Class News
Yale '64 golfers return to Cape Cod
Fourteen classmates met at Eastward Ho!, a premier golf course in Chatham, MA, on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. Three years ago we played there in a huge downpour; this year produced a beautiful fall day. Those playing were Larry Capodilupo, John Evans, Chris Getman, Doug Hershey, Butch Hetherington, Neil Hoffmann, Ted Jones, Dave Kalayjian, Tony Lee, Dave Lindsay, Martin Padley, Chuck Post, Dave Schumacher, and Ward Wickwire. We were joined by Tracy Wickwire, Jan Truebner (who organized the surviving partners for our class at reunion), and Charley Sawyer (Class of 1963).
We had dinner that night at Larry Capodilupo’s house where we were joined by Debbie Swensen (with Larrry), Dottie Evans, Rebecca Hetherington, Nancy Hoffman, and Kirk and Judy Kitson (Judy is Tony Lee’s sister)
On Thursday we played at Cape Cod National, another premier course and another beautiful day, and then had dinner back at Eastward Ho!
On Friday, five hardy classmates played one more round, this time at the Captains Starboard course, one of the good public courses on the Cape. Ironmen Hershey, Jones, Kalayjian, Lindsay, and Evans made all three days.
Readers interested in more details are referred to Chris Getman's account, following the photo below.
(middle row) Rebecca and Butch Hetherington, Doug Hershey, Jan Truebner, Dave Lindsay, Tracy Wickwire (over Dave’s shoulder), Judy Kitson (behind Larry), Neil and Janet Hoffman
(back row) Dave Kalayjian, Dave Schumacher, Chris Getman, Chuck Post, Ted Jones, Kirk Kitson, Charley Sawyer, Ward Wickwire
What Actually Happened at Eastward Ho!
by Chris Getman
On September 25, seventeen hardy golfers representing the Yale Class of 1964 gathered at Eastward Ho!, a renowned golf course in Chatham, Massachusetts.
As they entered the property, they were greeted by a sign that said “Welcome to Tibet“ next to a picture of the Dalai Lama.
There were two foursomes and three threesomes, all anxious to tackle the challenging course.
Leading off were Neil Hoffmann, Ted Jones, Martin Padley, and Larry Capodilupo.
Larry is a Chatham native and is familiar with the course.
There were strict guidelines given to all players before commencing, which stated that no external methods used to enhance one’s score could be permitted.
The first foursome took off with gusto, relieved by the fact that there were carts available, an option which was not available the last time we were here.
What became immediately apparent to everybody, with the exception of Larry, is the fact that the course is spectacularly beautiful and also quite challenging.
The last time we were here the rain was so thick that we did not have a chance to enjoy the beauty of the experience. The first foursome played flawlessly and with gusto but on the third green, Jones stopped at the headquarters of Eastern Mountain Sports in order to pick up a new speedo for his diving demonstration, scheduled for later in the afternoon.
The shock of seeing Jones approaching in his speedo, having shed his Santa Claus costume, threw Padley, Capodilupo, and Hoffmann into catatonic states which ruined their golf for the rest of the afternoon. They came in at 62 over par and miraculously Jones was not apprehended for playing in a speedo, because he had on a collared shirt.
The next group, consisting of Tony Lee, Jan Truebner, and Ward and Tracy Wickwire, was also cruising along well until they hit the fourth hole where Lee broke out a hang glider and cruised down to his ball in order to save energy. This was witnessed by the Hoffmann group who promptly reported it to the committee, thereby disqualifying the Lee, Truebner, Wickwire foursome.
Next up was the trio of Doug Hershey, Charlie Sawyer, and a well-recovered Chuck Post whom everyone was glad to see.
They made it to the sixth, all having passed the billboard which showed Jean-Claude Killy winning the gold medal in the Olympics at Eastward Ho! in the early 80s.
In addition to the photograph of Killy, to the amazement of many of us, we spotted a mountain goat on the seventh fairway. We were very disappointed that Joe Wishcamper could not have been with us even though armed only with his driver and pitching wedge.
While Hershey had made the trip from Sacramento, which is to be commended, he was suffering a bit from jet lag, and was seen strapping crampons onto the bottom of his golf shoes in order to ascend to the seventh green. Sawyer was also witnessed with a rope and pitons which he was seen hammering into the side of the hill and hoisting himself up.
This was witnessed by the disconsolate Lee/Wickwire/Truebner foursome and again reported to the committee, which eliminated them and disqualified them immediately.
Following this group was the threesome consisting of the three Daves: Lindsay, Kalayjian. and Schumacher.
They were all playing very well but were becoming a little winded, and Schumacher was seen breathing from the oxygen mask which was there for normal club members on the eighth green but which was verboten for members of the tournament. Hence their elimination.
The threesome of Evans, Hetherington, and Getman breezed through the afternoon, barely breathing hard and were proclaimed winners by acclamation.
Note: The club has engaged Robert Whitby as a consultant. Whitby, member of the Class of '64, has climbed the highest peak on six of the seven continents, and it was determined that he might be able to help new members of the club and older members break 200.