With Michael Berkeley, It Was Never A Good Walk Spoiled
Hudson National Golf Club
In the summer of 1996, Hudson National opened it's golfing gates following a tediously long wait by expectant members. Trumpeted as a beautiful, difficult golf course with breathtaking vistas, some Founding Members had been waiting for the club to open for over three years. Michael Berkeley was one of those Founding Members.
In the fall of '96, I was standing outside the trailer that served as our temporary clubhouse after completing a round. All of a sudden the trailer door swung open and through it burst Michael, taking the steps two at a time. "Hi, I'm Michael Berkeley," he boomed as he stuck his big right paw out to shake my hand. My guest, Brian Harrington, had known Michael since high school. They had exchanged greetings as well. We then sat down to have lunch. I imagine now that I was like anyone else who ever met Michael. I instantly liked his wit, his intelligence and his over all demeanor. He was infectious.
As we were standing on the first tee, I asked Michael his handicap. He said he usually played 14 holes pretty well and then the other four not so good. With my beginners handicap of 21, I took that to mean he was somewhere between a 12 and 16. As we agreed that I would get seven strokes (just seven!!!!) I now know he was licking his chops.
How many times have you played golf with someone, lost $50 and walked off the 18 green grinning. That's what happened to me that day. Michael and his golfing adages were so much fun that I didn't care about losing the money. It was a delight to be with him. Before heading home that day, Michael and I made a date to play at Hudson the following week.
And he loved Hudson. Although, over the years, Michael didn't play Hudson but maybe ten times a year, he loved the place. When he resigned in 2000, he did so because of the then management company running the show. "Mr. John...I love that golf course, but I can't stand how it's being run. Your good buddies (all of a sudden, they were MY good buddies) are running me out. I'm sorry, but I've got to go." I kept telling him to hang in there because we were going to get rid of "that company." Unfortunately, we weren't able to accomplish that goal until the year 2002. As with all golfers, Hudson National delivered a few low lites to Michael:
1) He hit two pins (eight and 16) on one day and bogeyed both of those par threes.
2) He hit three par fives in two on another day and three putted all three.
3) He played a game called "Wolf" with three other members one day. He had never played that game before, and didn't understand that any player could double the bet at any time. As the game wore on, into the back nine, another member of the foursome doubled the bet. And on 17th tee, when the bet again was doubled to "18", Michael thought 'eighteen dollars.' As Michael was digging the ball out of the cup after making a birdie on that hole, his partner said to him, "That was BIG Michael. You just saved us $1,800 dollars!!!! Michael's eyes got big. "If I had known that, I'd have never made the putt," he was later heard saying. Many times.
Every fall, Hudson has two fun events. One is the Hudson Bowl, and the other is the Annual Fall Harvest. Since September 11, 2001, Hudson National has used the Harvest event to raise money for the charities of the four members of the Hudson National family who lost their lives that horrendous day. For the past two years, Hudson members have collectively contributed over $25,000 to those four charities. It may not seem that much, but Hudson National is committed to this fundraising, and in the future, as the Fall Harvest grows in stature as well as age, more and more moneys will be raised.
Michael would have liked that.
John A. Hewig
Hudson National Golf Club
Hudson National Golf Club