Knickers are back, and a new Sheridan's in town

Palm Coast Observer
Opinion

Francis Ouimet, a 20-year-old former caddy in Brookline, Mass., was the first American to win the U.S. Open and end the golf domination by the British and Scottish.

He did that in 1913 with the use of a 10-year-old caddy. It was a victory widely hailed as a stunning upset over the strongly favored British players.

Eighty-four years later, in 1997, before Palm Coast even became a city, the popular Sludgehammer golf group made a decision to remember that spectacular golf event by duplicating the dress of that day. The scene was Palm Harbor Golf Course as these men strode to the first tee wearing colorful knickers, white shirts and ties. Area residents poured out of their homes to view this strange happening and couldn’t resist the urge to appear and find out for themselves.

The late Tom McAree was the genius behind these colorful appearances, and he will always be remembered and praised for what he started.

Golfer after golfer took turns organizing and directing these tournaments until this year, when age and time ruled that no longer would a Sludgehammer step forward and take charge.

Then, Hall of Famer Bob Ross, along with his wife, Carol, stepped up and took on this enormous amount of work so that the show would continue, and Ouimet was remembered as always.

It all took place a few weeks ago at the Pine Course.

Mike and Karen Joyce charged past Jim Canfield and Gladys Moore, and also Donna Drevniok and Carol Ross paired with Dan Teapock, to win first place.

Yes, a change was made some years ago to bring the ladies into the event. They spruced up the day beautifully with long skirts, wide-brimmed hats and identical golf outfits worn by ladies of 1913.

Here and there
Back in the early days of Palm Harbor, a time when there was no Walmart, no fancy restaurants, and before Palm Coast became a city, there was a golfer in town named Larry Sheridan who could do it all.

Then along came a vacationing Dennis Sheridan to outshoot his dad while wife Shirley stayed on the sidelines watching both men.

But things have changed.

The non-golfing Shirley Sheridan decided to swing clubs of her own two years ago. Now the tide has turned.

Playing with the Palm Harbor Niners, Shirley clobbered this game with a score of 41, which included two birdies.

Simply said, a new Sheridan is cutting loose in the old ball game.