(atc)
An Eclectic
Recreational Mix
Member Clubs
It only takes 10 players to form
a VSGA Recreational Golfers’
Club, like the Wednesday
Whackers of Northern Virginia
I
by LEONARD SHAPIRO
The commish, Malcolm
Matheson, hunts for
foxes, birdies and eagles.
t’s not quite in the same revered
category as Scotland’s Honourable
Company of Edinburgh Golfers,
the original authors of the Rules of
Golf and believed to be the first-ever
organized golf club. Still, the Wednesday
Whackers of Middleburg and surrounding
communities remain quite proud of their
place on the Virginia golfing landscape.
Every Wednesday, starting in early April and
running until the chill of mid-November, the
Whackers gather for 18 holes and a lively postround lunch at one of a wide variety of courses
they play, from Front Royal off Interstate 66 to
Leesburg down Route 15 toward Point of Rocks
and many places in between.
It’s a diverse group in terms of skill level,
ranging from a few single-digit handicappers
to players in the upper 20s, and occasionally
higher. Usually, three foursomes tee off almost
every week. There are 21 regular members and
17 substitute Whackers, and virtually anyone
on the sub list can get in a game with some
advanced notice.
The players vary in age and occupation as
well. Some are retired, with plenty of 60- and
70-somethings, sprinkled with a few octogenarians. There are a couple of doctors, probably too many lawyers (that’s a joke, guys),
farmers, insurance executives and builder/
developers as well as two former school headmasters, a dentist, an architect, a banker, a
teacher, an accountant, and a sportswriter
who shall remain nameless. This year, added
to the regular r oster was a farm manager and
former Irish steeplechase rider who plays
with only his left arm after undergoing an
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