Somewhere, some time ago, a phrase, “nowhere else but Norwich” was coined. It’s a wide-ranging, inclusive statement that could apply to just about any small town, and it was bullet point in Mark DeMellier’s acceptance speech at the 2008 Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame ceremony at Canasawacta Country Club this past Sunday night.
DeMellier, one of six newly-inducted members, spoke of the familial, homespun atmosphere at C.C.C. Not unlike the words in the theme song of the comedy “Cheers,” it’s a place where everybody knows your name.
A simple mention of a first name, DeMellier said, and everyone immediately knows who you are talking about. “I’m not sure you will find that at other clubs,” he said.
DeMellier was one of two active high-level players honored at C.C.C. along with two-time senior scratch club champion Doug Wilson.
The formation of a local golf hall of fame was Wilson’s brainchild, said Steve Crawford, who presented Wilson with his hall of fame plaque. Crawford illustrated that Wilson was deserving of the honor in more than one induction category.
Among the categories for entry are “Legends,” local golfers whose accolades or accomplishments came in the first half of the 20th century; “Masters,” deceased local players who showed great golf acumen; “Contributors,” a person who has given back to the game and actively promoted it; and “Players,” a Norwich-area player who has or is currently excelling at the game of golf.
Wilson, Crawford joked, was a “legend in his own mind.” Turning more serious, Crawford spoke of how Wilson was a master clubmaker, an ambassador of the game, one who studies its history, and his resume as a player continues to grow. In addition to winning his recent scratch senior title, Wilson was the 2008 Empire State Senior Games golf medal winner in his age group shooting a 66 at Elm Tree Golf Club. The victory earned Wilson a trip to the national senior games.
DeMellier also continues to compete at a high level and was last year’s men’s scratch tournament runner-up. He is almost always a top-five finisher among the scratch players year to year, and he owns two member-guest championships with longtime friend and partner George Gelsomin – one at C.C.C. and one at Gelsomin’s home club. In addition, DeMellier won a Chenango County Amateur championship earlier this decade.
Tom Flanagan, “Dr. Tom” as he is known by his friends, earned the contributors nod, and spoke humbly of his honor. “There may be people more deserving, but there is no one more appreciative,” he said. Flanagan was teased for his propensity – or willingness – to look for a quick fix to his game. His presenter, John Mitchell, joked that if Flanagan didn’t own a particular golf club, it’s because he had not seen the commercial yet.
Mitchell described Flanagan’s dedication and passion for the game of golf, the kinship and camaraderie he developed with local players, and his affable charm that brought countless new players to Canasawacta Country Club. Dick Milner, while presenting the late Bob Palmer, noted that no one brought more people to Canasawacta Country Club than Flanagan and Palmer.
Milner, who worked with Palmer in the Norwich City Schools system for many years, remembered Palmer’s competitive nature, steeliness, and determination on the golf course. Palmer was always grinding to squeeze out every last bit of his game, Milner said. And if Palmer fell short, it wasn’t a lost cause, he just ran out of holes.
Bill Branham, another posthumous selection in the masters category, played golf with great distinction most of his adult life, and he served as the patriarch of the most prolific winning family in C.C.C. history. His sons Bob, David, and Don Branham have 32 combined men’s scratch championships and over a dozen men’s member-guest titles. Bob Branham presented his mother Catherine with the hall of fame plaque, and recalled how his dad taught he and his siblings how to play the game the “right way.” The approach to practice was disciplined, yet he made it fun, Bob said. The game was never forced on the Branhams, and the local golf prodigies excelled in multiple sports through their school-aged years before zoning to become the local area’s premier players. And father Branham laid the foundation for his sons as a father and teacher.
And this writer can claim a family connection to the final 2008 inductee, George “Honk” Mirabito. A skilled player, “Honk” was among C.C.C.’s elite players for some 30 years clashing with noteworthy hall-of-famers Dusty Annesi and Stig Biviano among others.
Doing some quick genealogy, I discovered through my Aunt Lil Curnalia (Loscavio) that “Honk” Mirabito was her first cousin, and my maternal great-grandmother and Mirabito’s father were brother and sister. He is also, quite clearly, the best golfer in our family’s history.