Six inducted into Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame
PLYMOUTH – Six new members, three of them former ladies scratch club champions at Canasawacta Country Club, were inducted into the Greater Norwich Hall of Fame earlier this month.
Joan Porack, Dianne Lewis, and Kathi Wagner enter in the “Players” category; the late Michael Csigi of Greene in the “Masters” division; and Dick Milner along with Joseph “Chief” Taranto in the “Contributors” category.
Porack, Lewis, and Wagner were contemporaries who battled each other for years in C.C.C.’s biggest tournaments. It was Porack who racked up 11 women’s club championships – scratch and handicap – and established her dominance on the heels of Hall-of-Famer Jane Eaton’s accomplishments in the mid-’70s. Beyond her play, Porack was diligent working at improving her game, and was truly supportive of fellow ladies.
“Two words come to mind: Persistent and humble,” said Amy Spittler, a Hall-of-Famer who gave Porack’s induction speech. “Joan has a true love for the game. Just recently we played in our year-end golf league tourney and a woman in my foursome hit a great tee shot – straight down the middle. What did she yell out? ‘Thank you, Joan Porack.’ That comment says it all.”
Wagner, in addition to winning one scratch championship and placing second numerous times, is the C.C.C. women’s course record holder shooting an even-par score. She is a former member-guest champion and has holes-in-one at C.C.C. and Bluestone Golf Course in Oxford. Earlier this decade, Wagner rolled a 300 game in bowling and added one of her two aces – in the same year.
“Kathi has worked tirelessly on the Ladies Member-Guest and Ladies Invitational tournaments, and is always ready to help another golfer with her advice,” said her presenter, Doug Wilson.
Golf has been a life-long love for Lewis, who began playing at the age of 10. Not only has she proven a championship-level player, but she has spent many years as the chairperson of several tournaments including the Chenango County American Cancer Society tourney for 18 years. She is presently the chairperson of the Southern Tier Ladies Golf Association, and has overseen the tournament’s yearly stop at Canasawacta Country Club.
Among her playing accomplishments are four ladies scratch championships, two handicap club championships, a five-time Ladies Invitational winner, and numerous member-guest titles with longtime partner Darlene Bianco, while also winning several other county-wide tournaments with Bianco.
Lewis has over 30 career wins with Bianco as her playing partner, and she still maintains one of the lowest women’s handicaps at C.C.C.
Richard “Whitey” Milner is an ubiquitous presence at any and all tournaments of note at Canasawacta Country Club, and has volunteered his time for over 30 years at the course.
Be it editing the C.C.C. monthly newsletter for former head professional Fred Zahner or serving as a scorer at the men’s member-guest tournament, “Whitey” is front and center ready to help out.
Milner is not simply an observer and historian of golf, he is still an avid player. For years, he played in the men’s golf leagues with Doug Cottle, and in the teachers’ league with the late Sam Elia. Most of all, patrons and members of C.C.C. know Milner for his amazing recall of stories, statistics, and facts, while also sharing a new and interesting golf anecdote from the bygone era.
“Chief” Taranto began working at C.C.C. as a 10-year-old for his uncle and course owner, Ernie Taranto, in 1958. One of his first jobs was washing and sorting bottles. A common phrase for the do-it-all worker is “chief cook and bottle washer,” so the nickname, “Chief” immediately stuck.
During his 40-plus year tenure working for the course, Taranto had responsibilities in all areas of the club. He was the course superintendent beginning in 1969, and also worked at night as the restaurant’s chef.
There wasn’t a facet of the club’s business where Taranto wasn’t involved. He was the quintessential handyman serving as the course superintendent, agronomist, mechanic, clerk of the works, plumber, electrician, and clambake chef.
“Because of Chief’s expertise as superintendent, the course matured from an average nine-hole course in the 1960s, to the challenging, well-groomed course it is today,” said Mark DeMellier, Taranto’s Hall of Fame presenter.
Csigi is the lone player among this year’s honorees who did not call Canasawacta Country Club his home course
A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania who moved to Greene in 1953, Csigi held a handicap of two or lower for over 20 year capturing 10 Genegantslet Golf Club men’s scratch championships between 1955 and 1972, while also winning a similar number of G.C.C. men’s member-guest titles with his brothers Joe and Frank.
Csigi had a low career scratch score of 64 and two holes-in-one. Born in 1923, he remained active in golf late in life. He passed away in 1995.
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Note: Inductees into the Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame must receive 75 percent of the ballot (9 of 12 Hall of Fame committee member votes) to gain entry into the Hall of Fame.
Joan Porack, Dianne Lewis, and Kathi Wagner enter in the “Players” category; the late Michael Csigi of Greene in the “Masters” division; and Dick Milner along with Joseph “Chief” Taranto in the “Contributors” category.
Porack, Lewis, and Wagner were contemporaries who battled each other for years in C.C.C.’s biggest tournaments. It was Porack who racked up 11 women’s club championships – scratch and handicap – and established her dominance on the heels of Hall-of-Famer Jane Eaton’s accomplishments in the mid-’70s. Beyond her play, Porack was diligent working at improving her game, and was truly supportive of fellow ladies.
“Two words come to mind: Persistent and humble,” said Amy Spittler, a Hall-of-Famer who gave Porack’s induction speech. “Joan has a true love for the game. Just recently we played in our year-end golf league tourney and a woman in my foursome hit a great tee shot – straight down the middle. What did she yell out? ‘Thank you, Joan Porack.’ That comment says it all.”
Wagner, in addition to winning one scratch championship and placing second numerous times, is the C.C.C. women’s course record holder shooting an even-par score. She is a former member-guest champion and has holes-in-one at C.C.C. and Bluestone Golf Course in Oxford. Earlier this decade, Wagner rolled a 300 game in bowling and added one of her two aces – in the same year.
“Kathi has worked tirelessly on the Ladies Member-Guest and Ladies Invitational tournaments, and is always ready to help another golfer with her advice,” said her presenter, Doug Wilson.
Golf has been a life-long love for Lewis, who began playing at the age of 10. Not only has she proven a championship-level player, but she has spent many years as the chairperson of several tournaments including the Chenango County American Cancer Society tourney for 18 years. She is presently the chairperson of the Southern Tier Ladies Golf Association, and has overseen the tournament’s yearly stop at Canasawacta Country Club.
Among her playing accomplishments are four ladies scratch championships, two handicap club championships, a five-time Ladies Invitational winner, and numerous member-guest titles with longtime partner Darlene Bianco, while also winning several other county-wide tournaments with Bianco.
Lewis has over 30 career wins with Bianco as her playing partner, and she still maintains one of the lowest women’s handicaps at C.C.C.
Richard “Whitey” Milner is an ubiquitous presence at any and all tournaments of note at Canasawacta Country Club, and has volunteered his time for over 30 years at the course.
Be it editing the C.C.C. monthly newsletter for former head professional Fred Zahner or serving as a scorer at the men’s member-guest tournament, “Whitey” is front and center ready to help out.
Milner is not simply an observer and historian of golf, he is still an avid player. For years, he played in the men’s golf leagues with Doug Cottle, and in the teachers’ league with the late Sam Elia. Most of all, patrons and members of C.C.C. know Milner for his amazing recall of stories, statistics, and facts, while also sharing a new and interesting golf anecdote from the bygone era.
“Chief” Taranto began working at C.C.C. as a 10-year-old for his uncle and course owner, Ernie Taranto, in 1958. One of his first jobs was washing and sorting bottles. A common phrase for the do-it-all worker is “chief cook and bottle washer,” so the nickname, “Chief” immediately stuck.
During his 40-plus year tenure working for the course, Taranto had responsibilities in all areas of the club. He was the course superintendent beginning in 1969, and also worked at night as the restaurant’s chef.
There wasn’t a facet of the club’s business where Taranto wasn’t involved. He was the quintessential handyman serving as the course superintendent, agronomist, mechanic, clerk of the works, plumber, electrician, and clambake chef.
“Because of Chief’s expertise as superintendent, the course matured from an average nine-hole course in the 1960s, to the challenging, well-groomed course it is today,” said Mark DeMellier, Taranto’s Hall of Fame presenter.
Csigi is the lone player among this year’s honorees who did not call Canasawacta Country Club his home course
A native of Scranton, Pennsylvania who moved to Greene in 1953, Csigi held a handicap of two or lower for over 20 year capturing 10 Genegantslet Golf Club men’s scratch championships between 1955 and 1972, while also winning a similar number of G.C.C. men’s member-guest titles with his brothers Joe and Frank.
Csigi had a low career scratch score of 64 and two holes-in-one. Born in 1923, he remained active in golf late in life. He passed away in 1995.
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Note: Inductees into the Greater Norwich Golf Hall of Fame must receive 75 percent of the ballot (9 of 12 Hall of Fame committee member votes) to gain entry into the Hall of Fame.
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