NISKAYUNA — For 15 years, veteran pro golfer Blaine McCallister and Price Chopper CEO Neil Golub were part of a group that helped make the Ellis Hospital Skins Game one of the most popular spectator events in area history.
As the unofficial emcee and a competitor in nearly every Skins Game, McCallister became the face of the annual charity competition. Golub did most of his work behind the scenes as a major sponsor, although he did jump into the spotlight every year for his “sponsor’s challenge,” a bunker-shot competition between Golub and one of the pros for an extra donation.
Originally called the Capital District Skins Game, the Ellis Hospital benefit lured legendary golf figures like Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, John Daly. Fuzzy Zoeller and Hubert Green to the region, and raised plenty of money for the hospital.
Although the Skins Game has been discontinued, both McCallister and Golub are still playing major roles in the event’s new format, the Ellis Hospital Pro-Am, hosted by Golub and his wife, Jane, Monday at Mohawk Golf Club. Thirty-four pro-am teams, each with a pro and four amateur partners, competed.
“I’ve been coming to this area for close to 20 years now,” said McCallister, a Champions Tour member who also does appearances for the Center for the Disabled and the Double H Ranch in Lake Luzerne. “I’ve continued to come here because of what this event is all about, and what it has done for the area. Neil Golub is a good friend of mine. He’s done so much for the charitable events around here that if he asks me to come, I come. He’s done so much for the community, along with guys like Joe Daley and Dr. Steve Goodman.
“I’m such a part of this area that I pay taxes in New York state,” said McCallister, a Texas native now living in Idaho. “This is like a second home to me. Everyone has supported us so well over the years.”
McCallister’s immense popularity in this area stems from the fact that he treats everyone like a long-lost buddy. He remembers names and pays attention to the little details. He understands the problems associated with helping to raise money for charity because his wife, Claudia, has PXE, a rare eye disease, and he is involved with several eyesight organizations, trying to raise awareness. Plus, he is still a fine player with a down-home wit.
A natural left-hander who plays the game right-handed but putts left-handed with a long putter, the 50-year-old McCallister won five times on the PGA Tour and once on the Nationwide Tour. He is among the most accurate drivers on the Champions Tour, but has been struggling with his iron game recently.
“I’m driving it superbly, but my biggest problem is with my iron game,” he said. “I lead the Champions Tour in driving, yet I’m one of the worst in greens in regulation. But I love the Champions Tour. We get later tee times, every event is three days and there is no cut.
“And I’ve probably got the most hair out there,” he said while raising his hat.
“There’s a wonderful atmosphere out there. I think the Champions Tour is the best value for any sponsorship money, because you get two or three pro-ams, a cocktail party, lunch with the pros and plenty of attention.”
McCallister hit a tee shot with every group Monday from the par-3 15th hole. While warming up, he hit several shots within tap-in distance.
“I guess I’ve figured out something with these irons. I strengthened my grip, and started swinging more inside. Now, I feel like I can hit my irons again,” he said.
McCallister, who has 11 career holes-in-one, including six in tournament competition, last competed in the U.S. Open in 2002, when it was also held at this year’s site, Bethpage State Park. He understands what the players went through this weekend, with all the rain delays at the Black Course.
“I knew that I no longer needed to be punished like that. I couldn’t even reach the fairway on the 10th hole,” he said.
“But all the starts and stops really play havoc with everyone’s games. It wasn’t easy for anyone this week. That course is long enough without all the other problems they had.”
McCallister said his driving accuracy will pay off when the new USGA rules eliminating square grooves on irons is implemented next year on the PGA Tour. No longer will the pros be able to stop the ball so quickly on the green, even from the rough.
“The straighter drivers will be rewarded, because they will be in the fairway. Some guys out there now have never hit an iron with ‘V’ grooves. It will be quite a difference,” he said.
Golub, one of the area’s most reliable philanthropists, continues to help keep the Ellis Hospital fund raiser going strong, even without the Skins Game format.
“I’ve been a major sponsor since the first year. I never backed away from Ellis, although I became involved with trying to keep Bellevue open,” said the 70-year-old Golub, a five-time Gazette Senior County Amateur champion who takes his golf very seriously.
“The cost of bringing in the big-name pros became too costly, but we wanted to keep this event going. Jane and I continue to be the major sponsors of this event. I’ve enjoyed my sponsor challenges from the bunker all these years. I’ve had competitions against Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, John Daly and Fred Couples, and my record over the years is probably winning 90 percent of the competitions.”
Golub said that even without the Skins Game, Ellis Hospital will net nearly as much money as it did a year ago.
“We usually get between $100,000 and $150,000 every year, and I think this year we will be close to that figure once again, and that’s good for the hospital,” he said. “We will continue to be involved in this event as long as I’m alive. One of these days, we might even bring back the [PGA] pros — if the economy gets better.”
When the final numbers came in, $115,000 was raised for the hospital.
Scotia native Laura Diaz, who was the headliner in the final Skins Game last year, was supposed to be a special guest Monday, but she played in Brad Faxon’s CVS Charity Classic instead when that event came up short of pros because of the delay in the U.S. Open.
Sodexo 1, with Town of Colonie assistant pro Matt Bogdanowicz and amateurs Tom Purcell, Joe Salvione, Jim Dean and Don McLaughlin, won the gross competition in the scramble event with a 15-under-par 71.
Tom Siddon, head pro at Massena Country Club, posted his third career hole-in-one on the 15th hole.
Gross — Sodexo 1 (Pro Matt Bogdanowicz, Town of Colonie, Tom Purcell, Joe Salvione, Jim Dean, Don McLaughlin), 56; Turner Construction (Pro Kevin Bennison, Pinehaven Country Club, Ed Peterson, Carl Stewart, Dave Marshall, Bob Guillaune), 57.
Net — Sodexo 3 (Pro Tyson Briggs, Country Club of Pittsfield, Miles Foley, Fran Faneli, Matt Marchbanks, Danny Kuplicki), 50.9; Kenneally Foursome (Pro Rich Scott, Fox Run Golf Club, Thomas Hayden, William Kenneally, Thomas Kenneally, H. Kenneally), 52.7; Bond, Schoeneck & King (Pro James Mitus, Skyline CC, Stuart Klein, Hermes Fernandez, Brian Johnson, Fred Giardinelli), 52.8.
Longest drive — No. 1, Dan Kupllicki, Laura Couch, Bob Meheran (pro, Cobleskill G&CC).
Straightest drive — No. 9, Dave Jersen, Carol Nieckarz.
Speed Golf — Sodexo 1, (Tom Purcell, Joe Salvione, Jim Dean, Don McLaughlin), 5:33.
Closest to pin — No. 15, Dr. Bruce Barach, 9 inches; Peggy Mason, 19-11; Tom Siddon (pro, Massena CC).
Skins — No. 3, New York Oncology