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December 1, 2021
Perhaps the most iconic clubhouse drive known to golfers is Magnolia Lane at Augusta National in Georgia. The famous road leading onto the property to Butler Cabin is immediately recognized by any serious golfer. Less well known but just as impressive is Southern Hills Country Club Lane in Tulsa, the site of numerous golf Majors and host of the 2022 PGA Championship. This past October, 12 Legatus golfers had the privilege of making that drive for the first annual Legatus Networks Golf Group event.
Legatus members belong to some of the most beautiful and famous golf clubs in the U.S. With the creation of the Networks Golf Group, our golfers now can host fellow Legates at their club and, in turn, play some of those legendary courses throughout the country.
Several Legatus players described the days leading up to the Southern Hills event as an experience like that of a kid before Christmas. The excitement of playing such a famous course was palpable. Golfers know that they never want to play a good course just once. As such, during the three- day event, Legates were treated to two rounds at Southern Hills, with a round at The Patriot Golf Club scheduled in between.
The Patriot Golf Club is also a fascinating course, founded and built by Dan Rooney, who also started the Folds of Honor Foundation which awards scholarships to families of service members killed or disabled in service. Everyday at 1:00 p.m., all golfers, regardless of their location on the course, stop to salute the massive American flag viewed from every vantage point on the course while “Taps” is played.
Legatus is about having excellent events and Southern Hills was no exception. Each player was given a personal locker – in the same locker room that all the stars known by their first name used – Tiger, Jack, Arnie, Phil... (... Ken?...). Each golfer had a personal caddie. Fr. Chas Canoy celebrated Mass each day and was the chaplain for the event. (Warning: do not give Fr. Chas any strokes, as he is an excellent golfer.)
At the end of each day, players gathered for dinner to share their stories of the day’s round, of fairways hit and putts missed. The golf was a great experience, but the fellowship over great food and drink was unforgettable.
Ben Domingue from the Lafayette-Acadiana Chapter said, “Legatus events have the shortest runway to build close friendships.” Steve Alexandrowski of the Ann Arbor Chapter agreed, saying, “Our chaplain, Fr. Chas, led us in a joyful celebration of our Catholic faith and love of golf. Our Legatus host in Tulsa, Dennis Caruso, surpassed all expectations. This was Legatus at its best.”
Most did not know each other, and the bonds established were inspiring and memorable. Legates were busily sharing their contact information, each inviting others to their own course. This inaugural event was a huge success, and we hope to have this each year at a different course. Fr. Chas had a great perspective on the time together. “Being October, Our Lady of the Rosary was the perfect patron saint for the retreat. The theme at our daily Masses was that, both in golf and in life, we will have our own joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries. As the chaplain, I encouraged the members to share a little about their faith journey, and hearing those mini-testimonies of how Legatus has helped deepen their faith during our meals together on the patio was a big highlight for me.”
For those interested in joining the group for future events, see the Golf Group within Networks (network.legatus.org). It is an ideal venue for providing access to renowned courses throughout the country. Premier golf courses, beautiful liturgies, great food, and terrific fellowship with other Legates – doesn’t get much better than that this side of heaven.[For those members wanting to connect with interest-, industry-, or chapter-based groups, also see Legatus Networks.]
KEN DARNELL is Legatus’ Central Region vice president.