HISTORY

Updated 2010/2011 with information from the Rochester Public Library using the microfilm of the Democrat & Chronicle and Times-Union newspapers.

This adds and updates the 1976 information gathered by Mr. Ernie Maurer. Any original documentation is no longer available.

1.0 The beginnings

:

* In 1930 Jim moved to Boston for two years, and during that time he stumbled

upon an interesting golf league of which 1913 U.S. Open hero Francis Ouimet was a participant. Ouimet was the first amateur in history to win the Open.

It was called the Boston Twilight League, and one of the member clubs happened to be Oakley C.C., where Donald Ross (golf course architect for Oak Hill’s East and West course, as well as Monroe, CCR, Brooklea, and Irondequoit front nine) first worked upon arriving in America. (*supplied by Mary Szpak, Oak Hill Historian 2/22/11, “From Little Acorns” Vol. II, The Story of Oak Hill 1901-1986, by Howard C. Hosmer)

Also of local note, Jim’s grandson Chip Lillich would win seven Rochester District Championships, and fourteen Oak Hill club championships.

Jim Weldon, 2nd from left, at Oak Hill - 1935

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Rochester Twilight Golf League

The very first Rochester District Golf

Champion of 1929, Mr. James W. Weldon of Oak Hill, is the creator

of the Twilight Golf League. As noted in the history section,

first known published documentation states that the league officially began play in 1937.

The following, even though noted in Mr. Maurer’s notes from 1976 and from

Mary Szpak of Oak Hill, has not been substantiated with any articles in past newspapers:

Jim made an inquiry into the makeup and format of the league, and sent his findings to Ben Heughes (pictured at left) of Oak Hill C.C.

Supposedly, one round was played locally in 1930, but there were many problems during the first two years. In 1932 league play started in the Rochester area. Originally, play was on a match play basis, gross score only, and changed in 1934 to a handicap basis.

Early officers names were unknown, except that Ben Heughes of Oak Hill got the group together and was president until Jim Weldon returned to Rochester in 1934. (taking a position with Hickok Manufacturing of Hickok Belt fame). Where upon he rejoined Oak Hill and took over the presidency of the league.

Jim served as President until 1940. (See board member list since 1940)

The following article from the Democrat and Chronicle on April 3rd 1937 details the foundation and opening season of the Twilight League.

The inaugural six teams were: • Brooklea • Country Club of Rochester • Locust Hill • Monroe • Oak Hill • Ridgemont.

League format:

• Ten players per team • Individual matches, and team match • Based on the Nassau system, total of 45 points

o 3 points per ten individual matches (30 pts.) o 3 points per five team matches (15 pts.)

• Team with highest number of match points declared champion

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2.0 Milestones

:

1937

: Inaugural league winner: Oak Hill Country Club

1939• League expanded to eight teams.

:

• Midvale, and Oak Hill split to have two teams: East and West.

1940• CCR and Irondequoit combined to form one team.

:

1941• Dropped back to six teams as Midvale and CCR/Irondequoit dropped out.

:

1943-1945• League play was suspended due to WWII.

:

1946• League play resumed with six teams, and players increased to twelve.

:

1950• League went back to eight teams, adding CCR and Irondequoit.

:

1954• League dropped to seven teams as Oak Hill merged back into one team.

:

1957• League increased back to eight teams as Midvale rejoined after 25 years.

:

1988• Reportedly John McGrath’s final year, he started in 1937 with Locust Hill.

:

1998• Gay Levis fall tournament ended after 50 years.

:

• Tournament hosted the club’s pros as appreciation for their League work.

2001• Match format was changed to Ryder Cup format.

:

o Three points for each foursome match. o One point each for individual match, and team match

• Standings were changed from total team points to: o 2-pts. per team win, 1-pt. for tie.

2011: • Penfield Country Club replaced Locust Hill.

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Year 1st 2nd Roundup President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary

1978 LH CCR RCC Bob Peterson - CCR Edgar Liberman - ICC Bill Wesley - MGC

1979 BL Bob Peterson - CCR Edgar Liberman - ICC Bill Wesley - MGC Dick Williams - LH

1980 CCR Edgar Liberman - ICC Bill Wesley - MGC Dick Williams - LH Elmer Conway - OH

1981 ICC Bill Wesley - MGC Dick Williams - LH Elmer Conway - OH David Sherman - Mid

1982 OH MGC MGC Dick Williams - LH Elmer Conway - OH David Sherman - Mid Al Masco - RCC

1983 OH CCR LH Elmer Conway - OH David Sherman - Mid Al Masco - RCC Dick O'Grady - BL

1984 MGC OH OH David Sherman - Mid Al Masco - RCC Dick O'Grady - BL Bob Peterson - CCR

1985 MID Al Masco - RCC Dick O'Grady - BL Bob Peterson - CCR Jacques Lipson - ICC

1986 CCR ICC RCC Dick O'Grady - BL Bob Peterson - CCR Jacques Lipson - ICC Jack Lauder - MGC

1987 RCC OH BL Bob Peterson - CCR Jacques Lipson - ICC Jack Lauder - MGC David Fisher - LH

1988 RCC LH CCR Jacques Lipson - ICC Jack Lauder - MGC David Fisher - LH Bill Lesyk - OH

1989 MID LH ICC Jack Lauder - MGC David Fisher - LH Bill Lesyk - OH Milt Shulman - Mid

1990 RCC LH MGC David Fisher - LH Bill Lesyk - OH Milt Shulman - Mid Carmen Rossi - RCC

1991 MGC OH LH Bill Lesyk - OH Milt Shulman - Mid Carmen Rossi - RCC Tom Scalzo - BL

1992 MGC OH OH Milt Shulman - Mid Carmen Rossi - RCC Tom Scalzo - BL Tom Hanford - CCR

1993 OH BL MID Carmen Rossi - RCC Tom Scalzo - BL Tom Hanford - CCR Ross Elkin - ICC

1994 RCC ICC RCC Tom Scalzo - BL Tom Hanford - CCR Ross Elkin - ICC Gary Brown - MGC

1995 ICC RCC BL Tom Hanford - CCR Ross Elkin - ICC Gary Brown - MGC Vince Hudon - LH

1996 OH RCC CCR Ross Elkin - ICC Gary Brown - MGC Vince Hudon - LH Phil Hospers - OH

1997 MGC OH ICC Gary Brown - MGC Vince Hudon - LH Phil Hospers - OH Herb Steron - Mid

1998 OH BL MGC Vince Hudon - LH Phil Hospers - OH Herb Steron - Mid David Sand - RCC

1999 LH Phil Hospers - OH Herb Steron - Mid David Sand - RCC John Rabish - BL

2000 LH MGC OH Herb Steron - Mid David Sand - RCC John Rabish - BL Mike Langie - CCR

2001 MGC/LH MID David Sand - RCC John Rabish - BL Mike Langie - CCR Doug Lustig - ICC

2002 RCC John Rabish - BL Mike Langie - CCR Doug Lustig - ICC Tad Clark - MGC

2003 ICC MGC/LH BL Mike Langie - CCR Doug Lustig - ICC Tad Clark - MGC Chuck Thomas - LH

2004 BL ICC/RCC CCR Doug Lustig - ICC Tad Clark - MGC Chuck Thomas - LH Malur Balaji - OH

2005 LH ICC Tad Clark - MGC Chuck Thomas - LH Malur Balaji - OH Steve Holmes - Mid

2006 RCC BL MGC Chuck Thomas - LH Malur Balaji - OH Steve Holmes - Mid Ralph Annucci - RCC

2007 RCC BL LH Malur Balaji - OH Steve Holmes - Mid Ralph Annucci - RCC Tony Shortino - BL

2008 BL MGC OH Steve Holmes - Mid Ralph Annucci - RCC Tony Shortino - BL Tom Ward - CCR

2009 RCC OH MID Ralph Annucci - RCC Tony Shortino - BL Tom Ward - CCR Norm Blaustein - ICC

2010 MGC OH RCC Tom Ward - CCR Norm Blaustein - ICC Al Roides - BL Gary Lawton - MGC

2011 BL Tom Ward - CCR Norm Blaustein - ICC Al Roides - BL Gary Lawton - MGC

2012 CCR

2013 ICC

2014 MGC

2015 PCC

2016 OH

2017 MID

MGC/OH > Tie

Rochester Twilight LeagueHistory Board Members

Year 1st 2nd President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary

1937 OH MGC Jim Weldon - OH

1938 OH LH "

1939 LH OH-E "

1940 BL MGC Gay Levis - CCR Ernie Maurer - Mid Gordan Callaghan-RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid

1941 MGC RCC " " " "

1942 RCC OH-E " " " "

1943 Ernie Maurer - Mid Gordan Callaghan-RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid "

1944

1945

1946 MGC OH-E Ernie Maurer - Mid Gordan Callaghan-RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid Charlie Zeitler - Mid

1947 OH-W LH/OH-E Gordan Callaghan-RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid " "

1948 OH-W OH-E Ernie Maurer - Mid Gordan Callaghan-RCC " "

1949 Gordan Callaghan-RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid " "

1950 OH-E ICC Charlie Zeitler - Mid " " "

1951 RCC CCR Gordan Callaghan-RCC " George Adams - BL George Adams - BL

1952 BL LH " " " "

1953 BL RCC Charlie Zeitler - Mid George Adams - BL Jack Gates - CCR Jack Gates - CCR

1954 ICC MGC " " " "

1955 LH RCC George Adams - BL Jack Gates - CCR Lewis Schultz - ICC Lewis Schultz - ICC

1956 ICC MGC " " " "

1957 ICC OH Jack Gates - CCR Lewis Schultz - ICC Carl Gath - MGC Bob Jack - LH

1958 OH ICC " " " "

1959 ICC OH Lewis Schultz - ICC Carl Gath - MGC Bob Jack - LH Jack Maloney - OH

1960 ICC " " " "

1961 OH RCC Carl Gath - MGC Bob Jack - LH Jack Maloney - OH George Calhoun - RCC

1962 RCC OH " " " "

1963 ICC OH Bob Jack - LH Jack Maloney - OH George Calhoun - RCC Ruby Braverman - Mid

1964 OH ICC " " " "

1965 BL RCC/Mid Jack Maloney - OH George Calhoun - RCC Ruby Braverman - Mid Ed Olson - BL

1966 OH BL " " " "

1967 OH George Calhoun - RCC Ruby Braverman - Mid Ed Olson - BL Bill Baker - OH

1968 " " " "

1969 BL MID Ruby Braverman - Mid Ed Olson - BL Bill Baker - OH Norm Shapiro - ICC

1970 CCR LH Ed Olson - BL Bill Baker - OH Norm Shapiro - ICC Don Consler - MGC

1971 Bill Baker - OH Norm Shapiro - ICC Don Consler - MGC Ed Kilgras - LH

1972 OH MGC Norm Shapiro - ICC Don Consler - MGC Ed Kilgras - LH Al Scheible - OH

1973 Don Consler - MGC Ed Kilgras - LH Al Scheible - OH Art Cohen - Mid

1974 Ed Kilgras - LH Al Scheible - OH Art Cohen - Mid Joe Holzschuh - BL

1975 Al Scheible - OH Art Cohen - Mid Joe Holzschuh - BL Dick Head - OH

1976 Art Cohen - Mid Joe Holzschuh - BL Dick Head - OH Bob Peterson - CCR

1977 Joe Holzschuh - BL Dick Head - OH Bob Peterson - CCR Edgar Liberman - ICC

due toSuspended

WWII

Club Year PresidentBrooklea 1955-1956 George Adams - BL

1970 Ed Olson - BL1977 Joe Holzschuh - BL1986 Dick O'Grady - BL1994 Tom Scalzo - BL2002 John Rabish - BL

CCR 1940-1942 Gay Levis - CCR1957-1958 Jack Gates - CCR

1979 & 1987 Bob Peterson - CCR1995 Tom Hanford - CCR2003 Mike Langie - CCR

2010-2011 Tom Ward - CCRIrondequoit 1959-1960 Lewis Schultz - ICC

1972 Norm Shapiro - ICC1980 Edgar Liberman - ICC1988 Jacques Lipson - ICC1996 Ross Elkin - ICC2004 Doug Lustig - ICC

Locust Hill 1963-1964 Bob Jack - LH1974 Ed Kilgras - LH1982 Dick Williams - LH1990 David Fisher - LH1998 Vince Hudon - LH2006 Chuck Thomas - LH

Monroe 1961-1962 Carl Gath - MGC1973 Don Consler - MGC1981 Bill Wesley - MGC1989 Jack Lauder - MGC1997 Gary Brown - MGC2005 Tad Clark - MGC

Midvale 1943, 46,48 Ernie Maurer - Mid1950, 53 & 54 Charlie Zeitler - Mid

1969 Ruby Braverman - Mid1976 Art Cohen - Mid1984 David Sherman - Mid1992 Milt Shulman - Mid2000 Herb Steron - Mid2008 Steve Holmes - Mid

Oak Hill 1965-1966 Jack Maloney - OH1971 Bill Baker - OH1975 Al Scheible - OH1978 Dick Head - OH1983 Elmer Conway - OH1991 Bill Lesyk - OH1999 Phil Hospers - OH2007 Malur Balaji - OH

Ridgemont 1947,49,51-52 Gordan Callaghan - RCC1967-1978 George Calhoun - RCC

1985 Al Masco - RCC1993 Carmen Rossi - RCC2001 David Sand - RCC2009 Ralph Annucci - RCC