Out of “Site” The Ladies Golf Association takes its annual end-of-year celebration on the road 22 North Shore Towers Courier n November 2015 BY STEPHEN VRATTOS This year’s Ladies Golf Association end-ofseason dinner was held off the grounds of North Shore Towers for the first time ever. A risky move, but it was one Ladies Golf Association President Teresa Oropallo felt needed to be taken to ensure the annual gala event would go off as scheduled. Oropallo was newly elected before the started of the 2015 season. When it came time to book the dinner, the Towers Restaurant was in the midst of massive renovation. Oropallo knew Towers on the Green was expected to undergo renovation at some point after the restaurant’s completion and didn’t want to risk its not being available for her charges to celebrate their accomplishments of the season. So she booked space at Leonard’s Pallazzo, the opulent banquet hall on Northern Boulevard in nearby Great Neck. But confirmation of a venue didn’t allay all Oropallo’s worries. After all, the event had never been held off-site before and she was concerned the golfers wouldn’t want to travel. And there are always concerns with holding an event at a new place, regardless of a venue’s reputation. “The whole evening was worry free,” Oropallo said, “People carpooled and Leonard’s took care of everything.” The annual festivities offer the players a chance to mingle and reflect on the season, recount “war” stories and share a few laughs. 2015 Ladies Golf Association Club Champion Sun-Moon Choi beautifully set the mood, arriving in a traditional Korean celebration dress. Choi was in third place going into the final rounds of the championship game and rallied to take the crown. It is at the season-ending dinner that the winners accept their official trophies, while the presentation trophy is engraved with their name for all posterity and returned to the trophy case in the Country Club. Other awards and recognitions were also presented at the event. For example, “Birdie Ball” markers were given to all members who made birdies during the seasons. Smiling faces For Oropallo, the dinner presented her the opportunity to thank all those responsible for the success of her inaugural season. “I cannot thank enough Golf Pro and Director Bob Guido, Country Club Manager Mary Anne Langone, Assistant Golf Pro John Morrison, Grounds Supervisor Eric O’Neil, Rudy Miller, Alison Gochman, the entire executive board… All did such a wonderful job!” One of Oropallo’s goals going into the season was to establish greater unity between the 18-hole and the 9-hole golfers. To attain this, she organized pizza parties at dusk, when all players have completed their play. “I don’t want the 9-holers to feel like second-class citizens,” Oropallo explained. “They’re as important as the 18-holers.” Beginners’ clinics, organized and overseen by Golf Pro Bob Guido and Assistant John Morrison, were also established. Oropallo was a neophyte herself, when she moved to the Towers, so understands how intimidating and difficult it can be for someone who has never tried the sport before to get started. For a nominal fee, the 6-week program was the perfect means for them to do so, teaching fundamentals and proper procedures and etiquette. Oropallo hopes to integrate even more in 2016 and has begun discussions with the Men’s Association about interacting more with their male brethren. “It’s hard to please everyone,” she said, “but being a former principal, I understand that. We’re not perfect yet, but we’ll get there!” A lavish celebration Awards and trophies awaiting their presentation Photos by Teresa Oropallo 2015 Champion Sun-Moon Choi arrives
NST112015
To see the actual publication please follow the link above