To: The Boys

August 2, 2001

To: The Boys

Subject: Our Game – Part 2 – The Nassau

Part of the lore of Our Game is the Nassau.  Front-Back-Total.  It’s a popular way to play Our Game.  Anyone who plays likes to have a little action.  Just going around 18 holes with no action is boring.  But, where did Nassau come from?

Several years ago, I recall reading an article in Golf Digest written by noted British twit, Peter Dobereiner that told the story of the Nassau.  It seems that in the Roaring 20’s, the members of the Nassau Country Club, a popular bastion of New York’s elite, developed the game, which was ultimately dubbed The Nassau. 

As was probably the case, the blue bloods would gather for lunch and develop the pairings for the afternoon matches.  “I say, old man, would you be looking for a game? Hmmmm?”  “Why yes, Johnny, that sounds sporting. How say you to a $2 Nassau.”  Then they would don some tidily-wink togs or knickers and argyles and lace on a pair of shoes shinned up by some grifter named T-Bone.  The head pro, a young up and comer destined to stardom in the 30’s would assign the caddies.  Since Alf and Hobie slept behind the clubhouse in a makeshift lean-to, they were always available.  The $.25 cent stipend they would receive for a loop would go along way towards their next bottle of “hooch”.

While playing, the golfers would have to be wary of the gang out for the weekly foxhunt. The horseback-riding posse would call out Yuhalooo to roust the skittish fur ball from the thicket.   In addition, daring men in their jaunty jalopies would drive out on to the course with some flappers, a picnic lunch and some bathtub gin to catch some of the action.  Perhaps they would ring cowbells when one of the players hit a cracker of a shot.  “Well done, Old Man! they would shout.  Then, after golf would be the customary rubdown by Hans, the German masseuse.  Afterwards they would head over to Yancie’s bungalow for some bridge and a refreshing dip in her wading pool. 

So there you have it.  A $2 Nassau.  It should be noted that by converting 1920’s $2.00 to constant dollars, we would now be playing a $20.00 Nassau.  Obviously, a $6.00 bet was lotto bucks back then.

Fast forward to yesterday.  It’s Wednesday August 1, 2001 @ 12:32PM.  The weather is sunny, hot and humid, with the temperature at about 85 Degrees.  There is a moderate wind blowing in from the east.  The match was a swing team Nassau.  The bet is 5-10-5.

Lou Natalie (76)/Mark Weibel (80) vs. Mike Skarlinski (79), Raptor (82), Mark Harrington (84).

The match started with a bang as Skars drained birds on 1 and 2.  Lou also birdied 1 but both Weibs and Lou bogeyed 2.  Then on 3 Mark and I made par.  This started presses in two matches. The match pivoted on seven when the three amigos bogeyed while the swingers both made par. When Lou birdied 8, two matches were E/-2, the other +1/-1.  At this point, I stepped in with a spectacular 8-iron approach on nine.  Since the pin was front right, the shot released off the ridge and settled three feet from the cup.  Birdie was a given.  This turned two matches to +1/-1/+1 and the other to +2/E.  Weibs was a little miffed at this turn of events, as he had been counting on that $10 to tide him over until payday. 

On the back nine both Weibs and Lou played well shooting 38 and 37 respectively.  On 12, Lou made a nice birdie to send two matches to -2 and one to -3/-1.  Then I woke up the fans with a huge birdie on 13.  From there the matches see sawed.  The 18 was filled with a lot of drama since everyone hit a good drive except maybe Lou, who was in the picnic grove. 

The Raptor, hitting first from about 115 yards, struck a wedge to within 15 feet of the flag, a front left placement.    Barney, hitting the kind of shot he has made famous, ended up below the cup, in position A, about 4 feet away from a birdie.  Skars and Weibs both struck their approach shots to the back end of the green and were face with long down the hill birdie putts.    Lou, with a bit of scrambling, had a pitch shot from the left rough that squirted past the cup.  He was faced with a par putt of about 8 feet. 

Skars putted first.  His long birdie attempt fell short and he finished up with a par. Weibs, putting next, hit his birdie attempt and tad firm and a little off line with his ball ending up about 10 feet below the cup.  Feeling confident, he proceeded to drain a tricky par putt with a noticeable bend from left to right.   It was now up to me to drop the hammer, unfortunately, I committed the ultimate sin when my birdie attempt ended up short.  Barney, who thrives on this type of pressure, received no encouragement from Weibs on this particular putt.  Lou, who had a par putt on Barney’s line, came to his senses in time to sweep up the ball before he committed a faux paus.   Barney made a valiant attempt but his birdie putt missed on the low side.  Weibs was so relieved.  The look on his face was classic as he waited for Harrington to putt.  Weibs cheeks were clenched so tight; you could not have pulled a pin out of his ass with a John Deere tractor.

This allowed the swingers to collect $30 from the three amigos.  Barney was the biggest contributor, throwing $20 into the pot.  I followed with $10 and Skars, who played a solid round of 79, only had to toss in $5.  It was a dramatic finish to a hard fought round which included 8 birdies by four players.  In the end, it was all about the budship. Thanks to the Nassau, a gift from the Golden Era.