Updated: October 9, 2009, 4:00 pm

Liguori Charity Golf Classic Pairs Up Goodwill And Good Times

By Brett Mauser

Tommy John (second from left) joined Ann Liguori and nearly 100 others at The Maidstone Club for the 2nd Annual Charity Golf Classic. Photo by Brett Mauser

East Hampton - Draw up how you'd like to start your work week and this might be what it looks like, exactly how it would go. A day on the links - not too hot, not too cold - a little competition, good company, fine fare, and best of all, at Monday's Second Annual Ann Liguori Foundation Charity Golf Classic, all proceeds went toward the American Cancer Society and Healthy Children, Healthy Futures, a wellness program that teaches East End youth about good nutrition and fitness.

Gil Hodges Jr., son of the former Dodger great Gil Hodges, warms up the putter before taking the course. Photo by Carmine Calabro Jr.

By all accounts, the festivities at the lush and luxurious Maidstone Club were just right.

"We're delighted that the tournament was sold out based on our current economy," Liguori said. "We weren't only sold out but I was able to negotiate for a few more foursomes. They do a great job here, not only the guys with the golf operation but everything is run so well here. It was a gorgeous day and, best of all, we raised more money with the auction than last year."

Ninety-six golfers took the course at 12:30 p.m. for a shotgun start. Maidstone was looking divine on this day, but the savvy player knew better than to assume its beauty translated to a walk in the park. As is typical with any course, but particularly with this club's narrow fairways and abundant fescue, finding fairway off the tee was crucial but made even more difficult by wind gusts from every which direction. High-arcing drives drifted and drifted into patches of high grass that salivated despite already getting their recommended daily intake of errant tee shots. Our foursome aimed well right of the green on the par-3 fourth hole but our drives clung to the last few inches of the green's left side.

The group of Jim Halpin, Jason Dove, Steve Campbell and Tom Gallo negotiated the East End gem and earned first dibs on the golf prizes by shooting a 54, or a birdie per hole with handicaps factored in. They outshot a quartet of foursomes who ended with 55s. One of them included Gil Hodges Jr., son of the former Dodger and Met who, it should be noted, the Hall of Fame should welcome with open arms. Hodges teamed with George Buckley, Fred Scuteri and Vincent Cutrupi.

Also coming in at 55 was another guest of honor and Hall of Fame candidate, Tommy John. He indicated he doesn't golf as much as he did when with the White Sox, Dodgers and Yankees - every day on the road when he wasn't pitching - but still can find the mid-80s. It's no wonder he finished so highly - he was paired with Len Gallo, Frank Lombardi and none other than Mike Jordan. Not that Mike.

The winning foursome: Jim Halpin, Jason Dove, Steve Campbell and Tom Gallo. At right, Ann is joined by brother Dan Liguori, Buddy Sklar and Scott Vallary. Photos by Carmine Calabro Jr.

Others who carded 55s included the group of Chad Horal, Frank Doria, Gregory Lisi and Adam Lang as well as John Doscas, Pat Cestaro, Joe Howard and Paul Pearson. Sixth place was snagged by John Dolan (nephew of media mogul Charles Dolan), Denise Dolan, Bill Frewin and Glen Olson, who shot 56 and just edged Greg Summers, Julio Lugo, Jay and Joe Phair. Ties were broken by the lowest score on the back nine.

We shot a respectable 58 - no reward for the heavily handicapped 14-under-par but the experience was enough of one. We had walked on hallowed grounds. John Schwartz of Massapequa, a 10-handicap with whom this 25-handicap played, was logging his 99th round of the year. He'd played everywhere both locally, nationally and internationally, it seemed, and he raved about Maidstone. "This is just like Ireland," he said, particularly on the club's signature ninth hole, a par 4 gem running parallel to the beach shoehorned between a pair of dunes. And like one might do in Ireland, a cocktail was enjoyed at the 19th hole. "It's a beautiful day, a beautiful course, it's for a good cause - what more could you ask for?," Schwartz said.

Cliff Barthman, Ken Barthman, Eric Wootley, Ken Conroy and Alex Damianos in front of the Maidstone clubhouse. Photo by Carmine Calabro Jr.

Liguori's foursome finished with a fine score of 57, a stroke out of the prizes. There was more work to do, and Liguori deftly traded her golf garb for chic evening attire to carry out her role as the night's mistress of ceremonies back at the clubhouse. About 150 attendees - mostly golfers but some there for the festivities alone - mingled and munched on lobster tails and the like in the club's second floor ballroom.

Manning the microphone like she's made a career doing, Liguori raved about the wellness program's success at Southampton Middle School and about the arrival of the rock 'n' roll nutritionist on Friday, October 30 (1 p.m. to 3 p.m.). Also, between the raffle and trio of auctions - silent, Chinese and live - many attendees took away a good haul of prizes. A bidding war for a tee time for three at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, courtesy of member Jerry Williams, was settled when Lynda Packard, another member at the club, volunteered to host another group at the price of $3,600, making it two donations to the ALF at that rate. Also up for bid were lodging and golf at The Old Course in Scotland ($2,500), a week of golf in Costa Rica ($2,000), premium tickets to Game 1 of the Yankees ALDS series against the Twins ($1,600) and, maybe best of all, a home-cooked dinner by the chef from East Harlem's legendary Italian eatery Rao's, at which a table is nearly impossible to get. The meal for 10 went for $4,000.

The silent auction offered sports memorabilia and jewelry and drew a great crowd. For the door prize, a TaylorMade golf club set went to one lucky winner. The luckiest may have been he or she who, with ticket no. 797088, took home both two rounds of golf at Cold Spring CC and a night at Oheka Castle in Huntington but also a night at Gurney's Inn in Montauk. Other prizes included greens fees for four at Harbor Hills CC in Port Jefferson, a trip to Mohegan Sun, Queens Symphony tickets, spa certificates, wine sets, autographed Jets footballs and much more. Greg Norman Apparel provided all the golf shirts given to all entrants.