Korby's connections: Country club celebrates families at weekend tourney

More than 150 golfers, from the very young to what most would consider quite old but young at heart, converged on the Cloquet Country Club to play in the weekend adult-child golf tournament.

Golf, a sport for life, affords that opportunity.

“We never advertise or publicize the event,” said Cloquet course pro/manager Bill Manahan. “Yet, we’re able to get numbers that rival our invitational tournament. We’ve had kids play in the tournament with their dad or mom, and now they’re playing with their kids and grandparents. It’s really an event for the kids.”

The tourney has been called the “Dan Sheff Memorial Tournament” since 2003. Dan, patriarch of the golfing Sheff family, passed away suddenly in the fall of 2002 just after he and son John won the event.

Manahan’s best estimate is the tourney began in the 1970s prior to his tenure as GM.

“Harry Newby Sr. once told me that he thought the Cloquet event was the longest-running parent-child annual affair in Minnesota other than that conducted by the Town and Country Club in the Twin Cities,” Manahan said.

He believes “Grandpa Newby” likely had a part in the Cloquet tourney origination.

It is now more inclusive, as adult-child. At first it was called the “father-son” tourney.

There are many mothers, daughters and even neighbors who participate.

“Child” may be a misnomer too, for many “kids” are now in their 30s or 40s and parents themselves.

Teams are flighted based on their Saturday scores to make for a competitive Sunday and to help determine the many prize winners. The entry fee is relatively low and is entirely distributed as gift and prize certificates.

This year’s championship flight winner was Rick and son Adam Stowell with a spectacular two-day event score of 129. Second place went to John and daughter Arica Sheff, with a score of 132. Rick’s “other” championship flight team had reason to celebrate too, as son Connor Stowell had a hole in one on the 165-yard, Par 3 seventh hole using an 8 iron.

“I knew it was in all the way,” joked Connor.

Other winners were Shane and Brett Morrison, first flight; Aaron and Peter Young, second; Neil and Matt Busch, and Sean and Jax Oachs, tied for third; Jess and Daniel Pollard, Rick and Justin Luke, Butch and Mark Cavanaugh, and Ray and Rob Tatro, tied for fourth; Harry Lawrence Jr. and Charlie, fifth; Jason and Bella Serck, sixth; Mike and Barb Owens, seventh; and Dustin and Kailey Nelson, eighth.

Thanks to the entire Cloquet Country Club staff for organizing a great event. The course was in tremendous shape with the greens running fast and true.

At the tourney’s conclusion, many entrants were already making plans for the 2023 get-together, which will also be the 100-year anniversary of the Cloquet Country Club.