Reunion Golf Outing Planned

Biarritz. I am sure all you smart and worldly classmates know that this is an elegant seaside resort located somewhere in France. I suspect, however, that only a select few of you will know the secondary meaning of the word. It is also used to describe a putting green that features a deep gully or swale which bisects the putting surface.

One of the most notable biarritz holes in the world is the ninth hole of our very own Yale Golf Course. Often mentioned in the same breath as the best par threes in the world, this 235-yard hole is as beautiful as it is challenging. It requires a well-struck tee shot from the elevated tee box to carry the pristine lake which guards the enormous green. Even if you manage to hit the green, you have only survived half the gauntlet.  Land on the wrong side of the swale, and you will need all your skills to avoid a three-putt or more.

For those classmates who still play and enjoy golf, the Reunion Committee is putting together a Class of ‘69 golf outing at the Yale Course. It will take place on Thursday, May 30^th with tee times starting at 10:00 A M. Enjoying the company of old friends will be the theme of the day, with optional tee boxes and gimmes on some of those short putts. There may even be some prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive (I don’t know about you, but mine are not so long anymore!) or other feats of skill.

Our Yale Golf Course is truly a treasure. Designed in the 1920’s by the Golf Course architect Charles Blair Macdonald, many consider it to be the best college course in the nation. Carved into undulating wooded terrain, it gives deep respect to the nature which surrounds it. No housing developments or highways to distract the golfer on this course.  Just about every hole has its own unique character.  (Some would argue the deep bunkers give some holes a little too much character!)  Through the generosity of the Beinecke family, the course and its facilities have been maintained and upgraded to maintain a world-class reputation. Hats off to our classmate John Beinecke.

Do YOU Want To Play?

If interested, please send me an email at lenck@freehill.com and indicate if you will be bringing a guest. When we have a final count, I will get back to you with details relating to tee times, foursomes, etc.. If there is a particular foursome combination you have in mind, that would be helpful.

Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Reunion Committee, our 50^th is shaping up to be a great event. What better way to kick it off than to make yet another run at that daunting 9^th Biarritz hole.