Where does one begin to recap the most successful Côte Saint-Luc Golf Classic ever?

Councillor Goldbloom and I greet Sgt. Bryan Cunningham and Montreal Police mascot Flik.

For the past decade, Councillor Sam Goldbloom and I have had the pleasure of co-chairing this event which on July 14 marked its incredible 36^th year in total at Meadowbrook. Originally it was known as the “Seniors” Golf outing. As we saw the registration numbers drop, Sam and I met with key Parks and Recreation staff persons Harold Cammy and Alvin Fishman. We decided to open the event up to the community-at-large. While seniors still made up the majority of the participants, registration began to make its way up again. I also went out and secured some title sponsors.

Ron Yarin and Mark Routtenberg pay me a visit on the course.

This year we added a special dimension to the event by honouring long-time volunteer Ron Yarin who has overcome tremendous odds after a frightening accident a few years back. Mark Routtenberg, president of Freemark Apparel Brands and a former minority owner of the Montreal Expos, is a close friend of Ron’s. Over the past few decades, he always included Ron as a key staff person at Freemark (which is the parent company for Bench Apparel) and his other businesses – Guess Jeans and Ideal Plumbing. When I called Mark and his son Michael (nicknamed “Youppi” during his playing days in Côte Saint-Luc) to sponsor the Golf Classic they did not hesitate.

We had 104 golfers registered – an all-time high. There was a new “scramble” format which moved things along at a faster pace. The players within each foursome decided which golfer hit the best shot off the tee and then all players from that foursome played their next shot from that point. Play continued from hole to hole in the same fashion for the rest of the outing. This format applied on the putting green as well.

Sam Eltes, president of Silver Star Mercedes-Benz for, sponsored our hole in one contest with a bright new Mercedes which would have gone to any lucky golfer who sunk the ball on one shot. That was not meant to be, but it was a great incentive. Thanks to Roy Salomon for making these arrangements and for serving as an advisor on a number of other counts such as the idea for the scramble format.

Presenting sponsors Casey Cameron and Mark Routtenberg with plaques.

Our gratitude goes out to representative Casey Cameron of Techsport for their generous sponsorship and to Lenny Rosenberg of TCBY Côte St. Luc Road branch for supplying TCBY yogurt for the luncheon. Lenny expects to move into beautiful new quarters this fall. He is presently in a temporary spot after a fire gutted his original spot.

Thank you to Irving Schok from Century 21 who graciously provided all of the souvenir blue bags golfers received at check in.

We had three contests on the course. The hole in one at the 11th hole, the closest to the pin on the 16th hole and the longest drive on the 17th hole. There was one winner declared, male and female, in each division Eagles (ages 64 and under) and Masters (ages 65 and over) for the closest to the pin and longest drive.

Golfers enjoyed fresh fruit at our fruit stand while on the course, thanks to Qualitifruits on Westminster Avenue.

Mark Routtenberg gave an emotional speech about Ron Yarin. He told is the story about how only a few years ago Ron was walking with his wife Sylvia, suffered a stroke and fell to the pavement.  Rushed to the Montreal General Hospital, it was touch and go. Everyone feared the worst. Eventually Ron was moved to the Mount Sinai Hospital in Côte Saint-Luc, where he still resides. His comeback has been nothing short of a miracle. At the Classic he and Routtenberg drove around the gorgeous Meadowbrook course in a golf cart to greet everyone. Ron, who said few words and was in a wheelchair a year ago, was full of his noted personality and only needed a walker to get around. Mark, by the way, answered some questions about the future of professional baseball in Montreal and expressed his optimism. Legendary sportscaster Dick Irvin, who joined us on the course, asked whether they could still play at Olympic Stadium. Mark believes it could work there, although a new park would be better.

Ron Yarin accepts his new book with appreciation.

Getting back to Ron Yarin, a great baseball fan, our very own Communications guru Darryl Levine put together a fabulous video montage of Ron and his beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. When it ended we all sang ``Take Me Out to the Ballgame as Alvin Fishman wheeled in a huge cake modelled around the old Ebbett`s Field. Harold Cammy presented him with a book, signed by the mayor and council, about the Baseball Hall of Fame. Ron even came to the podium himself to express words of thanks for the honour. Friends Martin Labow, former Mayor Robert Libman and Cammy had some fun anecdotes to share about what an amazing person Ron is.

This event was another example of the solid team Director of Parks and Recreation David Taveroff has working under him. This includes Maurizio Giobbi, who oversaw a lot of the behind the scenes work and Lauren Fairlie. She stepped up from the aquatics division to offer a helping hand. “It is this type of team work that we strive for,” Taveroff said.

In past years when golfers arrived early for the luncheon they had to sit outside the hall in the Aquatic and Community Centre until everything was ready. This time we had a hospitality room serving wine, light hors d'oeuvres, cheese plates and juices  open from noon onwards and this very much added to the ambience and good feeling for the day.

Sylvain Bissonnette, Marc Cournoyer and Roy Salomon.

We welcomed some of our distinguished retired staff persons, Jean Claude Raby, Dave Sevigny, Louise Ferland, Terri Druick and Peter Kopitas. Jazz legend Oliver Jones, our 2014 honouree and a CSL resident, was back on the links. Montreal Police Station 9 Commander Marc Cournoyer was on the course and joining him was his predecessor Sylvain Bissonnette. Since he now oversees the station in Lachine, it is interesting to note that Meadowbrook straddles both of our communities.

Mayor Anthony Housefather greeted everyone and thanked Ron Yarin for his years of service. Alvin Fishman did his usual fabulous job in collecting an endless array of door prizes.  Of course, none of this would have been possible without the cooperation of Mother Nature. While rain was in the forecast only a few days earlier, conditions were ideal.

Sam, George, Glenn and myself in front of the car none of us won.

My foursome included Sam Goldbloom, Councillor Glenn J. Nashen and his 92 year old dad George. This was not only Glenn’s first time ever golfing; but in his 25 years on council he had never before been to Meadowbrook. This lush greenspace is something we have fought tooth and nail to maintain in its present state. Councillor Dida Berku, who has passionately worked towards this cause, loves the fact that our Golf Classic exposes so many people to what a jewel we have in our midst. It is something we simply cannot afford to lose to development. Please read Glenn's excellent blog on his experience.

Field of Dreams? Nope, beautiful Meadowbrook.

See this fantastic video of the day by Darryl Levine:

If you do not see the video click here.

Suburban Newspaper owners Michael and Amos Sochaczevski and their foursome.

The legendary Dick Irvin (second from the right) joined this foursome, which included Robert Libman (far left).

What a cake for Ron Yarin!

Lenny Rosenberg from TCBY holds his trophy.

Even Rabbi Sidney Shoham dropped by to congratulate Ron Yarin and share some thoughts about baseball.