Christmas Party Fun - Hosted by "Samta Clause" Richart

After finally get pictures to download from the Christmas Party, I am now able to post some of those pictures and update everyone on the fun. I think my phone and computer had been hacked by some of those who were afraid of pictures finding their way on the internet?

First we would like to thank host Charlie Boldreghini and all the wonderful staff at Old Kinderhook who hosted the event. We were treated to a warm and inviting room, great views, good food and drink, and watched locals skate on the ice rink. I want to guess that Charlie is the only OTA member who has a Zamboni in his shop. Also for those that spent the night, I hope your night was as restful as mine. I was grateful that our dog Lucy wasn’t waking me up at the normal hour of 4 A.M.

We also want to thank all our Gold and Silver Partners whose support helps us put on these events. Gold Partners: Professional Turf Products, Precision Turf, GreensPro, VanWall Golf, Knox Fertilizer, Bayer, Clear Creek Vehicles, Club Car, BASF, and Syngenta. Our Silver Partners: BWI, Midwest Turf, Advanced Turf Products, and VGM.

Finally thanks go to Sam Richart who planned the fun and all our members and their better halves who attended. He provided some “minute to win it” style games, team captains were recruited and they picked their teams. The first game “This Blows” involved balloons and solo cups (empty), this game was won by “The Holly Jolley’s” Our second game “Hanky Panky” involved Kleenex, won by “The Jingle Junkies”, the third game involved empty solo cups again, “Moving on Up” won by “The Fruitcakes”, next up was “Cookie Face” won again by “The Fruitcakes”, next up was “Separation Anxiety” involving Skittles and cocktail cups, won again by “The Fruitcakes”, and finally, we played “Stack Attack” involving solo cups again (all the cups were always empty…what’s up with that?), which was won by team “The Sugar Plum Fairies”. The team of “The Special Snowflakes” were winless and had to dry their tears with the Kleenex from the “Hanky Panky’ game. All players even the “Special Snowflakes” walked away with gift card prizes. While “The Fruitcakes” cleaned up with an extra gift card. Jim Pyle was the team captain and picking his team I believe was the extent of his involvement. Jim picked Katie Armbruster, Cindy Waldron, Patti Ripperger, Connie Pyle, and John Ripperger. Obviously Jim being an elder stateman, and recently retired, used his wisdom to fill his team with turf wives. Poor John who ended up being the last pick, filled out the team, but he did play the pivotal part in “Cookie Face”. We hope everyone had a great time. Don’t forget to check out all the pictures, and there is rumor that Mark Slaughter has video taken during “Cookie Face”, unless someone with the initials of Jeff Sommerer has placed a big order for 2020 that includes the video? I know my wife is already looking forward to next year!

Thanks for reading!

Mel