Then there ’ s Virginia-based “ Good Shot Judy .”

Likely the most unique jazz band in the Commonwealth , Good Shot Judy , also known as GSJ , has gained a national reputation as swing kings who turn the clock back decades with their glitzy wardrobe and impeccable harmonies . GSJ has brought its big-amp jazz as far north as New York City , as far south as the Caribbean , and as far west as Arizona — 11 states in all .

They ’ ve performed from the sound stage at the American Music Festival in Virginia Beach to sold-out holiday shows at Colonial Williamsburg ’ s Kimball Theater , the Middle C Jazz Club in Charlotte , and on St . Patrick ’ s Day at the Carlyle Room , two blocks from the White House . In September , they ’ ll play the Summer Concert Series in Midlothian , and there ’ s a journey to the western part of the state on the horizon ( for a complete schedule , go to goodshotjudy . com ).

That ’ s not bad for a punk band spawned in a garage in Gloucester that once called itself “ Ten Years From Now .”

How prophetic is that name . A transformation from punk to big band swing that encompassed about 10 years , was inadvertently birthed on a Virginia golf course by an enthusiastic octogenarian trying to boost a friend ’ s confidence .

Golf lives large in the routine of Bill and Judy Cahoon — both in their early 80s — and in their sons Brett and Jeff . Judy is a two-time ladies club champion at Deer Cove , a World War II-era course located at the Cheatham Annex Depot . Bill , a long-retired Coast Guard veteran , introduced Judy to the game when they began dating in 1973 . He is a three-time Super Senior champion at Deer Cove .

Band leader and lead vocalist Brett Cahoon and double-bass-playing brother Jeff have a long history with the game . Before GSJ morphed from a hobby into a traveling main attraction , Brett played three or four times a week and was on the verge of breaking 80 regularly . Then polishing the sound and shape of GSJ became his fulltime job and , alas , he stalled out at 81 .

He had just finished a round when we spoke .

“ On the course , I was thinking about how much golf has been a part of my family life ,” Brett said . “ And how much it has given us , too !”

She doesn ’ t sing , dance , or play with the group , but credit 90-year-old Joyce Robertson , a long-time former champion at Deer Cove , for providing the band ’ s most essential element — its name .

“ A remarkable woman ,” Judy said . “ She ’ s been my encourager for a long time . She would always holler ‘ Good shot , Judy !’ whenever I was on the golf course . Brett and Jeff thought it was funny that she did it so many times .”

Brett ’ s version of the story is similar , though he admits that after hearing Robertson ’ s exclamations round after round

Brother Jeff , far left , and Brett

Cahoon with their parents Bill and Judy , whose golf adventures inspired Good Shot Judy ' s name .

“ it started to get on my nerves . Then it became a family joke , and I said it as much as possible ,” Brett said .

“ One day I realized that , taken out of context , it had a super cool ring to it and would make an excellent band name ,” Brett said . “ I kept it in my back pocket for a year or so and surprisingly when we started the concept of GSJ in 2011 , I remembered it and we started with that being the name .”

The “ concept ,” as Cahoon calls it , is to take audiences back to the days of the old-time jazz standards . Depending on the circumstance , the band can grow from a quintet to eight piece to the 20-piece holiday

crew featuring plenty of horns , four female vocalists led by Chelsea Champ , and even a ukulele .

At a Good Shot Judy show , you ’ ll likely hear the Cahoons and company belt out classics from Frank Sinatra , Dean Martin , Ella Fitzgerald , Nat King Cole , Count Basie , but also Michael Bublé and more contemporary crooners .

A decade ago , Brett Cahoon ’ s band took a shot at creating a style and sound as unique as the name his mother ’ s golfing talent lent to it . The result turned out better — much better — than merely good .

COURTESY GOOD SHOT JUDY